Just short of a year since its inception, Brainstains—the
quasi-official community center and music venue located in an
unprepossessing yellow house at 3535 N Lombard—will host its
final show on Saturday, February 23. The 12-hour all-ages event
commences at 2 pm and features performances by over a dozen Portland
bands that have formed the core of the Brainstains aesthetic, including
the Hand That Bleeds, the Taxpayers, Here Comes a Big Black Cloud, and
JonnyX & the Groadies. The show also serves as a farewell gala for
the space’s 29-year-old namesake and director, John Brainerd, whose
upcoming move to New Orleans occasions Brainstains’ end. Brainerd and I
corresponded late last week about his experience running a
non-commercial community space.

MERCURY: Brainstains often gets mentioned in the same breath as other
Portland houses that hold shows, but it’s described on your website as
“a creative community center.” What does that mean exactly? What makes
Brainstains different from other show houses?

Unfortunately, I got mildly stuck under the guise of a house show,
which was actually my biggest fear going into it. Don’t get me wrong, I
love house shows, but there are lots of them. I was always more into
the social interaction and the idea of creating. I always wanted to
offer an outlet for folks that didn’t really fit into the established
genres of entertainment or just someone that had a good idea and wanted
to see an audience bring it to fruition.

What kinds of events
have you had at Brainstains? Any stick out as particularly
memorable?

Still my favorite show was probably the first “creative”
show, which consisted of a game show (What Price Love) based on
The Price Is Right, followed by the band the Whips and the
Whales. And then we all made a horror movie directed by local filmmaker
Bob Moricz. But I regularly had my music expansion classes, which
consisted of people bringing their favorite rare recordings and sharing
what they know about them, and then we listen and I record it all.

Have you felt limited or liberated by the fact that Brainstains
isn’t an official venue or arts space?

It limits the amount of folks I can reach, and I’m trying to reach
everyday average Joes for the most part. It would have been nice to
advertise just for North Portland and in that area.

Anything
special we can expect from the final night?

We will be having a garage sale probably starting at 10 am, a
Nerf gun war will be going on throughout the day, and the night will
end with DJ Freaky Outty puttin’ down the jams for the bubble wrap
dance party which will consist of wall-to-wall bubble wrap. Mystery
guests… I won’t give it away, but it’ll be worth it.