'it would feel like this' with girl in red

Girl in Red performing at the Roseland Theatre, OR by Jacob Alvarez

SOLD OUT SHOW IN PORTLAND HAD TRUE VULNERABILITY ON DISPLAY

Hundreds of hands stood up in an incline facing the stage, drenched in yellow light. There was a feeling of homeliness inside the the intimate Roseland Theater (which holds around 1,400 people), with myself being from LA. At least a few others had traveled as well; some holding up signs stating the fact. This was my first time attending a solo Girl in Red show and my first concert in Portland, Oregon, but it will not be my last.

Every performance MMC* attends is an opportunity for us to better our craft, expand our catalogue of shows, and going to a concert is just a great time. With all this in mind, I had no hesitation when I was invited to cover one of the shows on the Girl in Red tour. It’s a huge goal to act as press for one concert in every state; thus far it is 3/50. My sister and I took a road trip up to Oregon once to get a good view of the solar eclipse that happened back in 2017. We spent about three hours in the city of Portland and stopped by the famous Powell’s bookstore and grabbed a slice at Sizzle Pie across the street. This trip threw a bit of nostalgia towards me as my hotel, The Moxy, was just a four minute walk from those locations.

Downtown Portland, OR by Jacob Alvarez

The hotel itself was very trendy, acting as a local bar that featured a fireplace and a cool lounging area. My room matched the vibe, blending vintage and progressive designs together which may be a great description of the city itself. I also had a nice view of downtown Portland at my bedside. It was three hours until the show began, so I got ready and made my way to the book shop. For those who don’t know, Powell’s is a legendary book store that resembles a labyrinth for readers. Each room is divided by color: one representing each genre. I remember getting lost in the vastness of it the first time, so I saved myself the time and looked up a few titles on their system which pointed me in the right direction. I grabbed myself a magnet and my partner a book and went across the street to grab a slice once again.

After my pizza, I went for a walk around the city, using what little time I had to explore. It was honestly refreshing to be somewhere somewhat new and away from the stress of work and deadlines. By this time, the opener was coming on so I walked to the theater. The Roseland is a tad bit different from venues I’m used to in LA. I only found it due to the large neon sign that illuminates the name on the corner of the street. However, the marquee was around thirty feet away, so I thought that was odd. Directly beneath the neon sign was the entrance that resembled a record shop or eatery of some kind. A few people were in line and I knew I was in the right place after seeing metal detectors. Once through, I looked around at the shop that featured tables for eating and a small booth where I received my credentials. My hand was stamped and I climbed some stairs to where I saw a sold out crowd of fans screaming their heads off to opening act Blake Rose.

Fans at the Roseland Theatre, OR by Jacob Alvarez

I stood to the right of the stage, waiting for Girl in Red to perform. The audience was definitely made up of fangirls, yelling any time Rose attempted to get closer to the crowd or snap a photo with his Polaroid. Even after his set, everyone yelled whether it was a stagehand taping a set list or flickering a light. This was insane energy. About half hour after Rose finished, the lights went black and I was allowed into the photo pit. At this point in my “career,” I don’t get too nervous shooting shows, but I do get a bit anxious when I’m the only photographer standing between the artist and their fans. I would hate to be a distraction to the experience in any way. This situation presented itself, as I was the sole photographer in the pit when the band came out with opening track “You Stupid Bitch.” Singer Marie Ringheim bounced out from stage left, throwing kicks and jumping repeatedly with the fans joining in. The energy was being exchanged while I almost shimmied from side to side, photographing the event. This photo op felt two minutes long as the next two tracks “Body and Mind” with “.” raced by me in a flash.

Girl in Red performing at the Roseland Theatre, OR by Jacob Alvarez

I exited the pit afterwards and saw something that you don’t always see but should at concerts: security being gentle and offering water to those fans who needed assistance. We need more of that in LA. I walked around the venue snd eventually found myself at the very tiny balcony. Fans were seated but some grabbed some wall towards the back as well. It was like one big backyard show. Marie performed her most notable track “we fell in love in october,” before doing a minimal version of “forget her” that was suggested by a screaming fan. I think it was at this moment where Marie demanded her fans go harder to the following tracks. “That’s not a criticism, it’s encouragement and there’s a big difference,” she expressed while going into “Serotonin.” I admired her energy but it was kind of rude to hear her refer to the venue as a basement, although everyone laughed it off.

Girl in Red performing at the Roseland Theatre, OR by Jacob Alvarez

The audience looked like an ocean, creating their own waves (some flowing in sync and some crashing) during “dead girl in the pool.” Marie usually talks a decent amount during her shows and not just witty banter. She often thinks out loud and doesn’t seem too bothered by any idea that comes racing out, but in my opinion from what I witnessed, it comes from a place of excitement and vulnerability. Most of her discography talks of serious situations like depression, mental illness, and the joys and despairs of love; you see this in her eyes on stage. A true moment was shared after “midnight love” where Marie went into explicit detail of how she met her current girlfriend whom was in a relationship at the time. She spoke of how fucked up she felt messing around with a taken person, and decided to let it go and like a cheesy romcom from the 90s, the girl ended things with her previous partner because Marie was someone she felt more connected to. There were intimate details that I will leave out, but it was just a flabbergasted moment sort of that came off as endearing to myself as I’m sure it did with many.

The clock was reaching curtain call when Girl in Red performed closer “i wanna be your girlfriend.” Similar to her performance at Primavera Sound LA a few days prior, Marie went out into the audience and had everyone raise both hands as she leapt back first into the sea of fans. The balcony was the best view of this, as I saw hundreds of people rushing to the middle of the pit in the hopes of getting to provide Marie a platform to crowd surf. The band matched the intensity before crescendoing into the finale. Marie was guided back on stage and took a bow then scurried off. As I walked back to my hotel, I still had my camera hanging off my neck so I shot a few buildings and signs I found interesting to look at. The train was my mode of transportation on the early morning after to the airport. I viewed Everything Everywhere All At Once and Top Gun: Maverick on the flights. My short traveling mission was completed and as I look to keep progressing in this way, I feel extremely grateful for the people I meet and the opportunities that come my way. To be in a new city on assignment; intoxicating. Check out the set list here!

PS: Check out our gallery of photos from the performance!

PS: Check out our gallery of photos from the performance!