The Stowaways Are Sheer Joy

My daughter, Grace, invited me to join her at the Empire Dine and Dance in Portland, where the local bluegrass band, The Stowaways, plays every Monday night. I have spent very little time in bars during my adult life, so it was a new experience for me, as silly as that might sound. I loved the atmosphere of the Empire, with its beamed ceilings, worn wooden floors and large black and white photos of musicians on the walls. The Stowaways were already playing on stage when we got there -- Erica Brown on fiddle and vocals, Matt Shipman on guitar, Steve Roy on standup bass, Joe Walsh on mandolin and vocals, Ron Cody on banjo, and for some songs, Dave Talmage on guitar. They recently celebrated their four-year anniversary playing at the Empire, and they were very much at home on the stage. Their playing is relaxed and absolutely excellent. They performed two hour-long sets.

The entrance unfortunately divides the bar into a U shape. The band played on one side and we were sitting on the other side at first, so it was hard to hear them. Later some people left and we were able to snag a table. Grace invited some of her friends to join us so we had a friendly time chatting it up. As I sat there, I tried to figure out what was different with this bar experience from when I was young and it dawned on me that there was no smoke! When did they create that law? Duh!

I felt very comfortable surrounded by the cheerful atmosphere of the hard-working, thirty-something folks who were  kicking back with a few beers and listening to the great music. There were lots of beards and pea coats and pretty ladies on the bar stools. A few folks were dancing in front of the stage and from where I was sitting they reminded me of little troll dolls bouncing up and down. I don’t know why! The Stowaways played “Hummingbird”, “Turkey in the Straw”, “Black Eyed Susie” and many more tunes. At one point Dave Talmage said, “Imagine I’m a beautiful woman,” and he sang lead on the song, “I’m a Banjo Pickin’ Girl”. 

For the Stowaways, taking the stage every Monday night is all about fun and spontaneity. What new thing might they try? In honor of the passing of Whitney Houston this week, they performed a playful version of “I Wanna Dance With Somebody”, bluegrass style, with Steve Roy doing the lead vocal. It was pretty funny.  Like all great musicians they made it look so dang easy!  Maybe I’ll become one of the Portland regulars who clears my plate on Monday nights so I can go hear the Stowaways. I am now an official fan!