It was just last year when a newly imagined Project Pabst made it's debut down at the Tom McCall Waterfront Park. With a fairly eclectic lineup for the actual festival and the night shows as well, patrons flooded in and out of the entrance gates with the gears in their heads turning as to how they felt about the festival's new style. It's almost impossible to pull anything off without a couple hitches along the way, but Project Pabst soldiered through another year of big acts and big piles of beer cans. The same is still true for 2017, just a couple of things seeing changes.

This year's fest is scaled down in a few ways, but has grown a lot in others. Unlike the Project Pabst's of the past, the 2017 edition won't have any night shows at all. These night shows were held at various locations around the city and gave more opportunities for local acts to participate in the festival. Last year, Kyle Craft was the only local to make it to festival's main stages. Project Pabst night shows also offered more in genre variance, since many of the festival's metal shows happened at night. Local support this year comes but from just one local artist each day, though the ones chosen are two of the best in the city and have both been voted our Deli Portland Artist of the Month in the past.

Opening up Saturday's festivities is the Last Artful, Dodgr. She happened to have played one of the night sets last year, but her distinct vocal style and bomb beats are perfect for the bigger stage. For Sunday's sets, harsh post-punk group Lithics will be kicking things off. They've become more of a common name around town over the last few months, especially after basically being named the best new band in Portland by Willamette Week and participating voters.

What sets this round of Project Pabst apart from the others are the headlining acts. This isn't to say that Duran Duran, Ice Cube, Tame Impala and Ween didn't totally kill it last year, or that Tears for Fears didn't a few years back. But each day this year has a pretty damn good trifecta of artists to close out everything. 

Attendees will get a chance to see Spoon, Nas and Beck on Saturday, while Sunday patrons will get a little bit of good, old and controversial. South African "rap" duo Die Antwoord have been contentious musicians from the start, but the reasons that make them such could create problems for Portlanders at the festival. Die Antwoord is known for committing racial and homophobic acts under the guise of shock value, like using the n*word in their songs, dressing in blackface in music videos and referring to people as f***ts, so it will be interesting to see how the crowd will react if they pull anything go the sort on stage.

To detract from whatever potential drama that could happen, the coolness of singer-songwriter and all around pop culture jokester Father John Misty, along with the iconic existence of still-kicking-it rocker Iggy Pop guarantees the festival will end on a good note.

For those that want to keep the party going, a Project Pabst Cooldown party will be happening back across the bridge at the Know. This bill is all local, featuring Blossom, Myke Bogan and Foreign Talks from Vancouver, Wa. 

This is one of the festival's best bills yet and tickets are still available, so get yours before the chance is lost.

Deli Portlanders,

It's been a months long road in the process of nominating and voting on who all of you feel are the city's best musicians for the year. After thinking back on all the shows played and albums released from 2016, we've finally got a solid list of Portland's finest. Take a gander at who you all fell for (and just how much you fell for them), while also showing some love to yourselves and the lovely jurors that participated.

Thanks to our jurors: Linneas Boland-Godbey (Next Northwest), Aaron Sharpsteen (Photographer), Tony Prato (Bunk Bar), Duffy Rongiiland (Gnar Tapes), Rob Cullivan (Portland Tribune), Leigh Belacic (PDX Pop Now), Jeni Wren Stottrup (Gritty Birds Podcast), Annie Ostrowski (Riot Act Media), Blake Hickman (Good Cheer Records), Clifford Prince King (Photographer), Mo Troper (Impose Magazine/Portland Mercury), Chad Davis (Musician), Jordan Stamm (Drunk Dial Records), Hunter Skowron (Dazzleships Records), Todd Walberg (Photographer), Yousef Hatlani (Faces on the Radio), Corbin Corbinn (Crush House/Photographer), and Andrew Olson (dr0ne PR).

Let's get down to the nitty gritty of what you all have been waiting for...

Lithics

Lithics exude mystery. From their experimental punk drone to their intentional lack of an internet presence, they're the band you may not have known existed until you saw them accidentally. They've been coasting in Portland's formerly under-appreciated but always DIY post/art punk scene for almost three years now with just two releases under their belt. Their three track, self-titled tape from 2015 gave us a taste, but it was their 2016 release Borrowed Floors that helped propel them into being Portland's best band of the year.

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2. Cat Hoch

This isn't the first success Cat Hoch and her band have experienced with the Deli. She came out on top entirely in 2015, when she was voted the Best Emerging Artist of that year and was the readers' choice for best in shoegaze and psych rock for this year. From opening up for Ride to commanding even bigger stages, Cat Hoch and her talented group of musicians aren't stopping anytime soon.

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3. Abronia

Ambiently soft yet broodingly heavy, Abronia have expanded their lineup to match their beautifully atmospheric and expansive sound. Our overall pick for best in electronic and experimental and perfect for moments of mental reflection (but easy to enjoy in damn near every other scenario), Abronia's dominanation of the experimental side of the poll makes total sense, and we can't wait to hear new releases from them.

