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Lyrics
Born Calling Out The fact that Coke and Motorola both licensed "Calling Out," the hit single from Lyrics Born's debut solo album Later that Day, for huge ad campaigns should come as a no-brainer to anyone who has followed the career of Tom Shimura, aka Lyrics Born. Hearing that hook played a hundred times on TV got a little tiring, but the funky blasé attitude behind the song was infectious and truly harkened back to the days of real party hip hop. It was hard to hate the underground, Japan-born, Nor Cal-raised rapper for making a buck off of a song when the song itself was so dang hot.
"I knew it was a good song. But I had no idea it was going to blow up as much as it did," Shimura said over the phone from Atlanta. "I always knew my music had the ability to reach all those people." Months into the release of his follow up, remix album Same !@#$ Different Day, Lyrics Born has hit the road again, this time with a full band backing his speedy rhymes and baritone melodies. He explained that incorporating the funk band into his live performances has allowed for a lot of experimentation and improvisation while on tour, expanding on but still embracing the traditional tools of hip hop: the turntable and the microphone. The new album features original material as well as revamped and remixed tracks from Later that Day. The guest musician and remixer line-up reads like the roster for an indie hip hop all-star team. DJ Spinna, DJ Shadow, Chief Xcel of Blackalicious, E-40, Jumbo of the Lifesavas, Evidence of Dilated Peoples, Dan the Automator, KRS-One and Joyo Velarde all lend a helping hand. On the remix of "Pack Up," Evidence, Jumbo and KRS-One split open Lyrics Born's already mind-blowing original. Jumbo adds a muddy, elephantine bounce to the bass line, and both Evidence and KRS-One slice up fiery, on-point lyrics. It's like a jazz track, where all the individual players have a chance to shine while adding a fresh dimension to the entire composition. Shimura explained that working with new producers and musicians has opened up possibilities for future projects. "It reminded me of how much I missed working with other people," he said. Although a new album of all original songs is in the works, Lyrics Born is currently wrapping up the production work for Joyo Velarde's debut album, which should be completed by the year's end. He said he is also producing Pigeon John's new album, both of which will be released on Quannum. Money Shot, the steady locomotive picking up steam all around town, will also perform, along with Genus Pro (who should have a new album debut any day now) and Default, the group with the hottest hip hop night in town.
Release
the Beast First off, Animal Liberation Orchestra (ALO) is not a group of radical activists with some thinly veiled political agenda. It is a group of four ridiculously talented musicians devoted to liberating the animal in all of us … dig? And what manner of animal are we talking about, you ask? Well, don't expect anything fierce to emerge like raging rhinos, shrieking mandrills or whatever else thrives on power chords and angst. ALO's funky folk grooves are more likely to conjure your inner … um … dolphin, or something.
The band just signed onto Jack Johnson's label, Brushfire Records, after touring with the surfer-turned-crooner this past summer. This is no surprise, as the two acts have much in common: They all went to college together at UC Santa Barbara back in the day. And apparently, they also attended the same folk-rock revival class, where Jack Johnson and ALO lead singer Zach Gill practiced laying down hypnotically soothing vocals over a bedrock of punchy, roiling jazz-funk ala John Scofield. "We try to be aware of roots traditions, in bluegrass, folk, jazz," says ALO drummer Dave Brogan. "I call our music suburban funk jam rock. Suburban in the sense of bringing a schoolwork ethic to the music. We study and learn whatever is available to us." This studious approach is evident in the band's hyper-clean compositions and the slick-yet-authentic production value of their newest album, Fly Between Falls. Whereas 2002's Time Expander focused more on ALO's disco-esque, dance floor sensibilities, this album has Jack Johnson's influence all over it. Johnson even lends vocals to the crowd favorite, "Girl, I Wanna Lay You Down." ALO will swing through Eugene during a national tour in support of the new album. "We hope that if you come to our show, as a listener you'll be moved both physically and emotionally," says Brogan. "That's our goal, as it should be the goal of any rock band." A philosophy like that, coupled with flailing, Keller Williams-style instrumentation, crisp song structure and inventive, meaningful lyrics is the recipe for longevity. All ALO has to do now is hold onto their heads during the ride to the top and keep certain beasts at bay.
Word
to the Wise Sage Francis is a guy who makes people a little uncomfortable. The 27-year-old, college educated, straight-edge vegetarian has some shit to say about almost everyone. He says the very nature of hip hop is to challenge the status quo and reject the façade of the world. He also believes that there's a lack of creativity and risk in hip hop today.
