Editor says

At the risk of waxing poetic and encouraging your dismissal of this column altogether, I’d like to mention the changing of the seasons. I do have a point to make though, which I’ll arrive at soon enough. But let’s all stop for a moment and consider the mental preparation we’re all going through as residents on this side of the Cascades. Personally speaking, I find great relief in the anonymity of gray Northwestern days. Having been raised in the high desert, I do not miss the cold and bright winters of my youth. Give me a moderate and damp Portland winter any time.

Which brings me to my point. No matter how much you love (or hate) winter here, I think we can all agree that going out in the rain to catch some music takes more than a considerable amount of dedication. It’s so much easier to stay home and read or watch television than it is to get bundled up and head out to your neighborhood venue that even I, passionate lover of local music, have a hard time getting up from my warm hearth on winter nights.

So I have come up with a solution. It will only work with all of us wanting it to work, but I’m sure that, once you’ve considered the proposal, you’ll see the value in my suggestion and wholly endorse it as your own opinion. Point of fact: Winter evenings in Portland start hella early. Point of fact: Portland entertainment starts hella late. Shit, by the time most of our shows have started half the audience is yawning and thinking about when they can reasonably go home without being rude. By the time the last band goes on, all pretense of decency has lost the battle against fatigue and that band is lucky if the sound guy is even in the room any longer.

So here is my proposition: I suggest that all music venues in the greater Portland area make it a point to start all shows no later than 8:00 pm, regardless of the day of the week, instead of the standard 10:00 start time. I know what you’re thinking, “Sure, Guy, that’s a great idea, but no one ever comes out until 10:30 anyway.” Well, why is that? Load in is at 8. Sound check is at 9. The first band figures, well, no one is really here yet, and so they start around 10:30 or 10:45. Well, if I’m going out to see a show, I’m not going to be there until 10:30 either. Who wants to go sit in an empty venue listening to the bands talk about when their friends might show up.

This has to be a joint effort. The bands need to be prompt with load in, the venues need to let them load in between 6:00 and 7:00, and the music needs to START ON TIME. What this may mean is that, for a time, music is getting played to empty houses. But it won’t take long for the fans and friends to know that if they want to see the show, they have to get there by 8.

Not only will this new habit encourage the cozy curlers I mentioned before, but it will also make local music available to the 9-5 type who just can’t go out as late as 10:00 when he has to get up in the morning. It will encourage parents to come out, since their chances of finding a babysitter will be better. It will give performers and their friends a chance to hang out after the show. It will mean the audience is more excited and energetic. Why do hipsters stand there like zombies as the band rocks out? Not because they’re too cool to dance, it’s because they are weary.

Now I know that it’s only October and the daylight is only half as short as it’s going to be, come daylight savings time. But if we start now, we’ll be well into the habit by winter, and Portland will have the swinginest rainy season it’s had in generations. Yes, I said it, raining it will be. But we’re talking two less hours of sludge to muddle through. Just think about it! I was down at the MusicFest NW last month (many thanks to WWeek and all the other sponsors for putting on a great show), and all those shows were slated to start no later than 9. But you know what? Most of the people I saw partying were already in the city at 7:00!

Do you want to see this change? If MLP were to start bringing this idea to area venues, would you want to be involved? Do you disagree? Write to us at change@musicliberationproject.com and share your thoughts. I know you’ve got it in you, Portland. Do you want some earlier shows? Let’s get it done! Can I get an amen?

-Guy