Superfreshest!
I’m sure most of you didn’t even know this last weekend was the 2 day show SUPERFRESH at Rotture/Branx. The heavyweights of Portland’s Dancebands all played. Including a very rare show by Glass Candy and DAT’R who after a year hiatus came back and ripped it up. This was the best show of the year. Sure it’s only 4 days old but with Deelay Ceelay totally destroying and Glass Candy having the time of their lives it showed how veterans of Portland’s Dancebands have matured into solid performers. Beyond the great music the show was filled with spectacle. The lone balloon from Glass Candy was so inspired by Deelay Ceelay’s intensity it decided to join in the fun by dropping out of the rafters. Fog machine, video projection, and balloons were the icing on this figurative cake.
To see all the best Portland bands in one place in one night was perfect. Except, the early start times which had me miss Rob Walmart, Breakfast Mountain, Wampire, Jeffrey Jerusalem, May ling, Miracles Club and Fake Drugs. The all ages factor put the whole night ahead by about 2-3 hours. So sorry to ya’ll but this kid gets up late.
By the time they were through, Glass Candy had the place turned into a frenzy. Rotture was a mad house of excitement, huge balloons and frantic energy. So much in fact, that on their last song, they caught the speakers on fire. Literally, on fire! Deelay Ceelay one of Portland’s best bands if not the best was the highlight of my time there. In the middle of their show I texted my girlfriend “deelay ceelay KILLING! HOLY FUCK STYLE!”. She texted back that she just downloaded their absolutely free album.
Their duo-drum arrangement has an ability to play separate wandering rhythms and bring them back in tight unison for that extra punch. With prerecorded melodies played in the foreground, the two drummer set up allows the crowd to see another person connecting with the music. It’s just easier to let loose when we get the social “OK” to react to music, that assurance that you’re not the only one expressing that connection. Which is exactly what happened making it so easy to dance to Dat’r.
Even after having no momentum going into this show and a year off, they came back with beats and a performance worth every dollar I spent. They had drums, cymbals, flailing hair and joysticks to keep the audience interested. I’m going to admit it right here, their beats were some of the best I’ve heard from anyone in Portland. Dat’r’s beats aren’t your typical 1-2 Art School Blap beats. These have a universal appeal. A cadence and timing that has such depth and intelligence that it’s almost a instinctual rhythm for humans. They get a “do not miss” mention. There’s word on the street that they have a new album coming out, can’t wait for it.
As an extra extra helping of “let’s have fun”, Branx (21+) had Fleshtone performing some new material as a new trio including great lighting. Special mention to DJ Beyonda, Copy and Maxx Bass for playing really great music the whole time. That took a lot of endurance considering it was 6-8 hours. I’d like to mention that the bartender was the least busy bartender in a club filled with people I’ve ever seen. It was a dream bar, literally. A club filled with people and seriously NO ONE at the bar. It was my dream scenario, except I found out, they didn’t serve alcohol. Mystery explained, all ages.
