Finding the Cuthbert Amphitheater was quite an adventure. It's conveniently hidden somewhere between a children's museum and where the Oregon Ducks play. I got to the venue around 3pm, and there was only a short line which surprised me considering how popular Childish Gambino is. The line steadily got longer up until the gates opened, and I was the first one through.
I ended up being front and center, which I realized after the show was probably not my best choice. The circulation of the crowd - especially at a rap show - is similar to a Hadley Cell (sorry, my inner geography nerd is coming out, it'll make sense I promise):
At the equator the air rises and then once it hits a certain height it moves away from the equator and descends at around 30 degrees north or south.
So in terms of a concert: the crowd pushes towards front and center from the back, but when they hit the front row or barricade the constant push from the back moving forward tends to push people in the middle to the sides (the people at the direct front and center can grab onto the barricade and generally don't get moved).
(I'm not the best at the Microsoft Paint, but it worked okay I think)
So basically to sum it up: being at the front and center is where you get the most squished.
Danny Brown was the opener, and DJ Stefan Ponce was keeping the music going the whole time with other various rappers performing before Danny Brown. I'm not super into rap music, but I though Danny Brown was pretty good, he's been getting a lot of hype lately too. The only other rapper I've seen was Ludacris who happened to be the opening act for 'N Sync about thirteen years ago.
Between Danny Brown and Childish Gambino, the 'Deep Web app' was in out in full force. It was an interactive app that allowed concert goers to scribble and write messages that appeared on a big screen onstage. There were lots of penises...
Then finally, Donald came out wearing shorts and a sweater. He didn't talk much between songs, and he seemed really cynical. It's weird since I know him from his comedy where he's so animated and vivid, but maybe that's just a he just has two selves - rapper and comedian. It might have had something to do with Community being canceled that same day, but he left the show the year before so who knows.
The set was super cool. It was made to look like the inside of a house and there were two platforms - one that looked like a study, with a big armchair, globe, and wooden desk, and the other side looked like a living room with a big couch - each with about 5 or 6 people lounging in them (all girls). My guess is that they got some sort of special VIP ticket that got them there. Side note: isn't it funny how 'VIP' (Very Important Person) these days really just means 'SMM' (Spent More Money). Anyway, about half way through the show between songs, Donald looked over at the people on the furniture and yelled "GET THE FUCK OUT OF MY HOUSE" at which they all awkwardly walked off stage.
I've gotta say, this show took the cake for the most squished I've ever been. I couldn't even get my phone out to take pictures... Absolutely insane, but fun!
For the second Decemberists show on May 30th, I had purchased a special VIP ticket which got me early entry and a meet and greet with the band. At about 5:45 they let the VIP line in. I had learned the day before that 120 VIP tickets were sold for each show, which seemed like a lot to me. I also learned that there's no way to tell someone that you're standing in the VIP line without sounding like a total douche...
I met a few people in line that were pretty cool, and we hung out in Lola's Room which is another venue on the floor below the Crystal Ballroom. It's pretty small - 340 people capacity - and that's where the meet and greet was. There was a table with some food from Ringler's Pub downstairs, and everyone got a drink ticket. The band didn't come in until about 6:30 (they were supposed to come in at 6), and the girl (can't remember her name for the life of me...) I had met before and I immediately went over to Colin since we knew he was going to get swamped and we wanted to get up to the stage before the early entry from Ringler's were allowed in.
I told him how much I appreciated what the band was doing for Victory Academy since I used to babysit for a boy that was on the autism spectrum. I also gave him a little salve package (my mom makes organic salves and lip balms, so I gave him two lip balms and a 'healskin' salve that's good for scrapes and cuts).
After that I went around and met the other band members with the girl and gave each of them a lip balm that my mom had made. They all loved them - John (drummer) put it on right away, and Nate (bass player) said it would be perfect for his 4-year-old who is very into "lipstick" right now.
I asked Chris Funk (various instruments, guitar, steel pedal guitar, theremin, etc.) about what the story is with the small deity that's always onstage with them now. Apparently it's Athena, and they stole it from the dressing room of a venue they played at once. He actually remembered me from the Black Prairie show at the KINK Bing Lounge which was super cool.
I finished the meet and greet by talking to Jenny Conlee (pianist and accordion player), who over the course of our conversation ended up reveling there would be a new Decemberists album and tour early next year. I also ended up talking to her about piano lessons, which I'm now taking with her!
Colin Meloy Chris Funk
My whole family was in the front row Signed poster included with VIP ticket
I got to the barricade (front and center) with a few people from the meet and greet, but there were only about five of us there when the early entry from Ringler's came rushing in. My family were one of the first groups in, and there was actually enough room for us all to be in front together which was kinda cool.
Sallie Ford was the opening act, she came out with a new band (all female which was badass) since 'The Sound Outside' had split. She was excellent, and Chris Funk (who is producing her latest album which I found out at the Black Prairie KINK Bing Lounge show) came out for a few songs.
The first part of the set was the Castaways And Cutouts (2002) album - same as the night before. Although I thought the first night was better than the second, due to the 80's Video Dance Attack happening in Lola's Room below the Crystal. The bass could be heard from below which really sucked during the slow songs.
After a half hour break they came back out and played the exact same second set from the night before. I was a little surprised that they played the same set since I've seen them play back to back nights before and it was always different, but I guess they haven't played in a while so they probably only rehearsed those specific songs.
Like the night before, Colin played Hank Eat Your Oatmeal which went into Calamity Song, and the rest of the second set was as excellent as the night before.
When they came back for the two song encore, Colin made a joke about the 80's Video Dance Attack that was still happening below, and the band ended up playing Your Love (an 80's song by The Outfield) with Chris Funk on vocals.
