.
Archetypes
& Attitude
Decemberists,
Stars light up the night.
By
Vanessa Salvia
 |
| The
Decemberists play WOW Hall on Monday. |
Castaways and Cutouts, the Decemberists'
debut CD, aptly describes the characters that populate the world of
songwriter Colin Meloy. I learned more about one of Portland's hottest
up and coming bands after speaking recently with vocalist, guitarist
and percussionist Meloy, who moved to Portland from Montana in 1999.
Meloy "started playing around town, mostly playing solo
and meeting people in the music community" and "cobbled" together the
Decemberists from those networks in fall of 2000. The band, featuring
former Eugene resident and guitarist Chris Funk, percussionist Rachel
Blumberg (who currently plays in Norfolk & Western and formerly
played in punk band Sissyface) and Jenny Conlee on piano, organ and
accordion, debuted with Castaways on Hush Records, then switched
to Kill Rock Stars to record their follow up, Her Majesty the Decemberists.
Kill Rock Stars has re-released Castaways, which
features percussion and singing from former Eugene musician Ezra Holbrook
and bass by Nate Query. Majesty's bassist Jesse Emerson left the band
shortly after completing recording and Query rejoined the band. Every
one of Meloy's songs create a setting and mood, giving life to pirates,
infant ghosts, deceased brides, chimney sweeps and other ragamuffin
outcasts, along with creating full-bodied indie pop and folk akin to
a sanctified marriage between The Mountain Goats and Robyn Hitchcock.
Meloy says, "I was a short-story writer in college with
designs to continue doing that after college and I sort of fell into
this music thing. I don't know where I get the information. Some of
them are archetypes, figures from fairy tales that have been in and
out of narratives and novels from centuries past. I'm playing with them."
Meloy says he typically writes the lyrics and a musical
skeleton, then the band collectively fleshes it out, with no set method
to the inspired madness. Meloy was tapped by a fan of the Decemberists,
who happens to be an editor, to pen a 100-page book about the Replacement's
seminal album Let It Be. The book is for Continuum Publishing's
series entitled 33 1/3, "a series of short books about specific records
written by mostly rock critics, musicians, academics and other folks
writing about their favorite records," he says.
Being a short-story writer, Meloy feels "challenged"
by the task of writing 100 pages about one record and finds the medium
"not quite to my liking, given my current song-writing trends."
No changes are in store for the Decemberists' line-up:
"I think the current line-up is what it's going to be for a while. Everybody
seems to be really happy and we're being productive and touring more
and more. Things are going really well," says Meloy.
There are plans for an E.P. to be released in February
on Spanish label Acuarela, which approached the band last Spring about
an exclusive recording.
"We're doing a European tour in May and then we'll probably
hunker down in mid-summer and start recording again," says Meloy. We
look forward to more from this talented band, who will be performing
Jan 19th at WOW Hall along with Corinna Repp
and locals Mine Thirtyseven.
Another exciting Portland band, Stars
of Track and Field, will appear the next night
at John Henry's. This four-piece bursts at the seams with edgy guitars,
indie rock attitude and catchy pop hooks. Singer Kevin Calaba, guitarist
Jason Bell, bassist Moxley Stratton and drummer Daniel Orvik are touring
behind their self-titled, self-released debut recording and are embarking
on their first West Coast tour.
Together they produce well-crafted songs that contain
a sense of the dramatic in the vein of Built to Spill and sweetness
akin to retro-popsters the Long Winters.
Eugene songwriter Ed Cole will debut songs from
his newest release, Forgotten Hits, at a Jan. 16th Sam Bond's
show with The Shudders. Cole recorded these songs between 1999
and 2003 and says they are "much more hard-rocking" than his past release,
Rainy Day Manifesto. Cole's band backs him up on only one cut.
He has plans to begin recording this year on a full length CD for Leisure
King.
