Portland, Oregon music fans who made their way to Revolution Hall on Friday, May 16th, left not just satisfied, but somewhat stunned by the quality of the soul shakedown party they were presented with by this Neal Francis Return To Zero tour stop. Francis and his band, along with opening act Color Green, both commanded attention through dynamic songs delivered with unrelenting musicianship.
Due to the night’s equipment setup, Color Green was contained on one side of the stage. The music they created, however, was not contained, but provided a rich and expansive exploration of rock n’ roll. Drummer Corey Rose and bassist Kyla Perimutter provided a rock-solid foundation that allowed guitarists Noah Kohll and Corey Madden to explore and expand. Color Green does what great bands do, creating a sound that is much greater than the sum of its parts. Their set got the crowd involved, dancing and anticipating what was to come when Neal Francis hit the stage.
Hot off the release his third LP, Return To Zero, Neal Francis is confidently stepping forward and releasing the musical images in his head out into the world, exploring spaces where 70’s rock and soul mesh with rocking guitar riffs and funk lines that provide a deep groove and make audiences dance. Francis took his seat behind his keyboard rig, flanked by bassist Mike Starr, guitarist Kellen Boersma, and drummer Collin O’Brien, and got down to business with opening tune “How Have I Lived.” The band kept things lively throughout, not letting up through a long set of Francis originals, along with a cover of Deep Purple’s “Hush.” There were no sleepers in this set as Francis held the attention of those in attendance and kept things chugging along, even jumping the barrier to engage with the crowd. Francis is the real deal, and it’s safe to say that this Friday night throwdown didn’t leave any doubters.
Neal Francis, Revolution Hall, 5-16-2025
How Have I Lived, Rain, Prometheus, She’s A Winner, Very Fine, Problems > Hush, Changes > Need You Again > Broken Glass, Can’t Get Enough, BNYLV
Encore: Sentimental Garbage, 150 More Times
