Holocene (Portland, Oregon) Explained

Holocene
Logo Image:Holocene logo.png
Image Alt:Square gray building
Pushpin Map:USA Oregon Portland downtown
Pushpin Map Caption:Location in Portland, Oregon
Address:1001 SE Morrison Street
Location:Portland, Oregon, U.S.

Holocene is a music venue and nightclub in the Buckman neighborhood of Portland, Oregon, in the United States. The venue, which opened in June 2003, is a former auto-parts warehouse with an industrial, modern interior. Holocene hosts a variety of events, and was named the city's "Best Place to Dance" by Willamette Week readers in 2017.

Description and history

Holocene was established in June 2003 in a former auto-parts warehouse, located at the intersection of Southeast 10th and Morrison, in Portland's Buckman neighborhood.[1] [2] The venue is "dedicated to the avant-garde of the Portland art and music scene, with an über-modern interior".[3] [4] Jon Shadel of The Washington Post described Holocene as a "music and art club with an avant-garde bent... inspired by the minimal techno scene in Berlin".[5] He wrote, "the bi-level venue in the Central Eastside hosts an eclectic range of independent DJs and genre-blurring musicians, although most lineups tend to focus on up-and-coming sounds in electronic, R&B and hip-hop."[5]

The 5,000-square-foot[6] venue has a "stark industrial feel" with two large rooms, a bar, high ceilings[7] and a sunken dance floor, which has been described as a "living room in the midst of a gritty industrial loft".[4] [8] According to Willamette Week Sophie June, Holocene offers "boozy slushies" and "indie-rock shows that often tend toward the psychedelic or the threateningly abrasive".[1] The bar has cocktails called Claire's Knee and Kiss Kiss Bangkok.[1]

In 2020, Holocene curated Going In, a twenty-track compilation featuring local electronic musicians. The collection raised funds for contributing artists and the venue during the coronavirus pandemic.[9]

Events

The venue hosts a variety of events, ranging from concerts to weddings.[10] According to Willamette Week Sophie June, Holocene "began as one of the only spots to bring national-caliber electronic acts to Portland following the fast demise of the B Complex".[1] In her guides to Portland, Rachel Dresbeck said the venue hosts many "musical experiences—secret shows by famous artists, up-and-coming bands that will be famous shortly, veteran and nouveau DJs, house music, shoegaze, modern soul, and other musical attractions keeping hipsters crowding the place".[3] [4]

Musicians who have performed at Holocene include Against the Current,[11] Lauren Aquilina,[12] Au/Ra,[13] Beach Fossils,[14] Ryan Beatty,[15] Kadhja Bonet,[16] Clairo,[17] Crumb,[18] Matthew Dear,[19] Duckwrth,[20] Future Generations,[21] Tommy Genesis,[22] Chuck Inglish,[23] Japanese Breakfast,[24] The Japanese House,[25] Jonna Lee,[26] Milk & Bone,[27] Shy Girls,[28] Sasha Sloan,[12] Snail Mail,[29] Tove Styrke,[13] Avey Tare,[30] and Zaytoven.[31] The venue hosted London Grammar's first concert in Portland.[28] In 2018, Holocene hosted a "Club Kai Kai Pride" event featuring drag performer Aja. The event was part of the "Club Kai Kai" series, which caters to the LGBT community and features "a rave-style club scene with plenty of drag royalty, voguing and butterflies for the stomach".[32] The venue has also hosted writers, including Shayla Lawson.[33] In 2019, the Portland-based literary magazine Tin House hosted an event in conjunction with the Association of Writers & Writing Programs (AWP) conference, featuring readings by Hanif Abdurraqib, Erica Dawson, Morgan Parker, and Tommy Pico.[34] [35]

Monthly events include "Double Down" (described as a "hot and sweaty queer-friendly dance party") and "Slay", a "queer-centric" hip-hop event catering to an "intersectional crowd". Recurring dance events include "Cupcake" ("devoted to 'fat folks and allies)[36] and "Snap!", a 1990s music party "designed to evoke middle-school dances".[37] Others include "Candi Pop" (bubblegum pop),[38] "Emo Nite",[39] "Gaycation",[40] [41] a Rolling Stones–themed party called "Sympathy for the Disco",[42] and another dedicated to Talking Heads.[43] The venue hosted StorySLAM monthly as of 2018.[44]

