Walking into the Wonder Ballroom, you are guaranteed not to forget who put together the tour. Greeted with a complimentary Neuro drink, eyes are instantly drawn to the posters and the stage background with huge 'Perez Hilton Presents' emblazoned on it, complete with a cartoon Perez. Once you get past that, however, the show was amazing.



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Opening the show was Seattle band Natalie Portman's Shaved Head. Unfortunately, the venue had not filled up yet and the crowd was lacking some energy, but that didn't stop the band from pumping out fan favourites such as “Sophisticated Sideways Ponytail” and “Me + Yr Daughter” and dancing around the stage with no lack of enthusiasm. The band also kept the mood light with talking between songs. Lead singer Shaun Libman quipped early on “We're from Seattle, so we're like your older brother or something, right? We wouldn't be your dad, but we're definitely related.” Near the end of the show, upon realizing that he couldn't find his camera, he borrowed one from fan near the stage to videotape the crowd. “I wish we would come back here every week. Every Tuesday we'll be here. Taco Tuesdays.”
Next up was Londoner Julian Peretta in his first ever US gig. His crooning pop style seemed a bit out of place in the otherwise dance-heavy line-up, and perhaps would have been more at home opening for Jason Mraz. He performed a short set that was met with positive feedback from the crowd.
By the time Semi Precious Weapons hit the stage, the floor of the Wonder Ballroom was mostly full. The crowd went crazy as lead singer Justin Trantor made his dramatic entrance onto the stage in a t-shirt with a picture of toast, nude leggings, and gold knee-high boots. The glam rocker did not disappoint. The band produced a set with endless energy and dance moves, performing songs from their album, We Love You, as well as still to be recorded “Sticky with Champagne” and “Put a Diamond in It”. There was even an on-stage costume change for Justin into Marilyn Monroe leggings and sparkly red boots. “Normally, at this point I have to yell because the audience doesn't cheer enough. But not you guys, you f**king rock! Did you like my costume change?” Near the end of Semi Precious Weapons set, the majority of the band made it's way into the crowd for a little dance party.
Headliner Ladyhawke was met with a completely pumped up crowd. The New Zealand singer also known as Phillipa Brown, sang into a microphone stand lit up with Christmas lights. The Perez Hilton Presents tour is her first proper US tour, and she confided to the Portland audience that is had been the nicest so far. “I'll definitely come back to Portland!”, she promised the crowd, and even though she added several songs into her setlist, her adoring fans begged for more. After playing hits “Paris is Burning” and “My Delirium”, she gracefully apologized that she didn't have any more songs to play. Perhaps, next time she'll have a bigger repertoire of songs to play, Portland. |