If you belt it, they'll shut up: This seemed to be the theme Friday night at North Portland's Pink House. After not-half-bad basement performances by locals Upshit Creek and the Vonneguts, 27-year-old songwriter Austin Lucas gathered a captive crowd in the living room with a booming a cappella rendition of "Cruel Brothers," an eerie traditional Irish ballad. But when the Prague-based, Indiana-born singer continued with softer country originals, he had to battle against the noise of some women clamoring for entry into the suspiciously long-locked bathroom and general party chitchat. Eventually, he stopped mid-song and declared, "This is pointless." Two men immediately rushed forward and begged, "No it's not, keep playing," with the sort of panicked urgency normally used to talk someone out of suicide. Lucas finished his set to about 10 new admirers and a couple of old friends in the intimacy of the basement.

- JASON SIMMS WILLAMETTE WEEKLY

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