The Bunker presents Gang Gang Dance (with special guests), DJ Olive, Strategy, and Brian Degraw at subTonic
Free downstairs, $5 upstairs
Tonight is a special night for a number of reasons. First, we are celebrating the birthdays of kleverVice and Lizzie and Brian from Gang Gang Dance, so you have to come. Second, it's the Bunker's two year anniversary (another reason to come perhaps, although we try not to make a big deal out of anniversaries). Finally, we have a really terrific lineup on both floors:
Gang Gang Dance takes a break from work on their (from what we've heard at the Social Registry HQ, absolutley stunning) new album to play a birthday gig for Lizzie and Brian. GGD is a Bunker favorite, and this is their third appearance at Tonic on a Bunker night. We're never quite sure what to expect from them, which is part of the reason we like them so much. You're just as likely to hear a tripped out soundscape as you are to hear tight rhythmic dance music.
Gang Gang Dance will be joined by an as-yet-unnamed band featuring members of Brian's old band Cranium.
DJ Olive is the host of the Thursday night phOnOmena party at subTonic, but he rarely gets the opportunity to play dance music there, so we like to bring him down for a Bunker session from time to time. His set at the Bunker/Agriculture CMJ party was stunning ... leaving jaws on the floor and butts shaking. His special brand of midtempo breaks and subliminal sounds always pleases us to no end.
Strategy is one of those artists who works in many genres, making him a perfect Bunker guest. He makes rootsy dub for Tigerbeat6, ambient soundscapey stuff for Kranky, and techno and house for the ORAC label. Oh yeah, he also plays in Portland bands Nudge and Fontanelle. AND, he often DJs at dance parties around Portland. Obviously, this is a guy who lives for music.
Brian Degraw asked if he and Oliver Payne could play a DJ set after his show upstairs the last time GGD played at the Bunker. We were skeptical, because people from bands usually have no business behind the decks, but figured what the hell and let him do it. He shocked us with a late night set that included lots of stomping rock, the Smiths, and other unlikely sounds which filled the floor and was truly on of the best moments of the Bunker last year.
ALSO: our good friend Pamelia Kurstin, who is quite possibly the best theremin player in the world, is doing a solo shows upstairs at Tonic at 8pm for $10 ... highly recommended.