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Jam
Bands Needs to Outgrow Stereotype My biggest gripe with upstart jam bands is the way they compare themselves to other jam bands to acquire some kind of credibility. All that says to me is: my band's music sounds like a mish-mash of rock, funk and jazz, and my bandmates and I improvise riffs as we go. When that happens, the only kind of following a band attracts is a jam band following. There is no incentive for rock, funk or jazz fans to check out a band that compares their music to the music of Widespread Panic or Little Feat. What if a potential fan out there were into Hawkwind? or Parliament? and not The Zen Tricksters. There may be a slight chance that fan might be into Seismic. But why would that person pick up a Seismic album when all they had to go by for a description was "sounds like Phish." So, here's a slightly less cliché-fed review of the group.
Seismic has been doing the jam band thing now for just over a year. The Los Angeles-based quartet cites jazz, funk and blues music as heavy inspirations for their brand of jam rock, but also believes in the equity behind the jam as opposed to the soloist nature of the aforementioned styles. After solidifying a line-up through the services of classified web boards such as Craigslist, the band recorded their first full length entitled Seismogenic. Seismic's uniqueness comes from their ability to combine crisp guitar melodies, filtered through different delays and starry effects, with glistening piano work. The band also features three vocalists, with guitarist James Lake, bassist Jason Rappaport and keyboardist Paul Barone all sharing lead duties. "Guess I'll Stay" from Seismogenic, possesses an extremely bright, poppy flair with vocal harmonies and keyboard melodies giving it a Ben Folds type of sound. The highlight of the group's sound has to be the keyboard work of Paul Barone who plays in a style truly reminiscent of a young Bruce Hornsby or Billy Joel. Barone cycles through electric keyboard, clavinet and rhodes, illuminating the pop sound behind Seismic's extended jams. They kind of sound like Phish, but beyond the hype, they create fun music and should really rock the Black Forest.
No
Electronica Here The name sounds technical, but don't be fooled. Matt the Electrician makes sweet folk melodies and bluegrass tunes, and if you're looking for synthesizers or phase shifters, you're in for a shock.
The Electrician used to be known as Matt Sever, and he used to live in Oregon. "I was tired of pounding nails in the freezing rain," he says of his decision to leave Corvallis for Austin nine years ago, "and figured I'd try pounding nails in the hot sun instead." Shortly thereafter, Sever abandoned carpentry for the shade of interior electrical work. As he began to make the rounds of the Austin music scene, often rushing to the stage after the 9-to-5, his occupational identity helped him stick out in a city full of aspiring musicians. Sever's success as a singer/songwriter enabled him to abandon the trade several years ago, but the alias endured. Listening to his most recent album, 2004's Long Way Home, where Sever's own guitar and "banjolele" are joined by a full complement of musicians, it's easy to see why the Electrician has developed such a following. Although, on the occasional track, Austin's influence seems to peek through in a twangy guitar solo or rejoinder, an undercurrent of sweetly simple melody carries the whole album, sometimes below an enthusiastic full band and upbeat tempo, sometimes waltzing to the surface with banjo and piano alone. Breathy in delivery, even raspy on the edges, Sever's lyrics range from thoughtful to playful in a heartbeat, and, as with "You and I," are capable of tenderness without being overly romantic. "People like that it's not emo rock," he says, "or over-the-top sensitive." Fresh from success at the Telluride Bluegrass Festival in Colorado, Matt the Electrician returns to Eugene this week on his second west coast tour in the last three months. Leaving the studio band back in Austin, he heads up the coast as a trio with Tom Freund, who heads up the second set on the bill, and drums for both. If you missed the show last time around, mark your calendar. "It's definitely more work than any day job I've ever done," Sever says of his career as a folk troubadour, "but the rewards are a lot better too."
