KINGBANANA.NET

There is something I just don’t like about going to a show and feeling like the band is just in it for their set.  They don’t want to watch anyone else.  They don’t go out to talk to fans.  That type of show makes me wonder how in love with music the supposed musicians are.

On the same note, there is nothing I love more than a show where every person there, musicians and fans alike, are passionate about being there.  That is the exact feeling I got at the Kevin Devine show that took place at the Hawthorne Theatre on May 20.  It seemed like every person in the crowd genuinely wanted to be there and every person on stage was grateful to have their music be heard.

Taking the stage first was local artist Bryan Free.  Although much of his music is with a full band, Free played solo this night; just him and a piano.  His sound reminded me a little of  The Format.  Personally I really enjoyed it and found myself thinking that it was something I would have to check out.  The crowd didn’t respond too much when he was talking on stage but they did seem to be listening which the music was playing.  There was however one little boy that looked to be maybe six or seven that was very excited to see Free play.  Even Free seemed surprised by such a young dan shouting out request for a certain song.

Next up was Brian Bonz and The Dot Hogs.  Despite his young looks, Bonz is a very talented musician whose songs often take on dark but real undertones.  A perfect example of this is his most recent single, Dee the Dinosaur, which includes lines like “I’m just next in line with the sharpest knife and the desire to make these children die.”  If I remember correctly Bonz once stated that the song and music video that was recently released online was meant to imply that some people just don’t grow up.  Every song I have heard by him, I truly think is beautiful and has something important to say. The whole set was comprised of indie songs that had many people in the crowd singing along.  Bonz is slated to return to Portland on July 6 with Nightmare of You at the Satryicon. I know I will be there!

Miniature Tigers were next up which was a set I had been looking forward to.  They are a band that I had recently been hearing quite a bit of buzz about.  Having gotten busy I wasn’t able to listen to them before he show so had no clue what to expect.  People had told me everything from ‘they sound kind of like Weezer’ to ‘their music makes me think of the seventies’.  The set did not disappoint. They were just as good, if not better, then everything I had heard.  Tigers are definitely a little bit different than other music out there right now but good different.  Plus I couldn’t help but laugh when many of the guys from the other bands took the stage in wigs for a song.  Having now looked up the band’s music, the only thing I can say was missing from the set was their cover of Abba’s Mamma Mia.  Here’s to hoping they play it next time they come through!

Last up was Kevin Devine.  As far as I know, this was Devine’s first headlining tour on this side of the country.  Having seen the Brooklyn boy so many times, I was very happy to see a nice long set consisting of both new and old songs.  For this tour Devine, who sometimes plays solo, was accompanied by The Goddamn Band, aka the guys from the previous bands.  On both tour and on albums, Devine is often joined with musicians from bands like Brand New and Manchester Orchestra (to name a few).  The thing that blew me away about this particular night was the crowd.  It is amazing to have seen Devine go from five years ago being the guy that no one knew, to the guy opening for Rachel Yamagata and Jesse Lacey that had the whole crowd saying they were going to check him out, to now having fans singing along to every word and relentlessly requesting their favorite songs.  The song most in demend was Brother’s Blood which Devine closed with.  Devine’s fifth album, also titled “Brother’s Blood”, has been getting quite a bit of press which is well deserved.  Both live and on the album, Devine’s music is attention grabbing with it’s raw and real lyrics and easy to get stuck in your head melodies.  This performance in Portland was definitely spot on.

Overall, I would say this is one of my favorite shows I have been to in a while.  Not only did each band put on a great set but they were also excited to go out and play along with the other bands.  When they weren’t out playing they were watching from the side or out talking to the fans.  Like I said at the beginning of this review, this was a show full of people passionate about music.  I loved it.

*Want to see additional pictures of all the bands?  Just contact me at finleyphotography@gmail.com