Standard Operational Procedure
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| The Underlings |
Someday, when everything in the world is right, Ed Cole’s pop will be the world standard. It’s not that what he’s doing is incredibly new; it isn’t. It’s that it replicates the glory of ’80s punk icons such as Minutemen and Hüsker Dü and combines it with brainy honesty, strength of character and energy derived from copious amounts of coffee and repeated listenings to the best pop and rock that the world of music has to offer.
And after a couple of decades of songwriting practice with numerous bands, he’s gotten pretty good at it. For three years now, Cole’s band The Underlings have crafted songs that thrive on riffs that evoke Television or the Stooges without sounding reductively retro. Cole’s songs often tell stories, like “Born in a Boxcar,” about a man born in 1903, “living a life that was brutal yet free.” The trio — Cole on vocals and guitar, Dave Peterson on vocals and bass, and Bryant Grace on drums — released a CD, Operational Excellence, on local songwriter Dan Jones’ Daily Records in the fall of 2008. Next month, the Underlings will record three new tunes for a 7-inch, to be released on Eureka, Calif., label Meth Bog Records in September, followed by a short West Coast tour.
As leader of prolific Portland band Minmae, Sean Brooks has released an album a year for the past nine years. Minmae is on hold for a few months because Brooks will soon head to Germany to support his new solo album, Tertiary Allotment Is A Delightfulness, with tour dates throughout Europe. Rhythm Pimps, Minmae and The Underlings play at 9 pm Friday, 6/19, at Oak Street Speakeasy. (21+ show) Free. — Vanessa Salvia
There Is A Light That Never Goes Out
Since the age of 12, William Kennedy has been a “huge fan” of the solo work of the iconic singer known as Morrissey and his former band The Smiths. As a teenager, Kennedy roamed his rural Oregon high school with daffodils in his back pocket, making a “feeble attempt” at styling his hair to look like Morrissey, his walls covered with Smiths photos, lyrics scrawled all over his notebooks. “I frequently say he’s my Elvis,” Kennedy says. Today, Kennedy and his friend Tara Reader are organizers of the first annual Morrissey and The Smiths tribute night, “There Is A Light That Never Goes Out,” to be held at the Wandering Goat coffeehouse.
Even if you aren’t obsessed enough with Morrissey to style yourself after him, chances are good that The Smiths have had some affect on you. Though The Smiths broke up in 1987, the band is among the most enduring of the quintessential ’80s “college rock,” such as REM and The Cure, and Morrissey remains a cult figure, feverishly adored by fans all over the world. His last album, Years of Refusal, was released this past February, and he enjoys a successful solo career — so much so that younger fans may not even know of his music with The Smiths.
Morrissey has “cut a very unique figure in pop history,” Kennedy says. To some people, Kennedy repeats, “he’s adored like Elvis.” And now, like Elvis, Morrissey will have his own tribute night, which will feature Smiths and Morrissey covers performed by Redox, the Comforters, the Ambitious Outsiders (a band Kennedy put together for the occasion) and Portland’s Earl Patrick, who will perform Smiths songs on ukulele. Smiths and Morrissey memorabilia will be raffled off along with prizes from local businesses. Arrive early to sign up for the open mic. Morrissey and The Smiths tribute night begins at 9 pm Saturday, 6/20, at Wandering Goat Coffee Company. (All ages) Free. — Vanessa Salvia
A Note From the Publisher
Dear Readers,
The last two years have been some of the hardest in Eugene Weekly’s 43 years. There were moments when keeping the paper alive felt uncertain. And yet, here we are — still publishing, still investigating, still showing up every week.
That’s because of you!
Not just because of financial support (though that matters enormously), but because of the emails, notes, conversations, encouragement and ideas you shared along the way. You reminded us why this paper exists and who it’s for.
Listening to readers has always been at the heart of Eugene Weekly. This year, that meant launching our popular weekly Activist Alert column, after many of you told us there was no single, reliable place to find information about rallies, meetings and ways to get involved. You asked. We responded.
We’ve also continued to deepen the coverage that sets Eugene Weekly apart, including our in-depth reporting on local real estate development through Bricks & Mortar — digging into what’s being built, who’s behind it and how those decisions shape our community.
And, of course, we’ve continued to bring you the stories and features many of you depend on: investigations and local government reporting, arts and culture coverage, sudoku and crossword puzzles, Savage Love, and our extensive community events calendar. We feature award-winning stories by University of Oregon student reporters getting real world journalism experience. All free. In print and online.
None of this happens by accident. It happens because readers step up and say: this matters.
As we head into a new year, please consider supporting Eugene Weekly if you’re able. Every dollar helps keep us digging, questioning, celebrating — and yes, occasionally annoying exactly the right people. We consider that a public service.
Thank you for standing with us!
Publisher
Eugene Weekly
P.S. If you’d like to talk about supporting EW, I’d love to hear from you!
jody@eugeneweekly.com
(541) 484-0519