 |
  |
|
 |
||||||||||
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
||||||||||
Who's
Gonna Lay the Smackdown?
The term "battle of the bands" should not be tossed around lightly. At such an event you would expect dramatics, axe grinding, drum pummeling, shrieking and some good ol' shit-talking. The tension and action should be on par with that fateful battle on March 29, 1987, where Hulk Hogan body slammed Andre the Giant at WrestleMania III. Now the Black Forest did a great job in scheming and promoting the open auditions (preliminaries) for their second annual Battle of the Bands. But there just didn't seem to be enough trash and drama being thrown around by the musicians in the lead-up to the Aug. 27 finale. So I got on the horn and tried to stir up some controversy around the genre-bending event. I called the Rhythm Pimps and told them that Takimoto was saying bad things about all their mamas ... OK, I didn't. But I posed a simple question to each band: Why do you think you should win? Nobody was biting. You guys are all too modest! This is a BATTLE! "Personally, I don't give a rip about winning," Inreverence vocalist Kevin Wayne said. "You don't care?" I asked. Oh man, we're in a world of hurt. Where's the competitive spirit? Andre the Giant (RIP) is rolling over in his grave right now! "I think we deserve to place at least top third because we've been a local band for so long here in Eugene," Rhythm Pimps guitarist Anthony McCarthy said in a deadpan tone. Why settle for third place? I thought. With your funky take on SoCal-style jam rock you guys should shoot for at least second. "I think we should win because our sound is different and unique enough to stay fresh and interesting. It's true music," Lucidic percussionist Bue Brown said. Dude, that response was as trite as my question! Finally, farther down the road of canned responses, The Dirty Digits vocalist Eric Wise called me back to lay the smackdown. "We need to win because we need the money for a series of things like paternal tests, rehab, bail bonds, prosthetic limbs, abortions, drugs, sex toys, gender-altering operations, exotic pets, things of that nature," Wise said. I liked that one. He didn't call anybody out, but at least he showed his level of desperation and, in that, his desire to succeed. Based on a series of individual, one-hour auditions, 10 bands are advancing to the finals, where they will compete for a $1,000 cash purse and a chance to perform at the Q-Fest in September. The Ol' Howl and Smash, On the First Day … They Were Kittens, 8 Track Liberators, Rhythm Pimps, The Death Of, Inreverence, The Dirty Digits, Takimoto, Outspent and Lucidic will perform 15 minute sets at the event. Held in the parking lot behind Collins Cycle Shop, the Battle will feature an all-ages area as well as a 21-and-over beer garden. Five mysterious judges will arbitrate as Eugene's 10 best bands showcase styles that range from jam rock to hardcore metal. Despite the lack of shit-talking, Black Forest's second annual Battle of the Bands should definitely not be missed. BLACK FOREST'S BATTLE OF THE BANDS: The Ol' Howl and Smash, On the First Day … They Were Kittens, 8 Track Liberators, Rhythm Pimps, The Death Of, Inreverence, The Dirty Digits, Takimoto, Outspent and Lucidic. 5 pm, Saturday, 8/27 • All ages with 21+ beer garden. Black Forest, FREE
The
Secret's Out Funny how things change. A couple of generations ago in this country, the idea of wine culture and blues music mixing company probably would have seemed strange. Beer and blues, sure. But wine? Images of rich white guys sipping the elixir of privilege while tapping their expensive shoes to the gravelly voice of poverty and sorrow couldn't have seemed right. But these days, the categories are arbitrary. Any precocious 21-year-old can now expound on the subtle oak and black cherry flavors in his $6 bottle of Cabernet. Likewise, the blues has become among the most accessible of musical forms. Happily, there's a place where people celebrate these two coming together.
