- Jenna Mitchell
- 4 hours ago
- 3 min read
Article by: Aryana Lanning
Photos by: Chad Lanning
Witnessing Hillstomp live envelops one in a soulful kind of chaos. The hybrid of bluegrass and punk, combined with trance-like rhythms and raw, powerfully delivered vocals, creates an energy like nothing else. On October 18th at the Aladdin Theater, Hillstomp performed their final hometown show, as the duo transitions into an "indefinite hiatus” after an impressive 23 years together. They have toured 38 states, traveled internationally several times, and have amassed loving supporters everywhere they’ve performed.
They opened their last night in Portland with their song “Don’t Come Down,” released in 2014, for which a music video was filmed that same year. I had the privilege of being on that set at the age of 12, in a basement at capacity with sound and dance. I was delighted to find today that their live show somehow surpassed the unforgettable energy I felt that night. A steady tempo, slowly increasing in vigor, creates anticipation in every dancer; the body then finds every hypnotic crescendo impossible to resist moving to.
Singer and guitarist Henry Kammerer conveys stories through his vocals, preaching and playing with raw conviction, while drummer John Johnson crafts intricate, unrelenting rhythms that drive the songs forward, creating a complementary structure for Henry’s banjo and guitar work. Four-on-the-floor kick grounds their most intense moments. John utilises a washboard, heavy chains, and even a brake drum, incorporating ad hoc instruments that suit their music flawlessly. This innovation originates from John’s lack of a drum set during their formation over two decades ago, having settled for a barbecue lid and a 5 gallon bucket the first time playing with Henry.
The vocals are heavily laden with themes of life, death, and the spaces in between. The lyrics — “on his way to die,” “you know someday I will die,” “die when you’re riding high,” and “baby I’m already dead” — could be heard in four separate tracks, eliciting a both haunting and comforting feeling of surrender. Every track seems to have been brought to life by a matter of the heart, in one way or another. Most poignant to me was a song dedicated to Henry’s beloved late black lab, Merl, later followed by an homage to a sailor who drowned off the coast of England doing what he loved. These themes remained in the back of my mind well after the show had ended. The depth of emotion evoked by their music does not cease to resonate with the listener.
The evening at the Aladdin was opened by Sasparilla, a local punk-Americana group returning after a several-year absence to introduce the band that inspired their origin. In their words, “there wouldn’t be a Sasparilla if there wasn’t a Hillstomp.” The band was joined by frontman Kevin Blackwell’s two sons on drums and bass; an endearing symbol of the years that have passed since their formation. Sasparilla immediately set the pace of a steadfast steam train with their spirited vocals and persistent rhythm, generating an energy well-suited for the rest of the unforgettable night.
I couldn’t have imagined a better send-off for Hillstomp’s era in Portland. The audience was full of energy and gratitude for the years of raw, unfiltered expression that blended blues and punk grit to create what will always be remembered unmistakably as their own. There is a shared understanding among fans that Henry and John spent many years dedicating everything they could to their music, and the resulting performance was an honor to witness one last time.
