It always nice to have a great, local act open up the bill for popular touring musicians coming through town. Sometimes, depending on the show booker, things can be hit or miss. Yet when they're a hit, they're truly a hit. A perfect scenario for the first of the Fit the Bill series would have to be Sunday night's show at Bunk Bar, where locals Mini Blinds opened up for Lisa Prank and Childbirth. Now of course, both Lisa Prank and Childbirth, playing together or separately, don't necessarily need aid in drawing a crowd. Bunk Bar hit capacity that night as fans of these two acts filled the roomed. They've both only played Portland once before so surely this was bound to happen, but Mini Blinds was definitely the right choice as an addition to the bill.

Mini Blinds is the dual effort of Beth Ann Dear and Devin Welch, who also happen to be 2/3 of other Portland favorites Appendixes. As the front woman in both efforts, Dear exudes a pleasant and angelic stage presence, much like the endearing tone of her voice. The chemistry between her and Welch during their performance was evident without being outwardly spoken, but expressed partially through coalescing movements about the stage. Though their entire set was great - the drum machines clean and crisp and her basslines and his guitar playing didn't skip a beat - the highest points were when Dear laid her bass down to devote all of herself to the vocals of their cover of "Angel Gone" by Beat Happening, as well as when her and Welch switched instruments for their last song, "Time Machine."

Overall, Mini Blinds were an exceptional choice for show, and truly fit the bill. 

-Cervante Pope

The music of Portland trio Appendixes is like that place between sleep and waking, where consciousness breaks away from subconscious,  emerging from colorful dreams that seemed to make sense at the time.  Light begins to filter through, stirring past a weighted heartbeat of bass, and then bursting full of synths and acoustic strums. Beth Morgans vocals are hazy, and slowly the lyrics become clear: “I had a dream we were walking on the moon” .

“Moonwalking” is the first sweet song on the band’s new five track EP Everyday Use (Jan 24th on Track and Field), and is an extension of previous works Neon Green Fear and False Color, possibly pointing to a full length endeavor. Its Dream-gaze, with eerie, condensed echoing, but also fun pop tendencies. Morgan’s alto slowly navigates the interplay between rhythms and acoustic melody. “The Plan” is a dusty and fast paced jaunt, while “Treehouse” is a sparkling dramatic into for  “Burn”, which showcases catchy beats complemented by synths and electric guitar solos, but grounds near the end with a negative rhythm of feedback.

Through some cutester strums, synth and breathy vocals, there is an ominous mood surrounding their sound, such as the darker, final track “Stolen.” And yet, listening closely you find lyrics about being “a shooting star, a glimmering ball of light” among the struggles.

Here’s to lucid dreaming.

- Brandy Crowe

Appendixes have the uncanny ability to make me question my consciousness whenever I listen to them. The trio’s take on the shoegaze genre is filled with swells of surreal tones offset by calm, reverberating vocals that bring on dream-like sensations as they flow through atmospheric compositions. Their latest release, a 7” record titled Neon Green Fear, features two tracks that showcase their style through bright guitar leads and pulses of feedback. Minimal rhythms created by a drum machine provide moments of foundation between flights into a more ambient territory. Appendixes will be celebrating the release of Neon Green Fear at Mississippi Studios this Sunday, October 20th with The Comets, Vice Device and Industrial Park. You can also watch brand new the video for title track below. - Benjamin Toledo 

The Deli Portland has cooked up something special for you this Friday night at the fantastic Mt. Tabor Theater. The Lower 48 will be rocking the concert hall with their captivating harmonies and vintage tones alongside the progressive indie rock compositions of Eidolons, and Bike Thief’s moving post-folk anthems. In the Lounge, The North Wind will be putting on a performance of epic proportions supported by Soft Shadows’ hypnotic brand of shoegaze and the enchanting dream-pop of Appendixes. The show starts at 9pm sharp, come on out and experience some of the most delicious music that Portland has to offer.

 Appendixes play the type of lively, dreamy music that can illustrate the black and white moments of your day to day life. I was listening to their new EP, “False Color”, as I walked to the grocery store today. It turned the usually monotonous experience of buying eggs and Sriracha into a bright and interesting trip in which I was swaying back and forth all the while (I got a few strange looks in the checkout line). The dreamy vocals, effects drenched guitars and distant, lo-fi drumming create colorful, introspective songs that stay in your head for hours after they've ended. The EP makes it's physical release on cassette September 1st at the Record Room, you can also download it here. -Benjamin Toledo