Sasquatch! Music Fest Musings
Music: Page 159
Turn On the Waterworks
Portland’s Water Tower has come a long way since stomping the Americana revival boards late last decade. With an all new lineup — excepting frontman Kenny Feinstein, who’s been along from the start and recently signed with Fluff & Gravy Records — the band leaves the old-time ever so slightly to bring a fresher rock ‘n’ roll sound. Continue reading
Gritty Grass
Three years have passed since Eugene’s perennial favorite rock-grass outfit, Alder Street (formerly Alder Street All-Stars), released its last album. With the debut this month of Americannibal, rest assured, it was worth the wait. “In three years you have time to get your shit together and write songs that are solid,” says Ian Royer, guitarist and a songwriter for the band. “We’re happy with every single song.” Continue reading
American Memories
From New York folk to Eugene’s Vocal Arts Ensemble
Last year’s film Inside Llewyn Davis helped revive memories of one of the great voices of American folk music. The fictionalized Cohen Brothers movie was based on the memoir of New York singer Dave Van Ronk, who mentored a whole generation of young folkies. Continue reading
Shacked Up
Once upon a time, record label Alive Naturalsound released the debut from a little band called The Black Keys. Now, that same label has released More Primitive from Seattle-based boogie-blues trio Lonesome Shack. Considering the Keys’ meteoric success, does Lonesome Shack’s Ben Todd (vocals/guitar) feel any pressure to live up to expectations? “I don’t feel any pressure but I do hope it does well,” Todd tells EW via email, “and I’m happy to be working with Alive. It seems like the most fitting label around for us.” Continue reading
CyHi the Prynce is part of Kanye West’s GOOD Music crew
Behind every great man is a great team. Hip-hop artist CyHi the Prynce is part of Kanye West’s GOOD Music crew; in fact, CyHi garners writing credits on nine out of 10 tracks on Yeezus. In February, he released his sixth mixtape via GOOD Music, Black Hystori Project, an 18-track meditation on civil rights and iconic figures including Nelson Mandela, Napoleon, Coretta Scott King and Jean-Michel Basquiat. The mixtape is drawing comparisons to The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill for its social message. Continue reading
Alder Street Album Art – Magnifique
Local rock-grass band Alder Street is hosting their CD release party Friday, June 6, for the new album Americannibal (read story on Alder Street here). Take a look at the album art when you get a chance because the front jacket of the CD was created by well known French illustrator Olivier Bonhomme. Bonhomme often illustrates political cartoons for Le Monde, perhaps the mostly widely read newspaper in France. Continue reading
Catch the blues-rockers of Blue Lotus
Catch the blues-rockers of Blue Lotus 7:30 pm Saturday, May 31, at WOW Hall before they head out on tours spanning Oregon, Washington, California and next year Arizona, Colorado, Montana and Idaho with their 2013 album A Thousand Other Things. Continue reading
On Planet Meat Machine
We welcome you all, to a world where no paper currency exists, no dreams of the afterlife are sought after and everyone is together, striving to form a unified consciousness. Continue reading
Don’t Pigeonhole John
When hard-pressed to describe Pigeon John’s sound, I choose “soul-rap” — living somewhere between early Jackson 5 and Stevie Wonder (hard to listen to and not smile) and uplifting indie West Coast hip hop. When I say uplifting, I don’t mean that John Dunkin (his given name) is an average “conscious” rapper spewing bumper-sticker aphorisms; Pigeon John is far from milquetoast. Following the long tradition of blues, soul and R&B singers before him, Dunkin’s gritty rhymes help you dance your troubles away. Continue reading