AX BILLY GRILL & SPORTS BAR
999 WILLAMETTE ST. 484-4011
SA: Carl Woideck--8
BEANERY All Ages
152 W. 5TH AVE. 342-3378
TH: Richie G and Michael Kevin Daly--7
BLACK FOREST
50 E. 11TH ST. 686-6619
FR: Nero--9:30; Rock
SA: Big B & The Goods--9:30;
Techno
SU: Open mic with Pete Christie--9:30
MO:: DJ Jared—9:30; Karaoke
TU:: Wade Zev—9:30; Acoustic
WE:: T-Bone & August--9:30; Rock
CAFE PARADISO
115 W. BROADWAY 484-9933
TH: Charles Parker & Christiane DeOliveira--9;
Cantos de Noite
FR: Marcus Eaton & The Lobby--7 (all
ages) and 9:30 (21+); Eclectic acid jazz, world rhythms, rock, funk
SA: Chris Smither--8; Eclectic blues, folk
TU:: Acoustic Music Open Mic--7:30 (all ages)
and 9 (21+)
WE:: Four Shillings Short--8; Folk
CHAPALA RESTAURANT
68 W. 29TH AVE. 683-5458
SA: Lo Nuestro—6; Latin
WE: Lo Nuestro—6; Latin
COFFEE GROVE COOPERATIVE
510 E. MAIN ST., COTTAGE GR. 942-8847
FR: Ron O'Keefe & Friends--8; Americana
SA: White Mountain--8; Jazzy blues, ballads
THE COOLER
20 CENTENNIAL LOOP
TH: Rock and Blues Show w/Mofessor, Dr. Bundy's
Soul Revue--8:30
 |
| SIOBHAN
PLAYS COZMIC PIZZA MONDAY. |
COZMIC PIZZA@THE STRAND All
Ages
8TH AVE. AND CHARLENTON ST. 338-9333
TH: Willamette Jazz Society Jam--8
FR: Over The Counter
Jug Band--8; Bluegrass
SA: Jose Cruz Salsa Dance Party--8; Latin, salsa
MO: Cozmic Family Film Club--6; Siobhan--8:30;
Acoustic singer/songwriter
TU: Salsa Dance w/free lessons—8
WE: Open Mic Poetry—7; Mind Set Hip Hop—8
DIABLO'S
959 PEARL ST. 683-3855
TH: Thirsty Thursday w/Supa J and Guests--10;
Requests
FR: Big Beats w/Supa J, Dinari—10; hip hop,
R&B
SA: House Night w/DJs
Howie, Anmar--9; House, hip hop
WE: Cheapskate Wednesday w/ DJs Scoobie, Gen.Eric--10;
House, hip hop, dance
DOWNTOWN LOUNGE
959 PEARL ST. 343-2346
TH: Devil Bros—9; spin R&B, funk
FR: Cap Gun Suicide,
Third--9; Punk rock
SA: House Party--10; Hip hop, live MCs
SU: Service Industry Night--10
MO: Monster Truck Monday w/DJs Diablo, Mayhem
--9; 80s Punk, butt rock, spin
TU: Stone Cold Jazz w/Kenny Reed--9
WE: Resident DJs spin requests--9
EMBERS SUPPER CLUB
1811 HWY. 99 N. 688-6564
TH: Billy McCoy—9; Country
FR: Michael Anderson Trio—9; Variety, country
SA: Michael Anderson Trio—9; Variety, country
WE: Billy McCoy—9; Country
GOOD TIMES
375 E. 7TH AVE. 484-7181
TU: Rooster's Blues Jam--8
INDIGO DISTRICT
13TH AVENUE & OAK STREET. 434-6553
WE: Lick--9; Glam rock, electro, dance
JAKE'S PLACE
605 W. 19TH AVE. 431-0513
SU: Norman Mesman--10 am; Classical flamenco
JO FEDERIGO'S
259 E. 5TH AVE. 343-8488
TH: Jo Fed's Jazz Jam Session--9
FR: Christiana DeOliveira--9:30
SA: Adam Comer Quartet--9:30
SU: Mark Allan--9
MO: Open Mic--6, Skip Jones Hammond Organ Trio--9:30
TU: Barbara Dzuro--8:30; Jazz piano
WE: Gus Russel & Lin Berg Duo--9
JOGGER'S BAR & GRILL
710 WILLAMETTE ST. 343-0224
TH:Karaoke w/DJ Bond--10
FR: Karaoke w/DJ Bond--10
TU: Karaoke w/DJ Bond--10
WE: Karaoke w/DJ Bond--10
JOHN HENRY'S
77 W. BROADWAY 342-3358
TH: 80s Night w/Chris, Jenn and John--10
FR: Sex Workers' Art Show--10; Variety
SA: DJ Tekneek and DJ Kal El--10;
Hip hop, dance hall, funk
SU: Broadway Revue--10; Burlesque, magic, music
MO: The Empty, Grand Champeen—10
TU: Tea for Julie, (the Concubot), Stars
of Track and Field--10
WE: Reggae vs. Hip Hop: DJ Kal El vs.
