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Homecoming
It's an exciting week of folk, funk and blues here in Eugene. These upcoming shows are guaranteed winners so check 'em out. Misty River's June 4 show at the Hult Center will debut songs from their brand new CD, Willow. Misty River is four women with Eugene and Portland connections. UO grad Carol Harley plays guitar, banjo, ukelele and mandolin and taught at a 4J school before relocating to Vancouver, Wash., where she now lives. Accordionist Dana Abel lives in Eugene and attended South Eugene High School, as did Harley's daughter Laura Quigley, who plays acoustic bass. Guitarist and fiddler Chris Kokesh lives in Portland. Willow is an appropriate name for a CD that shows the foursome branching out from their traditional Americana roots, like a healthy, spreading tree reaching for the sky. While staying true to their powerful vocal harmonies and fresh bluegrass/Americana arrangements of original and traditional songs, the group has melded new rhythms, such as the song "Homegrown Tomatoes," a Guy Clark song updated with reggae and swing grooves. Willow is a great collection of songs that feel very comfortable together. One of my bluegrass favorites, "Shady Grove," is well done, as is Irish traditional tune "These Are My Mountains," and Dave Carter's song "When I Go." There's the deeply personal as well, such as "Baird's Lullaby," written for Abel's new baby, and "Box of Lace," a Kokesh-penned award-winning song about love and family. The Misty River women, though they might not live in the same town, have an amazing connection on stage and never leave an audience dissatisfied. Their take on traditional forms of American music is loving, warm and generously shared. Tracey Grammer and special guests will perform two shows at Cafe Paradiso on June 4 and 5 to benefit Friends of KRVM, a support organization for Eugene radio station KRVM 91.9 FM. Grammer forged an intense musical partnership with the late Dave Carter, but she has continued to erect her own folk career. Calling herself an interpreter and an instrumentalist, Grammer was born in Homestead, Fla., and raised in Southern California in a musical family. Her cousin Leo Fortin played trumpet in Lawrence Welk's band. Her mother and grandmother played keyboards and accordion, and her father played lap steel and electric guitar, which was what developed her ear for harmony. At 9 Grammer began classical violin and choral training, which she continued until her college years. She iced those dreams while earning an English degree, then during a semester off her father introduced her to Curtis Coleman, formerly of the New Christy Minstrels, who invited Grammer to perform with him at coffeehouse shows. She realized that her abandonment of music left her empty, and she welcomed it back into her life. Grammer met Dave Carter at a show just weeks after moving to Portland in 1997, and their music magic began in earnest. The duo recorded three albums together. Grammer's goal now is to continue to share Carter's musical vision by performing his songs and the songs they were known for together. John Henry's will host Leo Nocentelli on Friday. Nocentelli is a fast-fingered funky guitarist who rose to fame as a New Orleans funkster and lead guitarist of the legendary Meters, who were awarded the Grammy's Lifetime Achievement Award in 2001. Nocentelli was the sole songwriter on such eternal hits as "Cissy Strut," and "Look A Py Py." With other writers, he's credited with song triumphs like "Hey Pocky Way." Over the years, he has added a wide range of musical styles to his repertoire, performing blues, jazz and hip-hop, but always remaining true to the spirit of his early days. The Meters are highly respected musicians among their peers, and artists from across genres have sampled Nocentelli's music into their own songs. Nocentelli will appear along with Little Hercules, a Colorado-based funkified band that specializes in self-described "greasy grooves." Blues fans take note: Curtis Salgado is in the house! The McDonald Theater that is, on Saturday. He has a brand new CD as of March 2004 called Strong Suspicion, and on it he explores his soulful side. He gives his songs the full Memphis-style soul treatment, such as on the Beatles' gem "I'll Be Back." As always, Salgado bases his work in the blues, and he puts his own stamp on whatever song he's performing, whether it be his own song or one by someone he idolizes. On Strong Suspicion he sings the Bill Withers song "Who Is He (And What Is He To You?)