Legal Weed 101
Know the law before you light up
Illustration courtesy whatslegaloregon.com “Legalize it …” Peter Tosh sang in 1976 and, nearly 40 years later, Oregon did. Continue reading
Whats-Happening: Page 504
Dirty Medicine
Butane hash oil, illegal pesticides, unregulated labs and a looming public health threat
Five years ago a friend handed Will Thysell a piece of “shatter.” The glossy golden marijuana extract immediately intrigued him. “I just had never seen anything like it,” Thysell says. “The look, the taste, the feel, was completely new.” He tried the potent extract and knew it could help a loved one in chronic pain. His godfather had scarring on his heart and lungs caused by severe shingles — a condition he described as a million burning-hot needles poking him. Continue reading
She Feels Fine
Comedian Jen Kirkman of Chelsea Lately comes to Cozmic
Comedian, author and actress Jen Kirkman is known for appearing on Chelsea Handler’s talk show Chelsea Lately and for being one of the first comedians to sign up for Drunk History. In 2013, Kirkman released the New York Times bestselling memoir, I Can Barely Take Care of Myself: Tales from a Happy Life Without Kids. Continue reading
Captive in Manhattan
The subject matter of Crystal Moselle’s new documentary The Wolfpack sounds like the premise for some creepy, postmodern young-adult novel: In Manhattan’s Lower East Side, the seven Angulo siblings — six teenaged brothers and a sister, with names like Govinda, Bhagavan and Krsna — have been raised in almost total confinement, held captive in a subsidized apartment by their paranoid-mystic father and dazed, abused mother. Continue reading
Storming the Symphony
Portland singer Storm Large stars in The Seven Deadly Sins
Signing up Portland singer Storm Large as the star of The Seven Deadly Sins might seem like typecasting. After all, Kurt Weill and Bertolt Brecht’s scorching 1933 satire tells the story of two sisters, Anna I and Anna II, who venture to a septet of cities, each representing one of the biblical mortal transgressions. Continue reading
Fab Five
The must-see events at 2015’s Oregon Bach Festival
It’s no easy task picking the top events of OBF, but here’s a working list. For a full lineup of events, times, locations and tickets, visit oregonbachfestival.com The Seven Deadly Sins, June 26, Hult Center Continue reading
Hip to History
OBF’s new Berwick Academy proves historically informed performances are far from old-fashioned
More than a decade ago, in a speech at the Oregon Bach Festival, former New York Times classical music critic John Rockwell suggested that OBF bring in historically informed ensembles so audiences could hear how contemporary authentic-practice Baroque performances differed from then-OBF music director Helmuth Rilling’s “1950s and ’60s interpretations.” Continue reading
The Cosmic Dark
Ultra Violent Rays
L.A. electro-pop duo Ultra Violent Rays draws comparisons to darkly sensual and moody acts like Portishead. The band describes their sound as “the hypothetical sonic lovechild of Siouxsie Sioux, Phantogram and the movie Blade Runner.” Ultra Violent Rays’ current single “Wish” is propelled by hypnotic, electronic drums, a ghostly whistle, shimmering and watery keyboards and vocalist Cooper Gillespie’s ethereal voice — borrowing an irresistible hook from childhood: “Wish I may/ Wish I might/ Find the words to make it right.” Continue reading
Brothers of Soul
My Brothers and I
Indie-soul outfit My Brothers and I is making big noises up north, recently signing to Portland’s Expunged Records — a label with a long history of working with critical darlings like Blind Pilot. Label founder Anthony McNamer says he knew he wanted to work with My Brother and I after seeing footage of the band performing live. “They have those harmonies that you only get from siblings,” McNamer says via press release. The five-piece band features three brothers and two childhood friends. Continue reading
Seattle Folk Fusion
Motopony
Daniel Blue — who once made love in the bathroom at Eugene’s Ninkasi Brewery — grew up in a highly religious family where he wasn’t allowed to listen to secular music. Now, he’s the frontman of Motopony, the Seattle sextet that fuses Northwest indie folk with the current electronic craze. Continue reading