The Crystal Ballroom in downtown Portland is a wonderful place to spend an evening getting lost in good music. All the history the building holds aside (Little Richard firing Jimi Hendrix on stage in the ’60s for example) this is simply a great hall in which to see a show. There’s the balcony way upstairs. With comfortable seating and its own bar, high above the often moshing crowd, it allows for a more civilized concert experience.
Downstairs has the infamous “Floating Dance Floor”. Through some antique architectural procedure that is nothing short of amazing, dare I say challenging at times, the entire floor rocks under the gyrating weight of the hundreds of concert goers. But, for me, the place to be on the floating floor is the front row. Just high enough so that you don’t have to crane your neck to see the band and just low enough that the main speakers for you are the stage monitors. If you play your cards right, there’ll be a spot to stash your coat, bottle of water or whatever. Another added benefit to the front row, you meet the nicest people there.
Tonight’s front row soiree was a two barreled jam band attack of rock, soul, jazz and blues from the Bill Kreutzmann Trio and the Greyboy Allstars. Yes, tonight’s show was part of the two week long Portland Jazz Festival, and no, Joe Lovano didn’t come out and jam with either of the bands.
READ ON for AJ’s thoughts on GBA and the Kreutzmann band in Portland…
For those of you who are heading into the Hampton area later on Friday afternoon, be sure to leave plenty of time to fight traffic. PT user and Norfolk resident
If you live in New York City, seeing David Byrne is sort of a common occurrence. The former Talking Heads front man can often be spotted bicycling around town or
Bassist Les Claypool hits the road on Wednesday in support of his latest album, Of Fungi and Foe, for a month-long tour that takes him across the country. Billed as
Phish is back this very week, and to celebrate this week’s Stormy Monday features the entire second set from 7/2/98 in Copenhagen – a superbly space-funk brew of Ghost >
Van Morrison, who usually shies away from public appearances outside of stepping on stage, will find himself front and center this week. Van the Man will perform on the first-ever
I thought this recent photo of the former hockey-jersey wearing front man of The Cure would get the creative juices following. Leave a comment below with a caption and if
While most Phish fans are extremely thankful that the band will return on Friday, the five months since the quartet announced their return haven’t been all sunshine and lollipops. More
The Tragically Hip may be the same, but their next tour won’t be. The CanRock legends have announced they’ll spend the spring and summer promoting their new album We Are
The 2009 Pitchfork Music Festival will be held in Chicago’s Union Park Friday, July 17-Sunday, July 19. This year marks the fourth anniversary of the festival – and the fifth