UPCOMING:
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Randall Payton writes, records, and performs as Chez Stadium. Whether as a solo artist or fronting a group of seasoned heavy hitters from the Portland music scene (Pete Lampe, Mark Wills, Grant Cumpston). While his infectious, lyric-driven songs are challenging to label (rock? pop? alt-folk?), Chez Stadium's work has been likened to artists as diverse as Warren Zevon, Elvis Costello, and Richard Thompson. Onstage, his band weaves like a modern mashup of Crowded House, Squeeze, and Crazy Horse.
Payton and his previous bands have shared stages with luminary acts such as Centro-matic, Quasi, Clem Snide, Hazel, The Long Winters, and actor/director John Cameron Mitchell.
"...From weathered Westerbergian ballads to dark Dylanic meanderings, from caustic Costellovian canticles to piquant Pollardesque pummelings."
DISCOGRAPHY
Stream, download, or purchase CDs at Bandcamp.
Chez Stadium has released four collections: Rusty, Further Ado, Freshman Slump, and the digital exclusive, Lull, Volume One. In 2024, the band's take on "Stayed Up Late" was included on the 20-track Hope of the Hour - A Tribute to Portland's Dharma Bums, also available on Bandcamp.
UPCOMING SHOWS AND NEWS
May 2 - Randall Payton opens for Desert Shame at Haymaker
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HISTORY
After working together in earlier projects, Randall Payton and bassist Pete Lampe formed Chez Stadium in 1999. In 2002, the duo began work in the home studio of 44 Long's Brian Berg on the full-length debut, Freshman Slump. After a year of promoting the album's 2003 release, they ceased performing. Payton continued to write, perform, and sporadically record as Chez Stadium, releasing the Further Ado collection in 2015.
In 2017, casual recording began at drummer Mark Wills' studio, prompting the recruitment of guitarist Grant Cumpston for a run of live shows. Pete Lampe rejoined in 2019 to continue sessions for the Rusty EP, released in October of that year. In 2020, Payton quietly released a collection of reimagined instrumentals: Lull, Volume One.
In March 2024, Hope of The Hour - A Tribute to Portland's Dharma Bums was released, including Chez Stadium's cover of "Stayed Up Late" (featuring Grant Cumpston on lead vocals).
PAST SHOWS
2025
May 2 - Randall Payton opens for members of Desert Shame at Haymaker
2024
Jan 12 - Chez Stadium with Daystar at White Eagle Saloon for 20th anniversary of Freshman Slump release
Jun 22 - Randall Payton with Steve Wilkinson and Grant Cumpston at Havalina
Aug 17 - Randall Payton and Pete Lampe: house show with Graham Lampe and Soultides at Pete's Upright Bass Shop
Nov 20 - Randall Payton with Steve Wilkinson and Grant Cumpston at Al's Den
2023
Jan 26 - Randall Payton with Steve Wilkinson and Grant Cumpston at Al's Den
May 18 - Randall Payton with J. Moses at Mississippi Pizza
Jun 8 - Randall Payton with Arthur C. Lee at Mississippi Pizza
2020
Jan 30 - Chez Stadium with The Misbehavors and Scott Jeffries at White Eagle Saloon
Feb 15 - Chez Stadium with Gin & Tillyanna at Slim's PDX
2019
Mar 9 - Chez Stadium with The Low Bones and The Lonesomes at White Eagle Saloon
Jun 3 - Randall Payton, Jason Morgan, and These Fine Moments at Turn! Turn! Turn!
Oct 12 - Chez Stadium album release for Rusty at Mississippi Pizza
2018
Jan 9 - CS residency at Alberta Street Public House
Feb 13 - CS residency at Alberta Street Public House
Mar 13 - CS residency at Alberta Street Public House
Mar 17 - Randall Payton solo at Jade Lounge
Mar 31 - CS residency at Alberta Street Public House
Apr 1 - Randall Payton, Jason Morgan, Nick Foltz: Songwriter Smackdown at The Waypost
Apr 7 - Randall Payton and Jason Morgan perform songs of 44 Long: Portland by Portland at Laurelthirst Public House
Apr 10 - CS residency at Alberta Street Public House
May 8 - CS residency at Alberta Street Public House
Dec 16 - Chez Stadium with JoeG, Aaron Smith & Anthony Garrard, Dan Lurie & Vanessa Rehder, and Todd Bayles at Mississippi Pizza Pub
2017
Dec 8 - CS with Arthur C. Lee and Small Souls at Laurelthirst Public House