Drew Stevens

I saw Dustin Kensrue of Thrice and Rocky Votolato Friday night at The Knitting Factory.

Armed with nothing but an acoustic guitar and a mic, Dustin played a few Thrice songs (including "Madman" and by request, the beginning of "Phoenix Ignition"), two Ursus Veritas (his solo project) songs and a bunch of covers.

His bluesy cover of The Beatles' "Oh! Darling".

He also covered: Bob Marley, Counting Crows, Elvis Costello (twice), Pedro The Lion, Sinead O'Connor and closed with a rendition of Radiohead's "Creep," albeit the clean version, probably because his parents were in the audience.

I hear the floor of the Crystal Ballroom in Portland, Oregon bounces. Apparently, the maple boards of the floor lie atop a series of rockers (like those of a rocking chair) with ball bearings attached to the two ends of each rocker, creating a fluid up-and-down movement, the tension of which a ratcheted gear can adjust.

I must see a show at this venue before I die.

Hmm… Franz Ferdinand plays there on September 24, and Portland's only three hours from Seattle (cough, Chris, cough, Mike).