(Mini) Concert: Alt-J

Alt-J are notorious for selling out whichever venue they play in Portland... EVERY time. There's something about their eclectic sound that Portlanders swoon over.

Their last gig in town was back on October 16th of 2014 at the Roseland. They have slowly progressed through the venues in town over the last few years in Portland, starting at the Star with a capacity of 500, then moving to the Crystal Ballroom with a capacity of about 1,000, over to the Roseland with a capacity of 1,410, and now in the fall of 2015, the Memorial Coliseum with a whopping 13,000 capacity.

My good buddy Brendan (@indiealtpdx) who I met back at Lily Allen was kind enough to hold a spot in line for me since I had a class. I got there about a half hour before the show, and fifteen minutes before they handed out tickets.

Because of how popular Alt-J are, lots of people with the radio station had called in favors, and not everyone got guaranteed entry. So even though Brendan was one of the first people in line, the seats we ended up with were in row B. But hey, a free show with Alt-J is great no matter where you're sitting!

Joe Newman (lead vocals and guitar), and Gus Unger-Hamilton (keyboard/vocals) came into the Bing Lounge before their first of two nights sold out shows at the Roseland. They played three songs: Warm Foothills, Left Hand Free, and Every Other Freckle, plus a short interview.

Before starting into the song Left Hand Free, Gus moved from a stool next to Joe (where he had been playing the glockenspiel) to the piano. When he sat down on the (cushioned) piano bench, it let out a small puff sound, and the entire audience started cracking up along with Gus and Joe - proving that fart jokes are funny no matter what age you are. 

Joe couldn't even get out all the lyrics to Left Hand Free because he was still laughing when they began to play it.

There was no meet and greet after the set because they had somewhere else to be, but a handful of us were waiting by the side door for them to come out so we could say hi. A woman with KINK came out to us and said the band really had no time for signing anything when they came out, but she counted how many of us there were and returned a little bit later with press photos signed by Joe and Gus. A great little consolation prize! Joe had circled Thom Green (drummer who wasn't at the Bing show) in one person's photo, and written "Absent, lost shoes" next to it which we were all laughing about.

When Joe and Gus came out they apologized they didn't have more time to stay and chat, but they did end up signing a few things, and I somehow even got a photo!

All in all it was a really great little set, and I'm really glad I was able to see it!

Warm Foothills

Left Hand Free

Every Other Freckle

Interview

(Mini) Concert: The Kooks

Before seeing The Kooks later that night at the Wonder Ballroom (my favorite venue), they were doing a set at the KINK Bing lounge. I hopped on the MAX and got to the Bing Lounge early to get a good spot. I snagged front row seats for me, my mom, dad, and best friend Jamila.

They did acoustic versions of Down, Around Town, See Me Now, and Bad Habit. It was so great to see the songs I've been listening to for weeks in a stripped down fashion about 3 feet from my face. Down was a particularly interesting one to hear acoustic, they skipped the intro and went right into the "down down digi-digi's". You can watch the videos here: Bad Habit, See Me Now, Around Town. Down, and interview.

They did a meet and greet after their short set, and I showed them a photo I had taken with them the first time they had ever been to Portland (about 8 years ago). Luke kept saying "wow" and "oh my god", it was very funny. I'm assuming he was talking about seeing his younger self. The picture itself is quite bad, and Luke and Hugh are the only current members in the photo. Then he said "So how were the last 8 years then?" in a joking way, to which I replied something along the lines of "waiting for your next album!". He apologized it took so long.

The Kooks circa 2006

(Mini) Concert: Broken Bells

When I was in Seattle seeing Portugal. The Man and Grouplove, I got an email from the KINK Bing Lounge saying I won a spot to see Broken Bells!

I got in line super early, so I was the first one there, and snagged a seat in the second row (the first row was filled by people that had cashed in favors from what I had gathered). Lucky for me, I was sitting behind a small child, so I was able to see right over her head.

They played 4 songs: Angel and the Fool, Holding on for Life, High Road, and After the Disco. They were all stripped down and acoustic - not to mention fabulous. When James Mercer whistled the part in Angel and the Fool, I melted into a small puddle of awe. There's really nothing that man can do wrong. Hell, he could put out a death metal album and I'm sure it would be excellent. And Danger Mouse is such an amazing producer... He's like King Midus - everything he touches turns to musical gold. There was also a short interview as per usual with the Bing Lounge shows.