This is the song for reference:
They played almost all of Your Love, then went into 16 Military Wives. Towards the end of the song, Chris Funk and Colin Meloy had a bit of a 'guitar solo battle', and stood on the speakers between the barricade and the stage. After a bit of back and forth between them, Colin handed his guitar to the girl standing to the left of my dad, and Chris went to pull a guy up onstage who was a few people to my right. The guy didn't want to go up though, so he pulled up the girl next to him. I was super bummed he didn't pick me at first, but then John got off the drums (Colin took his place), grabbed a Tom drum that Chris had used for Rake's Song, and held it out for me to play from behind the barricade!
John was talking to me as I was playing the drums saying that "I could get a job doing this", but then went on to say "Nah, you'd be better off getting a real job" (not condescendingly, but in a joking way) , and also saying that he had "No idea how long this will go on for".
It was total chaos for a little bit: the girl was onstage playing Chris's guitar (with him helping her), John was holding out the drum for me to play, Nate got tired and sat on the drum platform with his giant upright bass on its side in his lap, and Jenny was keeping the beat.
Then after a good five minutes or so, John told me that they were going to 'bring it back', and left the drum for me to play. Colin came back out gestured for the audience to lower down - which they (of course) obliged to do (even me still playing the drum as I did so). Colin took the mic stand and was standing on the speakers in front of the stage about to end the song, when the stand disconnected and he was just holding the top part. A crew member rushed out to put it back into place, but it was very funny.
Like the night before, they ended with June Hymn, and it was a lovely, magical finish to to a fabulous night.
On May 22nd I won two spots to see First Aid Kit live at the KINK Bing Lounge. I got in line early and snagged two front row seats for me and my dad who was my plus one. I was really excited to see them since I had missed them when they were in Portland the year before.
First Aid Kit are comprised of Swedish sisters Johanna and Klara Soderberg. They covered the Fleet Foxes song Tiger Mountain Peasant Song which got their name out and helped propel them into a world wide known act.
They played three songs: Cedar Lane which is off their new album "Stay Gold", My Silver Lining also on the new album, and Emmylou which is their ode to country music.
They also did a short interview which is customary of all KINK Bing Lounge shows. They discussed recording their latest album and previous album in Nebraska, kicking off their tour in Portland, and their father touring with them as their sound tech.
After the songs and interview they did a meet and greet. They were so nice and sweet, and signed the back of my ticket. I also took a picture with them, and felt like a total shortie...
The Decemberists haven't played a show since their two epic back to back nights at McMenamins Edgefield back in 2011. They played the Boston Calling music festival on May 24th before their two sold out nights at the Crystal Ballroom in Portland on the 29th and 30th to benefit the Victory Academy. Victory Academy is a school in the Portland metro area specifically for kids on the autism spectrum; it has seen so much success that it is in desperate need of expansion which is what the shows were benefiting.
The show was ticketless in order to try and curtail the rampant scalping, meaning that there was a two ticket limit per credit card, and to get into the show you had to have the card used to purchase the tickets present along with ID. For both of the shows there were regular admittance tickets, and special VIP tickets that got you a signed special edition poster, a pre-show meet and greet with the band and some food, and early entry into the venue.
The first night I had just a regular admittance ticket, but I still ended up front row and center due to some very cool people I met who had the VIP tickets, and a funny coincidence: Three years ago at one of the back to back nights at the Edgefield my sister and I stood next to a guy who had come all the way from Alaska. He was at the front and center, and actually remembered us from the show three years ago. As it turns out, there was a picture taken of the show that was used in the album booklet for their live album and there are only about four people visible. My sister, the Alaskan guy, and I, are all clearly visible! This photo is currently their Facebook cover photo
Before the show started, a security guard came out and gave a loud (non microphone) announcement to the front rows saying that there were no photos or videos per request of the band. People adhered to it too!
Laura Veirs came out and played a short set right at 8pm. She played the first few songs with just her and her guitar, then The Decemberists (minus front man Colin Meloy) came out, and accompanied her for the rest of the excellent set.
Before the show, the founder and one of the teachers at Victory Academy came out (with an introduction from Colin) and talked a bit about the school and its goals. And then the moment everyone had been waiting for: The Decemberists came out to great whoops and cheers and immediately started into the first act of the night - the entire Castaways and Cutouts (2002) album.
It sounded excellent, and there was - of course - some banter between songs because Colin couldn't help himself. The first half ran very smoothly save for a few minor tangles which I'm guessing were simply due to not playing for a while. During Cautionary Song Colin messed up some of the lines, but he brushed it off and the crowed loved it. He also really got into California One/Youth and Beauty Parade - laying down on the ground while playing guitar, and refreshing the drummer, John Moen, with some water (pouring it in his mouth/all over his face).
They took a 20 minute break between the sets, then came back out to play another thirteen songs. At one point someone yelled out "Freebird" and Colin went on a short rant about his involvement in MACOF (Musicians Against the Calling Out of Freebird - more info here). He sang the short ditty "Hank Eat Your Oatmeal" - a song about getting his son to eat breakfast - which went into Calamity Song.
During O Valencia he went into a quick verse of "the worst song in the world" Dracula's Daughter, and before 16 Military Wives they went into the Doobie Brothers song Dixiland, and during the final 'duh duh duh''s, Colin had the audience change the volume level of singing, had us whisper it, and then finally just think it.
The performance was wonderful, and everyone had a good time. It was a spectacular comeback, and a great first night of their back to back shows which left me eagerly awaiting the second night, and marveling in the euphoria from the first night.
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