Douglas Jenkins and his mates in the Portland Cello Project never seem to run short of interesting things to do with their instruments.
The collective of classically trained cellists has gained fame in the past couple years by taking a sound typically found in a symphony performance or concert hall and playing it in clubs. They bridge the gap between the two worlds by performing not only classical pieces and originals, but covers of a wide range of pop and rock music, from Kanye West and Pantera to Rihanna and Radiohead.
PCP’s latest idea was a great one: To record “Song Reader," the 20-track “album" that pop star Beck cleverly/confusingly released only as a book of sheet music in December. “Portland Cello Project Plays Beck Hansen’s Song Reader" features a ton of special guests (Jolie Holland, Nate Query of The Decemberists, former Bendite Dave Depper among them) and can be streamed in full at www.soundcloud .com/portlandcelloproject.
The PCP has been touring behind “Song Reader," but tonight’s show in Sisters will draw from across the band’s catalog, including some of the Beck stuff. Plus: Adam Shearer, frontman of Portland indie-folk band Weinland, is coming along to emcee the night and perform with the group. And he’s a riot. Should be fun!
Portland Cello Project, with Adam Shearer; 7 tonight, doors open 6:30 p.m.; $15 in advance, $20 at the door, $10 for students, tickets available at the contact info below and at Paulina Springs Books in Sisters (541-549-0866) and Redmond (541-526-1491) and FootZone (541-317-3568) in Bend; Sisters High School, 1700 W. McKinney Butte Road; www.sistersfolkfestival.org/wcs or 541-549-4979.