Author: Stephen Quirk

‘The Filmspotting Connection’, or ‘Two degrees of Ira Glass’

| Stephen Quirk

Recently it was posed to me: “okay, but i don’t understand… why would a film review podcast be talking about music in Maine?”

So this is how it happened… when podcasts were introduced to iTunes in 2005, I discovered Filmspotting (then called Cinecast).  What started out as a hobby by two guys in Chicago, has turned in to a show that’s landed guests like Ed Burns, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Rian Johnson, Diablo Cody, Ellen Page, and Shia Labeouf (the bonus content reveals one of the strangest interview outtakes to ever be recorded).  They eventually landed the show on WBEZ/Chicago Public Radio, home of This American Life and Wait Wait… Don’t Tell Me!.

I had a chance to meet one of the hosts, Adam Kempenaar, at a Boston Filmspotting Meet-up.  In addition to interviews, the show also features short musical interludes to move from segment to segment.  A short time after the creation of Factory Portland, it occurred to me… “Filmspotting has music every week, Portland has great music”.  I hope to continue sending great music to the show, but for now, here’s a list of Portland bands that have made it on air…

Spouse: Episode #316: The American / Top 5 Hitman Movies

Gully: Episode #323: Hereafter / Top 5 Double Features

Brenda: Episode #328: I Love You Phillip Morris / Top 5 DVDs of 2010

Lady Lamb the Beekeeper: Episode #337: Army of Shadows / Top 5 Revolution Movies

Bonus: “Superman” by Spouse as the closing song on This American Life, Episode #178, 2/23/2001: Superpowers

Spouse on Film(spotting)

| Stephen Quirk

1864925We recently got a copy of  ‘Confidence’ by Portland’s Spouse in the hands of the hosts of Filmspotting, along with a couple of other releases by local artists.  They were kind enough to feature two tracks from the album on a recent show.  For the uninitiated, Filmpotting is a Chicago-based, film review podcast that also airs on WBEZ radio (home of  This American Life and Wait Wait…Don’t Tell Me!).  In the past, the show has featured music by artists like Animal Collective, Neko Case, The Sea and Cake, Arcade Fire, Iron and Wine, Wilco, and many more.

Listen to Filmspotting Episode (#316) to hear ‘Vampire Love Song’ and ‘What You’re Feeling’.  You can download those tracks, and more, at Spouse’s Bandcamp Site.

Launch event recap

| Stephen Quirk
Bullyclub

Thanks to both those who attended and to the musicians who played the Factory Portland launch event.  Don’t forget to check out the photos from the evening.

If you’d like more infomation on the bands who played, you can find more below.  Many of the artists have music available for sale online, so please support them if you can…

Greyshield (website)
Jose Ayerve (of Spouse)
The No. 9
TJ Metcalfe (of Dead Man’s Clothes, Cosades)
Bullyclub
The Red F (Tim Burns of Phantom Buffalo)
Wesley Hartley and The Traveling Trees

Spouse on Bandcamp

| Stephen Quirk
Spouse // Confidence
Spouse // Confidence

Head over to Spouse’s new Bandcamp profile to download some of their previous releases as well as some newly released demos, covers and rarities.

Their new album, Confidence, is also available for purchase at their site (newly redesigned by Factory Portland).  The album has received some glowing reviews, including one from The Bollard, where you can download a track from Confidence.

Don’t forget to catch José Ayerve of Spouse at the Factory Portland Launch Event at Space Gallery on July 23rd!

Factory Portland Launch Event

| Stephen Quirk
Bullyclub

At Space Gallery, Friday 07.23.2010, Doors at 8:00 PM, Starts at 8:30 PM, $6, 18+

A new asset to our city’s virtual scene, Factory Portland assists local musicians and artists with social networking and production efforts. Additionally, Factory Portland’s site features a database of close to 400 past and present local acts, including area favorites and one-time collaborations. To celebrate the launch, Factory Portland has invited an ecclectic selection of Portland bands and musicians to play: newer acts like The No. 9 and Greyshield; side/spinoff projects The Red F (Tim Burns of Phantom Buffalo) and Wesley Hartley and The Traveling Trees; solo appearances from Jose Ayerve (Spouse, Nuclear Waste Management Club), and TJ Metcalfe (Dead Man’s Clothes, Cosades, Lady Lamb the Beekeeper); and the surprise reunion of Bullyclub!

Buy tickets here or at any Bull Moose Music location

‘Gregory’ by Gully

| Stephen Quirk
// ‘Gregory’ by Gully

‘Gregory’, an EP by Portland’s Gully, was released in May of this year.  I worked alongside Oscar Romero, leader of the band, to interpret his designs.  I stayed true to his vision, while also adding some elements to clean it up a bit.  The album has (so far) only been released at a couple of their shows, but will be available online and at local stores in the near future.  Stay tuned here for more information as it develops.

Gully is on a bit of a hiatus, but you can catch Oscar in his other band, Lapsed Axis or guitarist Stu Gurley in The No. 9.

Read a review and hear a sample over at The Bollard.

Welcome to Factory Portland

| Stephen Quirk

Welcome to Factory Portland, a new service to Portland, Maine’s music scene.  Factory Potland combines a couple of concepts that have been pet projects of its creator, Stephen Quirk.

In 1997, Stephen began photographing and assisting Bullyclub (then known as Bully Pulpit), eventually providing imagery for their albums, ‘Tenure’ and ‘likesongs’.  Over the next thirteen years, Stephen would work with New England musicians Elli Gray, Spouse/José Ayerve, Strause & Company, The No. 9, Gully and Bilvox.  Eventually, Stephen’s collaborations would grow to include help with websites, social networks and album release.

The other portion of Factory Portland is the searchable database of area musicians and music related businesses.  Though there are some finishing touches (a last name here, an address there), there are 378 bands, past and present.  These tools could be used for booking a band, finding the latest project of a favorite musician or finding the right person to work on your band’s next album.  There are bound to be bands that have been forgotten and names misspelled, so please use our additions + corrections page as you see fit.

We hope that you’ll find this site a useful addition to Portland’s creative community and welcome any feedback you may have.