Concert in Portland

Katie D.

July 17, 2010 - 3:27 PM

Friends and readers, this was another fabulous concert-going occasion. As you know if you've been reading my blog for long, I love music. I have since I was really little, listening to my dad's classic rock band and believing he was a rock star. I learned to dance from my mom, how to recognize good music from my dad, and watched my sister go far and away beyond me in singing. High school was all about music, mostly in the form of band class and the marching band. Trumpet and French horn for four years makes you appreciate classical music, jazz sound, and the creative ways you can create music from the basic instrumentation available.

Now I'm out of the music business myself, except for writing the lyrics for the occasional song with my dad. So music is something I consume, rather than creating myself.

I listen to music for hours every day. While I'm reading, writing, studying, talking on the phone, walking around Eugene. And when I get the chance, I take the time to head to a concert.

This weekend that meant going up to Portland with three friends, meeting four more, and heading to The Crystal Ballroom.

The name of the band is The New Pornographers (which should explain why I didn't title my blog with the band name). They're an indie-rock band from Canada, sort of a Shins-esq sound with lots of guitar and some truly beautiful lyrics. Niko Case, the lead singer, has a beautiful voice, especially backed up by the male vocalists.

I really appreciate bands that include both male and female artists. I grew up listening almost exclusively to male singers (The Who, James Taylor, Cat Stevens, The Beatles, the Eagles, the embarrassing but enduring Jimmy Buffett, etc.) but have a growing appreciation for female vocalists. Independant rock has a growing variety of bands that utilize a mixed-gender group to give a fuller, more developed sound. The new Decemberists album includes new female vocalists. Stars as well. Rilo Kiley is one of my favorite artists, with totally awesome female vocals.

Anyway, The New Pornographers are one of my favorite bands these days. I liked them anyway, but when my friends suggested we all go to see them, I started listening up on their music. Three obsessive-compulsive weeks of music study later, I know most of their lyrics and got to sing along at the top of my lungs at the concert.

The Crystal Ballroom is a fabulous venue. The floor is actually bouncy somehow, which means that when a full audience grooves, the building grooves as well.

Summer is a great time for concerts of all kinds. Eugene doesn't attract as many shows as during the school year, so venues are free for smaller shows and local bands. Several of my friends are working on individual projects or are part of larger bands. I love seeing live music, whether it's a group I know well or just something happening live at the Saturday Market. Whatever the case, it's a way to fill my passion for music and for living a musical lifestyle.

As for my music right now? I always blog while listening to something. Right now it's "The Bleeding Heart Show" by the New Pornographers off the Twin Cinema album. I highly recommend it. They ended their concert with it, so I guess that's as good a place to sign off as any.