Eugene Weekly

Bonnie Bloomgarden of Los Angeles’ Death Valley Girls says her band’s latest release, Glow in the Dark (out now on Burger Records), was inspired by ancient Egypt.  “We were asked to play a show for a mummy exhibit,” Bloomgarden tells EW. “These mummies had been in Chicago since 1890 until they came here to L.A. We realized this potentially could be the first time ever that they heard rock ‘n’ roll.” “What if we had the power to wake them?” Bloomgarden continues. “After we wrote the songs we thought, ‘Well, we’ve got to record them now.’” Continue reading →

What do booze, Philadelphia and reggae-ska have in common? Mike Pinto.  Pinto is a Philly-born singer-songwriter who cut his teeth playing at punk rock shows and the occasional coffee shop. Since the Philly rock scene wasn’t his jam, Pinto moved to San Diego, where he connected with the Sublime-loving community. Life in Philadelphia taught him how to be a storyteller, he says, and California helped solidify his “reggae-ska” sound.  Continue reading →

Norma Fraser and Thomas Mapfumo are legendary musicians, both residing right here in Eugene. If you’ve never heard of them, don’t beat yourself up. They’re better known in their countries of origin — Jamaica and Zimbabwe, respectively — than in the states.  Continue reading →

Deftones sound like an urban California traffic jam — the band’s innovative blend of alt-rock, metal, hardcore and emo creates heat, tension and eventually release.  Earlier this year, the Sacramento-born Deftones released the long-awaited and critically acclaimed Gore. Last spring, when Deftones’ only Oregon show was announced at Cuthbert Amphitheater, it was for many the crown jewel of Eugene’s summer concert season.  Continue reading →