Embrace
the Rhythm
The
Jungle jams with Ozomatli; Vienna Teng returns.
BY
VANESSA SALVIA
 |
| Ozomatli
plays The Jungle Tuesday. |
There won't be any better way to get over the mid-week
slump this week than to head over to The Jungle Tuesday, May 18 for
Ozomatli. Some of the players in this amazing 10-piece band met
each other on the scene of month-long protests against working conditions
in Los Angeles in 1995. They amassed other musicians, played their first
gig one month later, and woke people up to the idea that love could
turn their city away from the self-destructive path of violence.
Ozomatli members' ethnic make-up is as diverse as the
city they live in, and their Grammy-award winning sound is an energetic
and energizing blend of hip-hop, ska, reggae, salsa, funk and jazz.
The band sings in Spanish, raps in English and addresses political,
social and cultural issues in a way that helps everyone feel they can
make a positive change.
Ozomatli originally set out to play only political benefits,
but word on the streets quickly spread and the band burst from its California
confines and took the nation by storm, debuting in 1998 with Almo
Sounds, a captivating CD that challenged everyone to stop accepting
language as a barrier, find the love in life and unite on the dance
floor. Embrace the Chaos followed in 2001.
There's something for everyone to love in Ozomatli's
music; low-rider funk, beats, raps and turntablism for the hip-hoppers,
and hard-hitting horn punctuations for the jazz fiend. There are Latin
dance grooves and a permeating sense of good vibes. The band is set
to release the first studio album in three years, Street Signs,
June 22 on Concord Records. Ozomatli is an Aztec word for "God of Dance,"
and dance you will, my friends, guaranteed.
Cozmic Pizza hosts Setting Sun on the 16th. The
band is the brainchild of Queens, NY native Gary Levitt, who migrated
to San Francisco.
Setting Sun's first recording, Holed Up, was
made after Levitt hid himself away for three months with nothing but
microphones and simple recording equipment. With help from his friend,
Eric Layer, as well as a rotating cast of musicians, Setting Sun's second
full length, Math and Magic, was born. The title refers to the
alchemy of songwriting, the "logic and mystery" that goes into the making
of a record.
Levitt crafts songs with an intimate lyrical style but
expansive music, embracing driving beats, soothing instrumental interludes
and aggressive rhythms. The overall rock feel is softened by catchy
melodies throughout and a pensive, somber lyrical view of life resembling
Elliott Smith.
Levitt was a member of New York indie band The Kung-Fu
Grip, who toured the country and then broke up. While in S.F., Levitt
formed Heavy Pebble, who also broke up after just starting to establish
themselves.
Levitt became disillusioned with band relationships
and decided that Setting Sun would be solely his project, with a revolving
cast of musicians. He now calls Los Angeles home.
Also on Sunday at John Henry's, Fields of Gaffney
takes the stage, featuring Eric "I Was A Founding Member of Sebadoh"
Gaffney on guitar and lead vocals, Jessica Cowley of Pillows and Run
For Cover Lovers on bass and vocals, and drums by former Alice Donut's
guitarist Richard Marshall.
The band began in Massachusetts in summer of 1998 then
reformed in San Francisco in 2002 with this line-up. The new release,
Nature Walk, showcases 12 original songs and five interesting
covers.
Gaffney was loveable in Sebadoh because he actually
wrote good, quirky, slacker-cool songs. He's a talented songwriter and
Gaffney-penned "Broke Up" is a song you wish Sebadoh had recorded. It's
not surprising that the originals are the best on this release, but
the covers deserve listening time: among them The Troggs "Push It Up
To Me," Devo's "Gates of Steel," Daniel Johnston's "I Did Acid With
Caroline." Nature Walk feels like music for a mood swing; it's
quiet and easy, loose and rocking, distorted and psychedelic. Should
be a great show.
Vienna Teng returns to Eugene on the 19th, once
again at Café Paradiso. The one-time Silicon Valley software engineer
turned touring musician has released a new CD, Warm Strangers,
on Virt Records. Teng has embarked on a nationwide tour to support it,
moving away from strictly solo performances and playing some shows as
a trio, with accompaniment by cello and violin.
As soon as the opening track, "Feather Moon," begins,
there's a feeling of contentment and familiarity. Teng croons, "breath
in breath out, exhale and inhale" and it's immediately calming. She
sails into "Harbor," and you feel you're listening in on a private conversation.
