Project Pabst 2015

Up in Gov’y, snowboarding is happening. I go up once a week or so just to make sure. There are super pros, stoked bros, jaded old guys, hungry groms, Knowbuddys, dirtbags and all the other archetypes we’ve come to expect from the summer circus of Mt. Hood. But if I’m being honest, it’s hard to motivate to get up there very often when riding a patch of slush in a dust bowl requires two lift rides and an 1:15 minute drive. And it DEFINITELY doesn’t help when there are a million other radical things to do in the summer in Portland. Such as on July 17-19, 2015, when the Rose City welcomed Project Pabst.

Pabst Blue Ribbon brought together a few bands I’ve heard of (Weezer, Blondie, TV on the Radio, Passion Pit, Against Me, Buzzcocks…) and a bunch of bands I hadn’t (Run the Jewels and all the other ones*) to play music; while a bunch of Portland weirdos crushed PBRs and squinted into the abnormally-hot sun. Situated under the Ross Island Bridge in Southwest (pro tip: walk your ass out on south end of the bridge and get sweet view for free) the venue was just big enough for two stages and plenty of other ways to entertain yourself, but not so big that you got tired just from walking around.

Normally, the carnival atmosphere of a music festival doesn’t do it for me, but Pabst did not fuck around, and this was a scene that appealed to my hipster sensibilities perfectly. The concession stands consisted of some of the hottest restaurants in Portland (Boke Bowl, Slow Burger etc) rather than your typical, gross, greasy bullshit. Beers were $4, which by Portland standards is $2 too much, but by “music festival standards” is fairly reasonable, and there was an air-conditioned indoor bar/arcade – a luxury not often found in this city. The music was good, the weather was good, and there was even easy parking. Overall, I have to give Project Pabst five stars… would go back next year.