If you’re looking for a rip-roaring good time fueled with whiskey and singing off-key, go to a Sassparilla show. Portland’s cozy Doug Fir Lounge seemed to expand its walls to make room for the rowdy, yet courteous Sasspariallians for Sassparilla’s double album record release show, Pasajero and Hullabaloo, on Friday, June 21st.
The show was like coming home for this southern transplant: a true southern hootenanny complete with tub base and washboard. This music junkie had no idea that people could watch a show without drinking whiskey and getting wild and singing along every once in awhile if someone was lighting up the guitar before moving to Portland. It was refreshing to find that this kind of exuberance does exist here.
The crackerjack fingerpicking by frontman Kevin “Gus” Blackwell and the ridiculous harmonica playing by Ross “Dagger” Macdonald blew this reporter away, but it was the Southern hospitality and genuine courtesy that were a surprise welcome. Members of Sassparilla personally greeted guests at the entrance of the venue and thanked everyone, friends, family, and newcomers alike for coming out.
And the fans were just as courteous and welcoming as the members of the band. The place was filled to capacity, but it was still possible to move around freely because everyone was dancing and made way for each other. A fellow photographer introduced himself and his friends, who promptly hugged me and invited me to their music gatherings at Music on the Mounds (MusicontheMounds.com), before insisting on introducing me to frontman Kevin Blackwell.
Backstage, Blackwell introduced himself and the members of the band graciously. He then offered to answer the questions I had for him. I asked about his choice of using profanity in a couple of the songs on their album because it was obviously a very conscious choice on his part.
Blackwell agreed, explaining, “It wasn’t flippant, you can’t miss it.” Punching the air and smiling mischievously he continued, “It’s a one-two punch, a slap in the face – a wake-up call to pay attention to what’s going on around you,” he said of Pasajero’s opening song, “Overture”.
“So, it’s like an intervention?” I asked.
“Yeah, it’s a musical intervention,” Blackwell corrected me, laughing and nodding his head. “Oh, and the God song,” he looked around knowingly, “I imagine God’s pretty pissed…”
Sassparilla didn’t waste any time getting on stage after Casey Neill and the Norway Rats finished up. They were all onstage and playing within ten minutes. And then they didn’t let up throughout the entire two and a half hours their set. Ross Macdonald must have had thirty harmonicas and played them as if he’d traded his soul to the devil. His son, Colin “Sweet Pea” Macdonald played the washtub bass with a continuous smile on his face and Naima Muntal seemed to play so many instruments I lost count. Drummer, Justin Burkhart, was as expressionistic with his facial expressions as he was with his eccentric drum kit complete with a gas-can cymbal.
Their show is organic and interactive, it’s loose and playful and full of audience participation. It’s obvious they all love what they’re doing on stage. Their smiles are as infectious as is the high energy of their swirling grooves, punk-roots and infectious hooks.
Almost every song was a sing-along, and the louder the better. No one in attendance was shy about singing off-key, and everyone clapped and danced and cheered and drank lots of whiskey. Blackwell continually checked in with the crowd, either verbally or visually. He made eye contact with everyone, roaming the stage to include as many people as possible. He also gave thanks to everyone for coming out and drank a toast to the crowd and to their new albums.
All the songs and everyone in attendance were full of ruckus and joy. Even the more melancholy, melodic tunes were full of high-energy and exuberance. Blackwell got choked up as they played an acoustic version of “The Hoot Song”. Afterwards, he explained that it’s a song he wrote with his twins.
In Sarsaparilla tradition, instead of wasting time leaving the stage and waiting for the audience to call for an encore, the band filed off stage and joined the audience for their encore, singing “Cocaine”. Surrounded by the crowd, the band screamed the song along with their fans, repeating the refrain, “I take the whiskey straight, cause that cocaine, it makes me shake….”
We all left shaking, our bodies vibrating with the singing and yelling and cheering as the house turned on the lights and began ushering us out. Otherwise, the sing-along would have no doubt continued all night.