A classically trained pianist since age 5, Teng left
her high-pressure job as a code writer to pursue her dreams of being
a musician. She promoted herself, aided by word-of mouth from gigs she
played during her college years at Stanford. She appeared on the "Late
Show with David Letterman" six months after leaving San Francisco.
One listen to Teng and it's clear she's not ordinary.
The 11 songs on Warm Strangers are lush and melodic and show
her growth as a songwriter. Her debut, Waking Hour, which was
written during her high school and college years, was mostly autobiographical,
while Strangers finds her more as a short-story fiction writer.
She is able to find humanity in the people whose lives we touch unknowingly
every day, those strangers we never talk to, particularly on the haunting
"Passage," in which Teng vocalizes the thoughts of a car-crash victim.
"The Atheist Christmas Carol" features minimal percussion,
cello and piano. Teng's beautiful, crystal-clear voice projects her
vision of hope and salvation as she sings "it's the season of scars
and of wounds in the heart/of feeling the full weight of our burdens/it's
the season of bowing our heads in the wind/and knowing we are not alone
in fear/not alone in the dark."
AX BILLY GRILL & SPORTS BAR
999 WILLAMETTE ST. 484-4011
SA: Mike Denny--8; Jazz
BEANERY
5TH ST. 344-0221
FR: Melissa Warner, Stacey Board--7; Singer/songwriters
SA: Wade Zev--7; Live and loopy
BLACK FOREST
50 E. 11TH ST. 686-6619
TH: High on Peeps, Moscow Inn--9:30; Galactic
pop
FR: Johnson Unit, Wet t-shirt contest--9:30; Rock
SA: Station Wag, Under the Stairs, On the First
Day They Were Kittens--9:30; Rock
SU: The Hinges--9:30
MO: Karaoke w/ DJ Jared--9:30
TU: Comedy w/Arlo Stone--9:30
WE: Outspent, Reclusum--9:30; Rock
CAFE PARADISO
115 W. BROADWAY 484-9933
TH: Adrian Legg--8; Guitar
FR: Brenda Weiler--9
SA: Stephanie Schneiderman--9
MO: Retro Night--8
TU: Acoustic Open Mic--7:30 (all ages)
WE: Vienna Teng--8; Piano
COFFEE GROVE COOPERATIVE
510 E. MAIN ST., COTTAGE GR. 942-8847
FR: Fortune Cookie--8; Folk
SA: Sweet Island Thyme--8; Jam
WE: Cinema for the Mind--7; Film
COZMIC PIZZA@THE STRAND All
Ages
8TH AVE. AND CHARNELTON ST. 338-9333
FR: Trio Slavej--8; Balkan folk
SA: Grasshopper--8; Roots rock
SU: Setting Sun--8:30; Indie rock
MO: Token--8; Fusion
TU: Salsa lessons--7
WE: Paul Kamm, Elanore McDonald--7:30; Singer/songwriter
DIABLO'S
959 PEARL ST. 683-3855
TH: DJ supa J--10; '80s through today
FR: Big Beats with Dinari & Supa J--10; Hip
hop
SA: House Nights with Anmar--10
DOWNTOWN LOUNGE
959 PEARL ST. 343-2346
TH: Devil Brothers--10; DJ R & B, runk
FR: Monkee Torture, The Minds, The Perverts, more--9;
