Michele Thompson Photography

Wear ear protection…

…the thick type for the really dreadful sets, angry sociopolitical statements, and any group that shows up with multiple laptops. Honestly, why would anyone come out to see a band? With the proliferation of self-production, indy labels, Facebook, YouTube, and iTunes, more bands can put more new music in front of more new listeners than ever before. But going out to a show is work, fraught with perils- bad clubs, bad mixing, bad lighting and a better than 50% chance that the keyboard player is pissed off or the drummer is too drunk to play; too many sticky floors, surly bouncers, singers who are confused about the difference between singing and howling, the long wait for an inexperienced band to setup, the never ending sound check, awful opening bands, stinky/sweaty/pushy crowds, or worse, no crowd at all. I’ve seen cleaner bathrooms in third world countries. Then again, all that might be part of the charm and energy. Sterile and clean does not equal good music or a good time…

I spent fifteen years photographing bands playing small venues in Portland, Oregon. The Portland Gig is a slice of a motley scene of mostly struggling bands and grungy clubs of the time; not encyclopedic, but made with affection for the musicians and their passion for making music.

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$162.00 Available for purchase on Blurb or contact the artist via the form below for other options.