Holocene hosted the "Ping Pong Pandemonium Party" in mid-2010; participants included Fred Armisen and Carrie Brownstein and Janet Weiss of Sleater-Kinney.[45] More recent tribute events have included "Beyoncé Nicki Rihanna Night", "Holla!: '90s vs Early '00s Rap & RNB Night",[46] "This Party Is Killing You: All Robyn All Night"[47] and "Cake for Drake", where cake was served for Drake's birthday. In 2018, the venue was decorated to resemble the Sunnydale nightclub from Buffy the Vampire Slayer as part of a Halloween celebration[48] and hosted Jo Ann Hardesty's election-results viewing party.[49] Holocene hosted Girl Fest the following year,[50] [51] and was one of several venues screening films as part of the Portland Oregon Women's Film Festival (POW Fest).[52]

Reception

In 2003, The Oregonian Grant Butler wrote, "Holocene is anything but a hollow scene. The name of this cavernous eastside nightclub isn't an ironic statement about the state of Portland's nightlife. In fact, it relates to a prehistoric geological era. Maybe there's some deep meaning at work, but what's certain is how rock-solid this place is as an after-hours hangout."[53] He said Holocene hosted Bill Shannon's post-performance party during the Time-Based Art Festival, and wrote of the venue:

Even when there's not a party going on, Holocene has sexy allure. DJs spin electronic magic while projected digital images fill the two-story walls. As cocktails flow, sleek-looking and elegantly garnished dishes come out of the kitchen. Back in the smoking lounge, smartly dressed scenesters lounge on puffy couches and drink in that room's ever-changing art installation.

David Greenwald of The Oregonian wrote in 2014, "If there's a dance party in Portland, it's probably happening at Holocene, which is routinely home to laptop experimenters, DJs spinning hip-hop classics and LGBT-friendly events such as the monthly Gaycation."[28] Queerty included the venue on its 2016 "5 Nightlife Gems You Can Only Find in Portland" list.[40] Willamette Week readers named Holocene the city's "Best Place to Dance" in 2017.[10] The newspaper's Sophie June wrote:

Holocene is maybe the best spot to go for some bump-and-grind—especially outside the Old Town zone. There's a photo booth and tall white ceilings, and it's really one of the only appropriate places in the city to do Molly on a random Saturday night. Beware that it's sweaty and you'll probably see the younger sibling of someone you went to high school with, which isn't always great.[1]

