Music and Rumors of Music

Failing Records

You probably know Hank Failing. He is the one of the guys behind the counter, at Old Town Records, selling you strings and the latest Moog module that makes your guitar sound like a UFO landing on a cat in the act of relieving some of the pressure that the “heat” can induce. Unassuming and helpful, Day Job Hank provides that service to local musicians that keeps us up and running, or, more importantly, stocked and gigging.

And then there is Super Hank. This is the guy that has created Failing Records. This is the guy that two months before it’s release, decided he wanted to make a CD of local talent and then produced a compilation of forty-two different bands showcasing the sometimes lesser known, but no less talented, musical acts that Portland is sitting on. What PDX-POP did for the masses, Hank did for the underground.

Ok, forgive the Hyperbole. Indeed, there are the well-known Portland artist that, for one reason or another, didn’t make the PDX-POP cut. And PDX-POP NOW! is an amazing feat of community and peer appreciation that is rightfully respected for it’s success in bringing the music scene to an equal level. But there are roughly 500 million bands in town, each doing amazing work in the genre they exist in, and Hank is there to give them some air time. Junior Private Detective, with their strange mix of metal and pop played through Escher’s abacus. The Punk Group’s mantra of eighties cool. Mikes D’s SOB, Schicky Gnarowitz, and 31 Knots to name a few. Portland is crawling with talent. This is why people keep moving here and making awesome music.

And there are other great bands here. The ones you don’t see in those PBR ads in the weeklies. Again, this is where Failing Records comes in. As Hank says, “I want to have something for Portland musicians, something they can work towards. When people look at the record industry, there are parts of it that are daunting. It would be fun to be a part of the scene that makes things more fun and a lot easier to do stuff.”

His plan for Failing Records is to put out another comp or two then maybe pick up a band to put on the label. But for now if you want to be put on the next one coming out, drop your music off to him at Old Town Music. It’s a good way to get your music out there. And, for seven dollars, or as Hank puts it, “six bands for a buck”, these will probably sell well. All the money from the first pressing is going to Rock the Vote, too. So that clears up your good deed card.

You can reach Hank at failingrecords@yahoo.com. -sh

Poh Hop

“The hip-hop scene doesn’t get the attention and respect it deserves,” says local hip-hop artist Cool Nutz. The Jus Family impresario is working hard to bring attention to the Portland hip-hop scene, hoping to create “excitement, fire, and anticipation to get people more excited about hip-hop.” The action-packed politics and music festival, POH-HOP (Portland, Oregon Hip-Hop), could be the match to get the fire started

The POH-HOP Festival began in 1995, when Cool Nutz and other local hip-hop artists sought to unite fellow hip-hop listeners and build a stronger scene. In the past few years, however, the scene has been stagnant, and needs a rebirth. Creative planners have a possible solution: Let’s talk politics!

A lot of “young urban cats don’t take into account when ballots are being cast,” Cool Nutz said. In reference to Measure 11, an act establishing mandatory minimum sentences for felonies, he added, “a lot of minority people and urban people are going to jail for mandatory sentencing for seven or eight years for things they should have served a year for.” Saturating a music festival with similar political dialogue could create awareness for young people taking interest in the hip-hop scene.

The lineup of speakers from the Portland area who really know their stuff in the music industry or politics includes mayoral candidate Tom Potter, Mark Adams (95.5 Program Director) and Mark Baumgarten (Willamette Week Music Editor). Paired with uber-talented hip-hop artists in the area, POH-HOP will attempt to bring the local hip-hop scene to the level of respect it desires.

Friday, Oct. 22 and Saturday Oct. 23, local hip-hop masters such as Thorn City Improv, Trasheap and of course Cool Nutz will dominate the stage at Ash St. Saloon (Friday) and Berbati’s Pan (Saturday). Admission for both shows is $15, or $10 for each separate show. Also at 5 p.m. on both days, panel discussions on creating quality music from beginning to end and hip-hop booking (Friday), as well as hip-hop and politics and hip-hop and activism (Saturday) will educate the attendees for free. Panel discussions will take place at the Blazer’s Boys and Girls Club at 5250 NE MLK Jr. Blvd.

For more detailed information, check out www.POHHOP.com. -lp