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STARTING OUT vs FINISHING THE SHOW

Starting out is so slow, so hard, that sometimes the only thing you feel like doing is quitting. Whether it’s work, family, or friends, we get tired. Sooo tired. But it wasn’t always like that. Was it?

BEST CONCERT: A BOOMERPDX REVIEW

Reviewing for best concert happened the usual way: I opened a box of pictures and found Prince. I saw this show in 1985 for $17.50 with my then-girlfriend, driving up to Tacoma and back from Portland. We got married a year later. Prince The Closer?

PURPLE RAIN: SACRED HYMN FROM PRINCE TO MR. TRUMP

The Prince people complained about Mr. Trump using Purple Rain at his latest republican rally. Since the gathering was in Minnesota, the complaint hit close to the Prince home. Why can’t Mr. Trump use any song he wants? Ask Bruuuuce about politicians using popular songs, like Mr. Reagan playing Born In The USA. No thanks […]

Prince in Portland, Prince Forever

    Laying along East Burnside, Prince looked comfortable. We were going to a show at the Doug Fir Lounge and there he was. It took me back to the Tacoma Dome after seeing Purple Rain when it first came out. Who was Prince? Only the anti-Michael Jackson, and back then it seemed a good […]

THEME SONG NOMINATIONS FOR BOOMERPDX HALL OF FAME

If not the best summation of a generation, the Traveling Wilbury’s ‘End Of The Line’ weaves a poignant picture. For a theme song that’s a pretty good combination. It’s not a Billy Joel history lesson with ‘We Didn’t Start The Fire,‘ though that would be a fine nomination, too. Instead, End Of The Line feels […]

AVOID ANNIVERSARY MOVIES

A Divorce Downer Of Old Movies. The plan: A nice wedding anniversary with the family followed by a weekend at the same beach you went to on your honeymoon. If anniversaries are a tradition, so is the beach trip. You book your favorite cabin, the one with unobstructed view of the ocean…from the bathroom. Pack […]

A Christian Burghardt Moment

Portland Baby Boomers Know The Sound When They Hear It Every boomer has a musical moment, a memory of a singer or song so big it overwhelms them still. And it’s better than anything you’ve got because they heard it first. The Who do it. Johnny Cash makes it happen. Let It Be? There are no toppers. […]