Portland, I love this city! Over the past 20 years I’ve seen a lot. Played countless shows at pretty much every venue in town. For the most part Portland is pretty amazing with so many great bands! The cost of living in this town is just crazy compared to what it used to be. That’s a negative for sure. Artists are the first to suffer from high COL. Venues do too. Too many closing all the time.

Another thing I see that concerns me about the Portland music scene is No matter if the scene is Goth or Hardcore or whatever? The same wave and ride seems to play out time and again.

Let’s use (Goth / Hardcore) as examples. Pick one

1st – (The Goth / Hardcore scene) The scene bands together in love and harmony to build something special.  And The scene grows. Gets big. It is amazing. Stable and healthy for the bands and venues.

2nd Then after a while Someone or a band or ? from the (The Goth / Hardcore scene) gets their feelings hurt and decides to start their own night somewhere else. In turn half of the crowd splits between the two scenes. This also allows for lots of drama. Each scene fighting for I’m right, bigger crowd or us vs them.

3rd Then (The Goth / Hardcore) now divided scene slowly eat each other a live until there is no real (The Goth / Hardcore scene) left. Each spot is dead. No way to sustain a night for the venue & artists.
And then both die.

after a years or so the cycle starts over. 

Let’s discuss ways to help make this cycle not happen? Plus build whatever scene you’re into bigger than ever before. Together is the only way. Tired of the splits, hurt people or haters bashing this or that. Only brings it all down to eventually nothing. I see some splits starting. Let’s stop this cycle.

1. Go to a show. Check out a new band or DJ you’ve never heard of. Support said band even if it’s not exactly your thing. There’s always room to network and make new friends / fans.
When was the last time you went to a show where it was just to hear a new band. Nothing drawing you except, I want to hear music tonight. Not your friend’s sisters band. Just this venue has live music, let’s go there tonight. Rarely do I see new people come into any of our shows. Either it’s a large national and fans are there to hear that one song or it’s a, my friend is the guitarist. I’m here to check out her band. Where are all the fans of live music for live music’s sake? I know I love live music. But I don’t usually go to check out a new unknown band. Maybe the cost of living plays a factor? Or my excuse. “I don’t want to wreck my ears” maybe live music is just fading away?

2. Support venues that support you. Yes, it is supporting a venue choosing to have your amazing event at said venue. Don’t take what you do to a none supporting (The Goth / Hardcore scene) venue that has never even gone an extra inch let alone extra mile for your music and scene. As in a weekly Applebee’s event I saw last month. Goth Night w/ DJ Cold Chem. On so many levels that makes me a little sick. Maybe it’s the only place that would book? But there was a bigger crowd than I would have thought there.

Just my little rant. What do you all think?

New bigger stage , new lights.​
We just added 32 sq ft to the Portland Potato Vodka Stage in the Lounge. Its really makes a huge difference. Ya ya! Plus,  we added tons of new lights up & down in both rooms.  We are excited for you to see what we've been up to.

​Check out the video at the link below to see some of the new lights!  
https://www.facebook.com/analogpdx/videos/1302599636509834/

Meet The Analog's New Marquee...

We are so excited. Our new marquee is finally up. Double sided. This is one of the last pieces to our remodel that started in April of this year. Come check out what we've been up to. 

RENOVATIONS SO FAR: New PA systems both floors fronted by Midas Pro Consoles, New killer subs, New killer monitors, New I-Macs at each sound booth, New LED moving head lights, New stages, New sound treatments, New backdrops, New vinyl booths, New building mural by Sincanvas inside and out. Plus, newly renovated green rooms for the bands and more.

Our goal / mission is always to take care of the bands and artists that grace our stages each night the best we can. Without them there is no us. Renovations had this in mind when deciding what to do. As a music venue we should always make it as nice as possible for the artists first. Give our sound engineers the best tools to make it sound better not only for the fans but the artists. I admit, as a touring artist myself I am bias toward this goal. Take care of the bands!!!!!!  It’s the reason I wanted to open a venue in the first place. I've played tons of great venues that get it. But I've played a few who do not. It’s not fun packing out a venue with our fans as their customers and having their staff be rude or the venue not having an amazing PA system or not having a green room even. Thankfully most venues get it. At Analog I stress every day we are here because of the bands. Take care of them extra special. I do admit you can’t win them all, but I think we do win most. We will always strive to better and to be the best venue we can for the artists that play here! Hopefully it shows.

ok, enough ranting. LOL NEW SIGN YAAAAAA!

So many amazing bands on the way. Check out analogpdx.com under shows for a list of concerts.
​XOXOXO
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Wow, These are game changing. Last night was their debut show. If we wanted we could shake the building next door.  All I can say is wow. Very happy. These with our EAW tops and JBL & QSC monitors, all run through our Midas Pro Digital Console make The Analog like no other venue our size. Always world class PA system here but now even better. Just crazy good. Next up, Meyers monitors.

We have been hard at work remodeling and updating The Analog to make it the best we can be.  New mural from Sincanvas is just amazing! Thank you David G. Plus new vinyl booths, new remodeled green rooms, new Air conditioning  on both floors (10 ton & 2 ton units), New vintage Marquee & much much more.  I will be glad when we are finished with this round. A few more things to go. September 10th is our customer appreciation day. I'll post more details soon. I hope to see some of you there. 

I come from the band end of things 1st. So my first and ever constant task is to upgrade the PA System. To me a club or wanna be venue that doesn't put in a decent PA system but still wants to make money off the backs of Bands, is just taking advantage of the bands. Now don't get me wrong. Our old PA in the theater rocked. Midas Verona 480 console. Our baby. She took care of so many amazing bands. She will always have a special place in our hearts. We upgraded to two Midas Pro Consoles on both floors now. A hard decision. many consoles to choose from. Midas is more expensive than others but OMG they sound so much better. Also new EAW mains, New subs. New sound treatment. Plenty of monitor mixes. wow. Both rooms are dialed in nicely. I am very pleased with how it's sounding.  I will always try and put in amazing gear for the bands that we are lucky enough to have play here. Plus add the little extras. Green room remodel. New couches, new computer for surfing the web. Guitar wall hangers. Plus a Fridge in each green room stocked full of bottled waters & a few energy drinks thrown in, towels, drink tickets and a band discount on food. no matter how small or big the band is. They all deserve that and more. I will always strive to be artist 1st. As an artist myself how could it be any other way. 

Favorite Band (Last 7 days): Emery. They killed it last night. Sold Out show. Sounded amazing!

Show I'm looking forward too: All of them but I am really excited for True Form on August 11th. It's a suicide Prevention benefit. Great cause.  Gonna be packed with lots of love!
Featuring 
Fighting Casper
Reach For Rescue
Banners Raised
Lit By Suffering
True Form