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A CD-release show for Portland glam punks New York Rifles. Ya like Sweet? Sex Pistols? If that's not enough arms imagery for you, The Family Gun will also play some early-'70s inspired New York sleaze rock. Seattle's Sweet Water will do the same…minus the long hair and sequined jump suits.

Friday, March 13 at the Doug Fir. Doors: 8 p.m. Show: 9 p.m. $8

New York Rifles:
http://www.myspace.com/newyorkrifles

The Family Gun
http://www.myspace.com/thefamilygun

Sweet Water:
http://sweetwater.ning.com/

Press Release: PORTLAND, OREGON ROCK OUTFIT, NEW YORK RIFLES CELEBRATE RELEASE OF SOPHOMORE ALBUM, “MAKE A WISH” (IN MUSIC WE TRUST RECORDS) MARCH 13TH AT DOUG FIR

NEW YORK RIFLES' MYSPACE PAGE: http://www.myspace.com/newyorkrifles

On March 13, 2009, at Doug Fir Lounge, New York Rifles will celebrate the release of their sophomore album, “Make A Wish”, which will be released on Portland, Oregon-based independent record label In Music We Trust Records.

Also on the bill are The Family Gun and Sweet Water.  Doors at 8pm, show starts at 9pm.  Cover is $8.00 advance/day of show.  Tickets are available at the Doug Fir Lounge box office.

New York Rifles are: Scott Young (vocals, guitar), Kari Schafer (guitar, keyboards, backing vocals), Sean Moultrie (drums, backing vocals), Brent Williams (bass).

“Make A Wish” is New York Rifles¹ second full-length, and first for In Music We Trust.  Their debut album, “Faraway Faster”, was released on Seattle, WA-based independent record label eMpTy Records.

Now, what is “Make A Wish” all about?  What are New York Rifles all about?

To answer those two questions, think CBGBs.  Before the “Save CBGBs” campaign.  Before it closed down.  And, well before it became just a club for bands to play on the same stage that their idols had played.  I'm talking CBGB's in its prime, the glory days.  Remember those?

Think back to the days when The Ramones, The Velvet Underground, Blondie, Talking Heads, and Television  to just name a few  got their start on that dirty, cockroach-infested stage in the Lower East Side, on Bowery, the stage that spawned the 70s U.S. punk movement.

Remember that and then let's talk about Portland, Oregon's New York Rifles.

While not “punk” in the genre-labeling sense, New York Rifles are rock 'n' roll, with a punk heart beating ferociously, and play rock 'n' roll like it was played on that very CBGB's stage.  This is wild, unabashed, melodic but still biting rock, with youthful energy that commands your ears to listen because you know you're hearing something straight from the soul, impassioned and meaningful from those that wrote it and are playing it for you.  And, so, you walk away from that with something.  A feeling that music isn't homogenized or laboratory perfected.

No, you walk away with a feeling that music is alive and well, thriving in the blood of those that pull out their vinyl record collection.  Sitting on their floors with the headphones, and cranking away the classics, without irony or pretense, just because it's a warm, Saturday afternoon and there is nothing better they'd like to be doing.

“Make A Wish” by the New York Rifles embodies those old records, the spirit, the drive, the power and stamina.  Think loud guitars, melodic shards crashing against punk-infused, sweaty rock 'n' roll.  Sincere, honest vocals conveying equally sincere lyrics about every day life, whether it is love, heartbreak, lust, or just waking up in the morning and finding your direction that day.

This is rock 'n' roll. Ã‚  This is New York Rifles.  And, “Make A Wish” embodies it all.

*Photo by cathie joy young