The Bands of Bend-It
Asked why it’s important to have an all-ages queer festival amid all
the chaos of Pride weekend, Bend-It Festival organizer Chris Ando says,
“It’s important that kids can participate in something, queer or not,
so they know that it’s all right to support the radicalness of being
who you are.” Is there a person on earth who can’t relate to that? When
you’re young, it doesn’t matter if you’re gay, straight, bi,
whatever—we all want to belong, to be part of something.
Bend-It’s positive, outreach-
oriented mindset makes the annual
weekend of workshops and music something truly special. This year’s
music lineup boasts a strong mix of talented young bands as well as the
festival’s best venue yet, Cal Anderson Park, where the weekend of
good-time vibes kicks off at 4:00 p.m. on Friday, June 27.
Headliners the Pharmacy come to Bend-It fresh off a lengthy
U.S. tour. The Seattle party chiefs’ recent album, Choose Yr Own
Adventure, has been on the shelves for quite some time now, but
hell if the single “Little Toys on a Shelf,” with its
catchy-enough-for-a-car-commercial chorus, isn’t still stuck in
my head. The band’s hooky keyboards, jangling guitar, and irresistibly
upbeat drums make for a fun, dance-inspiring set every time out; when
they take the stage at the majestic Cal Anderson Park, with the sun
shining and a cool breeze blowing, it’s going to be a pretty triumphant
time.
Portland drum-and-guitar duo Magic Johnson perfectly
exemplify the youthful excitement that Bend-It is all about. The band’s
songs, like the energetic “Querida,” mix punk anxiety and
simple-enough-to-translate Spanish lyrics with stomping drums, crunchy
guitar, and sassy but sweet chants. The song marches listeners down
the stairs and into the thick of a sweaty basement show, and, in
fact, Magic Johnson have earned quite a reputation for rocking dance
parties all over PDX. They might feel a bit out of place in a huge park
rather than a crowded house party, but they, like the rest of the
Bend-It Festival, are sure to be a slam-dunk. 