When listening to Charts, I can’t help but imagine myself at a low lit, gum popping, high-school dance of a by-gone time. There are guys in fancy blazers playing questionably appropriate rock-n-roll for the kids. Then someone spikes the punch, and I dash off in my bobby socks to wave a scarf at a night time drag race and smoke lots of cigarettes. Ok, so in my research I found that there had been a 1950's doo-wop band named The Charts and perhaps this influenced me as I listened to Charts (no "the"). They do have a classic sound: a lo-fi buzz of burly bass (Andrew Clyde) and drum kicks (Josh Smith), all slicked up with romantic strikes of guitar strings and the twangy, sometimes punky vocals of Michael Rowan. There are rockabilly and punk elements, perhaps influenced by Ween, The Violent Femmes, or Suicidal Tendencies, that give them an intentional lilt, such as the warped "We Got it Good" off of The Eggy Tape EP. The trio's latest work, Tease, continues in this drawl. The sound is heavy, yet off-beat and sweet, with a few tracks having the added harmonies of a female singer. The band has been rumored to play a swanky house show or two and has been busy playing with The We Shared Milk, jamming on the streetcar, and performing as part of a special PDX Pop Now! fund drive for KBOO community Radio. With Halloween season in Portland at hand, they are set to play a seasonal set of haunted pop songs like Slow Down Zombie(Your Eating Too Fast), How Did You Get So Dead, and more, for Record Room's 2nd Anniversary party this Saturday. - Brandy Crowe

March Madness just ended and all of you bracketologists out there are probably pretty sad you'll have to until next year to get your bracketology on, but don't fret! Back for a second year by popular demand, in a move that is sure to establish itself as a Portland institution - it's Rigsketball! If you're late to the game, Rigsketball is halfcourt, 3v3 basketball played on a regulation hoop attached to the back of a van, just about anywhere the cops won't bust the party. However, when played in a bracket-style tournament with 32 of Portland's most ballin' bands and a couple of well-coordinated city permits in the 2012 calendar year: it becomes Rigsketball 2k12! - a summer tradition monstrosity that threatens the safety of every man, woman and child in a 50-foot radius, all the while promoting physical exercise, good attitudes and teamwork! Not to mention connecting 32 seemingly disparate bands and their fans in friendly opposition while providing all parties involved the chance to see each group do something new and exciting outside the studio or venue. If you like sweat, beer, bands, jams, vans, basketball and the possibility of some extremely minor bloodshed - then you'll love Rigsketball 2k12!

Last year's bracket was constituted by Typhoon, Starfucker, And And And, Radiation City, Rock n Roll Soldiers, Jared Mees and the Grown Children, Archers, Aan, SKELETRON, Sean Flinn and the Royal We, TxE, Laura Gibson, Support Force, Animal Eyes, Charts, The Woolen Men, The Blast Majesty, Dirty Mittens, Monarques, My Autumn’s Done Come, Youthbitch, Rocky & The Proms, SUPER MONSTER, The No Tomorrow Boys, Surfs Drugs, Hello Electric, Rabid Wombat, Lee Cory Oswald, Otis Heat, Ugly Flowers, Mannequinhead, and The Taxi Boys. 

Rigsketball 2k12 registration will open April 15th (filing taxes optional.) The first 32 eligible bands to register will be a part of this year's tournament and it is sure to fill up quickly after last year's buzz. Actual competition begins July 26th and goes through August 9th. If you're in a band, be sure to save the registration date. If you're an adoring fan, be sure to donate. The Deli will see everybody out on the court. Wherever that is.