2014 NE 42nd Ave
Portland, OR 97123
503-288-7802

Moon & Sixpence British Pub

Origins

The Moon and Sixpence British Pub near the corner of NE42 Avenue and Tillamook in Portland, Oregon opened in 1999. Hailed as one of the most authentic British pubs around The Moon and Sixpence offers its visitors the warm, cozy, and inviting atmospere you read about in reviews of pubs in the British Isles. As near as I we can tell the pubs owner immigrated in the late 1980's and wanted to create a little corner of home right here in Portland.

Setting

The diagram we created depicts the setting for Foghorn Leghorn in the Moon and Sixpence British Pub at 2014 NE 42nd Avenue in Portland. There is one main entrance to this venue through a pair of red double doors facing 42nd avenue. As soon as one enters the pub you are forced to turn either right or left around a wooden plank wall with "Bass Ale" etched in a frosted glass window above it. To the right of the door is a small alcove set with three or four tables and the band Foghorn leghorn squeezed into the corner between the benches that line the walls and the average sized bar. To the left of the entrance lie more wooden benches affixed to the front wall and on down the sidewall of the pub, scattered with varying sized round tables. Directly behind the front dividing wall with the frosted glass window lie two large wooden tables with benches. Directly behind these tables is a hallway to the WC, (Water Closet), or restroom. The kitchen lies to the right of the restrooms, and a small half-open room with two dart boards equipped with real metal tipped darts lies to the left.

As soon as one enters the pub the low ceilings and dark smoky atmosphere conjure up a cave like feeling. As the band begins playing at 8 o'clock at night there is little light filtering in through the few dark windows and the only lights are very dim. The majority of light seems to be filtering in through the open back alley door through the dart board room.

Many patrons and employees seemed to actually be from the British Isles judging by their accents which only added to the European feel of the place. The tables chairs, benches and bar are finished with a rich varnish on wood. The walls are painted darker colors and are decorated with many different pictures that are reminiscent of Great Britain. The ceiling is low and there is a dart room in the back of the establishment that bustling on one visit and dormant on another. There seemed to be a few regulars but the majority of the people in attendance each night seemed to be a different crowd each night.

The band played in a highly informal manner, no doubt due to the informality of the setting. There seemed to be no regular breaks or sets and often times the band members would chat between numbers untill one began playing a tune. The other members would soon pick up that tune and the next song would be off The band played without amplification and the sound level was just right for the setting.

Sound

The sound of Foghorn Leghorn is very straight forward. The four instruments that made up the band on the nights we were there were banjo, guitar, fiddle, and string bass. The music they play, old-time or bluegrass depending on how you classify it, is based on the oral folk tradition of Appalachia. These are songs that have brought to the Americas mainly from the British Isles and passed down and modified to suit the conditions people in Appalachia lived in. No one instrument dominates the sound and each instrument carries the main tune at one time or another. The playing is very accurate but not in a strict way. All the music sounds as though it is commited to their minds and hearts.

Check out our listening guide for The Moon and Sixpence British Pub

Significance

There are a couple ways we can discuss the significance of this soundscape. First, it is important to consider the commercial significance since in many ways this is why the band is playing in this specific venue. The Moon and Sixpence has hired Foghorn Leghorn to play in order to entertain their customers and hopefully draw in new customers. Foghorn Leghorn is likely being paid to perform in some way or another. They must make a living somehow.

Another way we can discuss how this soundscape is significant is its social role. In many ways the social importance of music such as this can override its commercial significance. This can be seen in the fact that it is still being played today. This music has a rich history that is evoked everytime it is performed. In this setting there are people enjoying themselves and socializing, the music is an accompaniment to thisactivity. The players in addition to being compensated monetarily enjoy playing and performing. It appears to be as much a social activity for them as well.

Finally, the irony of the situation was not lost. It is interesting to note that this band plays traditional American music, conceived of during the struggles that the people of this country endured including the colonization by and revolution against the British, in a traditional British Pub, steeped in the history and tradition of that country. There was no conflict present during our experiences at this soundscape and there probably never will be but the juxtaposition is interesting none-the-less.