While Cary Clarke takes a week off from the tough local music beat, I’ll be doing my best to fill his shoes.
First off, fringe-folkstress and Holocene recording artist, Alela Diane is splitting town and heading to Nevada City, which, despite its name, is not a city in Nevada. It’s in California. Whatever, I’m moving to Idaho City, Oregon next month. Anyway, according to Diane, “Tom [Bevitori, her boyfriend], Bramble Rose (our precious cat), and I will be leaving the 2nd of July. Portland has been lovely and kind to us, and we will miss this place very much!” She adds, “I’ll be writing songs wherever I am, and will take little pieces of Oregon with me. Portland is an amazing place, and if I were to live in a city again, it would be here. As it turns out, I am still just a small-town girl.” I wonder if she is also “livin’ in a lonely world,” or if “she took the midnight train goin’ anywhere”? Don’t stop believing, Alela Diane!
Venue news! Grapedrink popped up in the Willamette Athletic Club building in deep SW, and while their location is odd (it’s mere feet from people working out on treadmills), the occasionally all-ages room has a very warm feel to it, as does the very friendly staff. See it for yourself this Saturday, as Seattle/Portland band At the Spine celebrates their CD release for Sonic Resistance at the venue (21+ for this show). And if you’re parched from all that exercise next door, wet your whistle with some grape soda, which, yes, they actually serve.
Also, two new clubs are about to open their doors. Mt. Tabor Legacy (formerly known as Sabala’s Mt. Tabor, and way back when, Mt. Tabor Theatre) celebrates their grand opening this weekend starting on Thursday. Plus, on July 13, KPSU will open the Modern Age, an all-age show space inside the Food for Thought café at PSU. More details on both these locations in the coming weeks.
But it’s not all happy news in clubland: The Tiger Bar is hanging up its stripes for good. “Posse on Broadway,” set to run June 29-30, will be their final event, and feature hiphop DJs and emcees, ranging from Eugene’s Animal Farm to local rapper Serge Severe. No word on if Sir Mix-a-Lot will make an appearance.