Thank you ladies!
That was what Kim from the band Powersolo kept saying to the crowd. I loved that he referred to everyone as “ladies.” I had the great opportunity to go see Powersolo last night at the Doug Fir as a guest of the band and record label. I’m all for free shows and being introduced to new music. Before the show, I did listen to some of their music on MySpace just to get familiar, but let me tell you, that was just the tip of the iceberg. I arrived early in order to maybe interview the band. That actually scared me a little as I’m not interviewer and really don’t have a background in that, yet I wanted to give it a try. The band was done setting up, so I approached them and got to talk with Bo, one of the guitarists. We chatted for about 10 minutes about music, the rain in Portland, their trip up the coastline from San Francisco, huge giant redwood trees and things in general with the final request that I stay after the show for a more formal interview with the band.
Then they took the stage. Wow did they have energy. The music was rock/rockabilly/psych everything. I’m not reviewer, I just know what I like. Kim, the lead singer and a guitarist was amazing with his facial expressions and range of vocals. He would do this singing that almost sounded guttural, but was perfect for the song. He also loved to dance around the stage. The descriptions on the internets stating they are a great performance did not lie. My cheeks were hurting after awhile from smiling and laughing and just having fun. At the end of the show, Kim jumped down into the crowd, dancing with the ladies and the gents and doing a sort of bunny hop move. Lastly, after taking the stage again and jamming, he stepped out onto the shoulder of a guy in the audience who gladly spun him around. Now that is how you end a show!
The three guys from Powersolo are also John Spencer’s backing band for Heavy Trash, so they only got a few minutes break before taking the stage with Heavy Trash. Heavy Trash was a great high energy band and the crowd was really into them. Normally at Portland shows, everyone just stands around staring at the band. Not here. People were dancing, grooving and moving their butts. John Spencer is a great performer and the music was top notch. He played with the crowd, engaged the crowd and put on a tight show for everyone. I love it when a high energy rock show is led by a guy on an acoustic guitar. Oh, and Kim from Powersolo played the stand up bass. Ever hear one of those live? Such a warm and enveloping sound.
After Heavy Trash finished their set, I got to sit down with Powersolo for the “interview.” Seriously, I had no idea what I was doing and told them that. They were cool with this and just offered me some whiskey and we all sat down to chat.
I asked first about how they felt the Internet has affected the band since I was there as a direct result of blogging. Kim responded that MySpace in particular has increased their fan base and made it easier for anyone to learn about new music in general. “People don’t buy albums anymore, they get their music from the Internet.” In the earlier conversation, Bo had mentioned they had toured on the east coast and were not on the west, so I asked if they had a favorite city or venue. They all chortled ready to say “Portland” I think, but then answered that it isn’t about a venue, but about the show. Kim stated they had just performed in Reno where the show was small, yet one of their best. I laughed when the drummer chimed in saying they had played “dungeons, church’s and castles” in Germany. How cool would it be to play in a dungeon? I asked about Heavy Trash and how they became the backing band. Kim and Bo filled in the story stating that John Spencer had approached them after a show in NYC a couple of years ago and they hit it off. John had a new project and needed a backing band. They did some shows in Europe and then came stateside. And what a team they are. Lastly, I asked one of those canned interview questions - how long have you been together. Well, a long time as Kim and Bo are brothers. They have been a 3 piece for about 5 years now.
I had a great time last night and I want to thank the band for having us. A wonderful group of guys all around. Thanks for indulging me in my first official interview. Enjoy the tour and hope to see you back in Portland soon. Thank you ladies!
Related posts:
- Powersolo @ Doug Fir Friday
- Minmae at the Doug Fir
- 800 Octane - This Saturday at Satyricon
- Fernando, The Village Green and Mike Coykendall at the Doug Fir
- The Dodos @ Dante’s
