Any Portland In A Storm...

[Little Miss Risk]

Coming to perform at Portland is kind of like having numerous dates with someone you should theoretically be crazy about because they’re your type, but ultimately wind up parting ways with while being indifferent to. The scene in Portland is quite ripe with people who should be into what we do between the music and the burlesque. We always seem to draw the same small (supportive) crowd but have trouble luring others out to the show. It may because we usually play on Sunday in Portland which, at Dante’s, is Sinferno night, so we precede the night of fetish performers, Suicide Girl-type go go dancers, fire performers and assorted oddities. See? You would think that we would get their crowd coming out early to check out our show and staying late to take in their show. Such is not the case.

But likewise, I find that I should, in theory, enjoy the Sinferno nights but I never seem to. While most of the performances are interesting in their conception their execution isn’t to my taste. So I wind up ultimately keeping to myself and studying the ground, my drink, or the doorman with intense scrutiny. Which is too bad, since it would be nice to enjoy something that has been a long running night at that particular location. That being said, the people who like it, like it a lot. I’ll chalk it up to being the Marmite of the performance art world…

Dante’s is a beautiful bar. If it was in Vancouver I’d be inclined to make it my watering h*** with it’s lighting and décor:. It boasts a large area used for either dance or tables to allow for cabaret seating, dark with red lighting splashed up the sides of old brickwork walls, a large elevated stage with red velvet curtains, and a lounge area that featured paintings from local artists. I find that Vancouver could aspire to have a venue like it and can imagine that the lovechild of Richards On Richards and the Biltmore would look very similar to this.

Our show was a fun one (where I enjoy kicking it out on a large stage where everyone can see us) despite my can can skirt coming loose and the odd scattering of dollar bills across the stage. I’m not sure why people feel the need to throw money up onto the stage (actually, it has all to do with the Sinferno show so it’s easy to see how they get confused) but if they’re going to throw bills, I’d prefer to have Benjamin Franklin to George Washington. I was more worried about slipping on them and breaking a bone more than I was the mild implication that I was a stripper, to be honest.

With any love-hate relationship there’s always something to enjoy. I can think of three things: our friends Moonrise and Dan who kindly let us drink their whiskey, muss up their linens, and pester their cats and the fabulous Voodoo Donut. Anyone who has read my blogs before know that I love Voodoo Donut: the taste, the name, décor, and concept. I won’t lie, there is a cupcake boutique in Vancouver to which I will drive out of my way to go to for the same reasons. When I say I won’t do the same for Voodoo Donut what I mean to say is while I won’t drive six hours to get a baked good, I’m willing to drive four and a half, tops. So imagine my delight when Dan and Moonrise had a big pink box of love from Voodoo Donut and had ordered the ‘strangest and most exotic’ flavours. I was a pretty happy girl and it was then that the Murderbus dance party ensued on our way to Dan and Moonrise’s where we continued to drink, and I fell asleep sitting up in a chair with my fake hair pieces draped over the side, teasing the two resident cats.

Never let it be said that I am not a party animal…

… I’m sure the rest of the band had fun but I couldn’t tell you if they had broken into an aviary, stolen the flamingos, and performed an Oscar Wilde play or just sat downstairs and kept on drinking. I’m going to go out on a limb and say the latter.

Tomorrow: a day of rest, respite, and sewing extra sequins onto g-stings.

G’night.

-Little Miss Risk