Caught Between

Chicago-based Sidewalk Chalk is a hive of ingenuity and aspiration. From keys, drums, horns and bass to an emcee, powerful female vocals and a tap dancer, this eight-member crew thrums with talent. Despite the layers and complexities, the members of Chalk share a common passion — to transcend the norm, the expected, the known — resulting in a fluid sound that is equal parts jazz, soul, hip hop and funk.

When EW asks the band what fuels this drive, Rico Sisney, the band’s emcee, replies: “I think it stems from the music. Individually we want to stretch and do new stuff. We want to take risks.”

And so the group’s 2015 album, Shoulder Season, features live performances of all-new songs, a nod to the audience’s role in their music and to improvisation’s influence in both songwriting and performing.

“I love the spontaneity,” Sisney continues. “We’re playing music that we really like and we’re trying to do things that will excite each other. I think the audience experiences and feels that, and I think that’s the biggest thing about our shows.”

Shoulder Season is their third album — and perhaps their most experimental — built upon the solid foundation of their debut, Corner Store, and their popular follow-up, Leaves. Aptly, this new album explores transitions — “the idea of being between two things,” Sisney explains. “Whether that’s between two sides of an argument or between two places historically or emotionally or two ideas within yourself.”

Who better to traverse such shifts and evolutions than a family of artists inspiring each other?

Sidewalk Chalk plays 8 pm Thursday, Oct. 22, at WOW Hall; $10 adv., $15 door.

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!