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Macadam at Mt. Tabor Legacy, Portland Macadam - Anything, anything

Macadam at Mt. Tabor Legacy, Portland Macadam - Atomic Devotion

Ethos Live performance, Sept. 2008, Portland, OR

Macadam is a new breed of female-fronted rock in the Northwest. Since their first gig in the summer of 2005 the band has paved the way for a fresh Portland, OR scene. Nicole D.'s sultry voice and delivery seduces attention. Guitarist Travis Hendricks' riff's sugar coat the band's sweet sound with heavy undertones. Bart NoPicnic and bassist Matt Johnson complete the puzzle. Both live and on recorded tracks, the band comes across as playful yet serious, accomplished yet adventurous.

History of the Future, Macadam's first release asks listeners the question, "where has Macadam been in the past?" The 11 tracks show many different sides to the band, from slow songs that build to a heroic closure to songs that grip the listener through a whirlwind musical circus. History of the Future emulates the complexity of life (Great Date, What Am I Supposed to Do), the dramas (Runaway), the joys (Suburbia), the daily grind and role we each play in a world so fragile (History of the Future, Scientist).

Local radio (Z100 100.3 FM, KUFO 101.1 FM, KPSU 1450 AM), television (KPDX49, PDXposed, Willamette Falls Television), newspapers (Lake Oswego Review, West Linn Tidings, Portland Tribune, The Times, HomeBuilding News) and businesses caught on to the band's campaign to raise money and awareness to Dove Lewis Emergency Animal Hospital in Portland. Starting the twice-annual Rock Dogs event, Macadam continues to coordinate the bill which includes an evening of music, raffles and money raised for the non-profit organization.

Finding a passion through songs about the environment, the band hopes History of the Future's lyrics make people think, their live show let people dance and their music makes people smile. It's worked so far, and they're in it for the long haul.

Band Reviews: Macadam review by Paul Garton of www.Coopted.com

Ever since I heard Jane's Addiction's XXX release some fifteen years ago, I've thought leading off with a live debut was definitely the ballsy way to go. As we all know, indie rockers typically prefer to spend three or four months holed up in a cramped shed EQ'ing their third and fourth guitar padding tracks before nervously releasing 200 copies of their first single on transparent vinyl.

Not to be bothered, Portland's Macadam got up the morning after one show, washed the door stamp off their hands, and tossed the show dub up onto MySpace for you to have, for free, or at least until Tom sells out. Let it be heard, it's the coolest thing I've heard all day. I've listened to "What am I supposed " five times now and now I'm going to be late for work. I think I'm going to try to have sex to it tonight. Think Interpol in a good mood (maybe after picking up that $50,000 check for last year's show at SBC Park?). No, wait. Think Four Non Blondes opening to a rowdy crowd of die-hards at a Stone Roses show. Guitarist Trav Mistro works classic picky, ringy two-string builds which will never, ever die, at least if I have anything to say about it. Vocalist Nikki's got the righteous, gleeful sass, winner of this month's coveted Co-opted Music "Most likely to be hired to kill my enemies by stomping on them with a stiletto heel" Award. Question is, who'll dare give it to her?

Granted, live tracks are cheaper than studio time. Maybe Macadam is broke. I don't know what Nicole and Travis got up to when they met, but here we are nine months later with a fresh new baby, Macadam, and babies cost money. Sign that mailing list, go see a show, and if they do look a little emaciated, buy them a basket of fries from the bar, please. Uncle Bart No Picnic on drums and Uncle Matt on bass round out the family.

Catch Macadam live this weekend at wait, no show? Therell be one soon, dont you worry. They're sure as hell playing at Co-opted Portland, when we get that s*! sorted out. See you there!

News:

Submit your reviews of Macadam and make it on the band's official Web site, www.macadamband.com.