Scene Report: Modbang PDX 2.27.26

Show: Modbang PDX – 2.27.26

Venue: The Midnight PDX + The Sïx

Everyone seems to be in good spirits tonight (unaware that the leaders of the Board of Peace are bombing the fuck out of Iran) – it’s the kind of turnout that makes you stand a little straighter and think, yes, this is exactly where we’re supposed to be. “This better be in the scene report,” Enzo said as he wrapped me in one of those full-contact hugs. Your wish is granted. Then Togusa rolls through shortly after and hugs the fuck out of me, too. At some point I had to ask myself whether I’d walked into a modular showcase or a sanctioned hug summit. Either way, morale was high.

Toad is doing visuals tonight, so I asked him how he put his visuals together based on each artist’s vibe. I imagined some last-minute scramble, maybe a USB handoff or a signal chat of vague intuitions. I’m paraphrasing here, but he seems to keep it open-ended. Like he’s asking the artists, “Do you want blood? Ice cream? Blood ice cream?” Yes, Toad. We want blood ice cream. Give the people spectacle.

Up first up is Ifsh. Oh but before we talk about that, we need bring back a popular segment that debuted at a Hardware Show at Process in November. I’m not a gearhead, but it seems a lot of you are so here it is …

GEAR CHECK.

Micro Genre Music contributor, Ramon (who’s playing tonight as PUX) asked Ifsh about his gear, so here’s the rundown: Mackie 1202-VLZ mixer, Boomerang III phrase sampler, Teenage engineering OP -1 and KO II EP 133, busted Akai MPC 1000, Sony handheld cassette deck & Electro Harmonix Memory Man.

You got all that? Ifsh’s music always sounds like what I imagine the music in a backward realm sounds like. Tubular bell fragments chiming against neon textures, rhythms bouncing like someone spilled a box of mechanical marbles across a color wheel. You should check out their latest album at Heterodox Records – Second Saturday Recordings: IFSH x PUX. Check out some of their set below.

Micro Genre Music contributor Prof. Eww is here tonight, looking like a much more dapper version of Ug from Salute Your Shorts – and with way better shoes no doubt. He assured me that his I Know Jones review will be landing within days. Side note: Wet Mango successfully located cold brew coffee. Order has been restored. Another side note: Occurian is here and I’m not going to talk about Wesley Snipes unless he brings it up. This feels like a relationship.

Next up is Microvan.

GEAR CHECK.

Microvan relayed to Ramon that he’s using the Digitakt II for manipulated samples and clock for everything. Erica Synths DB-01 for basslines/acid stuff, Roland TR-8s for drums using my own custom kit of classic TR sounds and some modern drum machine samples from the Perkons andLXR-02, Moog DFAM for noise sweeps and some improvised high pitch bell type sequences. Using the onboard sequencers for each machine, no midi note sending.

If I’m not mistaken, this is Microvan’s very first set in Portland. The whole thing had a bounce to it. Not lightweight – more elastic. Beats snap into place with that satisfying mechanical precision – and honestly I’m kind of surprised becuase of the stuff of his I’ve heard is quite industrial’ish. Check out some of his set below and his bandcamp for more music – look forward to seeing more of his work.

This place is fucking filled up. Just in time because Sun Ra’s voice is booming over the speakers which can only mean one thing: Production Unit Xero‘s set is beginning.

GEAR CHECK.

I asked PUX about their gear and here’s the lay of the land: The Toneverk and Digitone II were the main compositional machines handling all textures, harmonic and melodic content, and drums. The Octatrack handled vocal and break chopping, and Analog RYTM added additional beats for the last half of the set. The Cue outs of the Octatrack routed to the inputs of the Toneverk of additional fx. I mixed with a Xone 96 mixer.

This set is fucking sick. It comes accompanied with hard, deep bass hits that you become accustomed to from a PUX set, along with low frequencies that dominate the air around it. About 170’ish BPM with transient snaps in tight formation. There is no drift in tempo, no ornamental excess. High-speed, high-density, unapologetically committed to impact and spiritual science. Check out some of their set below.

The last act of the night is Kid Camaro.

GEAR CHECK.

According to Kid Camaro it was a pretty minimal night, “Octatrack running through the Analog Heat +FX for punch-in effects and an overall clean boost on the main mix. Had the Bastl Microgranny for Freeform noise, running that into the Bastl Bestie with it feeding back into itself for a fuller sound. All that run into the Zoom L6 Max for both end of chain mixing and also recording my set. I used a little bit of the L6’s built-in reverb on the microgranny (was going to bring a reverb pedal, but opted for this to save space and keep the setup simple).”

Kid Camaro‘s music these days sounds like music to kill monsters to. It’s like you kill the monsters and then everyone at the show dances on their graves. Every time I see Kid Camaro play, it just gets better and better. His work is unhinged and full of absolute joy. When you can step on stage in a Brandon Lee shirt, velvet cape flowing like you’re about to duel in a neon alley and inspire a room full of weirdos to dance to your music for sanctioned monster eradication, you’re having a successful Friday night.

Modbang is always a joy to go to. Unfortunately the events of 2.28 (the day I’m writing this) orchestrated by the intertwined network of fascist governments who have sworn a blood oath to the commitment of violence, have put me into a downslope of emotion. It’s difficult to be playful when the thought of living on enemy soil with the enemy is being bashed into your head day after day – and knowing that your government and the culture you grew up with is destroying the world. We’re watching the machinery of an evil empire grind forward in predictable cycles. The rinse-and-repeat nature of our American genocide will no doubt take the lives of millions of the world’s most vulnerable friends and countless millions yet to be born.

We are not hopeless, but today I mourn. Just another notch on the belt for a blood hungry room of psychopaths.