Hillytown Presents Concert Two

Jesse Pilgrim

Nick already wrote up his impressions of the first HillyTown presents on the blog.

Here're my thoughts for this week's.

It's awesome.

Space - as most of you are aware - is an intimate, friendly place to watch a show. The stage is central and close and the place isn't big enough for you to feel isolated. HillyTown presents gets rid of the stage, bringing the band to the floor for a closer connection with the audience. It's a broad audience, too, given that the show is free and all ages, you get teens just awakened to the whimsy of Portland music as well as seasoned veterans, ready to get down.

August Twelfth offered a fine selection. Jesse Pilgrim started up, strumming his acoustic tunes solo at first and then joined by a band. I love me some Jesse Pilgrim, so the fact that he played some new music was thrilling. And the new songs absolutely rock, Jesse, keep up the good work.

A Boston band played next, Dan Wholey and his lady accompaniment. Dan played an electric guitar through a small Fender practice amp while his ladies played lap steel and violin. I was floored. Wholey is a songwriter, through and through. The songs were impeccable and had me struck from the get-go. I was worried at first, when he introduced himself he spoke into the microphone in a meek little voice announcing his presence.

But he had the whole place in the first song.

I don't know if he kept them all. The music was kind of same-y and I can see how people might drift away. But I was struck by everything about it, the simplicity of the song structure, the ominous, floating violin, the sharp lap steel drifting in and out. Wholey's voice deserves some recognition, too. After the meek little, "I'm here, listen to me," introduction his voice was solid and loud, firm. A real presence.

I'd recommend him.

And then Panda Bandits took the stage for forty (or so) minutes of delight and reverie. Of meta reflection on the Portland scene. Of music for the sake of loving music. Panda Bandits is the brainchild of Tower Of Song hosts Will and Alicia and I'm going to go ahead and say Johnny Fountain is an integral part. But it also features a who's-who of Portland music, Sontiago, Ladylamb, Anna's Ghost, Jesse Pilgrim and more were all represented and the set was dedicated to Portland's own Dilly Dilly.

Panda Bandits is a celebration. Seeing them play is like a surprise party. You don't know exactly what to expect, but golly is it fine. Will and Alicia carry the set with a dry backstory about their Bandit ways (or is it a backstory?). Will howls and makes no apologies for his voice (it's fine, Will, perform more often!). Alicia sings in Spanish. The band plays drums and bicycles and hammers nails into wood for percussion. I believe I saw a cookie tin guitar. It's like some wonderful cult.

But, dudes, this cult is way cooler than Scientology.

Energy and glee abound, silly little moments, songs about Portland music, rose petals in the air, costume changes, fake mustaches, a whomping upright bass, ten drummers.

Panda Bandits is a celebration.

And HillyTown is delivering the goods. Check 'em out next Wednesday and give Bryan a Hi-Five. He has worked hard on this and the fruit is ripe on the vine.