Secret House Vineyards, well known in the Willamette Valley among rich and semi-poor alike for its award-winning Pinot noirs, prepares for its 15th annual Wine and Blues Festival this weekend. In 1986, Ron and Patti Chappel bought the 100 acre Veneta lot where, for 14 years, acres of Pinot, chardonnay and riesling grapes had been making themselves comfortable. After releasing their first commercial crush in 1989, the Chappels immediately expanded their sights to start nurturing another passion: the blues. "We love the blues," says Ron Chappel. "We wanted to do some sort of community event, and so the Wine and Blues Fest was originally started to support the Relief Nursery, which helps troubled families." Each year, the couple hosts a number of important music events on the stage set up literally in their backyard. Wine connoisseurs by trade, the Chappels have earned their appreciation for the blues the hard way. After all, they've spent the past 15 years fighting against a relentless oppressor — root aphids. The insects effectively declared victory three years ago, halting production from the Veneta vines and forcing the Chappels to rely exclusively on their Bolton Hill property (in addition to the varietals purchased from other sources). Still, a surplus of 1999's superb crop continues to feed popular demand, and will undoubtedly satisfy the projected 1,000 or so patrons at this weekend's festival. This year's festival features Linda Hornbuckle, the DK Stewart Quartet, the Norman Sylvester Band and others. For anyone with a taste for the grape and a couple of extra bucks, Secret House Vineyards offers daily tastings from 11 am to 5 pm. Contact them at 935-3774 or go to www.secrethousewinery.com
Sugar and Spice In a world where avant-noise rock seems to be the only type of new music getting attention, it's refreshing to hear of a new artist recording purely accessible music. But just because Rachael Sage's music is accessible doesn't mean it's dull.
Sage's piano-driven folk rock is sweetly melodic, tinged with a dash of darkness that turns otherwise ordinary folk into a dish that can't be refused. She explores the murky depths of love and life through lyrics that are sometimes emotional, sometimes cryptic, but always intelligent. Sage is a self-taught pianist and Stanford drama graduate who began her music career after a year of performing with the Actor's Studio in New York — a city where struggling bands are as common as taxi cabs. Sage managed to secure her reputation as a seriously talented musician, releasing her first album on MPress Records — a label she started herself — in 1996. Since then Sage has won numerous awards for her songwriting, including the 2002 Billboard Songwriting Award. Her newest record, Ballads & Burlesque, lives up to her reputation. Songs such as "One True Thing" explore jazz as well as folk influences, while tracks like "Jane's Dimitri" slow down the pace, highlighting Sage's beautiful piano playing. And as if she needed a reason to validate her place in the world of renowned musicians, she dedicates one of the most melancholy and gorgeous tracks on the album, "Bravest Fear," to the late Elliott Smith. Sage will play a free show at 2 pm Sunday, Aug. 28 at CD World, followed by an evening set at 6 pm Sunday at Luna. $7. —Emily Freeman
Bluegrass and Budget Beer Those who sorely missed the presence of "the girl" at May's Magnolia Electric Co. show (if you missed the show entirely, that's a whole different matter) shouldn't have anything to complain about this month: Jennie Benford recently came through town with the Crooked Jades, and she's back again with Jim and Jennie and the Pinetops. And about time, too.
It's been five years since I used to see Jim and Jennie (then "and the Pine Barons") play a monthly show at a tiny New York restaurant called Old Devil Moon. The place was packed, month after month, with a colorful array of hipsters, small-town transplants and born-and-raised city kids who cheerily ducked the incredible array of kitschy decorations on the walls, and who hooted and applauded as best they could without setting down their precious cans of budget beer. This was just before O Brother, Where Art Thou? and bluegrass was something unexpected and refreshing to a host of semi-jaded New Yorkers — and it was all the better when played by a bunch of twentysomethings who cut their teeth on classic rock and punk. In Jim and Jennie and company's more-than-capable hands, bluegrass was something we could relate to, and we let them