After the (too short) set, there was no meet and greet like there normally is at Bing Lounge shows. I'm sure this was due to the enormous crowd that had come to see them, but it was still a bummer. However, not letting that stop me, I waited outside the back door where I knew they would be coming out. It was only me and a few other people who were waiting so it was okay, it wouldn't have been quite as alright if there were tons of people though. I met James Mercer, Danger Mouse, and the other two touring members of the band. I have to admit, I sort of ended up gushing to Danger Mouse about how much I love the albums he's produced, but he seemed appreciative and not like I was a crazy fan girl. Same with James.

All in all, it was probably the best KINK Bing Lounge show I've ever been to, and hearing the songs I've been listening to for months in a totally different manner was incredible.

Here are the videos for After the Disco, Holding on for Life, High Road, Angel and the Fool, and the interview from the show.

(Mini) Concert: First Aid Kit

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...

Cedar Lane

 

Emmylou

My Silver Lining

(Mini) Concert: Black Prairie

The day after Bombay Bicycle Club on April 23rd I was able to attend a very special evening show at the KINK Bing Lounge to see Black Prairie. The day before when I was talking to Lisa (the woman who essentially runs the shows at the Bing Lounge), I asked her about a Portugal. The Man show that went on at the lounge the month before. It wasn't advertised and I didn't know about it until it was happening which was a bummer. I learned that it was a benefit show for the Portland Rescue Mission and Lisa mentioned another show coming up where tickets couldn't be won in the normal way (clicking a button online and crossing your fingers your name gets picked). I asked about it and she told me that the Black Prairie show the next night was through their clip radio app. I was bummed because I wanted to see them, when to my great fortune, a woman near by who had heard out conversation chimed in saying that she had won two places but couldn't attend, and offered me her spots. My lucky day!

So the next night after my classes I went and got in line outside the Bing Lounge. I was first in line, and snagged a seat right front and center. Flying Elephants Deli catered the event and the band played seven songs. The regular drummer, John Moen, couldn't make it that night, so Jenny Conlee's husband sat in and did an excellent job. I must admit, after the performance when I was talking to the band members, I definitely gushed and probably embarrassed myself a bit. It's hard to stop gushing when you're meeting some of your favorite musicians! I couldn't make it to Black Prairie's show at the Aladdin a few nights later, so I was really happy I got to see them (and especially for free)!

Setlist for the evening

Selfie that Chris Funk took of me and the band!

Let It Out

Fortune

Lay Me Down In Tennessee 

(Mini) Concert: Bombay Bicycle Club

On April 22nd I won two spots to see Bombay Bicycle Club at the KINK Bing Lounge! I hadn't gotten tickets to see them play that night at the Wonder Ballroom, so I was glad I could still see them. They played "Luna", "To The Bone", and ended with "Shuffle". It was a great short set! They also had a brief interview where they discussed their new track "To The Bone" what was released for record store day, and their new album "So Long, See You Tomorrow" debuting at number one in the UK.

Very cool rendition of Shuffle

You can see the other videos here, here, and here

(Mini) Concert: Jake Bugg

I woke up on the morning of the 22nd and immediately checked my email. Alas, no message from KINK saying I won a spot in the Bing Lounge to see Jake Bugg do a short set and interview. I figured 'what do I have to lose?', so I called the station to see if I might be able to get in. Sure enough, the nice man in charge of the shows, David I believe was his name, said that he'd put me on the list and to come on down. Hurray!

The performance started at 1, but I took the 11:30 bus from my house which put me in line at about noon. The crowd was a mix of teenage girls, and middle aged (and older) people. Lisa, the bubbly woman who gives out tickets and is basically the front of house for the events at the lounge started passing out tickets down the line. I was second in line, and because I was alone I got the ticket for row A seat 1. Literally the first seat. I thought I was only going to get standing room, so that was awesome!

He played four songs, and did a short interview, but for some reason I couldn't find the other song and interview video, so you can find them here, here, and here.

Storm Passes Away

Lightning Bolt

He had to run off after the show so there was no meet and greet which was a bummer, but it was a great set!