Various DVD - Burn to Shine 3: Portland OR

Fugazi’s Brendan Canty and film maker Christoph Green are making an ongoing series of films chronicling the music scene in various cities. They find a house that is about to be burned down by the city’s fire department and, on the day of its demolition, film some of the best of the city’s bands in various rooms in the house. This is the third film, the previous ones were shot in Washington DC and Chicago. Each of the twelve bands is given an hour to set up, sound check, and play one song in front of the cameras. What better way to see a band than in an old house? Contrary to garage myth, most bands that cant afford rehearsal space spend a lot of time playing in the living room of a house. It is like watching animals in their natural habitat. Most of the music is typically indie-quirky, with high points being the pseudo-Eastern European gypsy sounds of Mirah and low points an interminable song by the zero sex-appeal combo, the Decemberists. Fans of Sleater-Kinney and The Shins will love the up close and personal performances, and soul punkers The Gossip are sure to find new fans with their fireside meltdown. The eight camera people keep the visuals in motion, with some great shots taken from outside the house through a window. The sound quality is excellent, especially considering the conditions under which the music was played. At the film’s end, the house is burned by the fire department to some uncredited instrumental music that sounds like Canty's work. [www.trixiedvd.com]