All We Could Do Was Sing

I have a confession to make. For a while now, I've had this fantasy of moving to Alaska and having a wild, torrid affair with a handsome fisherman. I wasn't really sure why until this past Friday night, when I went and saw Port O'Brien at the Towne Lounge.

We walked past the sandwich board that said Towne Lounge and then underneath in cursive writing, "For Urban Sophisticates". I think that is some kind of a joke. When you walk into the smoky dive, there is really nothing sophisticated about it. The vinyl on the booths is torn, the tables look like they haven't been wiped off in a while and various types of people, from yuppies wearing stylish summer clothes to the everyday Portland people, wearing cut-offs and t-shirts, are standing around, waiting for the music. It is an intimate setting and that's why I like it - it's like going over to your friend's house for a concert in the family room (and it's not really any bigger than a family room).

I was so glad when I saw the second band take the small stage. The lead singer, with long stringy blonde hair and the winning-est smile I have ever seen, the bass player I think, with hipster glasses and a plaid shirt, another guitar player with a cigarette hanging out of his mouth - they were all playing intensely, energetically and singing with a mighty force. Somewhere in there was a really pretty girl playing the banjo along with them, though I couldn't see her at all from where I was standing. For the last song, which is apparently a favorite with their fans, they passed out washboards to the some of the audience and they all busted out this amazing jam session of a song. I wish I would have bought their album that night, because I've been wanting to re-live it, just a little bit.

Check out Port O'Brien's website and see if you don't want to move, too. Or at least buy their album.

Port O'Brien
www.portobrien.com

Towne Lounge
714 SW 20th Place
Portland
www.townelounge.com