Brett Dennen looks alarmingly young despite wardrobe choices that reference Jimi Hendrix — loose-fitting button-up shirt and a mid-forehead bandana. When I first saw him at the back of the crowd at Space, I questioned if he was old enough to be at the 18+ show. It wasn't until the shockingly red-haired, androgynous youth got on stage that I realized the young buck in question was indeed Dennen himself. Space's sold-out crowd waited patiently last Friday post local opener, Pete Kilpatrick, who busted out a brand new tune for the hungry crowd. Having heard Dennen's CD only once, I had no expectations. I was told that his live performance was no match to his recorded material. I was also told he had been known to hush the crowd when they became too noisy — a trait I think is terrible in a performer. From the moment he got on stage until his second encore he and his backing band were professional and fairly seamless, probably learning from the larger acts, such as John Mayer, they've toured with.
Dennen's own material is pleasant to the ear (though I wish people would leave Bob Marley's covers to his kids; he has enough of them to cover his whole catalog). Dennen's music is something I would buy for my father-in-law with no fear that he would be offended by any of it. It's accessible and easy to swallow — unlike the hushing of the crowd he indeed did during his acoustic encore. Well, it was more like a pause and an intent stare that got the attentive portion of the audience to do his hushing for him.
You can catch Pete Kilpatrick six times in the next week. Check http://myspace.com/petekilpatrick for show details.
Related:
Going on sale: September 28, 2007, Portland scene report: November 30, 2007, Beautiful locals, More 
- Going on sale: September 28, 2007
Deadly Syndrome, Dying Fetus, Brett Dennen, and more.
- Portland scene report: November 30, 2007
The “Sibilance” staff once again has sad news to report about a member of the music scene battling cancer.
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Remember when there was music on MTV? Now I check in occasionally to see if Real World er Ruthie’s finally been put in rehab.
- Bands of Gypsy
The explosion of neo-Gypsy-hybrid music started, you might say, with a cleverly worded flyer spied years ago by Eugene Hütz.
- Record lows, indies peak
Last week’s number 10 album, Van Morrison’s Keep it Simple, sold just 37,000 copies.
- Portland scene report, March 31, 2006
New music in the works for Now Transmission, Pete Kilpatrick, El Grande, Hi Fivin' White Guys, and Enchantments
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Willie Nile may not be a household name, even among serious musos.
- Portland scene report: September 29, 2006
Since former Phoenix “Classical” columnist Mark Scearce (sorry, J. Mark) skipped town, we haven’t been paying much attention to the resident composer spot at USM’s School of Music.
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I'm an enthusiastic guy, and maybe prone to hyperbole from time to time, but it's hard to argue that 2008 wasn't an all-time banner year for music created here in the Portland area.
- Survivor: Portland
When Jeremiah Freed decided in early 2005 to depart Portland for the sunny climes and cutthroat industry of Los Angeles, guitarist Jake Roche didn’t make the trip.
- Portland scene report: June 22, 2007
Folks watching the Sox game on Thursday the 14th heard a take from the Small Boy Petes, during a highlight montage.
- Less
Topics:
New England Music News
, Jimi Hendrix, Bob Marley, John Mayer, More
, Jimi Hendrix, Bob Marley, John Mayer, Brett Dennen, Pete Kilpatrick, Less
