TK

For the past several years, theres a good chance youd find TK s oldest independent venue has long been a lifeblood for artists like Kingman. Its a sort of misfit strongholda sanctuary for the same kind of spirit that sustained local punk legends Dead Moon and outsider folk hero Michael Hurley. Rejecting the influence of fleeting scenes, foodies and encroaching developers; its stayed in tune with its muddy patrons whove carved out lives as blue collar artists for generations. Its here that Kingman earned the respect of his community.Ask around and youll quickly uncover Kingmans reputation as the kind of songwriter who makes other songwriters jealous, even angry. Still, those same artists line up to play with him. Its more than his exceptional songwriting that draws them in, though. Its his creativity, tenacity, and disarming honesty. Its led him to play with both Portland legends and newcomers, starting myriad projects to explore different concepts and styles, and making the sort of honest music that stands starkly against the backdrop of a city quickly fading under the lacquer of gentrification.TK s most beloved project. Affectionately dubbed psychedelic doom boogie, the group was born out of Kingmans desire to create a loose, groove-heavy bar band that never sacrifices the importance of good, honest songwriting. Doing so required pulling together a supergroup of local friends, neighbors, and fellow LaurelThirst royalty, including drummer Tyler Thompson and multi-instrumentalists Jay Cobb Anderson (lead guitar, harmonica), Lewi Longmire (bass, guitar, pedal steel, flugelhorn) and Sydney Nash (keys, bass, slide guitar, cornet). Its a band of deeply contrasting styles buoyed by a sincere and palpable mutual trustone that allows them to find and lose the groove with the same ease. They build graceful, spaced-out landscapes around Kingmans storytellinghis voice ragged and broken one moment and raging the nextonly to deconstruct them through a fit of manic and often dissonant rabbit holes. This is irreverent rock and roll, tempered and deepened by the sacred mystery of western country.Western country isnt southern country. Its a sound as rough-hewn and alluring as the western landscapes it comes from. Its heroes are outsiders on a path set by a stubborn devotion to the truth of things, no matter how dirty or tender. Its misfit poetry is addled by influence, scarred by hard luck, and haunted by the eternally drifting, lonesome heart of a cowboy. Its sound is accessible and human in its pure honesty, but its one thats too big to be tamed. Ultimately, it belongs to the great darkness youll only find in the wild, open expanse of the West.