By Clare Shreve
For those sticking around Portland this summer, be it for summer school or just a sheer lack of interest in going back home to Montana, consider going to see some live music like The Shins, Animal Collective or Ben Folds. For those who are heading home, this concert preview may only serve to show all of the awesome shows that some will be forced to miss.
The Crystal Ballroom is bringing in some big names this summer, thereby having many artists play a doubleheader.
The pattern for two night shows no longer exists for the trendy Portland based bands that make it big in the real world, then return to their stomping ground while on tour. Along with The Shins, come The Avett Brothers and Neko Case, a trio of double delights, making it more possible for folks to get tickets to see these amazing bands.
May 6 and 7
This summer The Crystal Ballroom brings home The Shins. The show ought to be good time despite it potentially being full of people who only heard The Shins on the "Garden State" soundtrack.
Generally there is a healthy mix of people with varying age ranges and fairly equal male to female ratio. The Shins play a nice medley of tunes; some slow, some fast, some even dance worthy.
A good show can be made with one song; generally it involves front man James Mercer and his acoustic alone on stage singing some tender little ditty. Tickets go for $35 for this all ages show. Door at 8 p.m. Show at 9 p.m.
May 22 and 23
The Crystal Ballroom offers up a double dose of The Avett Brothers. Although, not from Portland, this North Carolina trio doubles up and plays two shows, 24 hours apart.
With a banjo, bass and an acoustic guitar in hand, The Avett Brothers will more than likely play a set filled with the glorious twang of today's folk music.
Tickets the day of the show go for $22, but $20 if bought prior to the date. It's an all ages show with doors opening at 8 p.m. and the show starting at 9 p.m.
June 5 and 6
As Neko Case makes her way around the world, Portland joins the likes of New York City, Washington D.C., and Toronto in being one such city that Case will spend more than just a night in.
Red-haired beauty, Case will sing out her folksy tunes to what would be expected as a very diverse crowd; the only people who might not be present are tweens who don't know what good music is yet.
The show will more than likely play tunes from her latest album "Middle Cyclone," which just about every music magazine and newspaper has gushed about since before its debut. With any luck, her half hour of nature sounds from her new album won't make it into her lineup, but then again it would be one relaxing concert.
July 18 and 19
The toast of Portland's music scene, The Decemberists, will perform as a part of McMenamin's "Concerts on the Lawn" concert series. The $36 advanced (but $39 tickets the day of the show) ticket charge will not seem too much when both the ever-talented Andrew Bird and Portland's own "Blind Pilot," will perform in addition.
The Decemberists play a great set; they're interactive, they take audience requests if you yell loud enough and many times they'll hop off the stage and mingle with the audience as they sing and act out their sorry tales of tragedy, love and beauty. The Decemberists will play this double-header show at McMenamin's Edgefield, which is a large outdoor area with grassy spots for lounging, sun shielding trees, picnic tables, food and drink.
The show is general admission in every sense of the world. Since there are no seats provided, it might be best to bring your own, be it a towel or low-profile chair. Rain of shine, the show will go on. Prepare accordingly.
July 17
Ben Gibbard-fans will unite at Death Cab For Cutie's show at the outdoor concert space known at Edgefield, which is about 15 minutes outside of Portland.
Death Cab will team up with the brilliant dance-tronica of The New Pornographers and the up-and-coming indie-pop-dream band Ra Ra Riot for a great show. The tickets are $40 in advance, and $43 the day of the show, but when there are three bands back to back, it's really like paying $13.33 for each show.
These indie Cuties will give an enjoyable show, though not as theatrical as The Decemberists, they'll sing a good set and if not, use it as an opportunity to buy a vintage-looking Death Cab American Apparel shirt.
Here a few more upcoming Portland concerts to tempt avid concert-goers.
April 22 Bloc Party and Menomena at Roseland Theatre 8 p.m., all ages
May 15 Ben Folds and Steel Train, 8 p.m., all ages, Roseland Theatre
May 25 Animal Collective at Roseland Theatre