Punk
SA: Cap Gun Suicide, 2 Bucks Short--10; Pop punk
SU: Kung Foo Karaoke w/DJ Jeremy--9
MO: DJ Diablo--10; Metal, punk, butt-rock
TU: Swing dance--7, Kenny Reed and Stone Cold
Jazz--10
WE: Eric and guests--10; Hip hop
DUCK INN
1795 W. 6TH AVE.
TH: Ben Coleman's Karaoke--8
SA: Ben Coleman's Karaoke--8
EARLY RISE CAFE
485 COBURG RD. 868-1261
SA: Open mic--7
 |
| MO'FESSOR
PLAYS FRIDAY AT THE VET'S CLUB AND SATURDAY AT SWEETWATERS. |
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
EUGENE WINE CELLARS
255 MADISON ST. 342-2600
WE: The Tomcats--6
GOOD TIMES
375 E. 7TH AVE. 484-7181
TU: Rooster's Blues Jam--8
JIMMY MAC'S OVERTIME GRILL
770 S. BERTELSEN 342-5028
TH: Westside Blues Jam--8
JOE'S BAR & GRILLE
21 W. 6TH AVE. 338-9000
TH: Grateful Dead Night
MO: Brothers of Beat--8; Soul
TU: DJ Tekneek--9; Hip hop
WE: DJ Tai--9; 80's
JO FEDERIGO'S
259 E. 5TH AVE. 343-8488
TH: Jo Fed's Jazz Jam Session--9
FR: Marc Siegal--9; Jazz
SA: Liesel Alkire--9; Jazz
SU: Mark Alan--9
MO: Funky Monday open mic--7
TU: Barbara Dzuro Jazz Piano--8:30
JOGGER'S BAR & GRILL
710 WILLAMETTE ST. 343-0224
TU-FR: Karaoke w/DJ Bond--10
JOHN HENRY'S
77 W. BROADWAY 342-3358
TH: '80s Night w/Chris, Jen, John--10
FR: Courtesy Clerks, Yeltsin, Mine 37, Rock 'n'
Roll Soldiers--10; KWVA anniversary bash
SA: DJ Tekneek--10; Underground hip hop,
R & B, soul
SU: John Henry's Broadway Revue--10; Burlesque&
variety
MO: DJ River--9; Eclectic
TU: Fields of Gaffney, The Empty, Regards for
Chalk--10
WE: DJ Kal El--10; Dance hall reggae
JUANITA'S HIDEAWAY
6451/2 RIVER ROAD 463-7632
TH: Peter Giri--7:30; Acoustic open mic
THE JUNGLE
23 W. 6TH AVE. 434-1111
SA: Slightly Stoopid, Pepper, Mishka--8
TU: Ozomatli, Go Buddy Go--9
KELYNSKI'S SPORTS PUB
1712 IVY ST., JUNCTION CITY 998-5688
TH-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 Russel--5; Jazz
SA: Gus Russel--5; Jazz
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
WE: Coyote Ugly--8
LUCKEY'S CLUB CIGAR
933 OLIVE ST. 687-4643
TH: Savitri, Waistband--10; Funk, rock
FR: Sunken Grade, Easterly, Silverhawk--9; Rock
SA: Toad in the Hole, The Heather Christe Band--9;
Irish drinking music
TU: Open live hip hop--10
WE: Jim Basnite, Constant Bob--9
LUNA
30 E. BROADWAY 434-5862
FR: Erik Muiderman--7; Singer/songwriter, Walker
T. Ryan and the Delta Mystics--9; Blues, Sinny Sin Sins--12 am; Funky
Latin groove
SA: Erik Muiderman--6; Singer/songwriter Cafe Shelley James Musicbox--8:30;
