State Theatre begins ticket pre-sales

While fans continue to offer suggestions for shows they'd like to see, pre-sales of tickets are underway for the State Theatre's initial slate of fall concerts.

The pre-sales, announced at the State Theatre's Facebook page (www.facebook.com/statetheatreportland) started yesterday and run through tonight at 10 p.m., according to the venue's Wednesday morning post.

Excitement has been building since Bowery Presents, an independent promotion company based in New York City, and Alex Crothers of Higher Ground Presents, an independent promoter from Burlington, Vt., announced in May that they had signed a deal with Stone Coast Properties to reopen the State Theatre.

The historic theater, built in the 1920s with over 2,000 seats, has been idle since its closure in 2006.

Stone Coast Properties, listed owner of the State, has been busy renovating the inside of the theater, and the new partners have continued that work, according to Lauren Wayne, the theater's new manager.

"Everything's on track," she said Wednesday.

The first show is My Morning Jacket, a four-piece band from Louisville, Ky., which will play at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 15. Tickets are $40.50 for general admission, all ages. Tickets are on sale to the general public this Friday at 10 a.m.

On Sunday, Oct. 17, the State Theatre plans an open house and Portland Music Foundation launch featuring performances from local bands including Darien Brahms, Jacob and the House of Fire, Brenda, Sidecar Radio and Atomik. The event is also a launch event and membership drive for local nonprofit organization, Portland Music Foundation, a group that supports music professionals throughout the Portland area.

News of the theater's reopening has incited a nearly constant buzz on Facebook, with a long wish list of acts that fans hope will play the venue.

"It's huge, we're getting an incredible amount of positive response, and we're encouraged by the support we're getting from the local community," Wayne said.

Facebook fans have delivered a flurry of requests this week, some of which elicited a response from the State Theatre management.

"The Decemberists, Placebo, Funeral For A Friend, Tim & Eric, David Cross, Neil Hamburger," one fan pleaded.

"Andrew Dice Clay, Ryan Adams, Travis, Lamontagne again!" another posted.

"Beach House...The New Pornographers...Grizzly Bear...TV on the Radio...."

"How about Alice Cooper on his Halloween run?"

On Monday, a request for the Black Keys set off this Facebook dialogue: "BLACK KEYS!!!!!!!!!!!!"

"Liza Kelley I second that! And everyone else!!!!"

"Derek Lombardi Great list! I'd like to add the Avett Brothers though!"

"Greg Gilman Black Keys would be AMAZING!"

"Greg Gilman I'll throw in Blitzen Trapper as well."

Then, the State Theatre posted: "All great suggestions. And a lot of these bands have played Port City Music Hall and SPACE Gallery."

One fan asked, "Any chance of another GWAR show, or did they wreck the place too bad when they played in 2004? Easily my favorite State experience."

The State Theatre responded, "No way, we love GWAR. Though we would cover the place in more plastic this time around!"

"It was a combination of who we thought would be really great for the first shows and who was available," Wayne said of the initial schedule.

Fans' requests are considered, although Wayne cautioned that touring schedules and availability are important factors in whether an act can appear here.

"It's helpful," Wayne said. "Obviously, some of those won't work out, it's not a matter of wishing something will happen and it will happen."

But "just to see the enthusiasm" has buoyed the theater's new management, Wayne said, and the fans' excitement is matched by that of the bands, she noted.

"They're all excited to come back to Portland," she said.

"I'm happy about all of them," Wayne added, "I'm really stoked about the open house and the PMF event because it's awesome to get local bands on the stage."

One band sure to make a big splash at the State this fall is Guster, which played a memorable winter concert at the venue shortly before its closing (the concert is captured on a DVD, "Guster on Ice"). Guster is scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 27. Those tickets for $27.50 go on sale Aug. 6.

There's also the possibility of shows other than concerts.
"Here's another really weird request:" a fan wrote this week. "Patton Oswalt is touring pretty much non-stop these days. Is comedy out of the question?"

"No, we love funny people," the State responded.

Theater management seems determined to humor all requests, at least with three months to go before the opening.

On Sunday, a fan wrote: "Some ridiculous requests: Anything Nick-Cave related (Grinderman if they do a US tour? Maybe that's too ridiculous), Xiu Xiu, Mars Volta, The Veils (Especially The Veils)."

The State Theatre management responded: "Nothing is ridiculous."