Portland’s Aladdin Theater occasionally proves to be an awkward venue for certain acts, particularly those that are accustomed to having their audience generally on their feet and close to the stage. There are, however, nights when the historic venue is as good as any in town. Friday night—hosting a lineup of bare-bones, lyrical singer-songwriters—was one of those nights.
In truth, Friday night’s performers might have been even better suited to a coffee shop or bookstore, as evidenced by the rows of folding chairs installed in what normally serves as the standing area in the orchestra. Nevertheless, the strikingly empty stage, combined with the Aladdin’s excellent acoustics, presented an ideal showcase for the compelling, subtle talents of the performers.
The evening started and ended with a pair of male singer-songwriters, Lazarus and Damien Jurado, respectively, who displayed a far greater degree of comfort communicating through their songs than directly to their audience. Indeed, Jurado, who in every other sense recalled famously talkative Springsteen, albeit in Nebraska mode, didn’t utter a sentence, apart from a brief “thank you,” until the prelude to his final song. In spite of the general lack of interaction, though, both Lazarus and Jurado expressed themselves beautifully through their music, Jurado seated with an acoustic guitar, and Lazarus standing, plugged in, mellow, pared down and frequently touching, if somewhat spacey.
Sandwiched between the two, though ostensibly the headliner, was Tiny Vipers, also known as Jesy Fortino. The Seattle folkster, who has in the past drawn comparisons to the likes of Cat Power, has moved to a considerably more stripped down, less pop-oriented sound on her latest effort, Life on Earth, which was released on July 7. Seated on a stool at the center of an otherwise empty stage, Fortino was responsible for the most endearing moment of the evening, asking into the microphone, with the houselights still on, “Should I start?” With the lights accommodatingly turned down, she began what was to be a captivating, though unfortunately brief, set. Relying largely on her newest material, and stringing together a 15-minute medley that defied the audience’s obvious instinct to applaud, Fortino held the room in a trance. Plucking beautifully at her guitar, Fortino benefited from an excellent sound system and an appreciative audience, and admirably managed to ignore the sounds of conversation and laughter that occasionally carried down from the balcony.
It has been said that Fortino’s music recalls a flickering candle, and nothing could be closer to the truth. On this evening, though occasionally repetitive, with one song easily fading into the next, Fortino commanded her audience to a degree that belied her minimalist stage presence. Her voice, bold yet faintly fragile, speaks deeply, whether or not one chooses to pay attention to her words, and her playing, simple and striking, draws one in, holding the audience in rapture to the point of creating a void through the rest of the room. And while her recorded work may leave, for many, something to be desired, her presence as a performer is irrefutably something to be witnessed.
Following her set, Fortino made her way to the front row, where she was greeted by a large contingent of friends and family. Watching her field hugs and greetings from all around, the nature of the strength of her performance was driven home. Displaying nothing in the way of pretension or aloofness, Fortino conveys a sense of honesty, vulnerability, and forthrightness that perfectly captures the spirit of folk music. It is the defining characteristic of a genre that has defied the whims of popular culture for more than half a century, and in today’s crowded music scene it can ask for no better champion than Jesy Fortino.
DOWNLOAD: Tiny Vipers - Forest on Fire (MP3) or Follow us for more Tiny Vipers MP3s (Twitter)
that inescapable feeling you are referring to, is that like when you hear something and you could have sworn you heard it before because of the nostalgic catchy quality? or is is like when you’ve heard a band exactly like said band?
great post by the way!
by paul on Wed Mar 17, 2010 at 03.15 pm from the entry: The Novel Ideas - "The Sky Is A Field" - Borrow It
Whoa! I had no idea she was enegaged. You would never know with the way she behaves! Wow!
by art on Wed Mar 17, 2010 at 09.48 am from the entry: Nikki Darlin and John McCauley: 1+1=1
This comment stream is so meta. Great review Kelly.
by chris on Tue Mar 16, 2010 at 07.50 pm from the entry: Flying Lotus - "Cosmogramma" - Buy It
no prob. The whole album is excellent, combining some of the harder sonics of Los Angeles with the meat of his debut and obviously difficult to summarize in only 50 words… 
I’d say it’s on par with the debut, but better than Los Angeles.
by kelly on Tue Mar 16, 2010 at 06.23 pm from the entry: Flying Lotus - "Cosmogramma" - Buy It
By the way, I really liked the mp3 posted. Thanks.
by Joshua H on Tue Mar 16, 2010 at 06.17 pm from the entry: Flying Lotus - "Cosmogramma" - Buy It
WHO WROTE THIS...PUKE ! “WHO WROTE THIS...PUKE ! “Picture yourself coasting your bike past space funk palm trees, homeless harpists, vintage video arcades, electronic drum circles, and 60s psychedelic singers who’re waiting for the bus. Cosmogramma is kinda like that if someone suddenly tripped you just as you’re starting to enjoy the ride. But in a good way.””
by Joshua H on Tue Mar 16, 2010 at 06.17 pm from the entry: Flying Lotus - "Cosmogramma" - Buy It
you’ll notice the author’s name under title.
by kelly on Tue Mar 16, 2010 at 06.11 pm from the entry: Flying Lotus - "Cosmogramma" - Buy It
