GeoBudgetTravel: Local Music at Al's Den in Portland, Oregon

Al's Den is, without a doubt, the best music venue I've ever been to. I've always thought that the city of Portland attracts the friendliest people on earth, far from the hipster smugness that everyone thinks of (it's definitely hipster, but Portlanders in general do manage not to take themselves too seriously). I've found that in Al's Den, both the musicians and audience seem to embody this.

The concerts at Al's Den are free to attend, and happen every night at 7 PM. They usually have two or three openers that change every day, and one band that remains the same for a week. I saw three main bands, along with a long list of openers. Some included Esme Patterson, Siren and the Sea, Bird Courage, Ryan Sollee, The Bevelers, Anna Tivel, Lindsay Clark, Samsel and the Skirt, Ezra Bell, Balto, Mountain Animation, and Joseph. There were about twice as many others (all of which were good), but I can't remember them.

I'm not that descriptive with music, so I'll just post a few Youtube videos of their music. Enjoy, and support them by buying their music and/or seeing them in concert!

Esme Patterson