It always nice to have a great, local act open up the bill for popular touring musicians coming through town. Sometimes, depending on the show booker, things can be hit or miss. Yet when they’re a hit, they’re truly a hit. A perfect scenario for the first of the Fit the Bill series would have to be Sunday night’s show at Bunk Bar, where locals Mini Blinds opened up for Lisa Prank and Childbirth. Now of course, both Lisa Prank and Childbirth, playing together or separately, don’t necessarily need aid in drawing a crowd. Bunk Bar hit capacity that night as fans of these two acts filled the roomed. They’ve both only played Portland once before so surely this was bound to happen, but Mini Blinds was definitely the right choice as an addition to the bill.
Mini Blinds is the dual effort of Beth Ann Dear and Devin Welch, who also happen to be 2/3 of other Portland favorites Appendixes. As the front woman in both efforts, Dear exudes a pleasant and angelic stage presence, much like the endearing tone of her voice. The chemistry between her and Welch during their performance was evident without being outwardly spoken, but expressed partially through coalescing movements about the stage. Though their entire set was great – the drum machines clean and crisp and her basslines and his guitar playing didn’t skip a beat – the highest points were when Dear laid her bass down to devote all of herself to the vocals of their cover of "Angel Gone" by Beat Happening, as well as when her and Welch switched instruments for their last song, "Time Machine."
Overall, Mini Blinds were an exceptional choice for show, and truly fit the bill.
-Cervante Pope