Shanghaied in the Eug

The Shanghais

San Francisco band The Shanghais have never been to Eugene. Lead vocalist Natalie Sweet is wondering if we have any good vegan food here. “I’m always on the hunt,” Sweet tells EW via email. Based on that question alone, the quartet should feel right at home in our fair city with its verdant veggie foodie scene. The Shanghais will release their latest EP, Fall in Love with the Shanghais, this spring on Philadelphia-based label Endless Daze Records.  Continue reading 

Looking for Liberman

Vanessa Carlton

Vanessa Carlton

Songwriter Vanessa Carlton’s 2015 release Liberman is partially inspired by her grandfather. “He was a painter,” Carlton tells EW. Carlton’s family changed its surname from Liberman to Lee after World War II “because of anti-Semitism,” she says. Carlton hangs her grandfather’s work near the piano where she writes her music. “The swirling, beautiful, crazy colors ended up being the inspiration for the type of music I was writing. I wanted to honor his work as a painter,” she recalls. Continue reading 

Goodbye David Bowie

David Bowie; Memorial I don’t like this one bit, not one bit Mr Bowie. I don’t like this one bit, Mr Bowie, one bit. A father a teacher a sister A brother a lover But death like life like art aren’t about me Unless the me is a you and the you were a we If I had a cathedral I’d carve your face in it. I don’t like this one bit, Mr Bowie, one bit. Continue reading 

Back Beat

The Eugene-based Caitlin Jemma & The Goodness bring their brand of “mist-covered folk” (see EW’s “For Goodness’ Sake,” 8/13) to Hi-Fi Music Hall 10 pm Thursday, Jan. 7; FREE. Joining them will be Ellensburg, Washington’s folk-rock band Centaur Midwife. Continue reading 

Tsunami Books, a somewhat under-recognized gem of a live music venue

Sam Bond’s Garage hosts the fantastic roots-country band Country Hammer

Country Hammer

Tsunami Books, a somewhat under-recognized gem of a live music venue, hosts finger-style guitar wizard Larry Pattis for an intimate acoustic concert 7:30 pm Saturday, Jan. 2 — an event that is part of The American Guitar Masters Touring Concert Series; $10. In his music, the Chicago native draws influence from classical, jazz, Celtic, blues and folk. Continue reading 

Stellar Soloists

From an uilleann piper to an American Songbook crooner

Olga Kern

The New Year opens with a series of ace instrumentalists strutting their chops around town. At 4 pm Sunday, Jan. 3, First United Methodist Church (13th and Olive) brings a renowned instrumentalist, uilleann piper Eliot Grasso, to its annual handbell concert. That unusual ensemble is alone worth seeing, but this year’s show also features trumpeter Chris Peters and the church’s own organist, Julia Brown, an accomplished recording artist. Grasso is one of the acknowledged masters of the haunting Irish bagpipes and has performed all over the world.  Continue reading 

Farewell Patchy Sanders

Patchy Sanders

The last chance for Eugeneans to hear Patchy Sanders live in all its folksy glory will be this Saturday, Dec. 19. The popular and critically acclaimed indie troupe with Eugene roots is calling it quits after three years. “Eugene is actually our second to last show ever,” says Sara Wilbur, violinist. The band’s final show will be Dec. 20 in Ashland. “The band has been trekking along pretty seriously for three years now,” Wilbur continues, adding, “We were just feeling ready to move on to new chapters.” Continue reading