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The video for Chris Walla’s ‘Sing Again’ hit the in-box yesterday courtesy of Barsuk Records. Now, all of you in the know obviously know that the esteemed producer and guitarist for Death Cab For Cutie lives here in sunny Portland. It makes sense then that the video was shot here in PDX and hopefully it will be better received than the latest Hollywood flick to be shot here, Untraceable, starring Diane Lane. Click the image to play the video and watch closely for multiple guest appearances. You know who you are…..

Portland faves and husband and wife team aka Viva Voce get some Paste Magazine love this week.

Norfolk & Western share the love…

Here’s one for the calendar - on January 26th indulge yourselves in a triple-tiered night of local chamber folk and pop with Norfolk & Western, Point Juncture, WA, and Bark, Hide and Horn.

Norfolk & Western took a 6 month hiatus while drummer/singer Rachel Blumberg was touring with Bright Eyes, but are busy again and are starting the year off right with a hometown show followed by a short headlining tour with WEINLAND (April ‘08). Also this summer Adam & Rachel will be touring as regular members of M.Ward’s band and Norfolk and Western will be back with another proper tour in the fall and have their sights set on releasing their yet to be named new album this fall - recently, after playing the Tanned Tin Festival in Castellon, Spain, they spent an extra three days in Cadiz, Spain, working with esteemed Spanish recording guru Paco Loco yielding six new songs for the follow up to 2006’s The Unsung Colony.

Adam tells me that this song is not finished yet so no download today - Listen to Sue and the Short Order Cook In Chesterfield, SC

Photos by Ingrid Renan

Portland’s Panther began as a one-man project but on the new album, 14KT God, Panther is now a two-headed beast comprised of Charlie Salas-Humara (The Planet The) on vocals, cello, guitar, and keys and Joe Kelly (31 Knots) on drums. Twice the fun basically.

For those of you non-Portland based readers here’s a snip from the official PR blurb - “Panther landed on bills as varied as opening slots from Peaches to Wolf Eyes. The monstrous throb of the beats matched by Charlie’s intensity bring a sense of religious visitation to any room Panther humps the floor in. His panic-driven falsetto howling non-sequiturs about paranoid sexuality make his jams hysterical, compelling but most importantly danceable.” Now you know…. and the album comes out on Kill Rock Stars on February 19th.

Panther - Puerto Rican Jukebox [MP3]

Drew Shoals could arguably be the most in-demand drummer in the NW right now. When he finds time to record is a true mystery but somehow he managed to write and release an amazing debut CD which seamlessly blends rock, hip-hop and Jazz in a fresh and innovative way. You can listen and purchase his new CD “The Greatest Haven’t Been Born Yet” through his web site.