Ready for Takeoff

Most musicians have been playing instruments for years. Ramune Nagisetty of Portland-based indie-pop trio Rocket 3 picked up the guitar just a few years ago. “I went out and bought an electric guitar,” Nagisetty says. “It was President’s Day. I found it fairly easy to play.”

Soon Nagisetty was writing her own songs. Before long she found likeminded musicians to play with and Rocket 3 was born. “The name Rocket 3 was inspired by the way Drew [Anymouse] plays drums, which is like a rocket,” Nagisetty jokes. Tony Guzman plays bass in the group.

Rocket 3 played its very first gig at a Eugene-based GRRLZ Rock event in Cottage Grove. “In Eugene, we felt welcomed not only by the venue, but by the people that showed up,” Anymouse says. “The conversations we had that night with ‘Eugenites’ who passionately support the local music scene were refreshing to hear.”

Rocket 3’s songs are simple, direct, pop-inflected rock songs that are compulsively likeable. The guitars are fuzzy and occasionally psychedelic, Nagisetty’s voice is gentle and dreamy and the drums are punchy and aggressive but never combative — recalling influences like The Shins, Veruca Salt and My Bloody Valentine.

Rocket 3 has recorded a full-length album that will be mixed this month. “I don’t know if I will have this opportunity again,” Nagisetty says. “I think original music needs to be meaningful, and having 11 good songs to share is a gift not to be taken for granted. I want the songs to reach people’s ears and hearts.”

Rocket 3 plays with Eugene’s The Soothesayers and Portland’s Balto 9:30 pm Friday, Jan. 17, at Sam Bond’s; $5.

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.

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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!