In 2018, Willamette Week Walker MacMurdo wrote: "Fifteen years in, whether Holocene is hosting a dream-pop trio, a live podcast or its birthday party for Drake, it still feels like the coolest place in Portland."[2] According to the newspaper's Shannon Gormley, Holocene "feels like an intimate warehouse party on any given night".[7] Willamette Week has also reported that the venue "regularly feels like a warehouse party if warehouse parties were kind of cozy."[54] In his 2019 local guide of Portland, The Washington Post Jon Shadel wrote, "Among concert halls in Portland, Holocene presents the most timely survey of the local scene. And with a calendar full of themed dance nights — such as the queer- and BIPOC-focused Slay — there's something going on nearly every night of the week."[5] Holocene earned second place in the "Best Place to Dance" category of Willamette Week "Best of Portland Readers' Poll 2020".[55]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Holocene Is an Art-Rock Bar That's Not Afraid to Bump and Grind. June. Sophia. May 23, 2017. Willamette Week. en-US. April 13, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190406161230/https://www.wweek.com/bars/2017/05/23/holocene-is-an-art-rock-bar-thats-not-afraid-to-bump-and-grind/. April 6, 2019. live. mdy-all.
  2. Web site: Fifteen Years in, Holocene Still Feels Like the Coolest Place in Portland. Walker. MacMurdo. Willamette Week. en-US. April 13, 2019. June 9, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20190220063616/https://www.wweek.com/bars/2018/06/09/fifteen-years-in-holocene-still-feels-like-the-coolest-place-in-portland/. February 20, 2019. live. mdy-all.
  3. Book: Dresbeck, Rachel . Portland, Oregon: Including the Metro Area and Vancouver, Washington . . April 13, 2019 . 99 . 9780762755806 . 6th.
  4. Book: Dresbeck . Rachel . Insiders' Guide to Portland, Oregon . March 1, 2017 . Rowman & Littlefield . 89 . 9781493028221 . April 13, 2019.
  5. News: Shadel . Jon . A local's guide to Portland, Ore. . June 30, 2019 . . https://web.archive.org/web/20190629221956/https://www.washingtonpost.com/travel/united-states/portland-oregon-local-guide/ . June 29, 2019 . live .
  6. Web site: Venue Info . Holocene . October 2, 2019.
  7. News: Gormley . Shannon . Five Queer-Centric Dance Parties in Portland . April 13, 2019 . Willamette Week . June 12, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180618211716/http://www.wweek.com/culture/2018/06/12/five-queer-centric-dance-parties-in-portland/ . June 18, 2018 . live . mdy-all .
  8. Book: McCollom . Hollyanna . Moon Portland . May 10, 2016 . . 174 . 9781631212796 . April 13, 2019.
  9. News: Bromfield . Daniel . Holocene Gave Local Electronic Artists a Pack of Samples and 48 Hours to Make Songs for a Fundraising Compilation . April 26, 2020 . Willamette Week . April 23, 2020.
  10. News: Kilts . Alie . Here are the Winners of the Best of Portland Readers' Poll 2017 . April 13, 2019 . Willamette Week . July 12, 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190106055250/https://www.wweek.com/promotions/2017/02/16/best-of-portland-readers-poll-2017/ . January 6, 2019 . live . mdy-all .
  11. LaPlante . Brad . Against The Current add Chapel, Armors to 'Past Lives' North American tour . Substream Magazine . February 18, 2019 . April 14, 2019 . 811060674 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190414151545/https://substreammagazine.com/2019/02/against-the-current-chapel-armors-tour/ . April 14, 2019 . live . mdy-all .
  12. News: The 32 Best Things to Do in Portland This Weekend: March 15–17 . April 13, 2019 . . March 15, 2019.
  13. News: Tove Stryke, Au/Ra . April 13, 2019 . Portland Mercury . https://web.archive.org/web/20190414205454/https://www.portlandmercury.com/events/20877770/tove-stryke-aura . April 14, 2019 . live . mdy-all .
  14. Andel . Autumn . Photos: A Day in the Life of Beach Fossils . . July 20, 2017 . April 13, 2019 . 1540-3106 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190414065722/https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2017/07/photos-a-day-in-the-life-of-beach-fossils.html . April 14, 2019 . live . mdy-all .
  15. News: The 27 Best Things to Do in Portland This Week: March 11–14 . April 13, 2019 . Portland Mercury . March 11, 2019.
  16. News: The 22 Best Concerts to See in Portland: April 11–24 . April 13, 2019 . Portland Mercury . April 11, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190413170200/https://www.portlandmercury.com/music/2019/04/11/26298118/the-22-best-concerts-to-see-in-portland-april-11-24 . April 13, 2019 . live . mdy-all .
  17. News: Kim . Michelle . Clairo Announces Tour . April 13, 2019 . . . May 30, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190331204450/https://pitchfork.com/news/clairo-announces-tour/ . March 31, 2019 . live . mdy-all .
