Went to this show this past Sunday. This series is curated by Josh Blanchard from the band Point Line Plane, who I finally met this time, and who is totally nice. He’s also rad for making this night happen; it’s been a wonderful thing for Portland, and Berbati’s, and it keeps getting better.

This time there were only two bands, Rollerball and Nice Nice. Rolerball have been kicking around Portland for quite a while now. I’ve heard a couple of their records and they’ve always sounded a little thin and cold to me. So I was blown away by how huge and alive they sounded at this show. Both the singers have amazing voices; the lady wails like Grace Slick in her prime. And the dude gets real into it, so into it that he starts busting out weird ninja chops and shit. AWESOME. Chantelle told me this guy used to break glass on himself and shit. Core.

Then it was Nice Nice. Apparently Jason from the band reads this blog (me: “i just got out of band practice” jason: “oh yeah? i heard you guys sound like nice nice but dancier” me: *blushing*) so I’ll have to stop bad-mouthing his crappy band on here. Actually that’s a load of steaming poo, because Nice Nice is seriously THE SHIT ™. There’s so much to love. Brain-love: they’re trying to do something new, aren’t nostalgic in an age of nostalgia, they are unique. Body-wise: They are really fucking good at their instruments and totally entrancing to watch. They read each other’s faces and gestures and react on a dime, like they’ve been doing this for years, and they have.

BEST PART: I love it when local bands get encores. When a local band gets an encore from a local crowd, it’s not because that crowd knows that if this band doesn’t come back out and play some more songs right now they might never see them again, ever, or they need to get their money’s worth or some shit. When a local band gets an encore it’s because the crowd is FEELING IT HARD, and they want more. People were stomping on the floor, screaming for more Nice Nice. And then they got it, and hippie-danced to it like total dorks. Awesome.

I leave you with this video of Nice Nice performing at one of the last Alarmist shows ever, at the Fritz, not sure when. Enjoy!