Yuck were in Portland on a Sunday night (July 24, I believe) which happened to coincide with bassist Mariko Doi's birthday, and guitarists/singers Daniel Blumberg and Max Bloom decorated the stage with ballons before the band played their set.
Awesomely, the opening act was Portland-by-way-of-New Zealand (both bands are on Fat Possum) mysterions (who's entire set was played in the dark, hence the 'unknown' thing... and the fact that there are no pictures, as none came out very well), Unknown Mortal Orchestra, who played a tight, energetic batch of debut album (review to be forthcoming) tunes to a large (hometown) crowd, several of whom left after UMO exited the stage.
The joke was on them, however, as they missed Yuck play all the songs off of their February debut, as well as single b-sides 'Coconut Bible' and the shoegazy 'The Base of the Dream is Empty'. I was able to get a good spot right in front of the stage and was able to take in lead guitarist Bloom shredding his Fender Jaguar for all it was worth. The band seemed to lack a little bit of energy at times, but still played the shit out of thier songs, and I left a happy man, getting to see two bands, with two of the best albums of the year, play back to back, in a small venue.
Think I should hit up the Pains of Being Pure at Heart? They're coming close to where I live.
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