The Prids Are All Right

A A A Comments By Doug Wallen Wednesday, Jun 2 2010

If you make an indie-rock album and Built to Spill's Doug Martsch shows up, the battle is half-won right there. Martsch sings and plays guitar on "In the Fall" from the Prids' new album, Chronosynclastic, and his BTS bandmate Brett Nelson lends keyboards to "When I Look." That's no fluke: The cult Portland, Ore., band has made fans of A Place to Bury Strangers, the Pains of Being Pure at Heart, and even Henry Rollins. When a disastrous 2008 tour-van crash injured members of the Prids and others traveling with them, fellow musicians came out of the woodwork to appear on a benefit tribute album. Such is the respect the band has accrued since forming in 1995. Led by now-divorced couple David Frederickson and Mistina La Fave, the Prids have survived to see members, home cities, and labels come and go. But Chronosynclastic succeeds without the survivor backstory: It's noisy, dreamy, guitar-led indie rock that's distinctly '90s in the best sense. Another Portland act, Soft Tags, is touring with the Prids behind a new double album, Mathematical Monsters. It's a lo-fi, folk-damaged analogue to Chronosynclastic, relishing the classics while contributing something new to the canon.

More About

Like this Story?

Sign up for the Events Newsletter: What's happening in town? From underground club nights to the biggest outdoor festivals, our top picks for the week's best events will always keep you in on the action.

Soft Tags and Burrows open.
Sat., June 12, 9:30 p.m., 2010

Check out this week's featured ad for Arts

Priceless Medical Evaluations

View Ad View Website

More Ads >>

Get the Events Newsletter

What's happening in town? From underground club nights to the biggest outdoor festivals, our top picks for the week's best events will always keep you in on the action.