Boston Manor opening up for Neck Deep on 11.16.
Somewhere in the middle of their tour supporting Neck Deep, the five members of Boston Manor (Henry Cox, vocals, Michael Cunniff, guitar , Ash Wilson, guitar, Dan Cunniff, bass and Jordan Pugh, drums) made their way to the corner of 14th and Burnside in Portland, Oregon. The Crystal Ballroom is one of the best concert venues in the city and one that I’d frequented pre-pandemic. Entering through a small set of double doors and ushered up two flights of what seem to be original wooden stairs before you even see the stage, the lack of free parking is more than worth it when you step onto that floor. Even more so when you’re met with some of the best energy I’ve felt in a long time.
Weekday shows have turned into some of my favorites to go to. They’re the ones that bring out the best crowd. People that love the music and people on stage so much that they sacrifice sleep on a work night to be a part of the experience truly are my kind of people. This Tuesday night gig was no exception.
With two openers proceeding Boston Manor, the band made their way on stage for sound check around 8pm but when they did, counting the seconds stopped. There was no time to think about time. Experiencing the first three songs of their set with nothing between me and the stage was astounding. Dodging crowd surfers being thrown over the barricade on one side and an epic wall of sound on the other was a place I never thought I’d find myself, but has turned into a place I never want to leave.
After what felt like the world’s shortest three songs, I made my way out of the pit to loiter at the back of the crowd. Watching the rest of the show from a distance really allowed me to take it all in; the band on stage absolutely giving everything to the people who’d come here in search of the solace raging at a show brings you. At one point lead singer Henry Cox split the crowd down the middle during the breakdown of a song and said “when it drops, you know what to do.” And they sure did. What had been the parting of the red sea quickly turned turbulent as both sides rushed together, collided and, and intertwined. This crowd had so much energy, seemingly as a direct result of the energy flowing off the stage. Boston Manor became one of the bands that left me feeling better than they found me, and as I made my way back to my car at the end of the night I couldn’t help but check to see if there might be a chance to see them again before they parted ways with the west coast and our grim weather.
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