." Guest performances by slide guitarist Sonny Landreth and singer Bekka Bramlett give this album another layer of interest. Salgado himself has been known as a stand-out harmonica player, and on this album he lets it shine. Luna will host prominent finger-style guitarist Buster B. Jones on Saturday. Raised in Ames, Iowa, Jones never took formal guitar lessons, he just plugged away at it, teaching himself. Now, he's considered a legend, and he's passing his knowledge onto one of our own, Brooks Robertson, who won the recent talent contest on Keillor's "Prairie Home Companion." Jones is called "The Machine Gun" because his fingers are lightning fast, and though he's mastered the stylings of Chet Atkins, Merle Travis and Jerry Reed, he's put his own recognizable spin on his technique. He is also the producer of 10 teaching videos for Stefan Grossman's Guitar Workshop. In Eugene, when it rains good performances as it does this time of year, it pours. Visit the Cozmic Pizza stage Sunday for The David Nelson Band. Since 1994 Nelson has been combining "healthy doses of psychedelic country, blues and bluegrass with an improvisational style." Nelson is revered as a founding member of both The Wildwood Boys and New Riders of the Purple Sage. With both those bands Nelson was an early architect of that "San Francisco sound" we still love today. It's Nelson's vocals you hear on the inimitable NRPS song "Panama Red," and he performed with Jerry Garcia Acoustic Band on their recording Almost Acoustic. And he contributed sounds to classic Grateful Dead albums American Beauty, Workingman's Dead, and Aoxomoxoa.
Mudhoney, SuperFuzz Bigmuff/Early Singles, 1989 SUB POP RECORDS. By Tony Dawson Mudhoney frontman Mark Arm is widely quoted as describing the sound of his own band as "Pure grunge, pure shit."
Grunge, a dirty word, a labeling tool fabricated by the corporate rock media, which destroyed pure rock 'n' roll long ago by their minimizing of individual creativity. Well this is not a grunge album, it's simply pure rock 'n' roll. Owing much to the swagger, sex, and stomp of the early Stones and the greats of garage (Sonics, Wailers), Mudhoney haphazardly dives into art-school, bohemian noise with their covers of Sonic Youth's "Halloween," and "Hate the Police." They also cover legendary Texas punks the Dicks. Mudhoney refuses to be labeled as grunge. What is grunge anyway? The bassist of the most famous grunge band once described it as what grows on a shower curtain. Listen to "Touch Me I'm sick" (loud), and feel Steve Turner's chord snarl and Mark Arm's desperate rasp. This is music made for music's sake. If you're not convinced, take a gander at "If I Think" and notice the human connection. It makes you feel something that every other human can feel. Mudhoney was in an era when rock was pure, full of long, sweaty hair, beer, and good tunes, yet they are omnipresent, forever rocking.
Laura Kemp, May, 2004 RAIN WATER RECORDS. By Chris Roth Local folksinger-songwriter-guitarist Laura Kemp has won Best Female Musician honors repeatedly in EW's readers' poll, and her eagerly anticipated new CD, May, reflects many of the reasons why. A skillfully assembled song cycle, it surpasses even Kemp's fine previous recordings in the quality of the performances, the beauty and power of the music, the depth and range of emotion and experience conveyed. Nearly all of the songs have something to do with land and the seasons, as well as with such themes as love, gardening, relationship, and life choices. Some tracks, like "Sword Ferns and Salmonberries," are beautiful in the simplicity of the arrangement (just voice and banjo); others, like "Snow Returns," are intoxicating in the rich tapestry of sounds they weave from multiple instruments. More highlights include the wistful, haunting "Hannah Branch;" "Rootless Way," which contemplates the roads that take friends and family away from one another; the upbeat "Love and Soil;" the funky, humorous, and touching "TV Song," which should convince anyone to at least consider what home could be like without a TV set; the title track; "In Time," "Cold Comfort;" and a cover of Kate Wolf's "The Lilac and the Apple." Also listen for a sly reference to Jimi Hendrix and a feline commentary on the proceedings from Laura's cat Chumley. Guest musicians include Sally VanMeter (dobro), Steve Smith (mandolin), and many others; Tony Kaltenberg co-produced. A splendid time is guaranteed for all.
