Noise Grafitti

Haven’t heard Ty Segall’s last few records? Don’t worry, he’ll release a few more next week. That’s how it seems with the California singer and guitarist’s wildly prolific output. Segall’s stuff is mischievously tossed-off, with a reckless genius despite Segall’s intentions. Like Ryan Adams — if Adams could give up on his Austin City Limits tendencies.

Segall’s like a punk rock old west outlaw, riding a steed of electric hum and squeal, a guitar-slinging Zorro slashing his initials wherever he goes, tagging ears across the nation with his irreverent noise graffiti. What inspires Segall to release albums so frequently? Seemingly, the answer is because he can.

Segall comes to Eugene behind his latest release, called simply Ty Segall (which is not the slapdash songwriter’s first eponymous release). The album runs through Segall’s usual reference points: White Album-era Beatles, Syd Barrett and San Francisco’s psychedelic era. And at under 40 minutes, it’s hardly a complete sentence in Segall’s short attention span. In fact, with not many discernable song breaks, it’s more of a jam-sesh released in album format.

The record’s leadoff single, “Break Your Guitar,” sashays in Marc Bolan’s platforms. “Baby gonna break a guitar, Gonna make it a real big star,” Segall sings. The production on the record is overall raw and brittle, alternating with periods of extreme distortion, Kurt Cobain shrieks and even extended Grateful Dead-style experimentation.

But Segall and his band attack each stylistic shift with such intensity, and Segall’s songwriting is so effortless while his guitar playing so fierce and bloody, that when the Segall collective gets a full head of steam, it’s enough to quicken the pulse.

Ty Segall plays with Eugene’s Pancho + The Factory 8 pm Sunday, March 5, at Hi-Fi Music Hall; $15 advance, $18 doors, 21-plus.

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!