Eternal Otter Records Bootleg!

The Eternal Otter Records Bootleg is now available at Bull Moose Records in celebration of Record Store Day. Copies are limited to six handpackaged albums. The album is FREE with your purchase of "The Death, Rebirth & Transformation" vinyl single series.

Get it while you can! See post below for more information.

Record Store Day!!!

Tomorrow is Record Store Day across the nation, and if you live in Portland, Maine, you can take advantage of a great special offer.

Head down to the Bull Moose Records this Saturday (April 17th) and pick up a copy of Eternal Otter Records' "Death, Rebirth & Transformation" vinyl single series; when you do, you will receive a FREE copy of THE ETERNAL OTTER RECORDS "BOOTLEG": SPACE 1.29.10

THE "BOOTLEG" features performances from January's vinyl release party at SPACE Gallery. The songs were recorded by [dog] and [pony] and edited by Patrick Dennis. Here is the amazing track list:

1. Falling Down in Portland, Maine - Jesse Pilgrim & the Bonfire
2. Ghost Town - Jesse Pilgrim & the Bonfire
3. By the Beautiful Sea - Over A Cardboard Sea
4. Leaning on a Lamp Post - Over A Cardboard Sea
5. Hummingbird - D Gross
6. Path of Ashes (Samuel James cover) - Panda Bandits
7. Don't Cast Me Out - Moses Atwood
8. The Sun - Blaque Boose
9. Mary Jude - Lady Lamb the Beekeeper
10. Almond Colored Sheets - Lady Lamb the Beekeeper
11. Penny Licks - Lady Lamb the Beekeeper

Not only does this album rock from top to bottom, but it also captures Lady Lamb the Beekeeper's final performance as duo - with Aly Spaltro and TJ Metcalfe (now of Dead Man's Clothes) reuniting specifically for this show.

So, go down to Bull Moose this Saturday, pick up Eternal Otter Records first vinyl single series (which includes mesmerizing songs by Cerberus Shoal, Lady Lamb the Beekeeper, and Blaque Boose), and walk away with this revelatory document of Portland's music scene.

What? You don't live in Portland? You can still get your hands on this special release! Order the complete "Death, Rebirth & Transformation" series online at www.eternalotterrecords.com by May 7th, and we'll include a copy of the EOR BOOTLEG with your order.

Best Music Poll

It's time to vote in The Phoenix's Best Music Poll. There are a number of great Eternal Otter Records related artists nominated across a variety of categories:

Lady Lamb the Beekeeper is up for "Best Local Act", "Best Female Vocalist", "Best India Act", and "Best Live Act". Buy her album "Samples for Handsome Animals" on . Or mail order her vinyl single "Sunday Shoes" here.

Although Cerberus Shoal has long since disbanded, their individual members continue to have a major impact on Portland's music scene. Dilly Dilly is up for "Best Album", Chriss Sutherland for "Best Folk Act", and "Big Blood" for Best Category-Defying Act. Order the Cerberus Shoal vinyl single series here. You can also catch Big Blood live this Saturday at the Apohadion.

A number of the musicians featured in Eternal Otter Records' upcoming vinyl single series "Mystic Chords of Memory" are up for various awards:

Jesse Pilgrim for "Best Folk Act".
Samuel James is up for "Best Local Act", "Best Album", and "Best Blues Act".
Dana Gross is up for "Best Roots Act".

Building of Song mainstay performer Dominic Lavoie (of the Lucid) is up for "Best Male Vocalist"; the Lucid is also up for "Best Pop-Rock Act".

Frequent Panda Bandits-collaborators Dead Man's Clothes are up for "Best New Act". Expect to find more about their upcoming release on this blog in the near future.

Vote here! You can vote daily.

Check out this review of the Cerberus Shoal 7" single!

Ampeater Music, a great review site dedicated to off-the-radar music, has posted a lovely review of the Cerberus Shoal 7" (Tailor of Graves/Hymn) - one of the releases from Eternal Otter Record's recent "Death, Rebirth & Transformation" vinyl single series. Check it out here.

Here are some choice quotes:

"If most of the music that hits your ears was made somewhere along the L train, now’s the time to perk up and pay attention, because there’s something special happening up north."

