On Monday night, you have a rare opportunity to hear some of Portland’s finest perform here in Pittsburgh. Pink Martini is a little orchestra from Portland that performs around the globe with a sound that The Washington Post describes as “rich, hugely approachable music, utterly cosmopolitan yet utterly unpretentious… it seems to speak to just about everybody.”
Thomas Lauderdale & Storm Large of Pink Martini will be in Pittsburgh performing a show at Club Diesel, the proceeds of this performance will benefit John Fetterman’s campaign for US Senate.
Thomas Lauderdale & Storm Large of Pink Martini
Monday, March 7, 2016
7pm
Club Diesel, South Side
Tickets: $20 online, $25 at the door
Facebook Event
Not only does Pink Martini have rave review from critics and many of my Facebook friends, but Pink Martini also has a bit of political history.
From the Pink Martini Wikipedia page:
In 1994 in his hometown of Portland, Oregon, Thomas Lauderdale was working in politics, thinking that one day he would run for mayor. Like other eager politicians-in-training, he went to every political fundraiser under the sun… but was dismayed to find the music at these events underwhelming, lackluster, loud and un-neighborly. Drawing inspiration from music from all over the world – crossing genres of classical, jazz and old-fashioned pop – and hoping to appeal to conservatives and liberals alike, he founded the “little orchestra” Pink Martini in 1994 to provide more beautiful and inclusive musical soundtracks for political fundraisers for causes such as civil rights, affordable housing, the environment, libraries, public broadcasting, education and parks.
One of the great things about living in Pittsburgh is that sometimes you get an opportunity to see amazing artists perform up close. Last summer, I posted a photo of Sharon Jones performing at Hartwood Acres. Actually, I went back and looked for the post, it was 2012 and I posted this hilarious tweet:
I am changing the name of this blogs to I heart Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings and I will be wearing pink sequins
— I heart PGH (@iheartpgh) August 13, 2012
The next day, I received the following email from my father (one of the things I’ve learned is that if my parents haven’t heard from me, they check the IheartPGH twitter feed to see if I am still alive)…
A couple years ago, our neighbors Jim and Margaret invited us to go see Sharon at Club Cafe on the South Side–they had just seen her at the Monterrey Jazz Festival. Small club as you may know—anyway, somehow I ended up dancing with Sharon during one set—don’t ask–it was all a blur! My bit of Dap Kings trivia.
I am told that Pink Martini usually plays sold out shows for much larger crowds. I can’t promise you will end up dancing with Storm Large, but I am sure it will be a great performance.
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