Dana Fuchs Band at The Birk on March 24, 2015

On the last night of their Pacific Northwest tour, the Dana Fuchs Band seemingly saved the best for last at Oregon’s historic Birkenfeld Country Store (aka The Birk). From the moment Fuchs and her band took the stage, they knew their trip into the Oregon countryside was going to be a special one. The intimate, 100-plus-year-old room was packed with an enthusiastic crowd and the band came alive. Fuchs' powerhouse vocals and stage presence filled the room, and combined with her outstanding band (Jon Diamond on guitar, Piero Perelli on drums and Jack Daley on bass), they delivered a set of rock, blues, soul-groove-gospel, and a little country. Highlights included the funky “Livin’ On Sunday” and a very personal and moving performance of “So Hard To Move,” a heartfelt song of loss and the celebration of life that featured Diamond providing one of the best guitar solos (reminiscent of the late Roy Buchanan) I’ve heard in quite some time. Other standout moments included the country “Nothin’ On My Mind” and their incendiary performance of “Set It On Fire” that definitely shook the rafters of one of our area’s great venues. If you missed Fuchs' trip through the Northwest this time, make sure you look for her next appearance and go see her live.