The Sawyer Family, The Sawyer Family Album, 2003 SELF-RELEASED. By Robert Jacobs This is one solid rock 'n' roll album with strong doses of rockabilly. The "Link Wray" sound hits you deep down. There are traces of Zeppelin, George Thorogood, punk, and the Ventures throughout 13 tracks. Strengths include the pacing of the songs, which meander from hard rocking numbers, to mid-tempo croons to inspired instrumentals. This diversity shows the breadth of the bands talent. There's a wicked sense of humor throughout. Solid rhythm section and good guitar work with tastefully applied swaths of reverb. In general, though, the guitars are untreated by superfluous effects. Drawbacks are the lack of subtlety in the lyrics. This isn't subtle music, however, but the bluntness and somewhat unnecessary use of profanity sometimes detracts from the meanings of the songs. Furthermore, there's not much new ground being broken here. It's a tough road to travel, one that's been tread by literally thousands of bands before. Fans of The Reverend Horton Heat, The Cramps and Link Wray will love this record. Standout tracks are "My Collection" and "Shotglass." As homage to Link Wray and other bands from the birth era of rock 'n' roll, The Sawyer Family Album stands up admirably as the Sawyers' first full-length CD.
Sarah McLachlan, Afterglow, 2003 ARISTA RECORDS. By Jon Young There are not many sounds as sad and hopeless as a grown man attempting to hit the notes and plateaus reached by Sarah McLachlan. I yearn to share my own past relationship pain through song. Unfortunately, I can only emit screams and whines that sound as if I am shrilly calling for help, wounded and in pain.
Afterglow was written years ago while McLachlan was is the throes of a tumultuous relationship, and we are blessed with the opportunity to vicariously revisit her pain and emotion. McLachlan's newest release is an aural fireplace, burning with her voice and equally charged guitar work. Like many of her past CDs, Afterglow features dimmed instrumentals, allowing the voice of the "Lilith Fair" creator to shine with vivid brightness. McLachlan's ethereal voice soars and dives effortlessly in this CD. Afterglow evokes painful memories of lost love yet radiates a warm sense of comfort, insinuating that bad times always burn out and lead to good. Lamenting songs, such as "Fallen" and "Stupid," capture remorse and the desperate, vain attempts to keep a long-doomed partnership alive. "Perfect Girl," with its fiery angst and burning accusations, sets things straight with McLachlan's finger-pointing, brand-hot blame. Long overdue, Afterglow emits more of the smooth, yet complicated vocal beauty that Sarah McLachlan is loved for. Afterglow provides fuel for many hours of melancholy listening, and offers the listener the chance to fan the fire, which may still be smoldering in their heart, memory and soul.
BEANERY BLACK FOREST CAFE PARADISO COFFEE GROVE COOPERATIVE 942-8847 COUNTRY SIDE RESTAURANT COZMIC PIZZA@THE STRAND All
Ages DIABLO'S DOWNTOWN LOUNGE DUCK INN EARLY RISE CAFE EMBERS SUPPER CLUB GOOD TIMES INDIGO DISTRICT JOE'S BAR & GRILLE JO FEDERIGO'S JOGGER'S BAR & GRILL
JOHN HENRY'S JUANITA'S HIDEAWAY 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 MORNING GLORY CAFE 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 TAP 'N' KEG TAYLOR'S BAR AND GRILL TINY TAVERN TSUNAMI WOODSMAN GRILL
WOW HALL All Ages
CORVALLIS BEANERY FOX 'N' FIRKIN MURPHY'S PLATINUM SQUIRREL'S
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