Power pop, ballads
MAC'S AT THE VET'S CLUB
1626 WILLAMETTE ST. 344-8600
TH: 2 for 5--9; Rock
FR: Mo' Fessor--9; New Orleans funk, boogie
SA: Juke Joint Blue--9; Blues
WE: Christie and McCallum--9; Honky ronk, rock
MAX'S TAVERN
550 E. 13TH ST. 349-8986
SA: Michael Lamson-Hall--9
MCDONALD THEATRE
1010 WILLAMETTE ST.
TH: Dark Star Orchestra--9; Greatful Dead music
THE O BAR
155 COMMONS WAY 349-0707
TH: Thirsty Thursdays: DJ Johnny--9;
Hip hop, dance
OREGON ELECTRIC
STATION
27 E. 5TH 485-4444
FR: Gleason-Schneider Trio—8; Jazz
SA: Gleason-Schneider Trio—8; Jazz
OVERTIME GRILL
770 S. BERTELSEN
342-5028
FR: Cheeseburgers--8; Parrothead music
PEABODY'S
2105 W. 7TH 485-5925
TH: John Fiori, John Crider--8; Vocals, piano
FR: Deco Moon w/Lori Fletcher--9; Jazz
SA: Karaoke w/Ronny Turrell--9
MO: Jam w/Kenny Reed--9
TU: Tim Patrick--8; Guitar, folk, rock, comedy
WE: Showcase w/John Crider--8; Jazz vocals
PERUGINO
767 WILLAMETTE ST. 687-9102
WE: Irish Jam--7; Celtic
PLANET GOLOKA
679 LINCOLN ST. 465-4555
TH: Spiritual film--6:30
FR: Michael Lamson-Hall--7
QUACKER'S
2105 W. 7TH 485-5925
SA: 2nd Annual Eugene Harmonica Blow-Off--9; Harmonica
blues
MO: Karaoke--9; Variety
WE: Blues Jam--8:30
RAMADA INN
225 COBURG 342-5181
FR & SA: Johnny Law and the Rebels--9:15;
Rock
 |
| LUTHER
WRIGHT AND THE WRONGS PLAY WEDNESDAY AT SAM BOND'S GARAGE. |
SAM BOND'S GARAGE
407 BLAIR 431-6603
TH: Jason Webley--6; Kids' performance, Jason
Webley--9; Accordianist
FR: The Clumsy Lovers--9:30; Celtic rock
SA: The Sugar Beets CD release--9:30
SU: Brothers of the Baladi--8; Middle Eastern
dance
MO: Scrambled Ape--9; Jazz
TU: Bluegrass Jam--9
WE: Luther Wright and the Wrongs--9; Alt. country
SAMURAI DUCK
980 OAK ST. 345-6577
TH: Worm Wood, Funktifyno, Bamiki--9; Funk, jam,
reggae
FR: On the First Day ... They Were Kittens, others--9
SA: Servants of the End, Spiderhole, more--9
SU: Cade, F-minus--9; Hip hop
MO: Hawthorne Heights, Better Luck Next Time--10
TU: Second Epic, Peach Cake--10
WE: High Hollies--10
STACY'S COVERED BRIDGE
401 E. MAIN ST., COTTAGE GROVE 767-0320
WE: Open Mic Night w/Ron O'Keefe--8:30
SWEETWATER'S
VALLEY RIVER INN 687-0123
FR: Brian Chevalier--8:30; Electric blues
SA: Mo'Fessor--8:30; R & B
 |
| RUBBERNECK
IS IN THE HOUSE, SATURDAY AT THE WETLANDS, ALONG WITH PAPA'S SOUL
KITCHEN. |
TAP 'N' KEG
1704 MAIN ST., COTTAGE GROVE 942-8713
WE & TH: DJ Rick--9
FR & SA: DJ Rick--9:30
TINY TAVERN
394 BLAIR BLVD. 687-8383
TH: Angela & Michael Galinas--9:30; Folk
FR: Christie & McCallum--9:30; Rockabilly
MO: Open Mic--9:30
WOODSMAN GRILL
117 S. 14TH ST., SPFD. 741-0150
TH: Johnny Wilde--9
WETLANDS
922 GARFIELD ST. 345-3606
SA: Rubberneck, Papa's Soul Kitchen--10; Latin
funk, soul, R & B
 |
| THE
BUTCHIES ROCK LESBOPALOOZA, FRIDAY AT THE WOW HALL. |
WOW HALL All Ages
291 W. 8TH AVE. 687-2746
TH: Volunteer orientation--6:30
FR: Lesbopalooza w/The Butchies, Magdalin Hsu-Li,
Chris Pureka, Nicole Sangsuree, Station Wag--7:30; Rock, folk
SA: Eugene Dance Festival--11:30 am
SU: Eugene Dance Festival--11 am, Tech N9ne, Gen.Erik--9:30;
Hip hop
CORVALLIS
BEANERY
2ND ST.
FR: Casey Hurt--8
SA: Pilgrims Feet--8
SU: Jill Cohn--noon
FOX 'N' FIRKIN
202 SW. 1ST ST. 753-8533
FR: Setting Sun--9; Indie rock
SA: 4MinuteMile, Ovulators--9:30; Rock
WE: TenPas' Tricky Trivia--8:30
MURPHY'S
3740 SE 3RD ST. 758-9000
SA: Traci Lynn and The Rubes--8:30
SU: Nairobi Bois--6; Jazz covers
PLATINUM
126 SW 4TH ST. 738-6996
FR: Salsa night w/DJs Ivan, Lupe--10
SA: Knockout John, Sullen, The Courtesy Clerks--8:30;
Metal
|
