Summer Cannibals: Straight Up Rock N Roll for Project Pabst

Friday, September 05, 2014

Kemea Smith, GoLocalPDX Contributor

Summer Cannibals

Portland’s new music festival Project Pabst kicks off later this month with local rock and roll band Summer Cannibals one of those scheduled to play, in a lineup that includes Tears for Fears, Modest Mouse and the Violent Femmes.

So what's Summer Cannibals all about? Poet and rocker Patti Smith is an influence for this heavy hitter Portland band- they took their name from her song “Summer Cannibals” that invokes hot as hell Georgia and a cannibalistic mess. Formed in 2012 , they're a three piece band - they recently lost drummer Valerie Brogden - comprising purple-haired front-woman Jessica Boudreaux, Marc Swart on guitar, and bass player Lynnae Griffiths.

Describing their sound as straight up rock and roll, they are making waves here in Portland with catchy songs like “Wear Me Out” and their high energy live performances which include plenty of hair whips and classic garage rock chants and melodies.

GoLocalPDX: Influences? If you could play a show with any artist/band (dead or alive) who would it be and why?

Jessica Boudreaux: Our influences are all over the place but big ones for me personally (Jessica) are Black Sabbath, Patti Smith, Ty Segall, Sleater Kinney and The Fall. As for the show...Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem because it would rule.

What is your favorite song from last year's album "No Makeup" and why?
Marc Swart: "Take Me Out" is definitely one of the favorites from "No Makeup" and is one that we'll probably continue playing live for quite a while.

How is the recording process coming along for your new album? Are there any other future plans?

MS: We finished it up last month. Larry Crane produced and mixed the record, we worked really well together and knocked it out in a week! We're all really stoked with how it turned out. Our plan right now is to keep playing as much as we can before the holidays kick in. We've got a festival in Spokane at the beginning of September and some local stuff later in the fall. We can't believe we were invited to play Project Pabst this year, its going to be an amazing weekend. What a line up!

Since forming in 2012, what has been your favorite moment or experience?

MS: Playing with The Thermals. They're a huge inspiration and they've been so crazy supportive and sweet to us over the last year.

Any embarrassing or funny moments from a show or on tour?

MS: When we got to our first of two shows at First Avenue in Minneapolis all of the guys working there were making fun of us for only putting club soda and crackers on our rider so the next night our drummer Valerie was like "Get us a bottle of Patron and limes"…so they did and then we took shots with all the sound and door guys. It made for a fun way to end the tour but also made the first day of driving home hellish.

How would you describe the Portland music scene?

MS: Extremely saturated…tons of bands with lots of shows every night. Lots of great people being creative and working together.

What is your favorite venue in Portland?

MS: Mississippi Studios. They've be so supportive of Summer Cannibals from the beginning. We played our first shows there and thats where we had our release party for No Makeup last year. Everyone that works at Mississippi has a heart of gold!

What are some of your favorite spots in Portland?

MS: We really like going to shows at Bunk Bar and The Know. Lynnae seems to end up at the Florida Room a lot after practice.

Project PABST takes place September 26 through 28, and will be held throughout the city, at Zidell Yards (South Waterfront) and other venues such as Crystal Ballroom, Mississippi Studios and the Wonder Ballroom. Buy tickets to the Project PABST Summer Cannibals show here.