LISTEN: Wampire - "The Hearse"

The first time I heard the name "Wampire" a few weeks back, I wondered what this band could possibly sound like. I assumed they were somewhat humorous and played more to a lighthearted tone, but outside of the artwork, Portland duo Wampire seem rather wrapped up in the haze and chill of '80s new wave and post-punk. Under the cover of grand, almost spooky, synth organs, "The Hearse" seems like something that would be just perfect to complement "The Lost Boys." They're fun, kind of wild, but not without intent.

LISTEN: Howth - 'Newkirk'

Minnesota/New Jersey/Oregon five piece Howth released their debut album, Newkirk, yesterday through Mecca Lecca Records. It's a 10-song collection of spacious, mellow, surging, melodious folk and rock that rings pure and rich like the sunlight pouring through the chill, damp air floating in the dawn. The Brooklyn-based band intertwine the warmth and intimacy of folk, the comforting sincerity of Americana, the ghostly spirit of psych, and the tenacity of indie rock to craft something that falls in line with the band's own label of "Loud Space Folk." Newkirk plays out like a rollercoaster ride, starting off slow and gentle but gradually reaching a point where it blasts into something pretty momentous.

Pure Bathing Culture to Release Debut EP, Download "Ivory Coast" Now

Portland band Pure Bathing Culture will release their self-titled debut EP on May 22nd via Father/Daughter Records. The duo of Sarah Versprille and Dan Hindman may be a relatively young band having played their first show just a few months back in January, but on record they sound like they've been doing this whole "being band good band" thing for a while. The project took off last year in between Versprille's and Hindman's touring cycles with Sub Pop's Vetiver (Versprille plays keyboards, Hindman plays guitar). May 22nd is kind of far away, so let's not wait around. Hear and download EP track "Ivory Coast" below.

VIDEO: Cheyenne Marie Mize Performs "Waiting" for Into the Woods

Singer/songwriter Cheyenne Marie Mize recently performed an intimate take of her song "Waiting" for the folks at Into the Woods as a part of their "Far From Home" series, which "documents out-of-town bands passing through Portland." Mize was invited to perform at The Good Mod, a mid-century modern furniture warehouse hidden within industrial Southeast Portland. With just an electric guitar, a looping pedal, and her gorgeous, sweetly delicate vocals, this solo performance of "Waiting" is almost stunning in its hushed simplicity and intimacy. Mize performs with such personal inflection, leaving you feeling as though you're the only one in the room and the only one getting the chance to see her perform.

Of "Waiting," Mize says, "The song's about the idea that you don't know if you're going to get something that you really really want, and it's always in the back of your mind. You might try and distract yourself, but it's always kind of right there under the surface."


More/Watch @ Into the Woods here

"Waiting" is from Cheyenne Marie Mize's new album, Before Lately, out now on sonaBLAST Records. In case you missed it, check out her episode of "What's Your Muse?" here.