August 13, 2008
The Big Easy
The Big Easy has been a staple for live music in Portland for about a dozen years. By far, it has the best sound system (which is why most bands love to play there) and soundguy Jim Begley, who's engineered and produced tons of recordings at The Studio. It's where you go to hear a good band, dance and have a few drinks.
People who love live music go to the Big Easy. Sure, they go to SPACE Gallery, too, a venue geared more toward listening than drinking, but at the Big Easy you have a full bar and a more casual atmosphere where it's not so stuffy or artsy. Not that that's bad, just different.
Most of the time, the venue has a healthy crowd of locals looking to hear their favorite band, tourists looking to get drunk and dance and college kids looking to hook up. You won't find cheap drinks or food or a clean bathroom, but 60% of the time you'll have fun everytime.
The stage is a few feet above the floor, just big enough to suit a 10 piece band and feel intimate to the viewer. You can't miss the stage - it's directly in front of you as you walk in the door. Stroll down the ramp to the floor and find 10-15 round tables and a bar on the left wall. To the left of the stage is a small area with couches and the coolest people you'll ever see. Just kidding - anybody can sit there. You just feel particularly sexy when you do.
I've been to the club to see Nigel Hall, The Awesome, Miss Fairchild, several Clash of the Titans shows, Feel it Robot and many more. The Clash of the Titans shows, held every Tuesday, are a wild hit. Two bands assemble - consisting of different members of other - and battle with cover songs. Some Clashes to come are Frank Zappa vs. Mike Patton, Spoon vs. Elvis Costello and Beastie Boys vs. Run DMC. The musicians often dress like the ones their covering - I loved Matt Robbins as AC/DC's Angus Young. A band takes the stage, playing one song and is followed by the second band playing their cover. The audience votes with applause and a winner is awarded respect and adoration at the end of the night.
(taken from Big Easy website)
The Big Easy usually hosts reoccurring events like the Clash of the Titans. Strange Pleasure, a jam band, plays every Wednesday and A Band Beyond Description, covering the music of the Grateful Dead, play every Thursday. Friday and Saturday, you'll hear a different band. Sometimes there's a band playing on Sunday, but Monday's you'll rarely get a live show.
While I'd love to hear your experiences at the Big Easy, I've disabled the comments due to a high volume of spam. MaineToday has attempted to fix this problem with no solution. You can always e-mail me with pressing (and hopefully witty) comments.
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