Gang of Four’s Dave Allen has been digging through his extensive collection of pre and post-punk vinyl, and he came up with the idea of presenting a series of Podcasts that document the rise of punk and new wave through post-punk.

In this episode, Dave drops a track from a Scottish band that Franz Ferdinand may owe a debt to, The Pop Group, whom he always saw as “Gang of Four competitors,” and James Blood Ulmer, an experimental jazz guitarist that follows in the line of Ornette Coleman, but with an increased ability to make you drop your ass on the dance floor. Enjoy.

One of the many perks of Chas Bowie’s job here at the Portland Mercury (besides the art-crit groupies and five-gallon community bucket of expired Mini-Thins) is that he got to see the Wayans Brothers’ Little Man before you! Beat that, haters! In case you’re too poor to go to the movies yourself, he’s summarized some of the funniest scenes from the movie here. Too bad you didn’t study harder in school, or maybe it could have been you who got sent to a VIP preview of Little Man. Perhaps in your next lifetime.

Another week, another edition of Portland Mercury Music Editor Adam Gnade’s local music podcast, Best Show/Worst Show. This time around, Majorie Skinner fills in as hostess. She spins tracks from The Snuggle Ups (pictured below), Modernstate, Talkdemonic, The Joggers, and Slayer. All bands you hear on this week’s show are featured in our Up & Coming section, so head out to see these bands play if you like what you hear!

Being the lowly Unpaid Intern, I’m liable to drop a few names as I claw my way to the top, in a desperate bid to enhance my credibility. So forgive me: I just heard from my new best, best, best mate, the chef and writer Tony Bourdain that this town’s full of great chefs and cooks, and it made me want to get out and meet a few. I decided get inside their kitchens, multi-media style, and interview them in the process of doing what they do best: cooking! So here goes…

My first willing subject, interviewed while making one of her signature offerings, The Marionberry Ganache, is Sahagun’s Elizabeth Montes, who like an upscale Willy Wonka turns rare, imported, single origin chocolate into artisanal truffles up on NW 16th Ave. That’s her in the picture, and those are her truffles. Mmmmm. Click this link to hear what chocolate-making sounds like….

It’s that time again to share a video from this year’s One-Minute Film Festival! Today, watch two young men testify to the beautiful cycle of life while watching a mother fox give birth to a litter of pups in “A Fox Gives Birth” by M. William Helfrich and (former Portland Mercury employee!) Justin W. Sanders.

Click here to watch!

What do you get when hundreds of adults gather up at Pioneer Square on a Friday night with soft, squishy, fluffy pillows? You get annoyed cops, a big feathery mess, and a major case of the giggles from watching grown-ups pillow fight in public! THWACK!

Click here to get smacked in the face with some extra-firm footage!

Former Mercury music editor Zac Pennington finally gave us a good excuse for quitting his job: behold, the new record, Safe As Houses. We used to tease him for wearing creepy collared sweatshirts, but we didn’t realize how creepy he could be: the record’s narrative tale of unwanted children, labor pains, train deaths, and periods is downright gorgeous, but creepy as hell. But hear it for yourself here (headphones recommended).

This week on the Rock Report, Christine S. Blystone interviews local rock band The Prids. She chats them up about their new album & upcoming national tour, previous band names, ninjas, and pirates. Plus you can hear some of the tracks off the new album!

Their CD release show is this Friday, July 14th at Doug Fir with Wet Confetti & Sleepy People. Don’t miss out on the fun!

In the mind-bending episode four of HUMPY’S SOUL SHOW, Humpy takes an informative and trippy trip into the world of PSYCHEDELIC SOUL. So tune in, drop out, do whatever you think is appropriate… just get ready to shake that ass to some hot freaky funk from The Temptations, The Chambers Brothers and The Brothers Johnson! Like, GROOVY!

(P.S. Don’t miss a new episode of Humpy’s Soul Show, every Monday at noon!)