Run on Sentence and Dovekins at the Porch on Monday, August 22nd
Tonight was my first time at the Porch and it’s such a lovely space! With plenty of windows and tall ceilings, art and some chairs, even a few couches and music… it created warmth. All ages too, but if you want an adult beverage you can go across the street. There is a bar with pull tabs, oh yeah!!! One of the members of The City We Live In won $50 and bought the bar a round of shots; we hadn’t arrived yet but that is pretty badass and I am a little disappointed I missed it. I did decide to give the pull tabs a shot and won a $1 but then bought four more pull tabs and still lost. Even though I didn’t win big bucks, it was still fun to play and I was excited to see the bar had Coors Light on tap. Less Calories.
Portland’s Run on Sentence took me by surprise and knocked the socks right off my feet. I fancied Dustin Hamman’s ability to play these swanky little jazz numbers complete with a mouth trumpet and then to take it down a notch and be another character telling us a story with his acoustic guitar and run on sentences. On stage were three gentlemen on drums, acoustic guitar, and electric guitar. Dustin asked a random question, if anyone had a sweatband because if he doesn’t have one he will dig a hole into his arm with his guitar. A lady in the crowd handed him her scarf and he wrapped it around his arm, he then joked and said he looked like Steven Tyler. A lot of Run on Sentences songs were perfect for dancing too, there were a few ladies in the crowd bending their knees and shaking their hips (myself one of them). Run on Sentence performed for us songs including “The Afterlife,” “Carrie,” “8th Street Music Co” “These Hills” and for his very last song of the night Dustin performed alone. He sat on the stage and unplugged his microphone to sing “I Am the Blood.” That was so cool and the perfect way to end the set making the show intimate. Check out one of Dustin’s songs “Stonewall” courtesy of NPR Here.
I was “across the street” and as the sun went to bed I walked outside to notice the Porch lit up and music floating out the door. I ran across the street and walked into the Porch to find Dovekins on the floor with all of the lights off except their two lamps and the band frolicking around the floor. I watched for a few seconds as the band danced with their shadows and switched instruments almost every song. Trombone, banjo, upright bass, drums, clarinet, cello, harmonica, guitar, mandolin, accordion, keys and I am sure there were even a few I missed. Their free spirits lightened up the room (even though it was dark) as they were animated and climbing on top of chairs, tables and even couches while they performed. I also noticed how it seemed like almost every member of the band had their moment to sing their song. It was an enchanting adventure, I kind of felt like I was whisked away and I became one of the Lost Boys in Neverland. Dovekins… they can sing, write, and perform countless instruments. I had such an excellent time watching them perform and was feeding off their energy and passion for music. They took a live show to the next level and made it unforgettable. They got me excited about touring bands coming through Spokane! I will find away to see Dovekins again, someday in the future. Hopefully they can come back to Spokane.
Photos courtesy of Matt Auclair.
