Back Beat Archive

Faerieworlds hosting its last go-around at Mount Pisgah

Music

Looking at lineups for some of the major local venues this summer, it appears that audiences and/or bookers want one prolonged and mostly vanilla sausage fest. For Cuthbert’s 2014 season, of the nearly 40 acts scheduled to grace the amphitheater stage, seven include women (counting the Eugene Symphony’s free concert July 19). The Lane County Fair does not fare better: Of the eight acts to hit the main stage, there will be one musician who’s a woman — Pat Benatar (July 26 with Neil Giraldo). Continue reading →

CyHi the Prynce is part of Kanye West’s GOOD Music crew

Music
CyHi the Prynce

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 →

It’s OK to be a little afraid of Die Antwoord

Music

It’s OK to be a little afraid of Die Antwoord.  Especially if you’ve gotten a gander at the videos for “Cookie Thumper” or “Pitbull Terrier,” tracks off 2014’s Donker Mag. We’re dealing here with some grade-A weirdos, but visionary weirdos with a global fan base (those videos respectively have 8.1 million and 90,000 views — the latter having been released five hours prior at press time). Continue reading →

Rapper YG only just released his debut album

Music

Rapper YG only just released his debut album, My Krazy Life, in March. In the summer of 2013, however, he garnered more than 75 million views on YouTube with his single “My Nigga.” You could say he has a following. For someone who’s not even old enough to rent a car, YG has already worked with quite the hip-hop roster: Jeezy, Rich Homie Quan, Ty Dolla $ign and Drake. YG brings his My Krazy Life Tour to Dusk nightclub (44 E. 7th) 9 pm Thursday, May 15. Continue reading →

For further evidence that Tiny Tavern seriously shreds as a live venue

Music
Will Johnson

For further evidence that Tiny Tavern seriously shreds as a live venue, head down Friday, April 11, for Basque punk/nu-metal band Berri Txarrak (“Bad News”), a power trio from Spain that plays high-octane alt-rock, meshing the anthemic assault of Judas Priest with the angsty crunch of early grunge. Founded in 1994, this outfit has recorded with Steve Albini and toured with Rise Against, and they sing in their native tongue. Long live Basque metal!   Continue reading →