This past Thursday, Samantha Crain drew a full house to Portland’s country saloon, The Showdown. With a voice that’s both gentle and powerful, she captivated the room—each song unfolding like a vivid story, brought to life through her heartfelt lyrics.
Between songs, traditional Choctaw social dance music played while Samantha tuned her guitar. She shared personal reflections, opening up about her struggles with anxiety and the stage fright she’s developed in recent years. The dance songs, she explained, bring her comfort—a feeling like a hug from home.
Samantha is a natural storyteller. Every song felt like a short film, standing on its own with emotional depth and nuance. Standouts from the set included “Ridin’ Out the Storm,” “Gumshoe,” and “Elk City.” The latter closed the night as the encore, with Samantha recounting how the song came to be: while visiting Elk City, she met a woman who shared her life story—how she arrived during an oil boom, full of hope, only to feel trapped by circumstances.
The song follows the woman’s journey with a partner who promised stability, and captures her quiet desperation to leave. It ends with the line, “I can only stay one more night, just one more night,” offering a glimmer of hope that someday, she’ll finally make it out.
Photos By Anthony Moore
Samantha Crain’s tour in support of her latest album “Gumshoe” continues across the United States through the end of July with support from Quinn Christopherson. A full list of dates are available on Samantha’s website. “Gumshoe” is available to stream on all major platforms.
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