Jackpot! Recording Studio Anniversaries
Several Events We Held Years Back! -by Larry Crane
Some 13 years ago Issac Slusarenko of Jackpot Records and I decided to confuse everyone by hosting a joint “Jackpot” 15 year anniversary party. (Hint: We own completely separate businesses, but people misunderstand all the time!).
Having Quasi, The Minus 5, System and Station, Alialujah Choir, Dave Depper (now in Death Cab For Cutie), John Moen’s Perhapst, and DJ Mr Mumu play a long night at McMenamins’ Bagdad Theater in our shared Southeast neighborhood was a hoot. Having a film crew and crabby announcer from a local TV station KGW show up, get mad because he thought there’d be bands playing, and then yelling at us for the confusion of two businesses sharing a similar name was priceless. The musicians were awesome, we appreciated the support, and it was a blast to do this in the fantastic old movie theater. Too bad they don’t allow events in there anymore.
In 2017, the wonderful Jenna Zine (co-owner of Jackpot! Recording) was working at The Secret Society venue in Portland (sadly, since closed) and suggested a 20th Anniversary show to be held there. I put together a PowerPoint presentation, interviewed our first assistant/engineer Joanna Bolme, Janet Weiss (Quasi), Douglas Jenkins (Portland Cello Project), Martyn Leaper (The Minders), and our manager of many years, Kendra Lynn. The Minders player, as I had just finished producing their Into the River LP, and The Secret Sea (Amit Erez) played solo as I had also engineered and produced his Everest release. This was stressful event to organize on my end, but it came out fine! (photos below by Nina Johnson)
So, doing the math, our 25th anniversary would have been in spring of 2022. Due to Covid we held off doing anything public, sadly! It seems that 2027 will mark 30 years of Jackpot! Recording Studio in Portland, Oregon. Keep your eyes peeled - we might do something to celebrate! Maybe we’ll take over the MODA Center this time…
Is there a recording of this event? I’m interested in watching it