In this economy, a free weekly concert featuring local bands at a hip, centrally located bar is something special—even in artsy, indie music-loving Portland. Ever since the spring of 2007, popular East Burnside watering hole Rontoms has been providing one such opportunity with its Sunday Sessions showcase.
“We had only been open for about four months and were looking for ways to build community around the bar, and by extension, expose the spot to new patrons,” says Rontoms owner Ron Toms.
“Nearly everybody who worked here at the time was in a band or involved in music in some capacity, so hosting concerts seemed a natural fit,” he explains. “One of our bartenders, Joe Bowden, knew just about everybody in the scene. He, I, and another super-connected friend Hannah Carlen started cobbling together a show calendar. It was all done on an ultra [low] budget. Those first few shows were mixed by Joe on one of those cheap, eight-channel Yamaha all-in-one mixer/amp combo things.”…