With the gait and presence of a lounge icon, Forbes effortlessly gathered the attention of every single seat in the house.

While most people wouldn’t expect to spend their St. Paddie’s Day in an auditorium full of fifty-somethings, anxiously awaiting the arrival of a dozen eclectic musicians from Portland, Ore., I wouldn’t have had it any other way.

In the minutes leading up to the Pink Martini show at The Pabst, the stage was strewn with a cornucopia of musical appendages. From stringed instruments like harps, violins and guitars to stranger fare, such as a series of drums and knickknacks that I’d never seen before, the audience could feel that they were in for a unique experience.

As the band began filing on stage, the crowd immediately hushed to a silence. With the unfolding of the first song, the different sections of the band musically introduced themselves. With the addition of the each subsequent element, it was as if the band were extending their arms for a warm embrace with the strangers in the audience. Finally, after a ten-minute-long introduction of sound, lead singer China Forbes took the stage.

With the gait and presence of a lounge icon, Forbes effortlessly gathered the attention of every single seat in the house.

She regarded the audience as a companion of the band. Forbes welcomed comments and suggestions from the crowd, even going as far as to have a trans-room conversation with a group of women from France.

Transitions aside, the core of the show involved the dozen musicians doing what they do best. The night’s set list included songs from all three of the band’s albums, as well as a few songs that were written solely for the tour. It was evident that the audience was full of true fans: every single number elicited overwhelming recognition.

At one time, the band even opened the set up to the crowd, fielding requests from the audience. This led to their cover of “Que Sera Sera,” a beautiful melody that resonated with every single person in the auditorium.

The wide variety of songs allowed the entire ensemble to have their moment in the spotlight. Every instrument found a section to flex their muscles and show just how talented each and every member of the band truly is.

Since it was St. Paddie’s Day, the band set their sights on the Emerald Isle, playing the classic Irish folk ballad “Danny Boy.” Forbes urged the crowd to chime in, and the slightly inebriated audience was more than willing to comply.

By the end of the over-two-hour set, it was evident that the band had poured their hearts and souls into the music. They gave the audience everything they had to give, and the crowd couldn’t have been more appreciative.

I was unsure of whether the quality of the Pink Martini show could match up to the excellence of their albums. However, my reservations vanished after a night of global, symphonic bliss.

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