Is the local Portland music scene thriving or subsisting? I’m never quite sure. Certainly there are a plethora of musical acts creating, recording, and performing locally at any given time—but the number who’ve achieved traction beyond regional lines seems to have diminished as global sonic tastes shift and evolve. Portland’s music scene can sometimes feel like a sealed mini-ecosystem that has sustained itself without intervention or interaction from the rest of the world.
Stromae sounds completely unlike any local musical act; a catalog of quirky, angular anthems, sung almost entirely in French. His sold-out show at Portland’s largest dedicated music venue drew fans who drove in from Astoria, Bend, and likely even further. The crowd’s energy was celebratory and jubilant, in an atmosphere inclusive of age, race, and sexual orientation.
Lots more photos after the jump!
