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Kickin'
It K Records artist Mirah returns to WOW Hall on May 12, this time with supporting artists Tara Jane O'Neil and Liarbird. Mirah Yom Tov Zeitlyn (Mirah rhymes with the former Italian currency, lira, and her middle name means "good day" or "holy day" in Hebrew) grew up in suburban Philadelphia, but moved to the green shade of Olympia, Wash., to attend Evergreen State College in her late teens. After graduating, Mirah stayed on in Olympia, taught herself to play guitar and compose, and released her first album, Storageland, on YoYo Recordings in 1997. K snapped her up in 1999, a move that allowed her more creative freedom in experimenting with recording and producing. She has since released three records for K: You Think It's Like This But Really It's Like This, Advisory Committee, and her latest, C'mon Miracle. Mirah's trademark lo-fi indie pop has only strengthened with time. C'mon Miracle opens with "Nobody Has To Stay," showcasing her fresh, girlish voice, plucking guitar and beautiful cello. She brings in drums and a rock vibe for the next track, "Jerusalem." "The Light" throbs over a scratchy, electronic landscape. Mirah's songwriting defies categorization and zips between ghostly confessional, experimental digital rock, or guitar-driven pop. Fans of Mirah will love it, and for new listeners, it's a great place to start enjoying her unique sound. Tara Jane O'Neil began her musical life as a solo performer in Louisville in the early '90s, then played bass and sang in Rodan and Drinking Woman (before age 21!). She migrated to New York City, played with Retsin and the Sonora Pine, who broke up after recording their third album. The split freed O'Neil to become a solo performer once more. Liarbird's music is soft, poetic and contemplative. The upright bass, violin, two guitars, percussion and vocalists merge into one entity. Local hip-hop artist Michael Kay, who once went by the moniker Scoob from BMF, is an influential man among his northwest contemporaries. His documentary, Mastermind of His Time, follows Kay and his hip-hop journey from his childhood days into manhood and projects into Kay's future and the future of hip-hop. The documentary will be shown at the Bijou on Saturday, May 8. It's loaded with interviews, live stage performances, free-styling and dancing. Kay has proved to his fans and to the world that you don't have to be a gangster to be real and keep it true to the streets. His philosophy is you can have it all; you can be wise and spiritual and know God without being owned by religion; a man can have a family and freedom; and life has a balance. His lyrics reflect homage to his homies, odes to hip-hoppers who came before him, the reality of the current "crazy generation" of thugs and drugs, and, of course, the heavy reality of living in a country at war with a faceless, formless enemy. Kay's film is not rated, but has no profanity and is suitable for most ages. The show is being promoted by Eugene-based Northwest Beat, whose stated "soul" purpose is to aid in the growth and development of a flourishing urban music and entertainment industry in the Pacific Northwest.
My first experience with Jucifer live on stage left me slack-jawed for days, body tingling, $10 less in my wallet but with an incredible EP (Lambs) that proved to all my friends who hadn't been to the show that I had witnessed the heaviest band ever, Melvins and Godheadsilo included. There is no more lovely trickster goddess in all of rock and roll than Jucifer's 5' 4", vintage clothes-wearing guitarist Amber Valentine. This small package can dupe even the most astute listener — there is no bass in the band's line-up. All the floor-rattling, chest-crushing noise Jucifer creates emanates solely from Valentine's guitar and her partner Ed Livengood's drums. The pair exists in the realm of bone-crushing volume where the music becomes psychedelic by sheer force. In fact, Valentine has stated in past interviews that it was this body high that got her and Livengood hooked on playing with stacks and stacks of bass and guitar amplifiers in the first place. The band's stadium set-up, which she and Livengood tote around by themselves every night, ensures that her guitar throttles everyone within a square mile. The bass-loving two hail from Athens, Ga., talk with a gentle Southern accent and live in an RV with two dogs. Jucifer's recently released War Bird is the most expansive effort yet, though limited by its short length. Valentine, who once split her vocals between angelic whispers and devilish, gutteral utterances, actually sings throughout most of War Bird, even plucking a banjo at one point and crooning like Loretta Lynn. Jucifer appears at Indigo District on Friday. John Henry's will host another powerful night of rock on May 11 when the Hangmen return to the stage. The L.A.-based band has been doing cowpunk for more than a decade. The L.A. Times describes the latest CD, Loteria as "bluesy, punk-flavored, slide guitar-drenched tales of street level love and woe." Or, imagine the Supersuckers getting high with Neal Young, while X and the Rolling Stones rolled their splifs in the back room. There's no studio flash on Loteria, it just kicks in with solid energy on the first track and doesn't let up. Original Hangman Bryan Small (vocals/ guitar) is joined on stage and on the CD with his new bandmates Todd Haney (drums), Angelique Congleton (bass/vocals), and Rane Raitsikka (guitar).
