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Old
Man, Look at My Life Nothing makes you feel like more of an old bag than a bunch of young kids ripping shit up. I'm kind of losing my mind flipping through the liner notes for the new CDs from local crews Alliance and Undermind & G_Force; I think I've seen a couple of these cats at the middle school I used to work at. No disrespect intended, though — my observation simply speaks to the high degree of precociousness this young group of hip hop heads actually possesses. Alliance's new one, The Theory of Natural Selection, truly caught me off guard; I had to pop the CD out of my computer to verify that I wasn't accidentally slipped the new Ugly Duckling. MC Rapsodeep's flow bears no resemblance to the inflections one would expect from a new jack MC — not even a young rapper with four years of rhyming under his belt. Rapsodeep sounds like a confident, veteran lyricist with a lot to prove to the world. I'm not the type to really cling to rap lyrics, but this one from the album's fourth track, "Masta Mynez," just sounds so dang smooth: "Unfortunate to be born with arteries and veins / so I replace them with quarter inches and RCAs." You can catch a resplendent sampling of Eugene's burgeoning new hip hop crews as Alliance, Undermind and G_Force, Philosophy, GermiNate, and Medium Troy perform a free (if you arrive early) show Monday, Nov. 20 at the WOW Hall.
Friday, the WOW welcomes another wild night of hip hop — this time with a more seasoned group of local acts, Sandpeople. Next to Oldominion, one could reasonably argue that this 11-member hip hop crew is one of the Northwest's most talented and prolific groups. As a collective, the group's last disc, All in Vein, was recently released in Japan under the name The City Sleeps. According to Phil Bauer (aka Ethic), after striking up some talks with a label in Japan, the group negotiated the import release, which also featured a few new exclusive tunes. In addition to their work as a group, the separate units that form Sandpeople have also been busy releasing new material. Bad Neighbors, composed of MCs Mo-B, Simple and Only One, recently released their dramatic, politically entrenched debut, Armed and Hammered, while Debaser, the duo of Ethic and Sapient, released their latest star-studded affair, Crown Control. A polished, well produced banger, Crown Control features not only hot tunes but some pretty big names appearing throughout — Opio (Souls of Mischief), Luckyiam.PSC (Living Legends), Grayskul, Sleep (Oldominion) and Illmaculate. SANDPEOPLE, BRAILLE, GRAY MATTERS, LIVING PROOF, THE PHORMULA, KID ESPI, HOT IN PURSUIT. 9 pm Fri., Nov. 17, WOW Hall. $8 adv., $10 door. ALLIANCE, UNDERMIND AND G_FORCE, PHILOSOPHY, GERMINATE, MEDIUM TROY. 9 pm Mon., Nov. 20, WOW Hall. FREE until 10 pm $5 after 10 pm
Roll
Over Rocktober Forget the spiked eggnog and your grandma's bourbon-soaked fruitcake. The real holiday sauce comes courtesy of KNRQ 97.9 FM. Known for dishing out hard rock candy, KNRQ is sponsoring this concert featuring local faves Cherry Poppin' Daddies, Rock 'n' Roll Soldiers and Grynch along with Marcus Eaton and Schoolyard Heroes.
