So when asked to be a guest editor for MAGNET, my initial reaction was that my inner 18-year-old self might flip out so much that I might have nary a word to say. However, I persevered and was immediately filled with some of the memories of growing up in the proverbial “sticks” in the ’90s. Starting there and moving forward to the present day, I accumulated a list of people, movies, music, food, poets and other stuff that, although not exhaustive by any extent, it gives an insight into me, my music, the band, inspirations and interests. At the very least I would hope that a few of these things may also be viewed as recommendations that could steer people toward becoming acquainted with a few new people, and things that I find dear. It goes without saying, I appreciate the opportunity to “preach from the pulpit,” so to speak and air my opinion on so many different things. Normally people only care about what I say about my music or music in general, which can get tedious. So thank you, MAGNET, for providing the platform to impose my taste on others. Really and truly, I hope someone finds something in here that they, too, can enjoy.
Best known for its cinematic claim to fame, i.e. The Goonies, Astoria is about two hours from Portland and is where we recently shot most of our newest music video. It’s a unique place that previously functioned as the veritable gateway to Oregon because of the fact that it was the primary port in the region and was the place to go to get anywhere by ship in the western part of the world. The main route that existed was primarily back and forth from San Francisco, which clearly created a cultural exchange most notably witnessed in the town’s Victorian architecture. If you squint on a sunny day, the houses on the hill do one hell of an impersonation of the Mission in S.F. So that situation obviously makes the town have an interesting aesthetic, but it’s the clear juxtaposition of all of the old housing with the enormous barges and ships sitting in the Columbia river, as well as the sea lions barking from the piers, that makes you palpably feel the last dingy gasp of the town’s maritime economy in transition. On one hand, the place seems utterly steeped in history and preserved in a vacuum while simultaneously being “Portlandized” with the slow creep of hipper businesses setting up shop. Many predict it will become the sixth quadrant of Portland in the upcoming years as folks try to escape the skyrocketing rent and condo onslaught in the city. We’ll see if that happens, but one thing is for sure, it is definitely vibey out there.
Video after the jump.
