W.C. Beck is a great singer, songwriter and musician. Just listen to his stuff, like the videos above and below. It’s delicious!
There was a time, not too long ago, when he lived in Portland, Oregon and worked hard as a musician in various roles with The Dandy Warhols, Decemberists, The Portland Country Underground, Blue Giant, Bobby Bare, Jr., and Quiet Life. At some point a while ago, he left the Rose City and moved: first to France, then to Brooklyn; launching a solo career from there.
When it became clear a few months ago that his solo career would be very successful and generate excellent music, which it has (full stop), East Portland Blog became concerned that Mr. Beck may have left our town because of some thoughtless words or actions by Rip City residents. Perhaps someone here said something nasty to hasten his departure, or someone followed him too close on the Morrison Bridge or I-84. If anything like that were true, we as Portlanders would owe him an apology. To clarify his reasons for leaving and determine if a collective “sorry for the dis” was in order, a Q&A was arranged. His answers may surprise you and– let me warn you– his love for Stumptown is evident in (almost) every sentence.
Why did you move to Portland in the first place?
I have two cousins that have lived in Portland for nearly 20 years and I loved visiting when I was in college. My cousin Darrin Craig is a huge influence as a songwriter and I had followed his bands and others in the Portland roots scene (Jackstraw, Freak Mountain Ramblers, Pig Iron, Foghorn Stringband, Michael Hurley) since my adolescence. As I was finishing up with my studies in 2005/2006, I kept growing more and more fascinated with the Portland scene as many of my favorite bands were based out of there. My close friend John and I were both looking to relocate somewhere new after college, and for many reasons, Portland was the spot.
Did you like Portland while you were here?
I loved Portland. I lived in France my junior year of college, but Portland was the first place I had lived outside of my home state of Kansas and the largest city I had ever lived in. It was so great to be close to my family in Portland and I made so many lifelong friends during my time in Portland.
What are some nice things you could say about Portland?
There are so many great things about Portland: it has a music, food and drink scene that rivals major markets and international cities. Portland has major league cred in so many ways but also has a small town feel where everyone knows everyone. You play the name game with anyone in Portland and it doesn’t take long to find common points. I made some of my very closest friends in Portland and formed and was part of many musical projects that are some of my proudest moments as an artist.
What are some not so nice things you could say about Portland?
I loved my time in Portland, but the rain and grey definitely took some getting used to, especially for a kid from Kansas. But I learned to love it and look forward to the ways that a grey day can inspire an intense and aching form of creativity or give you an excuse to just take it easy. The city is super white and somewhat lacking in diversity, which surprised me when I moved to Portland.
Why did you leave Portland?
It was time, I had lived there for seven years and I had made a lot of changes. I was deep in my masters coursework and the opportunity to move back to France came about and I had to take it. I didn’t know if I was leaving for good or just for a while and I couldn’t have remotely predicted where life would have taken me when I left. But I come back to Portland frequently and it will always have a very special place in my heart.
Are you ever coming back, even for a visit?
Yes indeed, I come back as often as I can. I’ll hopefully be back again in the next few months!
Don’t you miss the Gorge or the Coast?
Of course! It’s great to get to come out rather frequently and I always am reminded of how special of a place Portland, the Willamette Valley and the region in general are. There are very few places on Earth with as much natural beauty and as much access to so many natural wonders.
Is there anything else you miss about Portland?
I miss so much about Portland, but again, I’m lucky that I get to come back frequently to play shows, see friends and family. I’ve been lucky to live in a number of places and I consider several places outside of my home state of Kansas to be places that feel like home. Portland will always hold a special place in my heart and will forever be a place that I consider a second home.