Quite the diverse lineup. Grynch is a five-piece known for riff-heavy, aggressive metal. Fans love their high-energy stage presence and they consistently win Battles of the Bands all over the place. You might call Marcus Eaton a bit more refined. He plays acoustic and electric guitars of various stripes along with keyboard samples and drum programming. Eaton rose to prominence with his band The Lobby and is releasing solo music to wide acclaim. His music has a rockin' edge to it (but a decidedly more mellow edge than Grynch!), and Eaton's skilled playing keeps things interesting. Seattle is sending Schoolyard Heroes our way. Led by sexy siren Ryann Donnelly, the group merges danceable rock with horror movie inspired lyrics and imagery. Eugeneans familiar with the rock scene from a few years back will remember the Rock 'n' Roll Soldiers, who formed in Eugene while in middle school. The music of Radio Birdman nurtured them through their formative years, and that sexy, raw rock flows naturally through their veins. The boys are independents once again, having been freed from their Atlantic Records contract, and have independently released their album So Many Musicians To Kill. That brings us to the kings of diversity in music, The Daddies. The band continues to play frequently across the U.S., just finished a California tour and is setting up a European tour in anticipation of a new release that's about half-done. Vocalist Steve Perry promises to unveil new material at the show, but would divulge little more other than that surprises are planned. "We have a bunch of new songs," Perry says. "And we have some special guests who are going to be there. We're resurrecting some songs from the past, and doing a lot of our new material, too." The new album is, according to Perry, dance-oriented, and he compared the feel to that of the recent "pineapple express" heat wave; Caribbean-inspired. "It's a Daddies record … but it has a different kind of groove to it, like taking ska and making it more pounding. It's sweaty and humid and sexual." ew CHERRY POPPIN' DADDIES, ROCK 'N' ROLL SOLDIERS, SCHOOLYARD HEROES,MARCUS EATON, GRYNCH. 7 pm Sat., Nov. 18 • McDonald Theatre$15 adv, $20 door
All Points of the Compass
Chris Pureka's following on the East Coast is big and growing, and with a tour in support of her new album, she's trying to win the west as well. She came out of the Northampton, Mass., queer music scene in June 2001 with a self-titled EP and gigs opening for Alix Olson, a poet and spoken-word artist who graced the cover of Ms. that year. Pureka played with Olson at the Oregon Country Fair, which she described in a 2003 interview as "a giant hippie commune," and returned to Eugene to play the Lesbopalooza festival in 2003 and 2004 and the OUT/LOUD festival in 2005. And she's opened for everyone from Melissa Ferrick to Kris Delmhorst to Catie Curtis. But this tour, Pureka isn't following Olson, opening for someone or singing in a festival. She's selling out larger venues; in Seattle, a second show had to be added because her fans clamored for more, and she's got her own openers now. Her new album, Dryland, features love songs like "31 and Falling," which refers not to her age (27) but the temperature outside, and "Swann Song," a narrative from the perspective of her grandmother. Pureka's guitar style fits well with her laconic voice, reminiscent of Mary Gauthier (without quite as much alcohol or the Southern accent) and Chris Isaak. Her mellow, warm tone and her mumbling style, easier to understand in person than on the album, sometimes obscure the strength of her songwriting. No less a star than Patty Larkin calls her "one new storyteller to watch," and you'll get those stories in person at her concert. Chris Pureka plays with Nicole Sangsuree at 9 pm Thursday, Nov. 16 at Sam Bond's Garage. 21+ show. $6. — Suzi Steffen
Happy Tears
Joe Pernice isn't about hanging labels on his band's music. "That's not because it's so complex," he insists in the band's promotional material. "In fact, it's so simple, a monkey with garageband could probably, in time, tap out the chord changes with his four hands." The more visible of the two actual brothers in the Pernice Brothers, "J.P." has dipped his toes in a variety of musical ponds over the last two decades. A former member of the acoustically inclined Scud Mountain Boys, J.P. began playing with his brother Bob in 1996, a partnership that evolved into a highly acclaimed musical act that garners high praise from mainstream publications (Spin magazine has called their songs "excruciatingly gorgeous") and hard-won devotion from the indie world as well. The group's latest offering, Live a Little, is a pleasingly stylish, country-infused pop album that hearkens back to the sounds of the '60s, but with a modern emo twist. Known to fans and critics as a master writer of songs to break up to, J.P.'s lyrics are sung with unpretentious simplicity, supported by melodies cruel in their catchiness (you may find yourself jauntily walking down the street singing "I left there with bitter words, I go back with cap in hand…"). The Pernice Brothers sound is accessible yet intelligent, mature in its execution and refreshingly free from self-indulgence. The band's vision, longevity and popularity make them a great bet if you've never heard of them and think you might be up for a night of music that will make you smile as you cry in your beer. Pernice Brothers play with Elvis Perkins at 9:30 pm Saturday, Nov. 18 at Sam Bond's Garage. 21+ show. $10. — Adrienne van der Valk
