Last weekend, I had an opportunity to do something I rarely do in my daily life: I relaxed. I hung out. A friend was visiting for the weekend, which meant that, for 72 hours, I put aside my pen. No writing, no editing, no transcription, no thoughts of global domination. Instead, I took the weekend to explore our fair city of Portland. I learned a couple of things. One: Relaxation is entirely underrated-I had no idea what it’s like to set aside two hours in the morning for coffee, or that an afternoon nap could be so satisfying. Two: Portland is a really cool little town.
April has been deemed New Music Month by the powers-that-be at USM. In that spirit, coupled with my new philosophy that Portland is King and Relaxation is Key, this week’s Arts section is devoted to the music of USM and the wider world outside. Staff writer Richard Smart provides an overview of USM Music Department’s impressive schedule for the month, while fellow staff writer Jonathon Blood reviews the latest effort from one of the up-and-coming Portland based bands, the Pete Kilpatrick Supergroup. Executive Editor John Bronson, meanwhile, takes a look at the world of music from a larger vantage point, interviewing the internationally renowned Infected Mushroom.
Naturally, spring means a number of things to college students. While the longer, warmer days mean we can all take a deep breath and peel off a few layers, it also means the stress of finals, re-orienting to the rigors of a workaday world outside the classroom, and generally shifting gears. While you’re doing all that crap, though, don’t forget to take a breath, and a look around, and a good, long listen to the music that surrounds us.