Portland's PILAR FRENCH is one of those unexpected talents who can mow you over with intelligent, passionate songwriting, as well as give you a groove to rock out to. She's a varied musician, and not just because she plays guitar and bass, depending on the situation. One minute she's loungy, smoky and silky. The next she's belting out a bluesy tune thats slightly askew. Another moment she finds her in a funk vein, and then she's somewhat ethereal and most definitely intimate and intense.
Pilar calls it twisted funk and blues, but there's more to it than that. This veteran insider of many local bands and styles may spend much time with the backbeat and the danceability, but Pilar has an arty, introspective side as well. She can be reminiscent of Marlene Dietrich singing Cole Porter, Nicolette Larson, Steely Dan, Maria Muldaur, Dave Matthews with touches of soul, and the occasional shot of more esoteric artists like David Sylvian or Sarah McLaughlin.
All this could be the result of a varied background. Pilar's musical path has taken a meandering and slightly comical, kooky road at times. Before moving to Puddle Town, she played in several bands while attending college in Chicago one of which opened for Spin Doctors. After college, she briefly played gigs at a dude ranch in Colorado.
French has lived in Portland for 10 years, becoming deeply ingrained in the music scene through a variety of bands and musical partnerships. She started in similarly bluesy, funky bands, including Soul Patrol Mission. The goal was to play in the coolest spots we could find. "We played on top of skyscrapers in downtown Portland and on the Portland Spirit. We played cheesy 80s tunes on acoustic guitars and the accordion."
Next was the six-piece blues band Swerve for two years, then Pilar spent time with local art songstress KATE MANN in Ginger Lovely. Soon, Pilar found herself working with singer LARA MICHELL , (Carmina Piranha, Dirty Martini) in a Duran Duran tribute band, which led to her joining Michell and Nicole Campbell's goofy cover band, Guilty Pleasures and One Hit Wonders. The band has torn up the house with regular, raucous gigs at Imbibe in recent years.
During the last two years, Pilar has also been found playing bass with Portland veterans, JUSTIN CARROLL AND THE TIME BEING , and THE NICOLE CAMPBELL TRIO .
These days, her funk, blues and delicate personal tunes are combined in her own solo career as well as in the vibrant Pilar French Intention, comprised of drummer Bevan, guitarist Robert PeArt, and bassist Todd Aschoff.
Bevan is classically trained, and has played in a variety of bands, including Kerosene Dream, THE VERY FOUNDATION , FRAN GRAY .
PeArt is graduate of the Guitar Institute of Technology and has played in several bands around town including THE RACHEL TAYLOR BROWN BAND .
Aschoff learned to play bass after salvaging an upright that was broken in pieces, putting it back together himself. He also plays drums, and is lead singer/drummer for TOO LOOSE CAJUN BAND ...ALL PHOTOS BY JASON QUIGLEY