"It just doesn't seem like people feel the need to dig very deep," he says. "They bore me." Sage's music isn't like any other hip hop out there. His battle-rap style emanates through well researched metaphors and complex rhyming patterns. His newest album, A Healthy Distrust, adds an improved sound quality and uses cleaner backup vocals and effects than his older releases. "The success grants me more resources," says Sage, who now records on Epitaph Records. "I'm still trying to figure out how to utilize them well. It's probably easy to get overwhelmed with all that is suddenly made available to you and lose focus." If there's a lack of focus on Distrust, it's that Sage can't seem to figure out who to chastise the most. In "The Buzz Kill" he takes on popular rap artists — "Poorly developed yet highly advanced/ Black music intertwined with the white man's line dance" he rhymes. "Sun vs. Moon" is a mockery of Christians and religion — "God's not a woman/ He's a big white guy in the sky." And in "Slow Down Gandhi" he even mocks fellow activists — "Trustafundian rebel without a cause for alarm/ Because when push turns to shove you jump into your forefather's arms." His own toughest critic, Sage holds others to the same high standards he sets (and keeps) for himself. If his sarcasm or satire affects you, just remember that his hypocrisy-catching sights are set on everyone. During his rise from a rap-fascinated Rhode Island kid to one of hip hop's most adored poets, he's always been protective of his ideals. He resists, for instance, the overabundance of responsibilities that come with the straight edge label. "I don't need people looking over my shoulder and warning me of breaking 'rules,'" he says. "That's disgusting. I really appreciate people who can operate in daily life without needing to 'escape' through use of foreign substances. On the other hand, I really don't care if they want to escape because so do I."
What's Under the Stairs? OM records is known for overly slick, 100 percent sterile, wallpaper music: broken-beats and jazzy house music for your parents to listen to while shopping at Crate and Barrel. I like Johnny Fiasco and Mark Farina and I will play their records out in public. But secretly, I believe that OM records churns out a lot of boring stuff. But the gem in that flat, desolate sea has to be the People Under the Stairs. Thes One and Double K started cutting up fresh and funky hip hop tracks against the backdrop of LA's late '90s hip hop scene. Keeping a low profile with their first two releases, The Next Step and Question in the Form of an Answer, the duo slowly but surely built a loyal underground following, finally blowing up big with their 2002 full length O.S.T. Then on their 2003 EP Or Stay Tuned, an EP despite the fact that it still featured 12 tracks, the group saw some commercial success as the lead single "Yield" found its way onto ESPN's mini-series "Playmakers." Or Stay Tuned recaptured the funky, soulful feel of O.S.T., while further developing the band's unique, feel good, old school style. Equally comparable in sound to legends like the Sugar Hill Gang or contemporaries like Ugly Duckling, People Under the Stairs are more about having a good time than solving all of society's woes. Despite their underground status, the group still gives a nonchalant nod to the vices of big-time, urban hip hop on tracks like "Acid Raindrops" from O.S.T., where Double K ends with, "Pop collars to this / Wear ice to this / Drink Crys to this / Is there something we missed?" The group is finishing new material and is scheduled to release a new album next spring. Never at a loss for dusty soul hooks, bouncy old school beats and clever rhymes, Double K and Thes One won't disappoint. People Under the Stairs are on tour with Time Machine and Giant Panda, and perform 9 pm, Thursday, Oct. 20 at the WOW Hall. $10 adv/$12 dos. — Steven Sawada
Warm Jams for Chilly Evenings Head off winter's chill before it even sets in with some sweet local jams as McShane's in Eugene hosts Sweet Island Thyme for your listening pleasure. Sweet Island Thyme extends their musical sphere far beyond islands, encompassing rhythms from around the globe blending funk, rock, folk, gypsy, swing and psychedelia.
Band members Boris Canani (vocals/ guitar), Brian Forbes (drums/vocals), Ethan Delapp (guitar/vocals) and Jerry Parker (fretless bass) have self-released a debut CD, From Here to There, and Back Again. They're just as likely to rock a favorite cover song as they are to get your toes wiggling with an eclectic original tune. Canani spent time in the studio with Joe Craven of the David Grisman Quintet and occasionally sings a traditional song from Costa Rica, his former home. Forbes has played percussion for Jupiter Hollow and Lost At Last, to name just two, and has studied, up close and personal, the world's percussive traditions. Parker's skill on the bass is immediately apparent, as it was to both King Crimson's Trey Gunn and Peter Gabriel's Tony Levin, with whom Parker has shared the stage. Delapp has a reputation as a highly trained luthier, and he brings that love and knowledge of strings to the band's inner circle. You might be treated to one of Delapp's gently swaying instrumental tunes before the band kicks into a danceable groove. As the name suggests, the music is sweet and the grooves gentle, so make yourself easy and enjoy Sweet Island Thyme's tropical smoothie. Sweet Island Thyme play 10 pm, Friday, Oct. 21 at McShane's. $3. — Vanessa Salvia
Super Spaghetti Eddie Spaghetti's solo project wasn't really planned as artistic expression. A friend had some studio time available so he went in and recorded the songs he was writing at the time. "The experience was great," he says. "We spent a day or two more (than usual) in there and it wound up a day or two better."
