A dynamic band which has a new album out there, the Chris Poage Band will be coming to Portland October 2 at 9pm to play at The Goodfoot (on Stark St., across from the awesome vegetarian food stand Canteen) with Portland legend Mike Coykendall. Here’s the FB event link for the Portland show. The will also be performing in Cottage Grove, Klamath Falls, Newport, and Astoria.
Chris Poage’s creative spirit is ready for any musical challenge that comes his way. With The Chris Poage Band, he moves smoothly through rock, folk, reggae and country, all the while remaining true to the unique sound he’s forged with his compatriots. “Many of us have traveled the world together, playing local, national and international shows,” Poage says. “Our experience allows us to go in any direction we choose.”
The songs on Artifact and Western Theory, the debut album from Poage’s latest group, were composed with the band’s strengths in mind. “I wrote most of the songs, but some of them came from our improvised jams,” Poage explains. “I had a lot of the arrangements worked out before recording, but the rest of them were collaborations with the band. Our back and forth was a crucial part of the process – the horn section allowed us to keep expanding our musical horizons. It took a year to make, so we had the luxury of letting the music unfold in the studio.”
Artifact and Western Theory was recorded live, to analogue tape. “There were no computers involved,” Poage says. “No screens in the studio, just instruments and old school gear, the horns and the band together in one space. We played a song a few times, until it was just right, then moved on.” The result is an album that captures the dynamic flow of a live performance.
“What a Gas” has a cinematic, Tex-Mex, spaghetti western vibe, featuring baritone guitar, with a heavy tremolo. Trumpet and trombone solos heighten the effect of a lyric describing the environmental disasters currently befalling the western states. There’s a trace of ironic humor in Poage’s vocal, but the message of impending disaster is a serious one. Banjo, drums and bass carry the rhythm of “Like We Do,” a solemn waltz, with a dream-like quality. Horns and violins play a countermelody to accent the melancholy atmosphere of the vocal harmonies. “It’s a song about the consequences of being afraid to pursue your dreams,” Poage says. “The music combines raw and polished elements to express the tension between fear and desire.”
Two guitars – an acoustic strumming gentle reggae-like chords and an electric providing lyrical asides – ornament Poage’s wistful singing on “Lilacs,” a ballad that celebrates the simple pleasures that make life worth living. A smoky violin floats through the arrangement, highlighting Poage’s mellow vocal. “Shooting Range” is a mid-tempo, acoustic rock song, with subtle electric guitar fills and icy slide guitar figures spinning through the mix. The horn section supports an uplifting vocal from Poage that reminds us to stay positive, even when times are hard. “As long as you wake up in the morning breathing, things are really not that bad,” Poage says philosophically. Other tracks feature eerie Wurlitzer, surf guitar, bluegrass picking and dub reggae, all the sounds you’ll hear when the band plays live. “We have a blast interacting with the crowd, flowing nicely from country to ska, and everything in between. We really captured that live feel on this album.”
Poage has been a vital part of Seattle’s alternative music scene for the past two decades. Coming from a family of musicians, he was exposed to a wide variety of acoustic and electric music from an early age, everything from bluegrass to psychedelic jam bands. His prowess on guitar, piano and baritone sax led to gigs with Femi Kuti, Amanda Palmer, Melissa Etheridge, experimental folk artist Jason Webley and Chicken John (co-founder of the Burning Man Festival). On his own, Poage has played high-energy riff rock and ska with Panda Conspiracy, horn driven garage folk with Mts. & Tunnels and jazzy, improvisational groove music with History of Cephalopod. Whether it’s world music or serene folk ballads, he plays with a quiet passion and an expansive imagination that makes every note memorable. “I envisioned this band as a family that could tour and have a blast doing it. We have a big book of original songs, and some choice covers, so we play long sets, improvising and creating a fun vibe on stage. I like taking people on a musical ride.”
Website: www.chrispoage.com
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6KlwJzWQDKWiu6UQjPte3J
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/chrispoage
Facebook www.facebook.com/chrispoagemusic
Instagram: www.instagram.com/chrispoagemusic
The Chris Poage Band
Chris Poage: lead vocals, acoustic guitar, Hammond organ, Wurlitzer electric piano, banjo, baritone saxophone
Dan Bagnall: electric 12 string e. guitar, 5 string baritone guitar, electric guitar, backing vocals
Evan Peterson: drums, backing vocals
Sandy Dickerson: bass, ukelele, backing vocals
Katie Green, trumpet, flugelhorn, handclaps
Liana Green: trombone, handclaps
Petro Krysa: violin
