Review: Greg Norton
August 10, 2024 - Twilight on Grand
I think there are 3 venues that are called the Twilight in Portland. This Twilight I’d never been do, and I have a memory it was a hot spot for Salsa Dancing.
Thanks to Colin! He told me about this show the day before “Jon Snodgrass and Greg Norton playing Husker Classics” and “Liquid Light doing tunes from ALL” . The flyer was a study in terrible design, I didn’t know who Jon Snodgrass was, and I was flummoxed and excited! I love Husker Du a ton, and I have a history of never successfully seeing any member play live.
April 1987 - Husker Du played in San Francisco. We drove down from Nevada City, and got the day wrong. “Uh, that was WEDNESDAY” said the door guy, when we showed up early and just knew we’d fucked up. December 2000 - Grant Hart was playing at the Empty Bottle in Chicago. Paul and Sara and I were living in the Ukrainian Village for a few months while I worked at This American Life as an intern. The weather was fierce in a way that made us unable to walk to the show, which was probably a half mile away, something like that (2). In the late 90’s, I worked at the Red and Black Cafe. My first day there, my training went long. UHGHHHHSHHHIITTT. I got to the Aladdin Theater in time to look into the room and see Bob Mould packing up.
So, thanks to Colin, I was going to get it right this time! This show was billed as an After Party for the show at Pioneer Square “Portland’s Living Room” which featured Dillinger Four and The Descendents. I was not there. (1) However, I did hear that D4 introduced themselves as “We’re God Hates Computers from Portland, Oregon” which Doug didn’t actually catch in the moment, but others did. That’s heartwarming. Thanks guys!
I had some doubts going in. I don’t normally go for reunion shows, who was this backing band, what had Greg Norton been doing all these years, and fuck it. I was in. And it was GREAT! Way more fun than I expected. I appreciated that it was sloppy, the first few songs Greg didn’t play very well, but we were all fully in it. I had forgotten how absolutely transcendent it can be to be in room full of people singing along together. It was great. Greg had mostly gotten it together by the time they played “Terms of Psychic Warfare” one of the best bass parts of all time. (3)
Also, a reminder that HUSKER DU was truly great. What lyrics! The guy who sang “Divide and Conquer” printed the lyrics out to help his memory, and it got super chaotic and was sloppy fun. Those of us up front grabbed them for souvenirs, and I got
It’s s all here before your eyes
Safety is a big disguise
That hides among the other lies
They divide, conquer, what oh oh, oh oh
It hit me, as americans actively trade freedom for safety.
This band played for a while, but not too long. Two of the Descedents sang one song each. I stood on the bench of the closest table, so I could see and hear super well, but I only took the one blurry photo. Who has time to document when you’re in the moment?
At the end of the set, Greg vouched for the Minnesota governor being a good guy, and asked us to vote, saying it could be a “New Day Rising”. It was corny, but also sweet.
I didn’t stay for the other band, but I did hang out outside for a while and kick it with old friends, had a small chat with Billy from D4, and went home totally satisfied.
1) I think this is a pretty interesting history on how Pioneer Square came to be.
2) Eventually Sara would see Grant Hart play somewhere, and when he sang “It’s Not Funny Anymore” she agreed. She sent me a postcard about it. I don’t remember what was no longer funny, but the moment touched Sara, and the postcard lodged in my memory.
3) Full set list: New Day Rising / The Girl Who Lives on Heaven Hill / It’s Not Funny Anymore / Don’t Want To Know If You Are Lonely / These Important Years / Terms of Psychic Warfare / Makes No Sense At All / Celebrated Summer / Pink Turns To Blue / In A Free Land. They played Pink Turns to Blue early cause someone broke a string.
