Brad Carlile Photo Blog

Friday night started off at Portland restaurant the “Rocket”, it is one of a growing number of Portland restaurants that really feature fresh and local food on the menu. Just how local and fresh? In this 4th floor restaurant all you have to do is look up and imagine.

Not only do you get great views in a pleasant open-and-airy dining room that is in a “green” building (LEED), but the building is also “green”. The Rocket actually grows their veggies on the roof. Yes that’s right, the roof is green with new growth.

I meet a buddy of mine, Rich, before the Bob Mould show at the Doug Fir (more on this below). We had drinks and dinner. A bonus was a special tour of the roof garden. These images are from that visit. The building is “LEED platinum”, which requires that it use 50% less energy than code requires. It also has its own well for water.

On the roof they have two beds right on the roof. In addition they have lots of little kiddie pools planted as well. They are getting ready to add a lot more kiddie pools this spring. They already have many bags of soil on the roof that are getting ready for the new pools. Along various handrails they also have 3″ pots getting other starts ready. The rocket salad I started off with was wonderful and fresh – no wonder!

The Rocket is in the building that is against the Portland rock gym, right at the Sandy Blvd and Burnside split. To get to the Rocket which is on the top floor you have to go to the middle of the building where you’ll see a stairwell and an elevator once you walk in a bit. A unrelated bar occupies the bottom floor and there is not way to get to the Rocket from that bar, you have to walk up the sidewalk to the middle of the building.

Leather Storrs is one of Portland’s established chefs. He studied at the Culinary Institute of America and also worked at Chez Panisse, the French Laundry and Portland’s own Noble Rot.

This restaurant was maybe over-hyped at the beginning and even with a good start they didn’t quite live up to everyone’s expectations, BUT now that they’ve had some time I really think they’ve hit stride. I seen to continually adjust their menu and tweaked their style. It has really worked the food is now even more interesting and more flavorful. If you haven’t been back lately, I’d encourage to head up to the Rocket.

Rocket
1111 E Burnside St,Portland, OR 97214
Open Tuesday – Saturday from 5pm, Happy Hour – 5 to 6:30pm
(503) 236-1110
http://www.RocketPDX.com

Bob Mould

Bob Mould, a favorite of mine from Husker Du and Sugar. was in Portland last Friday at the Doug Fir. I first saw Bob back in ‘84 in a monumental show – at C.O.D’s in Chicago I saw Naked Raygun, Husker Du, Effigies, and The Dead Kennedys. That was a pivotal event! Take about bands that would influence many all together in one place.

Bob Mould just release his solo album ‘District Line. Bob is really returning to his guitar roots and it is great! Bob’s band includes Jason Narducy and Brendan Canty of Fugazi.

It was a great show. The set featured classic material as well as new songs off District Line. Oh yeah, one other thing, it was LOUD. My ears were still ringing the next day when I was up on Mt Hood skiing thigh-deep champaign powder. Yep, Friday & Saturday were great days.

Set list:
AOT
Idea
ADT Rock
Light
Hoover Damn
Vision
Silence
Tree
Parade
Favorite
… (look at the setlist below):

I bought the new District Line CD at the show. District Line has been getting heavy rotation (and decoding) on my various systems. I like it a lot. He is also getting a lot of well-deserved critical praise from many

Bob has been traveling the US in March, The shows continue in Europe in May/June.

05/23/08 Glasgow, UK
05/24/08 Manchester, UK
05/26/08 Birmingham, UK
05/27/08 London, UK
06/02/08 Frankfurt, GER
06/03/08 Cologne, GER
06/04/08 Hamburg, GER
06/07/08 Berlin, GER

Saturna opened up. I liked what they played. I’m keeping my eye on them as who knows they may be able to go somewhere.

The poster shown shown in the lower left of the first of my images from the show was created by well-known graphic artist Shepard Fairey. If you want the poster of Bob (edition 500), you need to go to a show (250 will sold on the tour) or go to Obey Giant(who gets to sell the other 250).

For video about Bob featuring live footage and interviews with Mould himself see the video below. It also has musicians from Interpol, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, and Death Cab For Cutie talking about the importance and influence of Bob Mould.

Tags: food, Music