We had the pleasure of spending our evening at the Triple Door this past weekend with Rhett Miller and Dan Mangan, both performing sparser-than-sparse stripped-away acoustic sets for our eager ears. Armed with little more than their guitars and the soundsystem -- for Rhett, not even the latter, as the sound was cutting in and out during the first two songs of his set -- these two young men managed to bring their respective houses down. Dan Mangan's set was fun, earthy, and shockingly reverent at times; the high point coming at the end as he led the whole house in a rousing, repetitive final chorus during "Robots" as he stood on the top level of the front-row tier of booths.

And Rhett's set, on the other hand, was very -- well, Rhett. Full-frontal Rhett-O-Sexual-ness poured out of him, as he literally didn't miss a beat belting his first two songs out (without amplification on his instrument or voice) from the edge of the stage. Once the volume came back, he did his sweet-croonin', hip-shakin' performance as only he can, finishing each tune to thunderous applause. Somewhere along the line, someone told Rhett Miller to always leave 'em wanting more -- and that's exactly what he did.

more...

There's still time-a-plenty to get your Friday donewith and head on down to Portland for this year's installment of what's quickly becoming our favorite regional city-wide music festival, MusicFest Northwest. For four sweet nights (well, five technically, if you count the goings-on around town that started Wednesday) some of the best local and national-worthy acts sweep in and take over our hip sister city. There's a little something for everyone, and we can state from direct experience that you will have a hell of a weekend should you make the venture down south! The price is reasonable (although we can't recommend the line-skipping VIP wristband privileges enough), the city is bikeable, driveable and parkable, and there's plenty to do in your late-late off-hours around town to keep things... well, let's just say 'entertaining.'

Sleep in, fill your sunny days with KEXP in-studios at the Doug Fir {full lineup available here}, and get your nightlife on at our recommended {** = MEGA recommended} shows below -- scheduling conflicts included:

more...

Well, color our little "Dream Weaver"-playing, toe-tapping, swoon-laden-at-the-extra-undone-button hearts happy: it's September! And that means Rhett Miller's Triple Door show is finally happening. This Saturday. He's playing solo {!!!!!}, and none other than our favorite Canada-bred Dan Mangan is opening up the show. Who needs summer with a night like this on the books??

We already ran a superfan-style ticket giveaway a few months back on this one, but wanted to remind you that this is going to be one you don't want to miss this weekend. If you haven't done your body good already, get on it before it sells out: as of this moment, tickets are still available over at the Triple Door site here.

more...

On The Believer, it feels like he's going for the solo route - though I don't want to think the 97s will ever break up.

more...

Two imaginary girls {igLiz and igChar} and one imaginary writer {Stella} sat with Rhett Miller, lead singer of the Old 97's, before their latest show at the Showbox (October 19, 2004), discussing everything from doughnuts to interviewing Tom Wolfe.

more...

at Bumbershoot

I propose "Merle Haggard Miller." Or, nodding to recent history, how about "Johnny??" That would nod to both the recent unfortunate passings: Johnny Cash and John Ritter.

more...

at Bumbershoot

Some of our picks for the best bands to see at the big Bumbershoot fest. Woo hoo!

more...

at The Showbox

Which, for our readers at home who haven't gotten to the B/C section of their Trouser Press Guide, is just about as funny as someone asking you about a Jack White song and you saying you only know the White Stripes version.

more...

at Chop Suey

Finally(!) that whole falling in love and getting married thing has worked to my advantage... in the form of Rhett Miller and his first solo record entitled The Instigator...

more...