Mark Lore
Portland Mercury
Portland, OR, United States
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Past articles by Mark:
Live Review: Kiss at Moda Center, Fri Feb 1
2019 marks Kiss' 46th year of operation—an impressive feat for any band, let alone one that was written off the day their self-titled debut hit stores in February 1974. According to head honchos Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley, Kiss will be around for at least three more years, but the band's “End of the Road” world tour has already begun. It's the final chapter of a career that's earned Kiss both… → Read More
Brian Eno: LUX
Brian Eno’s ambient touches can be heard in his own work as well as the numerous records he’s produced for Talking Heads, U2 and Devo. → Read More
Jim Gaffigan: Obsessed Review
Gaffigan's comedy is sort of like a funnier "Supersize Me"... → Read More
Screaming Females: Rose Mountain Review
Let’s quickly get one thing out of the way: Screaming Females are one of the best and most consistent American rock bands of the past decade. → Read More
Prince: PlectrumElectrum Review
The Purple One has gifted us not one, but two LPs this year, both on the very label “The Artist Formerly Known As” distanced himself from for years. → Read More
HEAVIÖSITY: The 10 Best Metal Records of 2016 (So Far)
Let’s face it—this year has been a downer. The news sucks. Politics suck. People suck. Metal does not suck this year. In fact, the first half of 2016(66) has been full of great metal records that are turning subgenres on their faces. So let’s not waste any time, and get to the good stuff. → Read More
Remembering the Legacy of the Ash Street Saloon
Local musicians reflect on the Ash Street Saloon’s 23-year run. → Read More
Old 97's: Graveyard Whistling Review
As the Old 97’s get deeper into their career, the question could be asked: Where does the band go from here? Do they try and shake up the magic formula? Or do they carry on in the tradition of meat-and-potatoes bands like AC/DC, where you know exactly what you’re getting, and love them all the more for it. Since forming in Dallas, Texas back in 1993, the Old 97’s have managed to find new ways to… → Read More
Ace Frehley: Space Invader Review
Ace Frehley putting out new music in 2014 is almost as miraculous as the fact that he’s still floating above Earth’s surface. The original lead guitarist of KISS has lived a little—the oceans of alcohol and boatloads of blow, the endless groupies and piles of money, and a few wrecked cars. The Space Ace might truly be a miracle of science. → Read More
A Night at the Rock and Roll Hall of Shame Lame Blame Fame
The KISS Army made its presence known hours before the 2014 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame ceremony even began. → Read More
Metallica: Hardwired...To Self-Destruct Review
When Metallica released the Black Album back in 1991 they were already considered by some (many?) to be well past their prime. Then came Load. And Reload. St. Anger. Death Magnetic. By many accounts Metallica has been living on borrowed time for the past 25 years. Now we have another ’tallica record to get lathered up over. Their 10th studio album Hardwired… To Self-Destruct comes eight years… → Read More
The 25 Best Metallica Songs
Here are the top 25 Metallica songs—excluding covers and _Lulu_. In madness we dwell. → Read More
Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers: Hypnotic Eye Review
Music has become so compartmentalized over the past decade that bands that just play rock and roll seem quaint, or they disappear in the post-synth-avant-psych-gaze haze. → Read More
Donita Sparks on Reuniting, "Meat-and-Potatoes"-ing L7
The band’s semi-surprising return this year didn’t come after years of speculation. It came simply came after their Facebook page—used essentially to house L7’s digital content—started getting inundated with fans begging for their return, often accompanied by their own photos and videos. → Read More
Toadies: The Lower Side Of Uptown Review
Toadies’ latest feels less tentative, with Lewis and co. rediscovering their dark streak in that stack of riffs. → Read More
Queens of the Stone Age: Villains Review
The evolution of Queens of the Stone Age has been slow and steady; and 20 years in the band still sounds amazingly energized. → Read More
The 20 Best KISS Songs
KISS is a divisive band on its own, but there might be even more tumult within the ranks of the KISS Army when it comes to which era/lineup/songs they like best. That said, choosing the best 20 songs from KISS's 40-year career is a task on par with trying to convince the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame to induct KISS for the past 15 years. → Read More
HEAVIÖSITY: Face To Face With Ace Frehley
I’m sitting in the backseat of a black Suburban with him across the street from his hotel near Times Square. We're on our way to Electric Lady Studios, where he’s scheduled to film an episode of the popular web series Guitar Moves. → Read More
R.E.M.: Green 25th Anniversary Reissue
Integrity has always been a big part of R.E.M. When the band finally did make the jump to the bigs, some fans, not surprisingly, didn’t take it well. → Read More
Lindsey Buckingham and Christine McVie: Lindsey Buckingham/Christine McVie Review
Buckingham-McVie isn’t nearly as caustic or wistful as the band’s ’70s material, but the songcraft is still there all these years later. → Read More