Steve Rodin & Da Good Guys mesh well
together; new CD now available
Steve Rodin (Photo by Kim Taylor)
It wouldn’t seem that a laid back, jazzy rock ‘n’ roll style band would be at the Hawthorne Theater, but that is exactly who performed in the lounge area of the theater on this particular Friday night, as Steve Rodin & Da Good Guys took to the stage.
The venue itself is interesting in that the interior has theater-style seating near the stage, mixed with regular bar tables staggered throughout the remaining bar area. The entire lounge exudes a feeling of dive bar mixed with a little corner café. The bartender seems to have a few regulars moving between the bar and private tables and people converse freely while listening to the music. Overall, it is a little dark inside, but there is an outdoor patio sectioned off right in the front facing Hawthorne, perfect for people-watching. Though the larger venue of the Hawthorne Theater is directly attached to the lounge, it is easy to sit and listen to music in the lounge and forget there is another show going on directly next door.
Kevin Eastes
(Photo by Kim Taylor)
Steve Rodin & Da Good Guys have played the Hawthorne Theater in the past; he likes to play here because with the larger theater directly next door, there tend to be “bigger acts that draw in a large crowd.” Tonight, it seems there is a mix of regular fans and people who just came on a whim and seem to be very happy they did. The murmur buzzing through the crowd is that there is also a large handful of people who, though originally here for the main performance next door, have decided that Rodin & Da Good Guys are putting on a much better show and start flooding in to settle at a table to take it all in.
The performance at the Hawthorne Theater is a mix of a few covers, but mostly originals. The harmonies between the three men is a bit reminiscent of Crosby, Stills and Nash, but with much more upbeat, lively music. The band switches smoothly between slower songs and faster songs, which focus on the guitar solos and steel guitar riffs. The only disappointment is that a harmonica sits next to the band all night, but it does not make its debut. With the effortlessness the band seems to exude on stage, it comes as a surprise when they say they don’t really practice. Apparently, the numerous gigs and bands each member is a part of is enough to keep them tuned.
Overall, Steve Rodin and Da Good Guys have a very comforting, welcoming feel as a band and as individuals. Happy to be playing as a band, it is apparent that they mesh well with each other and with their friends and fans. The members are here to perform, just as much as they are there for the company and atmosphere and to have a good time. Read More
Sandy Saunders Band
Pro players hit club scene with fever pitch
Sandy Saunders
Like all things in life, bands have a circle of life. They start out with a few friends getting together to jam, then take on a life of their own. They build momentum and a fan base as they grow as a unit, adding songs and getting tight as a group.
A new band on the PDX scene started out just like this. Lead singer Sandy Saunders has worked in Portland for a while as the singer for a band called The Usual Suspects. It’s a funny name considering this band is made up of police officers and a PDX prosecutor. Behave yourself if you decide to catch one of their shows.
Saunders was born and raised In Augusta, Ga., but now resides in the great northwest. She began performing at the many open jams in this great city, making friends and building her chops. The desire to play more often led to the development of The Sandy Saunders Band. With a collection of Portland’s pro players, she is hitting the club scene with a fever pitch.
Sanders’ most recent band member is drummer Bruce Gifford, longtime local drummer and a constant player in the open jam scene. (He’s also webmaster for PE&D.) Gifford had his first live performance this week at the Dublin Pub. What better place for your first show than the Dublin, which has been host to so many great bands over the years. If you find yourself there, be sure to have something from the menu; you can’t go wrong with the fish and chips. Gifford is a true pro and a great addition to any band. He plays with confidence and just finds the right spot and sound level every time.
Guitarist Joe Rutledge keeps this band on its toes as he leads them from song to song. A player who has clearly done his time in the trenches, he plays with ease and moves from full sounding rhythm tracks to some very clear and inspiring lead solos. Rutledge has learned the tricks to play a wide variety of music, covering broad ranges of artists while capturing the original tone of each guitar player. Read More
Party of 4 rocks Pyzano's
Repertoire includes 50 yrs. of dance, rock & pop hits
Pyzano’s Lounge and Grill is more than just a typical bar and grill. It’s actually a full-service restaurant serving breakfast, lunch and dinner. It opens at 9 a.m. every day in time for the lazy breakfast crowd. It also caters to the late night revelers, staying open ‘til midnight every day except Fridays and Saturdays, when it is open until 1 a.m.
Party of Four at Pyzano's
As a full service restaurant, the menu is more than adequate to appeal to everyone’s palate. The most obvious menu item is the New York-style gourmet pizza with freshly-made pizza sauce, hand-cut vegetables, whole-milk mozzarella cheese and dough made fresh daily.
Additionally, there are appetizers, chicken dishes, hamburgers, sub sandwiches, salads and typical entrees like spaghetti and meatballs, fettuccini, fish and chips, and sirloin steak. Combined with a complete breakfast menu and happy hour and you have a comfortable and appealing restaurant and lounge all in one room.
The entertainment is enough to keep anyone occupied. DJs Kevin and Kim bring Karaoke on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from 9 p.m. until closing. On Friday nights, live music is featured by various bands including Party of Four, who played on July 31.
This band’s repertoire includes a wide range of dance, rock and pop hits from the last 50 years of American music including things like Hit Me With Your Best Shot and Pink Cadillac. They did believable covers of artists as diverse as Stevie Ray Vaughan, Creedence Clearwater Revival and Patsy Cline. According to their website, they can do R & B, classic rock and a few country standards with an emphasis on dance music. They like to get people up out of their seats and onto the dance floor. Read More
