800 Octane - This Saturday at Satyricon
I’m a big fan of the news department over at Willamette Week. I think their investigations and reporting put the Oregonian to shame. I only wish I could say the same about their music writers. It’s my opinion that their coverage of local acts is mediocre - at best (and don’t get me started on the Mercury). One of the shows this week that “dropped through the cracks” is 800 Octane’s Saturday show at Satyricon.
These guys have been around for over a decade, and the list of acts they’ve opened for reads like a “who’s who” of punk rock: The Misfits, Tiger Army, T.S.O.L., Guttermouth, UK Subs, Bigwig, Strung Out, and the list goes on and on. They’ve played the Warped Tour multiple times. They’ve played L.A.’s House of Blues. They’ve toured multiple times. On a regional level, they’ve played every dinky club from here to Port Angeles. And you’ve probably never heard of them, because the local ink spilled on them over the last ten years has been minimal.
If you like high-energy punk rock, this is your bag. The music alternates between Misfits-influenced horror punk and surprisingly genuine tales of teen-aged angst. And as a live act, they are fantastic. I’ve seen ‘em at least a half-dozen times, and they bring it whether or not there’s a big crowd. The word on the street is that they may be calling it a day in the near future, so now is your chance to see them. I only wish the local rags would give props where props are due.
You can get info on the band here and the show here.
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Hoo-ray! I’d also add that, since this isn’t emo or alt.flavordujour music, no one in the local rags seems to care at all so thanks for giving credit where it’s (over)due.
Agreed on all accounts. I have been lucky enough to catch some 800 Octane shows in the past. Fantastic band and great group of guys. GO SEE THIS BAND!
People tend not to report on things that aren’t exciting. Awesome band or not, an old punk rock outfit isn’t exactly THE HOT THING.
True but the fact that “people” *never* reported on them or supported local music outside of their own likes (vs supporting a local scene) should be enough to condemn ‘em.
True but the fact that “people” *never* reported on them or supported local music outside of their own likes (vs supporting a local scene) should be enough to condemn ‘em.
Odd as it may sound, for a lot of folks,punk is more than simply following the latest trend or glomming on to the newest “Hot Thing.”
Besides, tenstringsquire has a point, it ain’t like much of the music written about by WW or the Merc is all that interesting as it is.
The most frequent complaint I hear about WW or Merc is that their music writing reads almost exclusively like a jr. high girl gushing over indie bands.
It’s like reading a thirteen year old’s myspace blog. “Dear Diary, Have I told you lately how much I indie music?!” Yep. What else ya got?
And so WW and Merc are a waste of time if you want to read about anything other than stereotypical cute/handsome indie rockers. Should you be looking for punk/prog/rock/etc, you gotta read about it somewhere else…
Thanks for the comments, everybody. Good to hear I’m not alone in thinking that the local weeklies ignore a large segment of Portland’s music community.