Portrayal Of Guilt Brings Austin Hardcore Power Punk to Portland
As Valentine’s Day is sneaking up on us and 2019 keeps chugging along we decided to explore alternative ways to show appreciation for those we love. For example, dropping in at a show of local and touring badass musicians who are leaving everything on the stage. Performing music is one of the most traditional ways to express yourself, and can also be one of the most vulnerable. The lineup of this Thursday’s show at Geno’s is the boldest example of expression, powerful emotion, and dark passion. All five groups pour every ounce of themselves into their performances, their screams fill you with frenzy and make you want to move, while the emotional and personal content of the music leaves you feeling exposed.
With their latest record “Let Pain Be Your Guide,” Portrayal Of Guilt shares “the different types of pain one may go through when living in and accepting the horrors of reality,” (NPR Music). Guitarist and vocalist, Matt King, told NPR Music that he chose “to suffer through the pain. This album is a product of this suffering.” In our opinion, there is little more romantic and personal than baring all for the world to hear. We are honored that Portrayal Of Guilt has included our city, and our local hardcore scene, on this journey. Portrayal Of Guilt has just kicked off their 2019 tour to promote the record, and this Thursday they’ll be shredding Valentine’s Day with us.
Traveling from out of town with Portrayal Of Guilt is Philly vegan grind group Fluoride. This is violent hardcore noise at its most powerful and captivating. We can not wait to see them tear it up on stage.
The local welcoming party heating up the evening will be our very own KØVVNS, Flooding Panama, and Sores. In an effort to spice up the evening we asked these iconic members of our local hardcore scene to open up about their latest records, the local scene, and stupid cupid.
Flooding Panama
How did Flooding Panama come to be?:
After the break up of my old screamo band Joseph Merrick I formed Flooding Panama with my friend Trevor as a two-piece and my friend Shane was booking a show with the band Revenge (RIP) from Massachusetts and I asked him to throw us on last-minute with two or three songs and long movie clips in between them, we mostly just made everyone uncomfortable for 8 or 9 minutes with an all grind set.
What is the best show you’ve ever seen at Geno’s and why?
The last show we played there with Birds and Row and Portrayal of Guilt was my favorite show I have seen so far. That or maybe one of the many times I saw Covered In Bees back in the day.
Your latest record, Repurposing The Hope Of Others, was released late last year. Can you tell us about the inspiration behind the record?
It was the pent up aggression and frustration of many tragic events that had occurred in the past 15 years of my life that has lead me to write most of it and some unreleased tracks we wrote as a previous line up years ago that never got recorded. We finished those and got them down on a record.
This record feels more dark and robust than your previous releases. What’s changed?
Half the album is new songs I have written which were written when I was feeling a batch of mixed emotions. With Flooding Panama I never really write a song just hanging out, I am usually feeling some type of strong aggression or sadness and the only way to get through it is to get it into a song so I can get rid of the feeling.
KØVVNS
Tell us about your first show as KØVVNS:
I was recording under the name ‘Vorticist’ crafting ambient/noise collages for about 10 years. Following a successful solo exhibition of my paintings, accompanied with a live sound installation, I was convinced by Jon of Last Mercy Emissions to take the sounds to the stage. Rebranded as KØVVNS, the first live performance took place at Geno’s Rock Club in March of 2018. 25 minutes of swirling, industrial, dark-ambient soundscapes behind a projection of E Elias Merhige 1990 film ‘Begotten’.
What is the best show you’ve ever seen at Geno’s and why?
The best show I’ve seen at Geno’s, while obviously subject to personal taste as there has been a tremendous amount of amazing talent pass through this building, would be day 2 of Last Mercy Emission’s 2018 Into the Aether Fest. Skullflower, GNAW, Ariadne, Compacter, Opening Bell, FRKSE, and Sterile Garden was a move of master curation, one which won’t be soon forgotten by those that bore witness.
Tell us about the Echos of Flesh Vol. 1. What was your experience like working with Scrotal Tear?
Remy of Scrotal Tear and I have worked on several projects together and they’ve always been an absolute pleasure. A consummate professional and a well of innovative ideas. Preparations for our ‘Echos of Flesh’ performance were smooth and every rehearsal a blast. I very much look forward to future collaborations.
Do you feel like your fans get something extra when you do a live recording?
As an improvisational dark ambient/drone/noise project, live is above and beyond the way to experience it, what you’re experiencing is KØVVNS at it’s most raw and darkly psychedelic. A live album is a brief gaze into what was unleashed. No studio album can truly replicate that, and nothing but seeing it for yourself can describe it.
Hardcore Valentine’s Day
If you could go on a Valentine’s Day date with any band, who would it be and why?
Flooding Panama: A double date with Jeromes Dream and Usurp Synapse, they are very big influences on how we write music and the type of music we are trying to portray.
Fluoride: Gasp because they build a good atmosphere without compromising excitement
KØVVNS: If I could go on a Valentines Date with any band I would choose Portrayal of Guilt, Fluoride, Flooding Panama, and Sores. We would go to Geno’s and take turns devastating the stage and destroying the minds of any and all in attendance.
If your band was in one of those assorted boxes of chocolates, which chocolate would you be?
Flooding Panama: Coconut because everyone hates us.
Fluoride: Whatever vegan chocolate is available lol
KØVVNS: If KØVVNS were a box of chocolate it would be void flavored chocolate. It would taste of the absence of existence as your entire essence collapses on itself and you’re swallowed by the infinite nothing. You will be thankful you chose this chocolate.
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