DJ Tekneek--10
KELYNSKI'S SPORTS PUB
1712 IVY ST., JUNCTION CITY 998-5688
FR: Karaoke w/Clydester--7
SA: Karaoke w/Clydester--7
SU: Karaoke w/Clydester--5
WE: Open Mic--6 pm
LAVELLE'S WINE BAR & BISTRO
5TH ST. PUBLIC MARKET 338-9875
FR: Gus Russell--5; Jazz
SA: Gus Russell--5; Jazz
LEGEND'S GRILL & STADIUM CLUB
44 E. 7TH AVE. 683-5160
WE: Open Mic w/Wade Zev--9
LONE STAR BAR AND GRILL
I-5 AT COBURG 686-8686
TH: Girls get wild--9; DJ dancing
FR: Guys get wild--9; DJ dancing
SA: Karaoke--9
TU: Open mic--9
WE: Coyote Ugly--8
LOS GROUCHOS
100 E. BROADWAY 484-1747
TH: Hip hop, R&B, Old-school--9, Bobby Six
Crows Jam w/the Riggin' Warriors--9:30
FR: Ladies Night, Lo Nuestro--9; Live salsa
SA: Salsa w/DJ Son Del Barrio, Salsa Cumbia
Merengue--10
MO: Karaoke—8
TU: New Rock—9
WE: Classic Rock--9
LUCKEY'S CLUB CIGAR
933 OLIVE ST. 687-4643
TH: Savitri, Means of Ignition--10; Jammy jazz,
Pop
FR: The Sidewinder Quartet--10; Jazzy funk
SA: The Visible Men, Yeltsin, The Purrs--10; Cerebral
indie, rock
TU: Jazz Night--10
WE: 11 Eyes--10
 |
| GRASSHOPPER
PLAYS LUNA THURSDAY. |
LUNA
30 E. BROADWAY 434-5862
TH: Grasshopper--8; Roots rock
FR: Erik Muiderman--6:30; Singer/songwriter, Bill
Horvitz Band--9; Eclectic new American jazz
SA: Erik Muiderman--6:30; Singer/songwriter, St.