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4. Ice Queens (Alt Rock/Metal, 7pts)

5. Fur Coats (Hip Hop/R&B, 6pts)

6. The Toads (Indie Rock/Post-Punk, 6pts)

7. Mr. Wrong (Punk/Garage, 6pts)

8. Shrine of the Serpent (Alt Rock/Metal, 5.5pts)

9. A Volcano (Alt Rock/Metal, 5pts)

10. dolphin midwives (Electronic/Experimental, 5pts)

11. Gold Casio (Electronic/Experimental, 5pts)

12. Chanti Darling (Hip Hop/R&B, 5pts)

13. Lola Buzzkill (Hip Hop/R&B, 5pts)

14. Laura Palmer's Death Parade (Psych/Shoegaze, 5pts)

15. Wave Action (Punk/Garage, 5pts)

16. Donte Thomas (Hip Hop/R&B, 4pts)

17. Little Star (Indie Pop, 4pts)

18. Candace (Psych/Shoegaze, 4pts)

19. Zozma (Psych/Shoegaze, 4pts)

20. On drugs (Punk/Garage, 4pts)

21. James Curry IV (Electronic/Experimental, 3.5pts)

22. Mini Blinds (Indie Pop, 3.5pts)

Portland is a city of protesting. Our propensity to come together in revolt against major issues afflcting society is one of the greater characteristics of the city, as is what is offered locally in music. Today, most of the country has been participating in the General Strike against President fuck up Donald Trump prior to Monday's President's Day. Those striking haven't been partaking in any activities, especially ones that benefit the country's capatlistic benefit. 

For the most part, everyone wants to aid in spreading this message of strong displeasure, which obviously leaves venues with things scheduled today at a bit of an impasse. Northeast all ages venue Turn! Turn! Turn! was presented with this same problem, and has decided to move forward with the great show they have scheduled for tonight, where Blesst Chest, Sad Horse and Lithics are set to play.

On the decision, Turn! Turn! Turn! said:

After much deliberation between Turn! Turn! Turn!, its employees, the bands and others willing to share their input, we have decided to be open and have our show as scheduled February 17, the day of the general strike. This was a difficult decision, as everyone involved with this show sympathizes with the aims of the strike. Ultimately, we had the opportunity to do more good by having the show than not. To that end, we are making the show free so you don’t have to open your wallet. However, we will be accepting donations at the door for IRCO (Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization) and Portland Homeless Family Solutions. In addition, Turn! will be offering an all-Portland tap list and spirits by Portland distilleries. Those willing and able to spend a few bucks at the bar will also be supporting IRCO and PHFS, as we’ll donate between 25% (for non-donated kegs) and 50% for donated kegs to these organizations. 

End your day of striking the right way by heading up to Northeast Killingsworth with some cash in hand.

 *photo by Cary Clarke

As we come to the close of another round of genre polling, this one sees an interesting pair of categories mashing up together in voting. Thinking of indie rock and post-punk in the same light is weird enough, but what isn't strange is who all of you chose as the winners. We're pleased to present you with the best in indie rock and post-punk for 2017: Lithics and The Toads.

Lithics are the winners of our overall poll, with much love given to them from our anonymous jurors. They dropped Borrowed Floors last year, along with playing a series of shows throughout the year that made a lasting impression on many of our poll participants. One of their first shows of 2017 will be this Friday with Sad Horse and Blesst Chest at Turn Turn Turn.

The Toads took over the readers' poll with their fun loving, power pop indie rock without a problem. Theses dudes really know how to write an easily lovable rock song that makes you want to pogo up and down with a huge smile on your face. Always Be Nice, the EP they released in October of last year, is a much needed reminder to spread some love and kindness around. You can check out their lovely live set at Quarterworld on Thursday with Radler.

A more than honorable mention needs to go out to Star Club, who gave The Toads a huge run for their money in the readers' poll!

	Blowout		3%	10 votes
	Dark/Light		2%	6 votes
	Marcys Band		7%	18 votes
	Lithics		2%	7 votes
	The Century		1%	4 votes
	Star Club		35%	91 votes
	The Toads		45%	115 votes
	Tyrants		1%	4 votes

Day 2 of PDX Pop Now actually starts at noon, with Friends of Noise and Music in the Schools act The Scribes. Mr. Bones will be repping an early but good spot for Good Cheer Records, and the Tamed West round out a nice early afternoon block of performances before the afternoon starts kicking in.

Andrew Endres Collective is bringing some jazzy vibes to the fest and Wave Action is filling in for Little Star just before 3:30. 

Old Grape God and Speaker Minds are the fest's hip hop flavor for the day leading into punk af Tiny Knives and Love Cop, who have got their self described "hood goth" on lock.

Experimental artist Antecessor will ring the night in with a bit of strangeness, followed by a block of r&b feels from Lola Buzzkill and Fur Coats. Older school Portlanders Wooden Indian Burial Ground are closing out the night on a garagey note.

With just today and tomorrow left, PDX Pop has been off to a great start!