Amos Heart at The Showdown
Thursday, January 30th, 2025 @ The Showdown, Portland, OR.
Amos Heart (Avery Ocean Morrigan-Haines,) the 24-year-old rising indie talent from the St. John’s neighborhood in Portland, brought his new album From The Perspective of A Loved One to life at The Showdown in Portland; hosted by Pickathon, a local festival to Portland and Amos Heart’s “favorite place on earth”. The intimate venue, with its saloon-like atmosphere and spools repurposed as tables, set a nice backdrop for a night filled with some incredible music. The crowd made up of family, friends, and fans of Avery’s work, filled in as the night led up to the show.
Amos Heart performed alongside a talented band that included an incredible pedal steel player in Nick Meigs, Ben Latimer on saxophone, Kate Koller on cello, Danny Austin-Manning on drums, Nicholas James on bass, and Kendall Lujan with some really impressive vocals. Every musician played out of their minds. This performance felt deeply personal, especially on songs like The Whereabouts of Luca Blue, a song Heart wrote about his relationship with his little brother. “We’re incredibly different, but we love each other like no other,” he said. It was one of the most heartfelt moments of the night, and you could feel the deep connection he has with his brother in every note. During that track, the dim red blare of the stage lights revealed tears in Amos Heart’s eyes. It was a beautiful moment of vulnerability, and the presence of his mom in the crowd made it even more special. It was one of the many heartfelt moments of the night. Individually special, nonetheless. Added to the playlist.
Coffee For Two, written about his relationship with fellow up-and-coming Portland artist Kendall Lujan, was incredible as well. A super moving performance. While I was taking some candid shots, I admittedly shed a tear or two. The band’s arrangement, which left plenty of space for the music to breathe, allowed the song to unfold in a way that felt truly intimate. There was an openness to it, a rawness that made it resonate long after the performance ended. Added to the playlist.
After the show, Amos Heart made sure to greet just about everyone in the room, demonstrating how much he truly appreciates the people he surrounds himself with. He made everyone in the room feel special. I managed to grab a quick chat with him outside after the set, and he shared how surreal it was to have his friends and family all gathered in one place for the album release. “It’s so sweet to see all my friends in one building,” he said. As well as the excitement, he explained that there’s also a natural numbness that comes with performing with such overwhelming emotion. “I’m so thankful for all of it,” he continued, moved by the support.
As for the future, Avery is eager to keep pushing his music forward. He talked about how From The Perspective of A Loved One felt like the starting point for something much bigger. “I want to make a living doing music,” he said, reflecting on how far his journey has already taken him. “This record feels like the launch point for that.”
Amos Heart’s album release show was a night that felt more like a gathering of loved ones than a typical performance. It was raw, real, and full of heart. This dude is legit, and if you haven’t checked out From The Perspective of A Loved One, what the fuck are you doing? There’s something deeply human in every track, and with his genuine approach to music, Avery is sure to keep rising. Amos Heart hits Europe with Kendall Lujan starting March 14th. I went deeper into Amos Heart’s music and life in a January interview with Align Magazine.