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02/04/2022

Dante's 22nd Anniversary show featuring Storm Large in Portland, OR on 02/02/22

By BRENT ANGELO //

One of Portland’s best live music venues just celebrated its 22nd anniversary. Dante’s, which is located at 350 W Burnside Street and has been a staple of the downtown Portland music scene for more than two decades. Dante’s has been a home for many local Portland bands, a go to tour stop for national acts and mostly a cool place to get together with friends to see great live club shows.

To celebrate Dante’s 22nd Anniversary, Storm Large would headline a show which included longtime friends Eric McFadden, Skip VonKuske of Cellotronik with Kristin Holovnia and Michael Dean Damron. Mike D’s acoustic set showed his usual heart and soul, Skip and Kristin performed some great covers and Eric McFadden dazzled with his guitar playing.

Storm Large would make a surprise appearance during Eric McFadden’s opening set. She joined Eric for a powerful cover Willie Nelson’s “I Just Can't Let You Say Goodbye”. There was just something special in the air during this song. Maybe it was the getting back on stage together after all this time apart. Covid has taken a toll on all of us, but during this song it felt like all that was forgotten, and things were better again. The next song “Someday” would be another of the night’s highlight. The song written by Eric McFadden and Kate Vargas would see a rare performance of Storm behind the drums and on vocals. "After the Storm" which followed was a sweet moment from her that seemed to give us all some much-needed hope. ("Someday"/"After the Storm" video link below)

The headlining performance from Storm Large and the Boners would take Dantes back down her rock n’ roll memory lane to the Storm and the Balls days. Storm and the Balls were staples at Dantes music scene back in the day and played the club weekly on Wednesday nights. Storm Large remains not only one of Portland’s best, but simply one of the best musicians around. She is simply fearless on stage, has incredible stage presence and is truly a phenomenal live performer. This singer, songwriter once took her chance on the TV show, Rockstar Supernova, but to this day remains a true rockstar.

Her “Ballsy” setlist would feature some of her classic rock n roll mashups like the Eurythmics “Missionary Man” with the music of Metallica’s “Enter Sandman” as well as “Green Zep”, which includes the music of Led Zeppelin’s “Ten Years Gone” and the lyrics of Green Day’s “Brain Stew” to name a few. The passion and fire she brings on stage and to these songs is a real treat especially in intimate setting of a place like Dante’s. Storm Large killed its. God that woman is incredible.

Oregon Music News wants to say thanks to the owner, Frank Faillace, to the staff of Dantes and to all those who have performed there. Dante’s is a very special place in our Portland music scene. After all the damage Covid has done, we are grateful that the venue is still here for us all to enjoy. We appreciate all of your hard work and efforts over the years. Hopefully, the pandemic is finally on the decline and we can all get back to more live shows. OMN have enjoyed covering the shows there and look forward to covering many, many more. Thanks, Dantes. Happy 22nd.

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