Anyone with experience seeing live music can attest to the importance of seeing legends any chance you get. At the age of 81, Peter Rowan is among the last legendary artists who lived and played through a pivotal time in American music where bluegrass, folk, and psychedelic culture merged into something profoundly magical and cosmic. Lucky for us, this onetime Bluegrass Boy and Seatrain member (among too many other musical endeavors to count) is still playing his songs to live audiences. On Thursday, June 13th, Rowan rambled through Portland, Oregon for an intimate solo performance at the Showdown Saloon.
The Showdown Saloon is Portland’s newest venue and is currently being booked by the team at the prestigious Pickathon festival. Living up to its name, the comfortable room feels part honky tonk, part old West saloon. In other words, this setting was perfect for Peter Rowan and his songs that often capture an America of long ago traversed by cowboys and hippies alike. Taking a seat on the horseshoe stage, Rowan kept the appreciative crowd enraptured for nearly ninety minutes as he made his way through a set of originals and classic folk and bluegrass music. Songs like the hymnal “Down To The River To Pray” and “Walk in Jerusalem (Just Like John)” played soulful and deep, complete with slide guitar, set the performance off on a spiritual note that seemed to give Rowan an aura as he cracked jokes, told stories of his days with Bill Monroe’s Bluegrass Boys, and sang songs the way he’s been doing for six decades. For the most part, Rowan stuck to material that was slower, which allowed the songs to sink in like the tannins of a fine wine. “Dance With No Shoes” was lilting and playful with an air of nostalgia and a touch of humor as he jumbled the words, while the soulful bluegrass of “Midnight on the Stormy Deep” and the quiet cowboy song “River of Stone” all conveyed a sense of intimacy that made the performance feel that much more special. One of the standout moments was the sprawling “Land of the Navajo,” another sprawling tale of the old West that was as potent and haunting as ever with Rowan’s almost tribal-like yodeling and vocal vibing that segued into the groovy, reggaefied “Fetch Wood Carry Water.”
While he’s surely told the story of its origins hundreds if not thousands of times, Rowan’s introduction to the timeless bluegrass classic “Walls of Time” felt no less special in this moment, as did his performance of the equally iconic “Cold Rain and Snow,” sang with fervor. Towards the end of the set, Rowan picked and strummed his way towards even more of his best-known tunes. “The Free Mexican Airforce,” “Midnight Moonlight,” and “Thirsty In The Rain” all showcased his ability to balance sharp, clever guitar picking with vivid lyrical tales that pull you into their world. As the crowd soaked up every note with smiles on their faces, it was clear that everyone was confident in their choice to come and see this legendary troubadour for what is hopefully not the last time.
Barna Howard opened. All photos by Greg Homolka.
