The end is nigh! That's the end of 2018, of course. Putting a name to the zeitgeist of 2018 takes up more gigs than our hard drives have space for. What we can tell you is that some amazing stuff got made this year, in spite of (or maybe because of?) all the noise. Dive in with us.
Best of 2018 with opbmusic —:54
What can we say about a year that started with Portugal. The Man wiping their derrieres with their Grammy award, and ended with Aminé’s epic media message to the city. Amid the hoo-ha, Oregon bands churned out plenty of great tracks. We invited music director Jerad Walker of opbmusic in to share some songs from opbmusic’s Best of 2018 lists. The team just published its Best Albums list, but keep your eyes open on the opbmusic page for additional articles with the year’s best singles and best opbmusic studio sessions.
DJ Anjali and the 18-Year Party — 14:22
It’s hard to imagine Portland nightlife without the raucous Bhangra-beat dance parties thrown by DJ Anjali and the Incredible Kid. But as beloved as their events have become, Anjali had an uphill climb, making space for herself in the DJ booth. We talked to her for an October show focusing on women of color in Portland’s music scene. In this expanded interview, Anjali tells about her formative years and how she came to understand what she had to offer as a artist. Anjali and the Kid are getting ready for their annual New Year’s Eve blowout. Don’t miss it — this year’s editing includes some of our faves: Reyna Tropical (a side project for Savilá’s Fabi Reyna), Brown Calculus, and more.
Comedian Caitlin Weierhauser is headed back to Portland, teaming up with Amy Miller for a date at the Siren Theater. It’s an auspicious alignment! Both hosted respected showcases, both were voted Portland’s Funniest Person, and both first came to the stage as a way to work through some very tough things. When we spoke with Weierhaeuser in August, she gave us a master class in telling a story with difficult overtones, and bringing the audience along for the journey. We also discussed Hannah Gadsby’s bombshell Netflix special, “Nanette,” in which Gadsby turned her monologue into a critique of comedy’s relationship with trauma. Weierhaeuser’s got thoughts on the seismic waves “Nanette” sent through the comedy community, and how it changed how she thinks about her own writing.
So many treasures in KMHD’s annual list of forward-thinking releases in jazz. London’s Brownstone Recordings continues to dominate, with releases like “We Out Here” and solo albums by Emma-Jean Thackray and Nubya Garcia. This is some of the most exciting stuff we’ve heard in years. Also, if it’s not in your heavy rotation already, the new release by The Midnight Hour is one for the ages. KMHD will deliver all the year-end lists right here.
Ali Shaheed Muhammah and Adrian Younge record as The Midnight Hour. Their self-titled 2018 release made many best-of lists.
Gabriel Michael
/"Experience helps you push forward when the unexpected happens. Being a good stand-up is being a good listener." Caitlin Weierhauser.
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