  18. Web site: Gray . Julia . Crumb – 'Part III' . . April 14, 2019 . February 28, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190414154744/https://www.stereogum.com/2033908/crumb-part-iii/music/ . April 14, 2019 . live . mdy-all .
  19. News: Alston . Trey . Matthew Dear Releases New Song With Tegan and Sara: Listen . April 14, 2019 . Pitchfork . September 18, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190414145644/https://pitchfork.com/news/matthew-dear-releases-new-song-with-tegan-and-sara-listen/ . April 14, 2019 . live . mdy-all .
  20. [Duckwrth]
  21. News: The 28 Best Things to Do in Portland This Week: Oct 8–11 . April 13, 2019 . Portland Mercury . October 8, 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190415104159/https://www.portlandmercury.com/things-to-do/2018/10/08/23446897/the-28-best-things-to-do-in-portland-this-week-oct-8-11 . April 15, 2019 . live . mdy-all .
  22. [Tommy Genesis]
  23. News: Moore . Jenni . The 26 Best Concerts to See in Portland: February 14–27 . April 13, 2019 . Portland Mercury . February 14, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190416061546/https://www.portlandmercury.com/music/2019/02/14/25870428/the-26-best-concerts-to-see-in-portland-february-14-27 . April 16, 2019 . live . mdy-all .
  24. News: Edgar . Sean . Photos: A Day in the Life of Japanese Breakfast . April 14, 2019 . Paste . October 6, 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190414150127/https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2017/10/photos-a-day-in-the-life-of-japanese-breakfast.html . April 14, 2019 . live . mdy-all .
  25. News: Schmid . Thacher . The Japanese House Balances Analog and Digital, Sweetness and Depression at Holocene . April 13, 2019 . Willamette Week . March 7, 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190414064048/https://www.wweek.com/music/concert-reviews/2017/03/07/the-japanese-house-balances-analog-and-digital-sweetness-and-depression-at-holocene/ . April 14, 2019 . live . mdy-all .
  26. Acevedo . Angelica . Ionnalee Heads for the 'Open Sea' on Potent New Track: Exclusive . . February 7, 2019 . April 14, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190422133613/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/8497118/ionnalee-open-sea . April 22, 2019 . live . mdy-all .
  27. News: The 23 Best Things to Do in Portland This Week: Sept 10–13 . April 13, 2019 . Portland Mercury . September 10, 2018.
  28. News: Greenwald . David . With Kaleidoscope cancelled, where to see EDM in Portland and beyond . April 14, 2019 . . September 16, 2014 . . 8750-1317 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190414151906/https://www.oregonlive.com/music/2014/09/where_to_see_edm_in_portland.html . April 14, 2019 . live . mdy-all .
  29. News: The World Naked Bike Ride, Beerfest and 12 Other Things to Do and See in Portland June 20–26 . April 13, 2019 . Willamette Week . June 19, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190414065312/https://www.wweek.com/arts/events-arts/2018/06/19/the-world-naked-bike-ride-beerfest-and-12-other-things-to-do-and-see-in-portland-june-20-26/ . April 14, 2019 . live . mdy-all .
  30. News: The 29 Best Things to Do In Portland This Weekend: April 12–14 . April 13, 2019 . Portland Mercury . April 12, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190414020648/https://www.portlandmercury.com/blogtown/2019/04/12/26297819/the-29-best-things-to-do-in-portland-this-weekend-april-12-14 . April 14, 2019 . live . mdy-all .
  31. News: Obama Nostalgia, Jorja Smith and 12 Other Things to Do and See in Portland April 25 – May 1 . April 14, 2019 . Willamette Week . April 24, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190414145645/https://www.wweek.com/arts/events-arts/2018/04/24/obama-nostalgia-jorja-smith-and-12-other-things-to-do-and-see-in-portland-april-25-may-1/ . April 14, 2019 . live . mdy-all .
  32. News: Rushall . Jack . A Pride Events Calendar That Ranges From 'Mild' to 'Super Hot' . April 13, 2019 . Willamette Week . June 12, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190330154701/https://www.wweek.com/culture/2018/06/12/a-pride-events-calendar-that-ranges-from-mild-to-super-hot/ . March 30, 2019 . live . mdy-all .
  33. News: Pussy Riot, Pop-Tart Pop Ups and 12 Other Things to Do and See in Portland March 14–20 . April 14, 2019 . Willamette Week . March 13, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190414150127/https://www.wweek.com/arts/events-arts/2018/03/13/pussy-riot-pop-tarts-and-12-other-things-to-do-and-see-in-portland-march-14-20/ . April 14, 2019 . live . mdy-all .
