Built to Last

Built to Spill

Built to Spill

When you close your eyes and listen to 2015’s Untethered Moon from Built to Spill, it’s like nothing’s changed.  The guitars still wail. Singer Doug Martsch still applies layers of distortion to his vocals. The band still writes songs about rock music and the state of Idaho. Continue reading 

Hot ‘N’ Jazzy

The Jazz Station turns 10 while July hits jazzy and world music notes ’round town

Cindy Scott

One of the city’s most valuable music institutions, The Jazz Station, is entering its second decade of giving Eugene a real center for jazz and other improvised sounds. The three-day 10-year anniversary celebration begins Thursday, July 23, with New Orleans singer Cindy Scott and guitarist Brian Seeger joining Portland piano star Randy Porter in a highly recommended vocal jazz show.  Continue reading 

Blackouts Are Back

Bad Luck Blackouts

Bad Luck Blackouts

A couple years ago, I helped film a documentary about Bad Luck Blackouts recording their debut album 13. The punk-rock trio had an enthusiastic local following, a surprisingly professional work ethic and ambitions to take the act on the road. In addition, they were incredible live. The band seemed poised to make some noise, and we wanted to capture that rise to inevitable greater success. However, as young bands often do, BLB hit a wall.  Continue reading 

You could say Graham Nash is rock royalty

Spectacular Spectacular

Black Forest hosts a free show 10 pm Thursday, July 16, featuring local singer-songwriter Jake McNeillie, who has a country-dusted baritone evocative of David Bowie, with his “dark roots” band. McNeillie and Company is joined by the folk blues of Utah “one-man band” Tom Bennett and Minnesota folk-rock musician Kevin James Pertinen.   Continue reading 

Arts Hound

The Arts Center of Corvallis (700 S.W. Madison Ave.) hosts an opening reception 5:30 to 7:30 pm Thursday, July 16, for a fantastic new exhibit, Subtext: An Exploration of Language in the Visual Arts. The show runs through Aug. Continue reading 

We hear that the Oregon Country Fair new movement arts program will feature performances and workshops on a dedicated stage

We hear that the Oregon Country Fair new movement arts program will feature performances and workshops on a dedicated stage, the spiffy new Dance Pavilion, during the weekend (July 10-12) of the OCF. Look for Salseros Dance Company, the Connexus dance collective, Track Town Swing Club, Danceability and more. A full schedule is available at oregoncountryfair.org.  Continue reading 

Fade to Black

Asif Kapadia’s new documentary, Amy, does what nothing else could when Amy Winehouse was here, and so famous  — not the Rolling Stone interviews, the profiles, the photos, and definitely not the tabloids, the gossip, the cruel jokes. It turns Winehouse back into a person, letting her history speak for itself while quietly painting a damning picture of celebrity culture, particularly when that culture turns its gaze on young women. Continue reading 

Incredible Dudes

Shellac

Shellac

Chicago art-rock and post-hardcore act Shellac is hitting the road for its second tour in support of 2014’s phenomenal Dude Incredible. A supergroup comprised of members of Big Black, Mission of Burma, Rapeman and more, the power trio is helmed by revered underground godfather and producer Steve Albini. You might be vaguely familiar with Albini’s body of work, having produced records for Slint, Nirvana, Mogwai, Jawbreaker, Page & Plant and Joanna Newsom, to name a few.  Continue reading