James, Woods Nonet--9; Jazz
MAC'S AT THE VET'S CLUB
1626 WILLAMETTE ST. 344-8600
TH: Christie & McCallum--9; Honky tonk,
rock
FR: Juke Joint Blues w/The Cheeseburgers--9:30
SA: The Dead Americans--9; Punk
WE: Open Mic w/Pete Christie--9
THE O BAR
1 COMMONS WAY 349-0707
TU: Karaoke w/Jared--9
OREGON ELECTRIC STATION
27 E. 5TH 485-4444
FR: Gleason-Schneider Trio--8; Jazz
SA: Gleason-Schneider Trio--8; Jazz
PERUGINO
767 WILLAMETTE ST. 687-9102
WE: Irish Jam--7; Celtic
PLANET GOLOKA All Ages
679 LINCOLN ST. 465-4555
TH: Spiritual film--6:30
FR: Blue Road Band--7
SA: Hare Krishna Chanting and Dinner--6:30; Ritual
MO: Original Songs Open Mic--6:30
TU: Poetry Night--6:30
WE: Kava Circle--6:30; Ritual
PRIME TIME SPORTS BAR
1360 MOHAWK RD. 746-0549
SU: Karaoke w/Donny--9
QUACKER'S
2105 W. 7TH 485-5925
SA: Reflex Blue--9; Rockin' blues
MO: Karaoke--9; Variety
WE: Quacker's Blues Bash—8:30; Blues jam
 |
| SCRAMBLED
APE PLAYS SAM BOND'S MONDAY. |
SAM BOND'S GARAGE
407 BLAIR 431-6603
TH: Hot Buttered Rum String Band--9; Acoustic
FR: The Shudders, Ed Cole, Easterly--9; Rock
SA: High on the Hog, Cascade Colonels--9:30; Old-time,
bluegrass
SU: Flowmotion--9; Rock
MO: Scrambled Ape--9; Ottoman Jazz
TU: Bluegrass Jam--9
WE: Panhandle Crabgrass Revival Band--9; Alaskan
bluegrass
SAMURAI DUCK
980 OAK ST. 345-6577
TH: Bad Machine, Hollowman--9:30; Hard rock
FR: The Sawyer Family, Station Wag--9:30; Rockabilly,
glammy fuzz
SA: Dan Jones & The Squids, The For Reals,
Kieskagata, Deke Falcon--9:30 Edgy indie rock
SU: Freestyle Hip Hop--9:30
TU: Grand Champeen--9:30; Angsty pop-rock
SWEETWATER'S
VALLEY RIVER INN 687-0123
FR: Ellen Whyte Band--9 and 10:45; Blues diva
SA: Brian Chevalier and his Electric Blues Band--8;
Chicago-style blues, swing
SU: David Rogers--9:30 am; World classical guitar
TAP 'N' KEG
1704 MAIN ST., COTTAGE GROVE 942-8713
TH: DJ Rick--9:30
FR: DJ Rick--9:30
SA: DJ Rick--9:30
WE: DJ Rick--9
TINY TAVERN
394 BLAIR BLVD. 687-8383
FR: The U-Gene Band--9:30; Folk, rock, soul
TSUNAMI BOOKS All Ages
2585 WILLAMETTE 345-8986
SA: Good 'N' Country, The Vanilla Boys--8; Bluegrass
WETLANDS
922 GARFIELD ST. 345-3606
SA: Toad in the Hole, The Whopner County Country
All-Stars--10; Irish drinking music, classic country
 |
| THE
KLEZMATICS PLAY WOW HALL TUESDAY. |
WOW HALL All Ages
291 W. 8TH AVE. 687-2746
FR: "Truck Stop Still Lifes" w/Casiotone
for the Painfully Alone--8:30; Multi-media
SA: Club Groove--9; Hip hop DJ dance
MO: The Decemberists, Corrina Repp, Mine Thirty-Seven--8:30;
Rock
TU: The Klezmatics--8:30; Klezmer
WE: Lawrence Arms, 2 Bucks Short, The Ghost, Cap
Gun Suicide--8:30; Punk rock
YUKON JACK'S
4TH AND W. BRDWY., VENETA 935-1921
FR: Go 211--9; Rock
SA: Go 211--9; Rock
CORVALLIS
AJ'S
137 SW 2ND. 752-7570
FR: The Nettles Trio--9:30; Celtic world beat
MURPHEY'S
3740 SE 3RD ST. 758-9000
SU: Nairobi Bois--6; Jazz
|
