On Sunday, May 22, the nonprofit organization Friends of Noise hosted its official launch party concert at the Los Prados Event Hall in St. Johns.
The event featured musical performances by Doo Doo Funk Allstars, Neo G Yo, Drex Porter and GEM Dynasty. The event kicks off a series of all-ages concerts Friends of Noise will be hosting throughout Portland to raise awareness of the city’s all-ages music scene and to reach their goal of establishing a dedicated all-ages music and arts venue.
Street Roots interviewed community members in attendance to get their thoughts on the importance of youth-oriented music and arts programs and the impact they can have on the city of Portland as a whole.
Paula Keady and her daughter Zoe Ansbro, 12, from Southwest Portland were among those in the audience. Paula came to the concert to support Friends of Noise and to take the opportunity to attend a music event with her daughter.
“I grew up in Portland. By the time I was 16, easily, I was going to venues where it was mostly kids my age,” Keady said. “It wasn’t adults 18 and over. And I hadn’t noticed, because I have been away from that scene for so long, I hadn’t noticed that it didn’t exist anymore. It was a big part of my youth growing up. We want safe places for youth to go. Youth are going to be the adults of the future, and feeling part of the community and included in their community – there are all kinds of positives in that at an early age, to be a part of that, to feel connected, to care about it. When you’re pushed away from it, it doesn’t feel like it’s yours and you care less about anything in general. That engagement with youth is important to the city as a whole for its growth.”
Caleb Boyer, 19, said there needs to be more all-ages venues, “because it really lets people of all different ages come together and share their love and passion for the same thing. If you don’t get all sorts of people together, then you really can’t connect the community. And if we have have more of these opportunities, especially through music because it is so vibrant, more people can connect and come together.”
Mike Libretto Jackson, a father, musician and Friends of Noise board member, said all-ages venues are important for creating artists.
“You have to have that outlet for the kids. I think it’s important that the city really tries to come together and get a spot where kids can run the sound, run the door, run the juice bar, or whatever it is they’re doing, and also be performing and also having their own schoolmates and fans coming out to support them. It’s a huge ego boost. It’s a huge way to get kids involved and doing something and feeling productive so they’re not out on the street running around and gangbangin’ and doing whatever. It’s important.”
Hector Padilla, aka GEM Dynasty, 18, of Northeast Portland has been making music for five years and has been performing around Portland for one and half. He performed the opening set in the Friends of Noise Launch Party.
“It’s definitely important to be able to play at any venue for the youth at least. Young musicians are malnourished nowadays, you know. It’s something we need to fix. I’m glad to have a some type of contribution towards that,” he said.
Visit Friends of Noise Facebook page for information on all-ages shows.