Casey Neill & the Norway Rats are a crack gang of musicians from Portland Oregon. Their sound combines high energy diesel fueled rave-ups and haunting ballads. Neill's original weather beaten narratives eschew irony in favor of romance, celebrate society's miscreants, and explore the hidden corners of the American landscape. The Norway Rats, a crack gang of Portland's finest musos, perform Neill's originals with unhinged live energy. With accordions, over-driven guitars, and Neill's raspy voice, the band blends elements of Scots/Irish tunefulness, feral abandon, and heartland rock. Their record "Goodbye to the Rank and File" features the full Norway Rats lineup and garnered rave reviews from radio, online blogs, and press. Their next record "All You Pretty Vandals" is slated for release at the end of 2012.
The Norway Rats feature bassist Jesse Emerson (Amelia), guitarist Chet Lyster (Eels, Lucinda Williams Band). drummer Joe Mengis (Climber), and keyboardist Jenny Conlee (Decemberists, Black Prairie). The band tours extensively throughout up and down the West Coast and the Rockies. Neill has left his impact on audiences while touring extensively for more than a decade in the US, UK, and Japan at venues such as Town Hall in New York, San Francisco's Great American Music Hall, and the Bumbershoot Festival in Seattle.
At Music on Main Street, Casey Neill & The Norway Rats will be accompanied by the Portland Horns - a core local horn section that has provided brass for acts such as Spoon, Bobby Bare Jr and the Next Waltz reenactment of The Band's classic farewell concert. The Portland Horns are Bruce Withycombe (baritone saxophone), Joe Cunningham (tenor saxophone), and Paul Brainard (trumpet) of the Paul Brainard Fun Machine. They will be adding parts to the original songs as well as a few choice covers. While they have joined the Norway Rats for a song or two over the years, this is the first time they will collaborate on a full performance.
About Music on Main Street
Located in downtown Portland on Main Street, between Southwest Broadway & Park Ave., next to Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall.
Wednesday evenings during July and August we take advantage of the lovely summer weather in Portland to present Music on Main Street, PCPA’s free outdoor concert series. The concerts boast popular local musicians with a diverse collection of music – from Afrobeat to Rockabilly – these bands will have you up on your feet and dancing on Main Street. The free concerts are open to the public and run from 5pm to 7pm – tickets are not required. The ArtBar & Bistro will be serving up seasonal fare and delicious libations starting at 4:30pm every week. Tables and chairs are available on a first come, first served basis, along with plenty of room to move around - dancing is highly encouraged. View the entire 2012 Music on Main Street line-up here.
Music on Main Street is made possible through the generous support of these fine sponsors:
Jack Daniel’s, Bacardi USA, Thorny Rose, Trinchero Family Estates, Ste. Michelle Wine Estates, Bridgeport Brewing Co., Full Sail Brewing Co., Young’s Market Company, Columbia Distributing Company, and KZME.
