ScottFromWyoming wrote: 

I'm just sayin........
 

 Alexandra wrote: 
Well la-ti-da!

 ScottFromWyoming wrote: 

 
How do you know that I am not?
 
 
I don't reveal that status on FB. I've gotten exceedingly private in recent years.........mwahahaha....   

 Alexandra wrote: 
Cool!

I realized at about the time the concert was going to start that both you and a guy I know from college were at that show. I was about to link you up FB-stylee when I went to his page and saw the announcement that he's "in a relationship." So... so close!  

Pink Martini - September 16 - Portland, OR
 

I’m sure most everyone has heard the few Pink Martini songs played here at RP. They are one of those bands that just can’t be labeled. With a full orchestra, two main female singers and a host of guest singers, they play lots of retro-torch song-sounding tunes, a little jazz, a little Latin, and a host of other kinds of eclectic world music.

Pink Martini originated in Portland, and as a favor to their home city—they did a free show downtown Monday night at Pioneer Square to promote their latest CD, “Get Happy.” They intentionally held it on a Monday, because they know how grumpy everyone is going back to work that day—and they gave away 5000 balloons to the crowd, with happy messages on them. They informed us that the balloons were also biodegradable, in keeping with PDX’s sparkling “green” reputation.

The ambience of the show was perfect: gray Portland skies gave way to Maxfield Parrish-style pink clouds in a blue twilight sky as the rain respectfully held itself at bay—and balloons escaped one or two at a time (or in clusters) as people accidentally let them go, gracefully rising up into the city sky and floating away on the wind. Hundreds of Portlandians filled the square in all shapes, sizes, colors, fashions, and ages. The screee of MAX trains and the bustle of the city happened all around the oasis of music while the band played and brought out all sorts of amusing and amazing guests.

China Forbes and Storm Large (the two main vocalists) took turns singing—either solo or in duet with Japanese-American singer Timothy Nishimoto who complimented their voices wonderfully. The conductor, Thomas Lauderdale, is a very eccentric man who plays the piano as dynamically as Elton John, and who conducts with great poise, enthusiasm, and style.

The comic relief guest was a campy British (or else she effected a great British accent) Berlin lounge singer who called herself “Meow-meow.” She had a flouncy red tutu, a brunette bobbed wig, fishnet hose and liked to bark out commands in German. She feigned offense when no one threw her flowers as  she took the stage—so to remedy the situation, she brought some out herself, threw them into the crowd, and then demanded people throw them back at her as she re-entered.

The most surprising and delightful guests (to me) were some Von Trapp great-grandchildren! They ranged from 21 to 35 and sang in those wonderful four-part Von Trapp harmonies, and even sang the “lonely goat” song from the Sound of Music. People went wild, especially when they yodeled.

Storm Large did a hauntingly beautiful Romanian ballad that will be on the new CD. They put this wonderful reverb/echo on her voice as she sang it (but not in an obnoxious Neko kind of way). She loved the song and said the translation was something like "Since I fell in love with you, I can't eat...I can't sleep...when I go outside I forget where I'm going.....oh my poor heart. Don't break it." I love her mannerisms when she sings - almost like she's intentionally effecting the air of an old-school torch singer like Edith Piaf or Marlena Dietrich.

The wind kicked up during their grand finale encore, which they only agreed to do if people started a conga line. There were about 4 of them snaking around the crowd by the time the song was finished – and it was the BEST Monday I’ve had in quite a while.

Any local So Cal listeners planning to attend the Doheny Blues Festival?

At last, I have seen this 36-year-old legend live on stage.     
 


The man can do everything: he can shred a rock solo, he can deliver a blues lick, his songs might go through two or three movements with various solos (including his keyboardist and drummer), he can make his guitar talk or whisper in hushed tones, he can make it harmonize with itself, he can belt out vocals with damn-near perfect pitch....or turn his voice into an airy, smoothness for balads. And he's got a gracious and hilarious personality to go along with his talents.
 
He started out with a bluesy acoustic set, then brought out the big guns and did the very first two songs I ever heard him play on RP - "Slow Train Comin" and "Dust Bowl."
 
Wow.

It was worth giving up grocery money and living off things in my pantry (soup, ramen noodles, PB&J) for a week.

 Red_Dragon wrote: 
They aren't in People Magazine or on Oprah...
Wiki is a start...

 oldviolin wrote: 
They can't be famous; I never heard of 'em.

 Alexandra wrote: 
I've never heard anyone play the harmonica like that. Kind of humbling at my skill level...

 oldviolin wrote: 
 

 
Awesome. I met Howard in Telluride when he was still with Bela Fleck & the Flecktones!

Saw Joe Craven and Howard Levy last night. Just incredible...seriously.  I'm gratified to have had the opportunity to see them together...each famous musicians in their own right.
 

 ScottFromWyoming wrote: 

Graham said last night that after the Rumour a chunk of what he put out was "rubbish" including a fair amount of songs about "footwear."  

 

 

 NoEnzLefttoSplit wrote: 
Yeah by 1980 the Rumour were no more (until this year). 80 to now were solo albums except for one GP & the Shot, which was all studio guys except for Brinsley Schwarz.

 steeler wrote: 
have the rest carked it?

Jealous as all hell, would love to see GP.
Edit: hey, were they always called that???  cripes.

 steeler wrote: 
It's available in a couple places to stream the whole thing. I guess I should check it out.

 ScottFromWyoming wrote: 


That album was on sale after the show last night, along with the CD. 

 steeler wrote: 
Funny comments about the album cover on FB: 

• GP describes it as looking like 'gay christian rock' in a interview in Uncut - he had little to do with the design, he says. 
• He said that it was designed for the This is 40 movie and that the guy who did it was an old hippy...

  
  

 

Graham Parker and the Rumour last night at the Birchmere.

Excellent show.  One of the better shows I've seen in a while.

He's lost some of his bite, but he's a quality performer with lots of audience interaction. And the band is solid.

They have a new CD out, and apparently are featured in the new movie  This is 40.

They seemed to really be enjoying themselves.

I'd recommend seeing them.

   

Edit:  If I get a little time — and the muse hits — I'll write a bit more.  

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