'80s Explosion Sabim Brabb and his band M80 are making the most of the latest obsession with the '80s. "I grew up with MTV," he said, explaining his love of the era. "But the weird thing is that all these college kids are so into it. That's what's interesting to me, all these people who are way, way younger." Regardless of your age, if you love dancing 'til the wee hours to synths and funky electronic explorations, or whatever it is exactly that defines '80s music, you'll love this show. Decked out in full '80s regalia, the band members employ quite a few props to keep things hopping including the classic Devo hats during their rendition of "Whip It." "We encourage people to dress appropriately," Brabb said. So wear your leg warmers (they're even back in fashion) and tease your hair. With a focus on new wave, expect to hear covers of the Cure and Devo along with classics like "Jessie's Girl," and "My Sharona." M80 plays John Henry's July 1. — Melissa Bearns
Bruton Bruises the Jazz/Blues Competition
If lengthy resumés working with other famous musicians impress you, then Stephen Bruton's resumé will send you into paroxysms of pleasure. Case in point: Bruton has "worked with" or "appeared on" the albums of Kris Kristofferson, Barbara Streisand, Rita Coolidge, Delbert McClinton, Bonnie Raitt, Booker T. Jones, Don Was, T-Bone Burnett, B.W. Stephenson, Carly Simon, Lowell George and Jimmie Dale Gilmore. Bruton is also an accomplished songwriter with songs for Marcia Ball, Alejandro Escovedo, Patty Loveless, and the Highwaymen (Kristofferson, Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, and Johnny Cash) under his belt. He also wrote "Getting Over You," a 1993 hit for Bonnie Raitt and Willie Nelson. The Fort Worth, Texas, native goes on to say that he could claim having worked with Bob Dylan had he received proper credit for Dylan's Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid soundtrack. Bruton toured for more than a decade with Kristofferson and spent time in the tour buses of many of the those other artists. Bruton has also released three solo albums, debuting as a solo artist six years ago. The most recent, Nothing But the Truth, is a fitting title for a musician who has built a 30-year career. He finally gets to enjoy the fruits of center stage and bring all of his life and touring experience with him into the spotlight. Nothing But the Truth, however, isn't just the essence of his blues rock career. He bravely approaches the album through a jazz lens, with the inclusion of two bassists, Yoggie Mussgrove and Chris Maresh, and two drummers, Brannen Temple and Tom Fillman. Jazz is not a new theme for Brunton, it's just not one he's explored in his professional career. In 1957, his father opened a record store specializing in jazz, blues and country, which Bruton's family still owns and operates. For more on what this accomplished musician has done, visit www.stephenbruton.com Stephen Bruton plays Saturday, July 2 at Tommy's Peacock in Corvallis. $10 adv., $13 dos. — Vanessa Salvia
Riding Into the Sunset The Fourth of July is on its way, and we all know what that means. It's time to bust out your American flags, eat freedom fries and blow things up. And while you're at it, you might as well listen to some country music, because honestly, what could be more American than that? Two-time Grammy winners Riders in the Sky are coming to Springfield to celebrate our independence with us. The group is headlining Springfield's Light of Liberty celebration, an annual event in Island Park, which also features fireworks — actually, "the best fireworks display in the region," according to the press release. Proceeds from the event go towards funding Project Share, a program that provides financial assistance to low-income Springfield Utility Board customers during the winter. The band won two Best Musical Album for Children Grammys in 1999 and 2001 for accompanying albums to the Toy Story 2 and Monster's Inc. soundtracks. The old-school cowboy music of Riders in the Sky brings to mind images of a West not yet won. Entertainment for the Light of Liberty celebration begins in Island Park at 5 pm July 4. — Ursula Evans-Heritage
BADA BING'S BLACK FOREST CLUB TSUNAMI CORNUCOPIA • COUNTRY SIDE BAR & GRILL COUNTRYSIDE PiZZA & GRILL COZMIC PIZZA@THE STRAND• DA HOUZE DIABLO'S DOWNTOWN LOUNGE EMBERS SUPPER CLUB GOOD TIMES JAXX LOUNGE@PREMIUM POUR JO FEDERIGO'S JOE'S BAR & GRILLE JOGGER'S BAR & GRILL
JOHN HENRY'S LAVELLE'S WINE BAR & BISTRO LUCKEY'S CLUB CIGAR LUNA MAC'S AT THE VET'S MCSHANE'S BAR & GRILL MONROE STREET CAFE • MULLIGAN'S PUB O'DONNELL'S IRISH PUB OVERTIME GRILL PEABODY'S PERUGINO QUACKER'S RED LION INN ROSE'S DINER
SAM BOND'S GARAGE SAM'S PLACE SAMURAI DUCK SHER'S TAVERN STACY'S COVERED BRIDGE TAP 'N' KEG TAYLOR'S BAR AND GRILL TINY TAVERN
VET'S CLUB BALLROOM WOW HALL • CORVALLIS IOVINO'S RISTORANTE TOMMY'S PEACOCK karaoke TH: The Cooler, Countryside Pizza (River Rd.),
Da Houze, Duck Inn, Lone Star
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