I like American Music
Burlingame Pizza, suddenly venue
by Chad Drainzin
Before Burlingame Pizza opened its second entrance it was small. Super tiny. They served pizza. They served beer. There was live music. It was inaudible. Last fall, Burlingame expanded, more than tripling its seating area, gaining valuable frontage, and a second entrance. It also opened an entire second floor, created a stage, and installed an ample P.A. system. Burlingame Pizza is now a very active home to local acoustic and acousticish acts.
The food is simple. The pizza menu is divided more-or-less equally between meat and vegetarian pies that range from traditional to borderline-gourmet toppings. The crust is simple and allows the toppings and cheese to impart their flavor unhindered. It's good cheese. For those customers not so interested in gobbling the saturated-animal-fat, the other category on the menu is the salad. Rabbits rejoice, the salads are good too, and incorporate some of the great ingredients that make the pizza memorable. (caramelized onions, pine nuts, etc.) Burlingame also delivers, and chooses bicycles and an electric car for transportation.
Enough about the food. This is a music magazine. Burlingame puts out a monthly brochure-looking publication, printed on surprisingly heavy stock, listing thirty (or thirty one) days worth of musical entertainment. Burlingame books American music - mostly acoustic, rootsy, folksy, foot-stomping music. Yes, there is bluegrass. Yes, there is gypsy music. (Okay maybe its not all American music but its appeal is similar.) There are typically two acts on a given night; an early 6-8 PM dinner set, and a later one at 8:30.
The club (is it a club?) is relatively brightly lit and brightly painted. The small stage that rests in the southwest corner of the new annex is big enough for two performers.  Many acts that play there have five or six members. The squeeze adds positively to the intimacy of the room, and breaks the barrier somewhat between audience and performer. From the stage, look up. An 'L' shaped, balcony provides excellent spectation. Patrons in the know head right upstairs and take a seat in the worn couches above the stage, affording a great view of the band, and a private place to chat.
What I'm trying to convey is the sense of warmth and informality that this place instills. While an acoustic cover of "Born to be Wild" is not usually my style, it worked here and it was fun. The night I went, there was a kid's birthday party. Ten-year-olds were throwing paper airplanes from the balcony at the performers. Everyone was having fun. Burlingame is, after all, a fun place
Burlingame Pizza and Acoustic Room
111 SW Ash
503-222-2215
http://www.burlingamepizza.com
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