The Front Bottoms @ Roseland Theater - Portland, OR

There are particularly rare occurrences in nature that present themselves to those lucky enough to glimpse upon them: A double rainbow, a total solar eclipse, a heartwarming article about human compassion that isn't just an ad for tube socks, etc. These things happen, but one has to be in the right place and the right time. One such happening to behold was the dedicated, concert-starved Portland fanbase of The Front Bottoms wrapped entirely around the block last Thursday night before the doors at the Roseland Theater had even opened. If it hadn't been for the box office, the two ends of the queue would have blended right together. Whether it was excitement about the band's new record In Sickness & In Flames, breaking out for the first time since the pandemic, or just sheer hype for a sold-out performance, PNW fans broke the bill to see The Front Bottoms live.

Whatever the cause for such buzz, it continued throughout the evening with nonstop, fun energy. The Roseland definitely felt to be at capacity, with a dense crowd of diehards. The group opened with "West Virginia" from their third album, Back on Top, followed by popular tracks "Backflip" from Talon of the Hawk, and "The Truth" from the latest album. The first three numbers were a blend of old and new, and were indicative of the entire setlist's journey through The Front Bottoms' catalogue, not leaning particularly heavily on new releases. This only resulted in perfectly pleased patrons. As the night persisted with heavy hits like "Cough It Out," "Vacation Town," and "Twin Size Mattress," each song was carried robustly by the backing vocals of nearly every audience member in an uproar of emotional harmony. The unanimous encore brought on the final three songs: "Flashlight," "Lipstick Covered Magnet," and "Au Revoir (Adios)" for a sentimental goodbye.