Burn to Shine 3 - Portland

The collaboration between filmmaker Christoph Green and producer/drummer Brendan Canty continues with part 3 of their series Burn to Shine. This time out they traveled to Portand, OR for a day of music curated by Chris Funk of The Decemberists. The format remains constant - each band has one hour to set-up, soundcheck and play in a house that set for destruction.

As was the case with the previous volumes shot in DC and Chicago the line-up features some big names (Sleater-Kinney, the Shins, the Decemberists) with lesser-known yet no less capable bands (The Thermals, The Gossip).

After a short intro by Brendan Canty explaining the concept of the series and providing a sense of history of the house about to be destroyed, The Thermals launch into a flawless version of "Welcome to the Planet" - further evidence that this band is on the verge of taking over the planet. Other highlights of the first half of the disc include Quasi (contributing further to my hard to explain crush on Janet Weiss), The Planet The (who may just be the west coast answer to Q and Not U), and an understated performance of "Modern Girl" by the recently disbanded Sleater-Kinney.

The second half of the disc is notable for the first appearance of a hip-hop group, The Lifesavas, in the series. The Shins provide a rawer (read: better) version of Chutes Too Narrow's "Saint Simon". Full disclosure - I don't totally get The Decemberists - I'm sorry but Colin Meloy's voice gets on my last nerve. That said, "The Mariner's Revenge Song" from 2005's Picaresque is well, not bad and definitely worth a view. The disc wraps up at dusk with The Gossip and a seductive version "Listen Up!" - one of the great highlights of the disc.

You can purchase the dvd here.

See my previous post on Volume 2 which was shot in Chicago and featured Wilco, Tortoise and The Ponys.

The Gossip "Listen Up!" (mp3)
The Thermals "A Pillar of Salt" (mp3)
Sleater-Kinney "Jumpers" (mp3)