Patti Smith and Her Band perform at the Pioneer Courthouse Square in Portland on Aug. 15, 2023. This show is a part of the PDX LIVE concert series.
Prakruti Bhatt / OPB
Grammy Hall of Fame-honored artist and author Patti Smith took over Portland’s “Living Room” — Pioneer Courthouse Square — Tuesday evening.
“Hello Portland! So happy to be here. I know, like many other places in the world, you’ve had your troubles. But Portland’s a great city and we’re so happy to be here,” Smith told the cheering audience before opening the set with, “Grateful.”
Smith and her band, which also includes her son Jackson Smith on the guitar, delivered an empowering concert, which was part of the PDX Live performance series.
The show included performances of “Ghost Dance” and a cover of Neil Young’s “After The Gold Rush.”
She also intonated “Footnote to Howl” by Allen Ginsberg. The cover performance came in celebration of City Lights Bookstore’s —the publisher of Ginsberg’s “Howl and Other Poems” — 70th anniversary.
Hundreds of fans braved the heat as temperatures soared over 100 degrees. The venue was equipped with misting systems and event officials handed out free water bottles.
Smith closed the show with “People Have The Power” just shy of 9 p.m.
Before taking a final bow, the 76-year-old singer-songwriter reminded the audience: “People have the power. Don’t forget it. Use your voice.”