Modest Mouse, Good News for People Who Love Bad News, EPIC RECORDS 2004. By Amy McCullough
Good News for People Who Love Bad News, the latest from Northwest natives Modest Mouse, may throw fans for a loop. While the opening track, "The World at Large," eases listeners in with a feeling of familiarity, it comes only after a jolting horn blast and singer Isaac Brock's menacing laugh, hinting that he knows something you don't. The anthemic, "Float On," reinforces that idea by delivering exactly what you don't expect from Modest Mouse, the surprisingly positive idea that everything just might turn out alright. The heavy keyboards and new-wavy feel of the irresistibly catchy, "The View," delivers a sound reminiscent of the Clash and Talking Heads, which may coax skeptics into liking what they hear. Sleeper hits later in the album such as the melodic, piano speckled, "Blame it on the Tetons," blasphemous "Devils Workday," and lyrically clever "Black Cadillacs," will keep listeners interested even after a disturbing, horn-rattled peek into Brock's neuroses. The knowing chuckle (again) at the onset of "Bukowski," however, makes you wonder just how much fun he's having messing with our heads. Too interesting to ignore, Good News deserves a listen, and the last laugh.
Gavin DeGraw, Chariot, J RECORDS 2003. By Scott Lansing
Released in June of 2003, Gavin DeGraw's soul-filled debut album, Chariot, conveys the poetic wisdom of a village elder. With a voice exuding charisma that makes you drop everything and focus your complete attention on your stereo, 26-year-old DeGraw has everything it takes to succeed in today's music scene. The self-proclaiming lyrics of "I Don't Want to Be" unleash a refreshing punch in the face, telling you to wake up and smell your own independence. DeGraw's passionate interpretations of love and life are well-executed through his piano playing and guitar strumming. His raw, emotive lyrics top everything off. The release of Chariot is one of the best things to happen to music within the last year and the future of Gavin DeGraw looks luminescent. A true bard is among us.
DJ Layla, Eastern Eyes, 2004. By Jon Young A Eugene electronic DJ working her ethnic-infused Techno since December of 2000, DJ Layla's Eastern Eyes fuses technologically enhanced beats and samples with tribal drums and a throbbing bass to move you like the spirit of the gods ... Layered with and entwined by Middle Eastern and Indian songs, chants, and instruments, the sound is spiritual, exotic and reaches far to create a soundscape fully capable of moving bodies on any dance floor. An aural journey, the electronic, ethnic blend of Eastern Eyes spans cultures and technological advancements, displaying electronic music's infinite layers, borderless freedom and progressive maturity. This is "ethno-techno" for the spiritually inclined, open-minded listener. With such artists as DJ Cheb I Sabbah and song titles such as "Arabian Fever," "Mother India," and "Radhe Krishna," Eastern Eyes pulsates with unique sonic flavors, adding some Eastern spice to your mind, body and soul. Neglect to experience DJ Layla's delectable spread of fresh sounds served on Eastern Eyes, or during her local, live sets, and you may experience some bad karma ...
N.E.R.D., Fly or Die, VIRGIN RECORDS 2004. By Katie Matthews
N.E.R.D. (No One Ever Really Dies) is actually the production team of The Neptunes creating their own music. Blurring the lines between what's considered rock, hip hop and every other style of music, the duo strives to break from the hip hop mold that brought them their initial notoriety. Fly or Die utilizes brilliant production tricks that hip hop fans cling to, while maintaining the unique hodgepodge of genres introduced on their first album, In Search Of … . A bizarre lyricist, front man Pharell Williams will one moment sing of a love lost, and the next, of how ". . . her ass is a spaceship I want to ride." With an aggressive beat and shameless lyrics, "Thrasher" easily earns the album's catchiest song award. Taking second is "She Wants to Move," the anthem of inhibited girlfriends, and also N.E.R.D.'s first single. If the only thing you've heard about N.E.R.D. is how they produced a Nelly tune called, "Hot in Herre," then don't buy this album. However, if you're able to appreciate a surprising mixture of sounds and styles, then by all means familiarize yourself with N.E.R.D. and their underrated work.
BEANERY BLACK FOREST CAFE PARADISO CLUB ROCK COFFEE GROVE COOPERATIVE
COZMIC PIZZA@THE STRAND All
Ages DIABLO'S THE DIVE BAR & GRILL DOWNTOWN LOUNGE EARLY RISE CAFE EMBERS SUPPER CLUB GOOD TIMES JIMMY MAC'S OVERTIME GRILL JOE'S BAR & GRILLE JO FEDERIGO'S JOGGER'S BAR & GRILL JOHN HENRY'S JUANITA'S HIDEAWAY
THE JUNGLE KELYNSKI'S SPORTS PUB LAVELLE'S WINE BAR & BISTRO LONE STAR BAR AND GRILL LUCKEY'S CLUB CIGAR LUNA MAC'S AT THE VET'S CLUB MCDONALD THEATRE MULLIGAN'S PUB THE O BAR OREGON ELECTRIC STATION PEABODY'S PERUGINO PLANET GOLOKA QUACKER'S RAMADA INN SAM BOND'S GARAGE SAMURAI DUCK
SPIRITS STACY'S COVERED BRIDGE SWEETWATER'S TAP 'N' KEG TINY TAVERN WOODSMAN GRILL WETLANDS
WOW HALL All Ages YUKON JACK'S
CORVALLIS BEANERY FOX 'N' FIRKIN MURPHY'S PLATINUM
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