Five O'Clock People
Genre: Intelligent Rootsy Pop / Acoustic Rock [that's too good to be kept underground]
Location: Portland, Oregon

"and sometimes beginning must wait till the end, and sometimes the healers are always your friends, but sometimes the truth is more fun to pretend, and sometimes i think of you..." Artistic, emotional, and relational integrity remains their highest goal. This is Five O'Clock People's venture.

Five O'Clock People performance photos. More Photos...

The members of Five O'Clock People bring a commitment to intelligent, thought-provoking lyrics and a quiet resolve to express themselves using only the tools of acoustic instruments such as violin and accordion which allows for an intimate approach to its presentation. Although regional success has caused Five O'Clock People to outgrow many of the cafes and coffeehouses that nurtured its early career, Drew Grow says smaller venues are still the group's preferred platform. "It forces you to be completely honest. You can't get away with hiding behind a performance. We've always kind of championed the idea of talking to the audience, keeping things relaxed." Alex adds, "I love going to a cafe and seeing someone interacting with the audience. They just have their heart on a stick, close enough for you to touch it and recoil. It's beautiful and strange and unique to that setting. I like venues that allow for that intimacy."

The band has a strong desire to build up their audience in a very organic way, patterning themselves after Dave Matthews Band and Phish, who attracted a devoted following by playing as often as possible, wherever possible, Five O'Clock People would much rather connect with audiences than seek fame and fortune.

The bands' extensive touring resume includes two U.K. tours, as well as sharing the stage with a diverse group of artists, including Jonatha Brooke, Vigilantes of Love, Pedro the Lion and Sixpence None the Richer. "We might have next to nothing in common with them, as far as instrumentation," Alex explains. "But what we try to put into a song is very similar. Trying to do something that has our musical signature on it, and then lyrically, tackling issues we're fighting with, songs that we have to write or our heads will explode."

Drew says that, although high school, college and post-college young adults are probably most drawn to Five O'Clock People, there's really no "typical" audience for the band. "We've played for crowds where maybe three people were under the age of 25. Some adult audiences relate to the struggles we sing about, especially since they've maybe been through them and come out the other side. So they can identify in a way that maybe a younger audience doesn't."

Five O'Clock People are: Alex Walker [vocals, acoustic guitar, accordion, some percussion], Drew Grow [vocals, acoustic guitar], Patrick Tetreault [fiddle, mandolin, harmonica, other assorted instruments, vocals], Andy Uppendahl [drums], and Kris Doty [upright bass].

Beautiful House Events:

None - although we have played their music - melancholy, soul-searching lyrics, fully acoustic instrumentation with lots of fiddle, mandolin - during various intermissions.

Upcoming & Recent Gigs:

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News & Reviews:

"...while they played almost exclusively old 5OP songs, they did do an as yet unrecorded Careen song and a Sundowner song, Stars. Perhaps the most remarkable thing about this particular show was that, apparently as a pre-emptive strike, they actually played Frank even before anyone could request it! Yes, it's true... they actually did play it. Not only that, but a few tunes later did Good Enough. So with that groundwork laid, it was only logical to request Big Fat Horse, which of course a couple of people did, and they told us not to push our luck. But at this rate, it won't surprise me if they did do that one before long..."

"The other remarkable thing about this show was the fact that Alex and Pat took turns playing the drums! For not being dedicated drummers, they actually sounded very good!"

"All in all it was a very nice show; very nice to hear the old 5OP songs, very nice to hear Alex playing again, and very nice to think that 5OP might actually pull off another record yet...although I'm still not holding my breath." - Roger Pen

Beautiful House has made several attempts to contact Five O'Clock People. On April 30, 2002, Alex Walker of the band emailed us saying, "Some of our fans gave me the link to your website and said you were trying to contact the band. We dismantled our site but you can contact us at rushhour@hotmail.com."

Contrary to the information posted on "Any Little Everything", a Five O'Clock People fan site, stating that the band had broken up, Peter Riley Osborne of Careen.net [peter@groik.com] emailed us November 9, 2002 stating that Five O'Clock People "are still practicing". He writes, "They are definitely taking a lot more time, but they are still alive and well."

* Careen is Drew Grow's new band.

Five O'Clock PeopleCD Releases:

In The Bleak Midwinter (2001)
Label: Independent

  01. In The Bleak Midwinter
  02. No
  03. Blame
  04. This Day
  05. Winterlude
  06. Same Old Line
  07. Lightening Rod
  08. Rant
  09. Sorry
  10. So Far Gone
  11. Glass

The Nothing Venture (1999)

  01. Lunar
  02. Sorry
  03. Blame
  04. So Far Gone
  Interlude
  05. Glass
  06. Now I Sing
  07. Remain
  08. Same Old Line
  09. This Day
  10. Living Water
  11. Fall Silent
  Postlude

Tripping The Spindley Distractive
Fall (EP)
Blame Taker (EP)
Five O'Clock People

Copies of "Fall", "Tripping" and "Bleak Midwinter" may now be ordered by sending a check or money order for USD $17, made out to "Five O'clock People" to:

Five O'clock People
3419 Burlington Dr
Newberg, OR 97132

Make sure to mention what CD(s) you're ordering and the address to send them to. Do NOT send correspondence to this address. We'll let you know if we can get some in stock and sell them in Canadian dollars.