PORTLAND PULSE = CRYSTAL BALLROOM + GERDING THEATER + OREGON HISTORICAL SOCIETY

 

In one week Portland showed itself on a Sunday night, Tuesday night, and Wednesday afternoon. The show included the Crystal Ballroom on SW 14th and Burnside, Gerding Theater on NW 11th, and Oregon Historical Society on SW Park.

 

From Dan Auerbach, to Astoria Part 2, to Oregon’s birthday party, Portland lifted the curtain for a look behind the scenes.

 

The Easy Eye Sound Revue took the stage of the Crystal Ballroom with a big surprise: Old musicians, guys with gray hair. My kind of band, along with tambourines and maracas shaking it up.

 

 

Turns out these ace players came from studio work from the Elvis era and working with Elvis. How much more of a recommendation did I need? Dan Auerbach’s band killed it song after song and finished with one of the sweetest encores with a song of hope done solo with his guitar instead of blasting finale.

 

The crowd seemed in the 30-40 year range, all standing, all showing the sort of appreciation reserved for a master at work. Best concert ever? Yes, and a great Portland audience. That was the big thing.

 

Instead of thrash and bash and a mosh pit, it was about the music, like they all thought they could play in the band. I know I did. Tambourine solo coming up.

 

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Tuesday night I parked my car in a downtown garage and took the elevator up to street level with older couples all going to see Astoria Part 2. One of the women wondered how it would be out loud.

 

Like an old ham I said, “There’ll be rowing, and walking, and talking,” then mimed each action. My acting chops weren’t appreciated any more than my singing was on Sunday night, but that’s the beauty of live shows. It’s not always on the stage.

 

The theater crowd was older than the music crowd. The only standing happened at intermission and the end.

 

“Why is the audience so old?” I asked.

 

“Ticket prices,” wife said. “It’s an expensive night out where everyone feels something.”

 

“What do you feel?”

 

“I liked Part One better.”

 

“Me too.”

 

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Valentine’s Day and Oregon’s Birthday are the same day. The Oregon Historical Society celebrates both.

 

The cake is the key here. Great cakes.

 

 

Best cake? Gerry Frank chocolate.

 

The birthday crowd was the oldest of the three with a band older than members of the Easy Eye Sound Revue ripping through pioneer standards.

 

The three stages of Portland audiences covered a huge span of age and interests, but I hold that together they paint the real Portland. From night to day, music to drama to celebration, new people in Portland need to see shows at these venues to understand their new home.

 

More than showing up for great beer, legal weed, and SE food carts, get to know your neighbors, get to know your new neighborhood. It’s not a free ride, but it may free up something you didn’t even know you locked down.

 

All Portland wants is what you’ve got to give, starting with enTHUsiasm. That is the Portland Pulse.