Palehound made their return to Mississippi Studios in Portland, Oregon and this past Tuesday. Lead singer El Kempner mentioned to the crowd that Palehound was originally supposed to play in Portland back in 2020 – just as the world was shutting down and shows were being cancelled. While at home during this time, it allowed for the band to focus on the writing of their newest release “Eye on the Bat“. Palehound were excited to be back in Portland to share these new songs from record with us.
Mississippi Studios provides a small intimate experience to take in live music, with a modest size floor that was packed in front of the stage and a balcony overhanging the floor filled with fans, as blue and magenta lights filled the stage those in the audience cheered with excitement. Kempner’s voice softly rang out through the hall, paired well with her masterful and talented guitar playing ability – all while weaving stories of romantic encounters and break-ups. As each song builds Kempner’s face becomes more expressive, drawing out the emotional content of the songs lyrics. Palehound has a way to them where they can ramp up the energy, bringing in heavy guitar riffs and a powerfully raw and energetic vocals from Kempner. Bassist Larz Brogan had an infectious smile on their face and was in constant motion from the first note of the opening song. – start to finish the band as a whole always looked to be having tons of fun up on the stage.
Rounding out the night the band left the stage with the audience cheered loudly for an encore – Kempner would soon return to the stage, performing a solo a rendition of the albums closing song “Fadin'”. It was a pleasantly stripped down and intimate performance with a guitar progression that drew out the emotional performance of the song. The band would return to finish the night with one more song, then thanking the Portland audience for coming out. You could feel the enjoyment in the air as fans made their way out of the venue.
All Photos – FatmaN Concert Photography / Anthony Moore
Palehound will finish the current leg of their U.S, tour on November 18th in Columbus, Ohio and then will be back on tour in early 2024 . Date and tickets can be found on the bands website. The new album “Eye on the Bat” is currently available on all major steaming platforms.
