Live Music!  

By Rob Cullivan

The Portland Tribune, Oct 29, 2009, Updated Oct 30, 2009

COURTESY OF MUTE RECORDS

See the White Rabbits’ stripped down percussion and sharp guitar lines first hand at the Wonder Ballroom on Nov. 5.

Oct. 29

Mainstreaming

It’s funny, the once raging rock mainstream – sort of where Nickelback swims – actually keeps afloat a shrinking number of bands, since so many new bands fear being labeled mainstream. Portland crunchy pop rockers Merrill, however, seem determined to swim to rock’s center, poseurs and hipsters be damned. And the band, fronted by singer-songwriter-guitarist Chris Merrill may actually have a good shot at mainstream success because it seems more lyrically sensitive than Nickelback, and Merrill’s a more powerful singer than 90 percent of the cats out there. You can judge for yourself if these boys deserve to take over the world when they celebrate the release of their new CD “A Beautiful Disaster.”

Merrill with Goodbye Harrison, 9 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 29, Ponderosa Lounge, 10350 N. Vancouver Way. $5. 503-345-0300.

Oct. 30

Funk off

About one second into A Fifth of Funk’s song “Good Man” and you’ve been transported into a world where Stevie Ray Vaughn meets Blues Traveler via James Brown. This explosive drums-bass-guitar trio plays unapologetic funky blues-rock that would go down well with that beer you’re drinking.

A Fifth of Funk, 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 30, Roots Organic Brewing, 1520 S.E. Seventh Ave. Free. 503-235-7668.

Oct. 30, Nov. 5

Homecoming

Portland’s The Quick & Easy Boys have been out on the road but are returning home Oct. 30 to play the Laurelthirst as well as open for swamp rock kings Southern Culture on the Skids Nov. 5 at Doug Fir. The partying Boys describe themselves as “the Minutemen, Willie Nelson and Funkadelic rolled into one,” but you should add Little Feat, War, the Meters and Talking Heads as well. Oh heck, they’re actually pretty original, even if they’re rooted in so many danceable styles you’ve already heard.

The Quick & Easy Boys, 6 p.m. Friday, Oct. 30, Laurelthirst, 2958 N.E. Glisan St. Free. 503-232-1504; with Southern Culture on the Skids 9 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 5, Doug Fir, 830 E. Burnside St. $15. 503-231-9663.

Oct. 31

Crazy man, crazy

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