Spaghetti is the original front man for the Supersuckers, a veteran punk country band that combines rock, country and alternative styles. They also just finished a short tour with Pearl Jam. His solo projects are collections of original acoustic songs in the same style of the Supersuckers along with covers of classic artists. "It's got a more Sunday morning vibe as opposed to the Supersuckers' Saturday night feel," he says. Spaghetti's second solo album, Old No. 2, is four original songs and six covers from the likes of Bob Dylan, Tom Waits and Willie Nelson. The collection of covers, which span different historical time periods, along with Spaghetti's distinctive country/rock/punk style, give the album a unique feel. "I think at the end there's sort of a strange kind of theme to it," he says. "It's very romantic. It's just kind of neat." Spaghetti uses the same approach to songwriting for his solo projects as he does for the Supersuckers releases. He says that they're close enough to the same style that they probably would have been Supersuckers songs if he wasn't interested in recording on his own. "They're just songs that I had written recently and I wanted to record to see what they sounded like," he says. "They all turned out really well, so we just kept them." Spaghetti and the rest of the Supersuckers are currently working on a new full-length album for that band as well. Eddie Spaghetti plays 9 pm, Saturday, Oct. 22 at John Henry's. $8. — Danny Cross
Rock & Roll 'tober Rocktober: part rock, part, um … 'tober? But fortunately for you folks, it's not just a (cough … cough) clever play on words. There are some loaded shows scheduled to close out the month at the Wetlands. Evin Marshall put together a stacked series this month and you've still got nine bands and two more shows left. Some bands are Eugene staples while others may be new even to your prodigious musical knowledge base. Just in case, we've decided to provide some background on the bands playing next Saturday. Keep your pants on and enjoy. Attack Ships on Fire (ASOF), Western Aerial, Dirt Clod Fight and Station Wag will make your ears bleed. ASOF's lyrics deal with the most vital cultural issues of today, like reality TV and one-night-stands. You want a useless factoid? Drummer Allan Carter was urged toward his instrument by none other than "King of Swing" Benny Goodman. Western Aerial plays out of Portland and is a classic three-piece rock 'n' roll power trio. Unnecessary nugget you want? Boom … we deliver: The band has over 5,500 "friends" on myspace.com. Want information on Dirt Clod Fight? Check the Web where they freely admit their site (www.dirtclodfight.com)sucks. Don't forget about Station Wag. What a name, huh! What's it mean? According to an interview with drummer Tom Newsom: nothing really. Remarkable. At the Halloween Bash! on the 29th The Death Of, On the First Day … They Were Kittens, Mendozza, Virtuous Pagans and Barking Gizzard are going to rock the Wetlands' 16 x 12 foot stage. And with that many bands slated, get there early, because they'll be taking up most of the bar. Check out this week's Rocktober lineup 10 pm, Saturday, Oct. 22 at the Wetlands. $3. —Tim O'Rourke
Island Breeze
The music of the Comoros Islands picks up the textures and rhythms of nearby East Africa, tinged with Arab influences, when Nawal blows through town this Saturday. Nawal, the first female Comoran musician to perform in public, writes and sings (in English, French, Arabic and Comoran) her own songs and plays gambusi (a kind of banjo), daf (Iranian frame drum), guitar and more. She'll be accompanied by bass and percussion. She's already landed a spot on a Putumayo compilation and may be the next breakout world music artist. Like Cesaria Evora, her sound is smooth enough to entice acoustic music lovers as well as world music mavens, and her show should particularly appeal to fans of women's music. Nawal performs 8:30 pm, Saturday, Oct. 22 at Cozmic Pizza. $8-10 ss. — Brett Campbell
THURSDAY OCT. 20 BADA BING'S
Family Karaoke with Jared the Karaoke Guy—6; Sing for your school FRIDAY
OCT. 21 SATURDAY
OCT. 22
JO
FEDERIGO'S Kristen Chandler with performance painter Mika Holtzinger—9
LUCKEY'S
The High Violets, The Purrs, Yeltsin—10; Rock SUNDAY
OCT. 23 MONDAY
OCT. 24
WOW HALL HorrorPops, Roger Miret & the Disasters, Left Alone—7:30; Punk rock TUESDAY
OCT. 25 WEDNESDAY
OCT. 26 CORVALLIS
PLATINUM
NIGHT CLUB SQUIRREL'S
Club Guide AX BILLY GRILL & SPORTS BAR 999 Willamette
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