  34. News: Cheap, Free, and Fun: The 20 Best Bang for Your Buck Shows in Portland This Week, March 22–28 . April 13, 2019 . Portland Mercury . March 20, 2019.
  35. News: The 26 Best Things to Do in Portland This Week: March 25–28 . April 13, 2019 . Portland Mercury . March 25, 2019.
  36. The Spin 101: The Best Nights Out This Month . . August 2006 . 22 . 8 . 98 . April 14, 2019.
  37. News: Snap! '90s Dance Party: Halloween Edition . April 13, 2019 . Portland Mercury.
  38. "Candi Pop":
  39. "Emo Night":
  40. 5 Nightlife Gems You Can Only Find in Portland . . April 14, 2019 . January 21, 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190414153115/https://www.queerty.com/5-nightlife-gems-you-can-only-find-in-portland-20160121 . April 14, 2019 . live . mdy-all .
  41. News: Helmsworth . James . Near and Queer . April 14, 2019 . Willamette Week . June 9, 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190414153810/https://www.wweek.com/portland/article-24851-near-and-queer.html . April 14, 2019 . live . mdy-all .
  42. News: Sympathy for the Disco . April 13, 2019 . Portland Mercury.
  43. News: Six Portland Bars Where You Can Shake Your Booty . April 13, 2019 . Willamette Week . May 23, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190414060026/https://www.wweek.com/bars/2018/05/23/six-portland-bars-where-you-can-shake-your-booty/ . April 14, 2019 . live . mdy-all .
  44. News: Prado . Emilly . Portland's newest Moth storytelling producer sets stage for inclusion . April 13, 2019 . The Oregonian . May 7, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190414060430/https://www.oregonlive.com/entertainment/2018/05/the_moth_cookie_zvovushe.html . April 14, 2019 . live . mdy-all .
  45. News: Singer . Matthew . How Perceptions of Portlandia Have Changed Over the Years . April 14, 2019 . Willamette Week . January 17, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190414154904/https://www.wweek.com/culture/2018/01/17/how-perceptions-of-portlandia-have-changed-over-the-years/ . April 14, 2019 . live . mdy-all .
  46. News: The 27 Best Things to Do in Portland This Weekend: Nov 2–4 . April 13, 2019 . Portland Mercury . November 1, 2018.
  47. News: The 29 Best Things to Do in Portland This Weekend: Feb 15–17 . April 13, 2019 . Portland Mercury . February 14, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190415184356/https://www.portlandmercury.com/things-to-do/2019/02/14/25868958/the-29-best-things-to-do-in-portland-this-weekend-feb-15-17 . April 15, 2019 . live . mdy-all .
  48. News: Things to Do Halloween Night! . April 13, 2019 . Portland Mercury . October 30, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190204120757/https://www.portlandmercury.com/blogtown/2018/10/30/24020497/things-to-do-halloween-night . February 4, 2019 . live . mdy-all .
  49. [Jo Ann Hardesty]
  50. News: Moore . Jenni . Lineup Announced for Girl Fest 2019! . April 13, 2019 . Portland Mercury . November 29, 2018.
  51. News: Elton John, a Reptile Expo and 9 Other Things to Do and See in Portland Jan. 9–15 . April 13, 2019 . Willamette Week . January 8, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190414053715/https://www.wweek.com/arts/events-arts/2019/01/08/elton-john-a-reptile-expo-and-9-other-things-to-do-and-see-in-portland-jan-9-15/ . April 14, 2019 . live . mdy-all .
  52. Portland Oregon Women's Film Festival:
    • News: Women break barriers in Afghanistan . Jason . Vondersmith . March 20, 2019 . . . 46708462 . April 13, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190414035030/https://pamplinmedia.com/pt/11-features/423180-328024-women-break-barriers-in-afghanistan-pwoff . April 14, 2019 . live . mdy-all .
    • News: Vondersmith . Jason . Movie Time . April 13, 2019 . Portland Tribune . March 25, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190414061539/https://pamplinmedia.com/pt/11-features/423544-328590-movie-time-pwoff . April 14, 2019 . live . mdy-all .
    • News: The 32 Best Things to Do in Portland This Weekend: March 29–31 . April 13, 2019 . Portland Mercury . March 29, 2019 .
  53. News: Butler . Grant . Cover Story: The It List . The Oregonian . October 24, 2003 . 10.
  54. News: 21 Portland New Year's Eve Events, in Order from Lit to Chill . April 13, 2019 . Willamette Week . December 26, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190414030445/https://www.wweek.com/arts/events-arts/2018/12/26/21-portland-new-years-eve-events-in-order-from-lit-to-chill/ . April 14, 2019 . live . mdy-all .
  55. News: Bars + Nightlife: Congratulations to the winners + finalists of Best of Portland Readers' Poll 2020 . September 4, 2020 . Willamette Week . July 21, 2020.

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