by Brent Angelo // PHOTOS and VIDEOS
Friends and family come together to say good-bye to Michael Dean Damron
When I first dived into the Portland music scene, I came across some great bands and musicians that included Storm and the Balls, Kleveland and Western Aerial to name a few. I went to see Kleveland one night at Slabtown and the headliner was Michael Dean Damron. That was my first time seeing Mike D. He was passionate and put on a good show, but my strongest memory of that night was after the show. Some friends of Mike’s I heard were celebrating their anniversary and they asked him to play „A Good Day To Be A Bad Husband“, but he forgot. It dawned on him after the show, so he grabbed a guitar, grabbed the couple and played it special for them outside on the street away from all the club chatter. In that moment, I became a fan.
Michael Dean Damron was a very special musician. At his core, Mike was a great song writer. Then there was that distinctive voice. That raw energy. Over the years, I have seen a lot of Mike D solo shows, Thee Loyal Bastards, I Can Lick Any Sonofabitch in the House, and The Do Betters. Mike D always gave you everything he had and left little on the table. He was his toughest critic and had his own high standards. There were times he would apologize and say he sucked that night, but I don’t recall ever seeing a bad show. When he took to that stage, acoustic or electric, the music just poured out of him. The words he sang were honest and from the heart. The stage was his safe place, his therapy and his love. He was so good at it.
Michael Dean Damron the person I dare say was even a better human being. As I got to know him over the years, he definitely stood out from the crowd. He was always genuine, caring, funny as hell at times and simply cool. Mike D had his code in life and once you earned his respect, you were one of his family. If you pissed him off like Fred Phelps did, you got songs like „Westboro Baptist Church“ written about you. Mike D always treated my wife Amy and I with such respect and love. We loved him right back. I was a faithful supporter of his over the years, which can be seen through years of photos and video memories. Mike loved my photos, which was special to me. There was this mutual respect and admiration for each of our own arts. That was our bond and connection that I will cherish and really miss.
When I heard Mike got sick not too long ago and a benefit was planned, I was all in. Mike, you got this. I never even considered him not making it. It was Mike D, he was always one tough son of a bitch. When the announcement was made recently that he passed, I was simply heartbroken. The show was now a memorial. What? NO!. This one really hurts.
When I was going to the memorial show at the Star, it really started hitting me. What’s going to happen? What will be played? Will the SOBs play with someone else? I didn’t like the thought of not having him on that stage. It was great running into longtime friends and sharing Mike stories at the start. The love was already in the house. The memorial show would see various musician and friends of Mikes doing songs he loved and songs he created. Jeremy Wilson opened the memorial. Kris Stuart would follow. He covered one of MIke’s favorites, „Whenever You Call Me By Name“ by the Jimmy Boyer Band, but it was his cover of Mike’s „Dead Days“ that really hit me hard. Mike D’s great songwriting showed its greatness in that cover performance. The memorial would also include performances from Lewi Longmire, Little Sue (with Jenny Conlee of the Decemberists), Fernando Viciconte, and closers Hillstomp. There was also a special performance from I Can Lick Any Sonofabitch In the House band with guest musician Dewey Nielson. The SOB’s started off with a special version of „Walk Across Texas“ from 2002’s Creepy Little Noises featuring Mike’s daughter Sloane on vocals. The SOBs would rock through a blistering set including fan favorites „In the Mud“, a rousing version of „Westboro Baptist Church“, the rocking „Gone“. „I Give Up Everything“ and the set closed with a new song written by Dewey Nielson for Mike called „I Can Lick Any Son Of A Bitch“. It was hard not having Mike at lead vocals, but it was great seeing the SOBs one last time in Mike’s memory. Those guys including Jon Burbank, David Lipkind and Mole Harris are all great guys and kicked ass on stage as always.
The once benefit show turned memorial may have started off sad but turned into one rocking‘ party. There was a ton of love in that building for Mike. Sloane gave a beautiful and heartfelt eulogy for her Dad. That was a special moment. Mike would have loved seeing all of this and I know he was there in spirit. What more can you ask from life? We will all reach that point in life, but Mike did it right. Mike’s illness was quick, he passed with family around him, and he received an outpouring of love in his end. He made a difference in so many lives including mine, gave us all memories that we will always cherish and left so much great music that will live on forever. Michael Dean Damron lived, loved and kicked mother fucking ASS! RIP my friend, thank you for the memories, your friendship, love you and see you on the other side.
SOBs with Sloane „Walk Across Texas“ @ the Star 05-10-25
SOBs Hotter Hell @ the Star 05-10-25
SOBs „Westboro Baptist Church“ @ the Star 05-10-25
Dewey Nielsen & SOBs „I Can Lick Any Son Of A Bitch“ @ the Star 5-10-25
Memorable Moments of Mike through the years
Mike D „A Good Day To Be A Bad Husband“ @ Slabtown 09-08-07
Mike D + Thee Loyal Bastards “ Swear To God“ @ Tonic 03-14-08
Michael Dean Damron „Dead Days“ @ Dantes 04-18-08
Mike D & Thee Loyal Bastards „Moonshine“ @ Doug Fir 08-10-08
Michael Dean Damron „Postcards And Apologies“ @ Dantes 08-17-13
Michael Dean Damron „Galaxies Collide“ @ Dantes 08-17-13
The Do Betters „Superstar“ @ the Shine (04-08-16)
Michael Dean Damron „Saturday“ @ Dantes (03-17-18)
Michael Dean Damron „Bloodletting“ @ Dantes (03-17-18)
I Can Lick Any Sonofabitch In the House „Gone“ Live at Dantes 02-06-20
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Apr 22, 2025
By TOM D’ANTONI // Molly Tentarelli is with Paul K Ward at his studio, I’m at my desk in NW Portland. Molly is as versatile an artist as it gets. Find out how and why. Listen to her sing at the end of our conversation.
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