Caving In

Consider for a moment the acoustics of a cave: vast and echoing but also claustrophobic and airless — a small drip of water reverberating to the ceiling and from the walls. Now, consider the acoustics of the band Cave and you have the latter. The Chicago-based, frequently instrumental group is celebrating the release of Threace, out Oct. 15 on uber-hip record label Drag City.

Threace is a half-planned/half-jammed experiment; the analog recording shows a band in its natural environment. The result was chopped and spliced into the final product — sneak-previewed with lead single “Shikaakwa.” The track loops and drones with touches of ’70s jazz-fusion: the hypnotic and metronomic precision of krautrock meets Herbie Hancock.

Previously, the post-rock of New York art-rockers Battles is revisited with Cave’s 2008 track “Hunt Like Devil” — adding some fuzzed-out ’60s psychedelia to the airtight mix, and featuring the rare appearance of vocals. Soon it all goes loopy with squealing guitars and an overdriven drumline that rattles your fillings, similar to the way a rockslide might sound to a group of spelunkers.

Elsewhere, Cave apes Camaro rock with “Ravens Hash,” riding a classic rock riff until it becomes unrecognizable, submerging it in synthesizers until it’s blue in the face and letting it up at the last minute for air — like the weirdo space-age jam band Cave is.

Cave plays with Eugene’s Lady Paw and JLS 8 pm Sunday, Oct. 13, at the Old Whiteaker Firehouse; $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.

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!