Portland’s Leigh Feldman Leaves You No Excuses But To Party This Year

We’ve all heard the stories of how children were writing music before they could walk or starting retirement plans before Pre-school. This is the true-ish story of a man who was a natural born partier. Leigh Feldman was probably networking with the nurses in the delivery room. Right in the middle of cutting his umbilical cord, he murmurs something like “this weekend you should go to this” and hands the astonished nurse a flyer.

With a mother who’s lifetime involvement with non-profits and community projects, Leigh Feldman has been mentored to make friends and put together events his whole life. As a stranger to his new school in Oregon, Leigh’s mother made cupcakes for, not his class, but his entire school! At his first birthday party in Oregon, where he didn’t know that many people from his school yet (young and self-conscious) his mother in the middle of festivities let’s everyone know if they have any questions about kissing or making out that she’s “the adult they can come to.” Leigh grew comfortable with attention. His mother always socialized leaving Leigh to imitate her energy, attitude and work for community organizations and Non-profits. His events almost always have some of the proceeds go to community organizations, so you can party and help the world. How many people, let alone promoters, have that commitment to helping others?

He’s been a businessman his whole life. Kindergarten, elementary school, teachers lounge. His career/calling led it’s way up to the moment I sat down with him to talk about his future plans at Stumptown. I had no idea I was about meet the love child of Ferris Bueller and Joel Goodson from Risky Business. I won’t go into detail about his high school escapades. That would compromise the unspoken code of “What happened at Leigh’s high school parties stays at Leigh’s high school parties.”, but let me just say, they are on par with those two movies.

Leigh lays out impressive plans for a Dancehall night done proper that include Selector YT from Small Axe Sound along with Portland’s Pete Bodega who’s been running a weekly in Eugene, for 11 years! Plus Jagga Culture of Various fame, toasting throughout. This is the 2nd and 4th Thursdays at The Crown Room.

With the explosion of Dubstep, it has exposed the roots of this sound. Following it’s history backwards we’re eventually led to the Dub and Reggae of Jamaica, the masters of Bass. This is the night I’m most excited for in 2010. Not only are there true heads representing, it’s also FREE. Dancehall at the end of the week, with a great sound system, and it’s free?! You can’t even make an excuse to not go.

Free Phunk. Yeah, that’s right, Phunk.

A blend of Ragtime, Hip Hop, Jazz and straight funk will be blasting the stage on the 1st and 3rd Thursday’s. Having migrated to Cascadia individually, The Philly Phunkestra members came together to jam and see how well things would work together. Apparently, pretty damn good because they are now so tight a hipster couldn’t put them on. When Professionals who have trained to play music their whole lives, connect with other musicians in a way that only those who have been there know, it’s going to be a great night. Communicating through their instruments, all in sync and all on time can be very powerful spectacle. Aside from the genre of Funk making a comeback, this night will be on our list every Thursday.

Now, in addition to these two new nights, Leigh also has solidified MASSIVE as one of the best, if not the best party in Portland, as well as the ever furious Hot Mess at Tube. This new year brings two genre’s into downtown that should make Old Town in particular, a win-win every Thursday. But 2010 is more than just Thursdays. Now I can’t confirm exact dates but Leigh was really excited for a new dimension to parties, the open bar. Yeah the rumor was MASSIVE and other nights could have an open bar. $3 cover and open bar!?! Come on. How do you fuck with that?

Leigh Feldman leaves you no excuses.