Gentle Soldier
Tracy Grammer had a career before she met and partnered with Portland songwriter Dave Carter, and she's still got it, albeit in a slightly different form. Carter's sudden death in the summer of 2002 shocked and horrified the singer-songwriter communities, and when Grammer heroically performed at the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival mere days later, not one of the 15,000 attendees left dry-eyed. Since then, Grammer has toured like mad, moved from Portland to Massachusetts and kept on making music. She's released two albums, a solo debut (2005's Flower of Avalon) and Seven Is the Number, "the final Dave & Tracy album." The duo had recorded but not mixed the songs, nine of which are from Carter's out-of-print solo album and two of which are new, in 2001 and 2002. The album topped folk radio charts in August, and the CD went into wide release a mere month ago. Expect Luna to be packed to the gills for Grammer's show; come early to listen to local sweet-voiced singer-songwriter Sandy Holder, order your food and drinks and be sure to ask your servers not to bother you during the show, and then sit back and feel the sweep of Grammer's fiddle and Carter's lyrics. Bet you won't leave Luna dry-eyed either. Tracy Grammer plays with Sandy Holder at 8 pm Saturday, Nov. 18, at Luna. 21+ show. $17.50 adv., $20 door. — Suzi Steffen
Waking Life
I listened to Heroes and Villains' CD Turn Your Swords while I was drifting into and out of sleep (a technique I often use to find musical moments forceful enough to break through the ether) and I had the most vivid dream. I dreamt that Danny Elfman and Elvis Costello were the true writers of Pink Floyd's The Wall (I guess if this were reality the name might need to be reconsidered). They decided to bring their jazz inspired, war-themed rock opera to the nearest venue they could find, which happened to be a Jewish wedding. The klezmer band in attendance agreed to perform, and Costello got on stage with Beth Gibbons from Portishead. This unlikely gathering of musical misfits poured a dark, swirling cocktail of melodies, simultaneously somber and hauntingly groovy. Then Bert and Ernie jumped out the cake and danced the macarena. Okay, that last part was a giant lie. But truthfully, the surreal, experimental quality of Heroes and Villains sounds like it came from the band's collective subconscious. The sultry, old-world jazz elements fuse with unpredictable tempos and rich vocals, wrapping their resonant arms around themes of human struggle that tempt many artists but are handled effectively by few. Heroes and Villains explore extremities and dichotomies both musically and lyrically, with style and scarcely seen instrumental mastery. Fans of local favorites Mood Area 52 may be especially interested in this Portland quintet. If you choose to become part of Heroes and Villains' world, swirl some mental absinthe before you go, and don't be afraid to listen with your eyes closed. Heroes and Villains play with Crimes of Ambition at 9 pm Sunday, Nov. 19 at Sam Bond's Garage. 21+ show. $5. — Adrienne van der Valk
Pretty Quiet, Pretty Noisy
The Album Leaf is one of those bands that's really not a band; it's one guy, Jimmy LaValle. Except when it's not, which is to say except when guest vocalists (Black Heart Procession's Pall Jenkins) are harmonizing with LaValle on one of the rare tracks with vocals, or when the "band" becomes an actual band, taking a host of players on tour. But for the most part, The Album Leaf's music is the product of classically trained multi-instrumentalist LaValle, who's released four albums under the Album Leaf name, including two on Sub Pop: 2004's In a Safe Place, which featured members of Sigur Rós and Amina, and the new Into the Blue Again. It's a funny little title; delving into LaValle's moody, ambient tunes is so meditative and relaxing that shimmery ocean imagery would come to mind regardless. Occasionally, the songs turn too atmospheric for their own good, as in the wandering "Red Eye," which sounds more like a snippet of mood-setting music from a TV show montage than a song. But when there's a central melody, when the song creates something your ear can't resist out of a pretty mix of crisp drum programming, dreamy piano, sweet violin and lush synths, Album Leaf songs become almost hypnotizing in their precisely created elegance. Opening the show is Brooklyn's Dirty on Purpose, a foursome that, on their debut full-length Hallelujah Sirens, often makes music just as pretty as The Album Leaf's though it's layered with more guitars and vocals. "Your Summer Dress" trips from pretty and wistful into the guitar-heavy sonic wall of a certain kind of Britpop (you could think Ride or you could think My Bloody Valentine; both apply at different moments). Other songs swell with strings, tinkle with piano melodies and show an admirable talent for alternating distortion with echoing, spacy, clear tones, or driving lines with swoony extended notes. Hallelujah Sirens has a song for every mood; sometimes, every mood is in one song. The Album Leaf and Dirty on Purpose play with Lymbyc System at 8 pm Sunday, Nov. 19 at the WOW Hall. $10. — Molly Templeton
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