That such events happen here is yet another reason why I need to pack my things and move to the PDX. Two Beers Veirs is the name of both a covers EP recorded by Laura Veirs with Tucker Martine last year, and (in this case) a live band. The show is free, part of a happy hour residency the band are playing throughout the month of April in the small but very cool Laurelthirst Public House (great beer selection). Two Beers Veirs play a set mixing covers of old timey music (and some newer numbers such as Gillian Welch’s Annabelle, The Beatles’ Norwegian Wood and Fleetwood Mac’s Never Going Back Again) with some of Laura’s own songs (Spelunking and Jailhouse Fire are both in there), with Laura on guitar and banjo joined by Annalisa Tornfelt (Annalisa, Bearfoot Bluegrass) on violin and harmonies, and Jon Neufeld (King Pao Chickens – another Laurelthirst resident band, playing gypsy jazz) on guitar. After a short break, there’s a second set, where the band are joined by Colin Meloy (of The Decemberists) for three songs, including The Decemberists’ Sleepless and the Laura and Colin duet Yankee Bayonet (I Will Be Home Then), before Two Beers Veirs round off the night with some more “old timey” music, culminating in a frantic version of Cluck Old Hen. The musicians are all incredibly talented, and LV is a charming and witty performer. The show was easily one of my personal favourites, and it was free people. There’s one more Wednesday in April, get along to Laurelthirst from 6 – 8 if you can!
Check out our photoset from the show on Flickr
Here’s a video of Two Beers Veirs performing the Mississippi John Hurt song Spike Driver’s Blues at the show. I’m sorry it’s so low quality