Afro-punk plows through Portland! - 11.15.09

It was time for the Afro-punk roadies to leave the west coast after a string of four shows throughout California. Leaving the warm weather, the bands headed north to their next performance city-- Portland, Oregon.
Once the bands arrived to Portland, they quickly dropped their suitcases off at their hotel and headed straight to the venue for sound check. Tonight's show was at a venue popularly known for selling out punk bands in Portland called The Aladdin Theater. The venue was interesting because it was the first venue that the Afro-punk bands played in which was an actual theatre with rowed seatings taking up the majority of the floor space. The bands, including headliner Saul Williams, along with Krak Attack, the American Fangs, and Earl Greyhound, knew they would have to put on a show to keep the Portland audience out of their chairs and jamming near the stage.

Early in the night, we got a chance to meet up with well known Afro-punk online blogger, Damos Abadon, known as "Darkness Unlimited" who is a Portland resident and grunge band frequenter. Damos said that he likes to listen to weird shit that no one else listens to and considers himself punk because he "lives an individual lifestyle and keeps compromise to a minimal." As an Afro-punk online user since 2004, Damos said he supports Afro-punk because it is a place (both on-line & otherwise) for alternative people of color to freely express themselves. "To openly say things and express opinions they might not feel comfortable having their Caucasian friends hear. A place to identify with other people of color who might have a similar life trajectory as themselves," Damos responded. Pierced with jewelery all over his face, he also said that his appearance is something that he prides and spends time on because he likes the way it looks.

The Houston band, American Fangs, opened the Portland show- kicking off the night with the intensity that was needed to captivate the audience early. Lead singer of the Fangs, Gabe, said that he started music at 13-years-old when he was inspired by several American poets that got him starting to write lyrics. The bands lyrics range from topics of money and relationships to slavery and power. Guitarist, Kenyon, said that his favorite songs to play for the Afro-punk audiences since touring has been "Duke" and "Le Kick" because that's when he truly gets to pour his energy and passion from the stage to the crowd.

Here is the American Fangs onstage at The Aladdin Theater

Back on the Afro-punk line-up was Brooklyn trio, Earl Greyhound, who took a four day break from the Afro-punk tour, but met back with the group here in Portland.

Backstage, the guys from American Fangs chilled out in their green room, when Saul came in with his Niggy Tardust costume and crashed the party. Being on tour with Saul Williams and Afro-punk has opened the Fangs to a much wider audience, Kyle, American Fangs bassists said. "The people on this tour have been fun, but because of Saul's fan base, being on tour with him and Afro-punk has given us an audience of like-minded and intelligent people who want to have a good time," Kyle said. Saul even gave the Fangs touring advice by telling them it takes about four days of being on the road to really get in the groove of performing like a band-- Gabe said they got in their groove by day six!

Saul hit the stage, with only two more performances left on the tour after tonight's show--showing no signs of slowing down his momentum. The Portland crowd sang along with Saul's every word, especially with a common crowd favorite, "DNA." Saul said in an earlier interview that even though his newer fan base is predominantly white and his lyrics are bringing social consciousness to the black community, he likes it because it forces people to question why they are uncomfortable if they become uneasy about what he's saying. "It's good for people to go through that process of confusion and being uncomfortable sometimes," Saul said. "Now with that, just sit back and think about why you feel that way, I'm just helping people think," he said.

Some of the lyrics to Saul Williams, "DNA"

Keep your head up
We represent The Real, my nigga, dead up
Book of the Dead, history bled
This nigga fed up

Led us to despair, some into prayer, and they won’t let up
until they got us worshipping them false gods instead of
The Realness
God of the streets, my niggas feel this

We nod our heads and worship through beats
Go ahead and kneel
It’s the love that makes the cipher complete
And it’d displayed through the way the bass line marries the beat

The night ended with Saul thanking MJ (assuming for Michael Jackson) -- considering Saul received a creative arts scholarship to attend Morehouse University in Atlanta. CX even had on a Michael Jackson inspired sparkle glove that he bought while in Los Angeles, and he wore it while performing on stage.

Thank you Portland for being a great crowd and jamming out with the Afro-punk crew. Moving further north to our next stop, Seattle, Washington!

And even though you didn't want us to mention, Tchaka Diallo...