Walking On The Moon
THE INFAMOUS STRINGDUSTERS
MIDTOWN BALLROOM // BEND, OR
There was a line as we approached the doors of the Midtown Ballroom, arriving a few minutes before the doors opened. We shivered and stuffed our hands into our pockets; the cold mountain air making its way into town after the sun had set. “Annie’s going in blind” my friend said to another friend. Although I had heard of The Infamous Stringdusters, I hadn’t put much time into listening to them, nor had I ever seen them live before. There’s something so unique about going to see an artist for the first time, and especially unique when you’re going in without many preconceived notions or expectations. I had heard through the grapevine that the band puts on a hell of a show, and I was always down for a hell of a show.
The night came with a lot of firsts for me. Not only was it was the first time I was seeing the Infamous Stringdusters, it was also my first concert at this particular venue. I had been there before for other types of events, but never a concert. When we walked in, the floor was split down the middle in front of the sound booth. On the right hand side was the under 21 area, and on the left was the 21+ area accompanied by a bar and a bouncer checking IDs. “Interesting” we said to each other, wondering if the right hand side would even fill up knowing the beer culture of Bend, Oregon. It was also the first time, not ever but certainly in a very long time, that I would be completely sober for a show. My dry January forced me to fight my immediate inclination to head straight to the bar for a beer or a glass of wine to sip on while waiting for the band. So, with a clear and open mind, we headed towards the rail situated between the stage and the floor, securing our spots in the front row. As the crowd filled in behind us, we watched as guitar techs and crew members ensured the setup on the stage was just right; adjusting microphone heights and placing plastic cups near speakers. The stage setup was different than I was used to for a full band. With five microphones lining the front of the stage, there was no sign of a single instrument other than a tambourine sitting on the floor set up like a kick drum. Normally, there would be alternate guitars and banjos forming a barrier behind where the musicians would stand. But the lack of instruments on the stage made me think that The Infamous Stringdusters would be stripped down and to the point - no hoopla or excessiveness needed, and I appreciated that.
The clock ticked slowly and the crowd began to get restlessly rowdy while waiting for the band to embark on the stage. With the stage empty, one of the crew members came back out - just when we thought it was time for the show to start. Seemingly fidgeting with microphones in an attempt to distract us or drive us crazy with anticipation, the tech continually tested the middle microphone while switching components with the microphone standing at the back of the stage. Alas, the tech made his way backstage and the lights dimmed - the crowd replying with a roaring cheer welcoming the band onto stage.
When the lights brightened up the stage, five smiling faces looked towards the crowd with welcoming eyes - after a quick “hello Bend!” the band wasted no time starting the energetic strums of the stringed instruments in harmony. As The Infamous Stringdusters began capturing the audience's attention, I took a good look at each of the band members and their instruments. A guitar, stand up bass, fiddle, dobro, and banjo were all being strummed, picked, and played in beautiful unison. The men behind all of these instruments looked like they would fit in well here in Bend, Oregon. Their entire wardrobe - from hats, shoes, pants, and shirts - were all the fashionable yet functional fashion styles of a mountain town. By the time I was done getting a first look of these strangers that were serenading us, the lyrics had paused and the band was already into their first bluegrass jam session of the night - taking turns showcasing their talents on their instruments.
The rest of the night fell right in line. Each song opening with some singing from various members of the band, and ending in a full out jam that got the crowd moving and grooving. The moments of passionate strumming were encouraged by the cheers and dancing from a very happy crowd. After a brief intermission between sets, the band came back to the stage and joked with the crowd that they had ordered some charter buses to bring the Bend crowd to their next show in California. Their appreciation of the energy and enthusiasm of this particular group of concert goers was apparent and well received.
“Going in blind” to a concert is a truly special experience. There are few things in life that come as a surprise in today’s world. I thought about listening to some Stringdusters music the morning of the show to get myself acclimated with what I was about to hear. But, I ultimately decided against it. The truth is, having no expectations of the band or the show itself brings a whole new level of energy to the concert experience. The surprise of it all parallels the satisfaction of seeing one of your favorite bands. Like the feeling you get when your favorite song is played, not knowing any songs leaves you with a blank canvas to paint your experience with - an opportunity to see all of the true colors of live music with no lines to draw within. Normally being an admirer of rich lyricism in music, at first I questioned my interest in this particular band. But after their first long and powerful song, rich in instrumental harmonies, I couldn’t deny the talent that was coming from the stage. I quickly became very impressed by these five men and knew that I would be getting tickets again for the next time they came to town.
The Infamous Stringdusters drew me in from the beginning and kept me intrigued for the entirety of their performance. Their camaraderie within their jams is the epitome of teamwork; each member giving other members the support and space they need to express themselves through their music. It was a beautiful act of friendship and musicianship coming together to create a little community of their own up on that stage. And we were the lucky ones that night who were let in with open arms to join these musicians in that community they bring to the stage at their live shows.