know: "It's a Pleasure to Know You," with its kiss-off chorus, was always a singalong, and every time Jennie stretched out that one note in "Little Birdie" for just a little bit longer than anyone in the room could hold their breath, the applause increased proportionately. Jim and Jennie are now on their third album, Rivers Roll On By, a less boisterous affair than their cheeky first release. The old standards are there, lovingly rendered, but they're outnumbered by originals like "Mt. St. Helens," a lament to a lonely life on the side of the titular peak. Jim's goofy tracks, particularly "Quit Barking at Me," are a good time, but Jennie's plaintive ballads are Rivers' strength. When the two twine their voices for the a cappella "I Know You're Married But I Love You Still," the effect can cause goosebumps — and chances are it's twice as good coming from a stage as it is from a speaker. Jim and Jennie can make a good record, but this is music that dances and glows when it's played live. And if they break out some of the traditionals they made their own five years ago, well, I'd tell you I'll be the one in the corner with the stupid grin, but I bet I won't be the only one. Jim and Jennie and the Pinetops play at 9 pm Thursday, Sept. 1 at Sam Bond's Garage. $7. — Molly Templeton
Hogan's Heroes There's something about a Georgia drawl to make you feel right at home. A Georgian can say "I hate you" and make it sound juicy and sweet. Sun-warmed like those famous peaches, Kelly Hogan's voice is as comfortable as flannel pajamas and just as easy to slip on. Her voice is a smoldering ember, sultry and soulful in minor keys and intimately familiar with loneliness and hope. We had scheduled interviews on two different days last week, neither of which took place. Fortunately I didn't need the interview to write this, having listened to 2001's Because It Feel Good so many times. (Yes, it's Feel and not Feels. Why? Because it feel right.) I would have asked her about her brand new CD The Love Hall Tryst featuring John Wesley-Harding, Nora O'Connor and Brian Lohmann. But maybe it's for the best, because if you lack information, perhaps you'll get to the show and find out more for yourself.
What I do know, having not heard The Love Hall Tryst, is that it's mostly a capella, though it does feature a hurdy gurdy. O'Connor is a scrappy Irish-American from Chicago who sang with The Blacks and has backed up lots of folks. She's also a bartender and trained doula (midwife's assistant). Wesley Harding shouldn't need much introduction, but just in case, he's an expatriate British singer-songwriter who was a Ph.D. candidate at Cambridge in 1987 when he threw off the shackles of academia and began life as a musician. Lohmann is the mystery man of the bunch; an actor, unknown to me, who ostensibly was picked to provide a deep bass voice. I can only imagine that the album these disparate people would come up with would be both nightmarish and illuminating. As great as those folks probably are, I'm here to encourage you to witness Kelly Hogan. Born and raised in Atlanta, the daughter of a policeman and a mother who loved deer hunting and anything pickled, Hogan spent time in popular Atlanta bands The Jody Grind and The Rock*A*Teens. If you're ever out Chicago way, let Hogan pour you a drink at The Hideout, where she moonlights as a bartender. At Thursday's show, Hogan will perform songs from The Love Hall Tryst with Wesley Harding and Lohmann. She will also perform a solo set. Catch her at 8 pm Thursday, Sept. 1 at Cozmic Pizza. $12. — Vanessa Salvia
ART OF EVERYTHING All
Ages BADA BING'S
BLACK FOREST BLUE LUNA CLUB CHARLIE MAC'S CLUB ROCK CLUB TSUNAMI CORNUCOPIA All Ages COUNTRY SIDE BAR & GRILL COUNTRYSIDE PiZZA & GRILL
COZMIC PIZZA@THE STRAND•All
Ages DIABLO'S DIVA All Ages DOWNTOWN LOUNGE EMBERS SUPPER CLUB EUGENE WINE CELLARS GOOD TIMES JAXX THE JAZZ STATION JO FEDERIGO'S JOE'S BAR & GRILLE JOGGER'S BAR & GRILL
JOHN HENRY'S LATITUDE 10 CAFE All
Ages LAVELLE'S WINE BAR & BISTRO LUCKEY'S CLUB CIGAR LUNA MAC'S AT THE VET'S MCSHANE'S BAR & GRILL MULLIGAN'S PUB O'DONNELL'S IRISH PUB OVERTIME GRILL PEABODY'S PERUGINO QUACKER'S SAM BOND'S GARAGE SAM'S PLACE SHER'S ELDORADO CLUB STACY'S COVERED BRIDGE TAP 'N' KEG TAYLOR'S BAR AND GRILL TINY TAVERN WETLANDS WORLD CAFÉ All
Ages
WOW HALL All Ages YUKON JACK'S
CORVALLIS BEANERY BOMBS AWAY CAFE IOVINO'S RISTORANTE PLATINUM karaoke TH: The Cooler, Countryside Pizza (River Rd.),
Da Houze, Duck Inn
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
