If you've been around Portland for a little while you may remember the electronic rap duo Serious Business. If not, that's okay. You can still appreciate the new music made by 1/2 of Serious B. by way of Jason Mampel. His solo endeavor, titled XO Jasen, brings fun and danceable beats in the same vein, yet takes on more important issues like sexual and gender identity. XO Jason's first video from his debut album Four Love Songs, "Kiss Me Dark Destroyer" is a visually intriguing interpretation of issues that many can relate to. The album also features guitar work from Nate Wey of the dreamy Souvenir Driver. Watch the video below!

-Cervante Pope

The night kicked off with a bang, as Bubble Cats put on a shred-fest of guitars and cool melodies. Next, Tender Age charmed the audience with their serene dream-pop, preparing the solid Wednesday night crowd at Mississippi Studios for their headliners.

Souvenir Driver are ahead of the curve, making each live show a production. Probably the best-dressed band in Portland, the three-piece suit-clad dudes looked and sounded polished for the release of their sophomore album, Living Water. SD made every effort to set the mood, layering the soft, reverby vocals of Nate Wey and heavily effected instruments, along with a mesmerizing visual effect reel projected over the band. The use of visuals transports the audience into a totally different space, adding an undefined excitement to their ominous bliss-pop songs. My favorite song from their set was “I Touch You Honey” off Living Water, with a catchy surf pop guitar riff, upbeat drums, and atmospheric backing vocals.

Attention to detail sets Souvenir Driver apart from other bands, right down to the hand-made posters and limited-edition cassettes at the merch table.

- Chandler Strutz

Photos by Todd Walberg

Souvenir Driver plays Dante’s this Saturday, let’s take a minute and explore exactly why this is going to be a hell of a show. You may recognize these boys from projects like Soft Paws, Happy Prescriptions and Hawkeye, but Souvenir Driver has taken most of their efforts as of late, which is evident. The band identifies as post punk which certainly rings true in their first LP, Lifts the Curse. Lead singer, Nate Wey says the record was made in efforts “to lift our sadness, our obstacles, our darkness, in order to come to a place of bliss and understanding.” Upon listening, you realize that this album is a process - a cathartic journey from tumbles down jagged sonic valleys of tracks like “Futures” and “Philosophy” to the slow crystalline ascension of “Daylight is a Movie”. In preparation for their new LP, Living Water (self-released in April) the band has been leaking singles to their bandcamp page. “Kiss You Close” and “Feel the Flood” combine heavy bass with echo-heavy kick-snare and vocals like a sedated Joe Strummer to produce a slick, sinister new wave sound. In “Feel the Flood” Nate screams, “everybody hear the sound of your own blood.” This statement is beautifully indicative of a live set with these boys, producing a sound just as physical and visceral as the ringing in your ears afterwards. - Ted Jamison