"Tailor of Graves” sets course on such a comfortable trajectory that it’s a genuine surprise when the song twice builds to extraordinary tension, only to slip effortlessly back into familiar territory. This careful balance between experimental and folk influences make Cerberus Shoal both immediately likable and pervasively unsettling. Both lines run concurrently through “Tailor of Graves,” earning it a spot as a perennial favorite on my turntable these past couple weeks."


You can also purchase singles from the "Death, Rebirth & Transformation" series directly from the Ampeater site or from our own newly launched site.

Building of Song Tonight

It's the First Friday of a glorious April. It's also the return of Building of Song with performances by our favorites, Lady Lamb the Beekeeper and Dominic Lavoie. Come down to Congress Square to soak in their songs, or head to the 5th Floor of the Congress Building (142 High St) to watch them play up close and personal. Donations welcome.

Dark Dark Dark Rain Rain Rain

Well, after a little vacation, Eternal Otter Records just got back to Portland, but the sky is dark and the rain falls endlessly.

However, that doesn't mean that there aren't still great things to do in the city. The awesome indie-folk collective Dark Dark Dark is rolling through our town today. Their new EP- Bright Bright Bright- is absolutely excellent. First, they will be stopping to play DJ Roy's Liberation by Sound at 4 pm. Listen here.

Next, you can catch them in-person at SPACE Gallery tonight with one of our favorite local acts- Dark UrrrU (comprised of members of Big Blood and Brother Oak).

There's also lot more in store this week, with a performance by Chriss Sutherland's flamenco-inspired Olas on Thursday, also at SPACE Gallery. And the weather should break and the sun should shine just in time for the First Friday Art Walk and the return of the Building of Song.

Where have we been?

So, I know it's been awhile since I've last posted to the blog, but that doesn't mean that nothing is happening over at Eternal Otter Records- quite the contrary. What's in store for Spring?

First, if you need a reminder, we now have the Death, Rebirth & Transformation vinyl series in stores all across Portland- including:

Madgirl World. Madgirl World is a really awesome clothing and design store on Commercial Street (they currently have a fashion display at Port City Music), and they have also setup a great listening station for local music (so you can actually spin the records before you buy them.




Strange Maine & Time-Lag Records. Offbeat record stores (and more) that - one above, one below.



You can also buy the entire series as a hemp-bound set at Bull Moose Records. For our Portsmouth friends, you can find the records at Odessey & Oracle in Portsmouth (on Fleet St across from Friendly Toast)

We'll keep expanding the availability of the records, but if you can't make it to Portland or (Portsmouth), the series can be ordered by mail order here.

Also, coming up soon is the release of the second Eternal Otter Records Vinyl Single Series, "Mystic Chords of Memory". This collection includes new songs from Portland's Neo-Americana scene, featuring Jesse Pilgrim, Dana Gross, Samuel James, and Over A Cardboard Sea. You'll be hearing a lot more about this series as we get closer to the release date.

Earlier this month we also hosted what might have been our best Building of Song yet! It started with an experimental "Chakra Ledge" performance by Matthew Lajoie (founder of the extraordinary l'animaux tryst label), which used various sounds and instrumentation to chart a course through the human body - it started at the feet with improvisational drumming and ended at the head with the ringing of bells. Meghan Yates & the Reverie Machine followed next and held Portland spellbound with their otherworldly melodies. Finally, Dominic Lavoie (joined by Lajoie on electric guitar) gave a loose but riveting performance. Dominic's band, the Lucid, also just played a show at the EMPIRE last night after a long break and will be releasing their third album this springs- Garlands for the Conqueror.

Our radio show, The Red Telephone, also recently hosted a live performance by psych-rockers Planets Around the Sun. We'll be debuting a spiffy new website soon, and we'll post sample tracks from all 18 of our Red Telephone sessions! Stay tuned. In the meantime, you can check out our next show tomorrow from 10 am to Noon (ET), right here.

Finally, since I always like to pass on tips about good shows, welcome in the season with the Spring Equinox show at SPACE, featuring two of my favorite bands - Big Blood & Uke of Space Corners.