Johnny Franco – Dear Liza

Johnny Franco at Zach’s

Dear Liza,

I love that we have lived in Portland long enough to have favorite places and favorite bands! Last Friday we walked to Grandpa Nelson’s favorite place, Zach’s Hot Dog Shack.

First, we enjoyed the Halloween decorations that are sprouting up all over the neighborhood. This skeleton and his reaper friend seemed spooky but non-threatening. Auntie Bridgett stopped to say hi.

At Zach’s, we got our favorite things. Fries and cider for Grandpa Nelson, tofu Chicago dog and Guinness for me, and tofu Seattle dog for Auntie Bridgett. We enjoyed watching kids and parents play corn hole while the band set up.

Johnny and his “real brother Dom” and their drummer (whose name I still haven’t learned, brought their gear in and set up. One of the many things I like about this group is that their music is perfect for small spaces likes Zach’s patio, not loud or over-amplified. We were just ten feet from the band and very happy.

Johnny says he doesn’t like a lot live music because it is too long and too loud. He likes it ‘quick and quiet’.

The first set was in daylight, and filled with Beatles’ and Three Dig Night cover songs like “Momma Told me not to Come” and “You Can’t do That”, with lots of joking and banter in between.

The sun went down during the break and the mood changed. Cool lighting put a sparkle on the small stage (which is where the Ping Ping table usually is) and the energy got ‘dancier’. Folks were clapping and whooping, with a few dancing just off to the side.

We stayed to the very end, put some money in their bucket and bought a cd. It was a long, long night out for us, but very enjoyable.

Thanks Johnny! Thanks Dom! Thanks Drummer Dude! Thanks Zach!

Love,

Grandma Judy

Johnny and Chonk at Laurelhurst

Dear Liza,

Thursday evening, we had a picnic. This isn’t unusual in Portland summers, as the weather can be delightful and the sunshine lasts much longer than we do. But this was a special musical picnic.

We settled into a part of Laurelhurst Park that we call The Ravine, right by the 33rd street entrance. We knew that Johnny Franco (our new favorite local musician) would be setting up soon.

While we waited, we enjoyed a dinner of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, veggies, and wine in Auntie Esther’s picnic-safe wine cups. Very handy!

Lots of folks knew that Johnny would be here, and it was fun to see each group come in, find their perfect spot, and set up their picnic. Happy dogs and kids told me it was going to be a fun evening.

The show started with Johnny and his brother Don singing. They played about three songs, joking with the audience and each other, and then passed the show along to another group. And this was where the evening got weird and extra-delightful.

This group called itself Chonk, and Johnny gave it the nickname of The Intergalactic Curbside Band, which I really liked. Their band includes two guitars, a keyboard, and a fiddle! They opened their part of the show with Tex Beneke’s “Smoke, Smoke, Smoke that Cigarette,” which I LOVE and is rarely heard outside a Dr. Demento tribute show. I was hooked.

A bunch of folks got up and started dancing…. And the group grew, jumping around and having a ball. It was a joyous scene.

Chonk performed until about 8:00, when the sun went behind the trees and the air got cooler. We started packing up just as Spencer Sprocket the juggler came out.

It was time to head home, and I wondered…. Where can I hear Chonk some more?

Love,

Grandma Judy

An Evening at Zach’s Shack

Dear Liza,

Saturday just kept going! After a bit of a rest, we walked over to Zach’s Shack to see Johnny Franco and his band.

Grandpa Nelson has been going to Zach’s for years. He loves their French fries and sodas, their pleasant back patio, Zach himself, and Riley, the resident Corgi.

I like Zach’s for the tofu Chicago dogs, cold Guinness beer, and the funky style of the place.

And this evening, there was an additional attraction! Johnny Franco, who we usually listen to at Laurelhurst Park, had set up with his band on the patio. Zach was on hand to help with props and serving… there was quite a crowd!

The band consists of Johnny, who sings and plays guitar; his guitar-playing harmonizing vocalist; a drummer; and a fellow who plays both trumpet and flute, depending on what is needed.

I like the sort of retro-modern style of music they play. Some Beatles songs, some Three Dog Night, and a bunch of very good original songs added up to a pleasant energy. Some of their songs are in Portuguese, so I can’t understand the lyrics, but they are still delightful.

Before we left, we got to chat with Johnny and tell him how much we enjoyed his music. He told us he had just gotten back from Santa Cruz, where Auntie Bridgett went to University. She was happy to hear that her old favorite record store, Streetlight Records, had been very helpful to the band and set up some shows for them.

When it started getting chilly, we headed for home, walking through a neighborhood full of soft light and the sweet summer flowers.

I felt like a very lucky woman.

Love,

Grandma Judy

Thursdays in the Park with Johnny

Dear Liza,

One of the great joys of living in a big city is that interesting things are happening all the time. Since living in Portland, we have stumbled onto fabulous food trucks, Shakespeare in the Lone Fir cemetery, and neon-lit naked bike rides.

And a few evenings ago, we found Johnny Franco! This talented musician/performer from San Paolo, Brazil, and his group were playing Beatles-esque music near Firwood Lake in Laurelhurst Park.

In the glowing light of early evening, a hundred or so folks sat on the grassy slopes around the lake. People enjoyed picnics, drinks, dogs and kids as bicycles and skateboards whizzed by.

The music inspired a few young ladies to dance along, adding to the festivities.

And judging from the chalkboard posted near the stage, this is a regular, free, Thursday night performance! Maybe we should make it part of our Thursdays. After all, summer doesn’t last forever.

Love,

Grandma Judy

Full Speed Into Summer

Dear Liza,

This week, summer will hit full blast. Our weather will be in the 90s, with the sun coming up at 5 a.m. and not going down until almost 10 p.m.

Everyone’s gardens are beginning to bear fruits and vegetables. We have been eating our own lettuce for a few days, and even had some teeny tiny carrots with dinner.

Strawberries and cherries are growing, often right onto (or over) the sidewalk! The world is so full of sweetness it just can’t be contained.

And after a long silence, Laurelhurst Park is filling up with music again. I went walking last evening and got a free concert by a group called Johnny Franco, who was making music in two trumpets, a saxophone, drums, four different guitars and a vocalist.

It was a delightful blend of rock and reggae, and a crowd of about a hundred people was scattered around, enjoying the music and the weather. There were picnics, and kids and dogs ran all around. People danced, frisbees flew. It felt like LAST summer had finally come, fifteen months late.

Have a good weekend! Stay well, stay cool, and find ways to share your joy.

Love,

Grandma Judy