Jeremy Porter Road Blog

Road Blog: Thursday October 10, 2024 - Portland, OR

Road Blog
Portland, Oregon
October 10, 2024

I flew to Seattle on Wednesday afternoon, just as the second inning of the Tigers’ game was starting. Thankfully the in-flight entertainment system included TBS, so I was able to watch the 3-0 shutout. TSA and Delta Air were super cool about my carry-on acoustic guitar, asking me to open it and hold it for the security inspection and carefully stowing it in a closet in the cabin near my seat. Dollar Rental Car, on the other hand, can suck it. After my card was run and my disclaimers were nearly complete, the last condition was that I not take the car outside of Washington or Oregon, a stipulation NOT on the original agreement. I didn’t go into details, but I am hitting those states and about 6 others, so that’s not gonna work. They wouldn’t rent to me. After some quick phone research and a couple dead ends, I rented from Alamo, who got me on my way, but for about double the cost of the Dollar rental. Hadn’t even left the goddamn airport and was already well in the hole.

First stop was to visit my pal Joe at his Temple of the Trees studio not far from the airport. I met Joe in the early 90s when he was with The Meices , and then Alien Crime Syndicate. We’d hang when he came through or near town and have stayed in touch pretty regularly. He gave me the tour of the amazing, beautiful studio, loaned me some gear for my tour, we strummed some guitars, and I was on my way. I scarfed down some Taco Bell (second night in a row, if you’re keeping score) and headed south on Interstate 5 towards Portland.

I stayed at an economy chain in Vancouver, Washington, just north of Portland, and the desk clerk, annoyed by my late arrival, wasn’t impressed that I was using TrooperGirl22’s rewards account. Clearly I wasn’t her, I guess. I’ve done this probably 200 times and never had a problem. Despite my exhaustion and lingering agitation with the rental car situation, I did my best to remain cordial, and was soon out cold, 4am Eastern time, 1am PST.

Sometime between leaving Joe’s and the hotel, the pickup inside my acoustic came loose and was floating around inside the body. I texted my guitar guy Jason back home who gave me some advice and I got it back in place, but with little confidence for longevity. Among my morning errands was procuring some 2-way tape. I hit about 4 record stores in Portland. First was City Street Records , a small but cool mostly punk and metal store. Then Music Millennium a great store where I picked up a Tammy Wynette LP and a Rick Springfield 7”. They’re carrying my new GTG Records record “Dynamite Alley” now so stop in and pick it up! From there I went to Little Ax , a small but well procured alt/indie-centric store next to the beautiful Hollywood Theatre.

By now it was mid-afternoon and I had to start budgeting my time before my early show. I headed over to the Mississippi neighborhood and brought my guitar into Black Book Guitars (can't tag?). It’s a tiny little space with a few cool vintage guitars on the wall. Three dudes were chatting, one looking not unlike Queen’s Brian May these days, testing some pickups on a Fender pickguard, the other, Nate, and then a dark-haired fellow who took some interest in the mention that I was from Detroit. Turns out it was Detroit’s own Mike Skill, guitarist for The Romantics, who’s living in Portland now. We had a great chat – I am a Romantics fan from way back, and saw them in the UP a couple times in the 80s. We have several friends in common and Ricky Rat is at the top of that list.

Even though Black Book doesn’t really get into acoustic guitar repair, Nate could tell that I was a bit uptight about messing around inside my Martin, so he took the initiative, and my T-Rex 2-way tape, and got the pickup secured for me. The Brian May dude got it back in tune, tested it out and handed it back, good as new. I was so grateful, and it just eliminated a bunch of stress for me. They wouldn’t take any money, and I returned a few minutes later with a couple CDs, but they’d locked up by then. Super cool meeting a Detroit guitar guy so from home, and the great people at Black Book. You guys rule!

I bopped around that neighborhood for a few minutes, stopped into Mint Gallery Records , then headed over to Overlook Park to chill for a few and call home. The Tigers were losing and TrooperGirl22 was a little spacey on the count of just finishing an intense yoga class, but we had a nice chat. Things seem to be mostly copacetic at home; she promptly cleaned the house after my departure, and it will remain in that exact state until Hurricane Jeremy rolls back into town in a week and a half.

I parked in front of The Gilded Raccoon Wine Lounge and met Danielle, the owner. I ate a burger and enjoyed an IPA while I loaded in and set up. She asked me what I wanted for pre-show music and I said Bottlecap Mountain – Electric Love Spree, so that was soon filling the room. My pals from the UP Guy, living in Portland now, and John, in town from Minnesota for a conference, came with literally a roomful of friends and it was great to see them after such a long time. I went on at 6 and played until 7 to a good room of attentive and responsive people. It was one of those nights where I could play the quieter stuff and tell some stories, and those are the best shows.

After my set I sold a good amount of merch to my friends and their friends and a few strangers, packed up and loaded out. We all hung around while the house band set up and played their great old-timey music to a decent room and a few dancers. A little after 8pm it was hugs and goodbyes and I headed east towards Idaho.

I drove 3 hours in the pitch-black night to Pendelton, Oregon on the south bank of the Columbia RIver. I’m sure it was lovely scenery – I could see occasional shadows of mountains and cities glowing in the distance, but it was a dark night. No northern lights here, unlike back home apparently. I was good and wiped out by the time I landed at my motel in Pendleton. It’s a mom-and-pop joint called the Rugged Mountain Lodge, and let’s just say to stress the “rugged” part. Honestly, it’s fine – clean and comfortable, the wifi works, and they have coffee. No problem.

Today I drive to Boise, where I’ll play the Spring Creek Brewing Company tonight at 6:30. Big thanks to Danielle, John, Guy, and everyone who was there last night. It was a great kickoff to the run, and a good stress-reliever after the setbacks with the vehicle and guitar. Xx