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May 5, 2010
Interview with Jodi Bergstrom
River City
Saloon’s Swan Song
Everybody and their dog were
at the River
City on Friday night. All the
regulars had heard that this was our last night, and we all turned
out to drink, dance, speculate and complain. “Back in
the day, on a Friday or Saturday night, this was the place to go,
there was nowhere else,” said one woman, adding
emphatically, “I met my husband here!”
The night began earlier than usual when
people began to trickle in. The excitement was palpable.
It wasn’t long before the tables and barstools were full, and no
one seemed to mind that it was standing room only.
“I was here when Bob first
bought the place. We pulled up carpet to have these wood floors,”
reminisced one patron.
Tonight, though, the floors were not even
visible, with so many people milling about, talking loudly,
enjoying their beverages, and listening to the opening act. It was
Four on the Floor, an edgy bluegrass band from Portland, with a
unique sound that even included a two-string washtub bass.
Their intensity brought an even higher energy level to the place.
Their first set lasted only a few songs,
and it left us wanting more. By the time they were done,
both the beer and the sweat were pouring. I felt for the
bartenders, as it seemed that there was no way they could keep up
with this crowd. This was the most people I had ever seen at
the RCS, and others echoed my observation, which was
surpassed only by the oft heard “I can’t believe they are
closing!”
Next on the stage was Crazy
Pete, a favorite local opening act. He had the crowd whipped
up into a near frenzy. It was just him and his guitar and
more personality than could fit into this small venue. The
dance floor had already filled to overflowing, and he kept the
crowd involved, laughing, and grooving. With or without his
shirt, Crazy Pete has his audience in the palm of his hand.
The Quick and Easy Boys from
Portland had an excited, sweaty, not-nearly-done crowd
anticipating the dynamic show they knew would be offered, and we
were not disappointed. We were treated to high powered,
funky, danceable tunes in a long set that eventually had Crazy
Pete joining them on stage, still shirtless, along with Shawn
Robarts, River City’s longtime manager, sporting the head of a
mascot-like bear costume. The band now shirtless, Crazy Pete
in only his cutoffs, and the dancing bear had the crowd thrilled
and exuberant.
The overall excitement of the
night was certainly overshadowed by the realization that tonight
really was the last night of the River City Saloon as we have
known it. The ceiling had already been repainted, the first
sign of changes to come. The huge number of people, the
amazing vibe, the seemingly unending night…it was all the more
passionate because we didn’t want it to end.
I spoke to a woman in her 70s, who
lamented the closure with the rest of us as she recalled her
visits here over the past decades. Someone reassured her
that it will reopen, but her reply spoke for all of our
worries tonight when she said, “Well, it won’t be like
this!”
I heard from several folks,
young and old, about their wariness of the change, their regret at
losing this place they know and love, and their fond memories of a
long time staple of the Hood River nightlife. I, too,
am sad at the loss of my favorite neighborhood bar. Yet I
and others have high expectations for its new incarnation, and for
me the change serves as inspiration, as I hope to soon expand my
horizons by getting to know some of the many other well loved
places, new and old, in my beloved hometown of Hood River.
Even the dog present that
night, a golden retriever I think, wandered through the throng and
seemed to have a good time. I am not sure where he will hang
out now.
Jodi L. Bergstrom
http://www.myspace.com/4onthefloorsb
http://www.myspace.com/thequickandeasyboys
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