Loch Lomond rocks Nyne on way to Europe

Fri., Nov. 30, 2012

By Isamu Jordan isamuj@spokesman.com

Indie Rock Hub

Saturday’s Loch Lomond show marks another knot in a string of Northwest indie-rock shows – what might easily be labeled as “hipster” – popping up at Nyne Bar and Bistro.

Expect more of it.

That’s because of promotional push at Nyne coming from local upstart Fifth Column Promotions.

The two-person concert promoter was started by Kent Ueland, the frontman for Spokane freak-folk favorite Terrible Buttons, alongside his girlfriend and bandmate Sarah Berentson, the younger sister of former Spokane sensation Kaylee Cole.

Fifth Column Promotions helped get live music started at Jones Radiator. Their shows have since outgrown Jones, prompting the move down the street to Nyne as a new headquarters for the brand of indie music both Ueland’s band and promotional company cater to – the likes of indie-folk faves Laura Gibson of Portland and The Cave Singers, out of Seattle. Both acts came to Nyne via Fifth Column in November. Ueland formed Fifth Column to fill the void left in the touring indie rock scene by the closure of venues such as the Empyrean Coffee House.

“Fifth Column is an outlet to get bands we listen to and love to come to Spokane again,” Ueland said. “... To get Spokane on the map again for people who like this style of music.”

If you go

Loch Lomond with Terrible Buttons
and Franklin

When, where: Saturday at 9 p.m. at Nyne Bar and Bistro, 232 W. Sprague Ave.

Cost: $7

Loch Lomond epitomizes Northwest indie-rock for any long-bearded hipster or his equally ironic female counterpart.

Every second of the Portland 11-piece band’s sprawling chamber-folk-pop oozes with the wooded character of the corner that spawned it.

Led by the stunning vocal acrobatics of Ritchie Young, Loch Lomond pushes a distinct picture into shape with pieces of classical, psychedelic, Celtic, and freakshow Americana, explored on an array of traditional instruments such as flute, clarinet, vibraphone and mellotron.

Originally Young was going to name this project The Mountain, but that didn’t quite capture the scale of the concept.

Young’s vision possesses a fearless grandiosity that is better reflected in naming it after the Scottish lake – Loch Lomond happens to be the largest lake in Great Britain.

How notable then that at the peak of its game Loch Lomond is retiring from performing in the United States altogether.

If you pass up this opportunity to see them, the next time you better be ready for a trip overseas. After this last U.S. tour – which brings the full 11-piece ensemble to Spokane on Saturday – Loch Lomond will only be performing live in Europe.

All offers in the United States will be rejected, Young said during a telephone interview.

“Loch Lomond has been active in the U.S. for a decade and I’m proud of what we’ve done here but I would feel better spending our time traveling abroad,” he said. “I will still live in Portland but we have done as much as we can do in the U.S. It’s weirdly satisfying to close the chapter here and use the band to tour in Europe and turn the U.S. into fertile ground for a new project.”

Young and company released the “White Dresses” EP in Europe in March, and they are heading back to Europe to release the companion piece, “Black Dresses,” in early 2013.

U.S. fans will have to settle for the recorded version.