Blue Scholars are playing the WOW Hall tonight Friday, April 2 along with Macklemore with Ryan Lewis, Bambu, and DJ Phatrick. Doors open at 8 pm. The Blue Scholars are Geologic (Geo) on the mic and Sabizi on the beats. The Northwest hip-hop duo (originating in Seattle) is known for expressing their political beliefs through their rhymes. With all the tickets sold out and having just released a new CD inspired by Hawaii, you can bet these guys will put on a great show, seeing as they played a free University of Oregon ASUO-sponsored show last year attended by over 4000 students and fans.
As a an extra, Macklemore is another politically conscious rapper, who just started getting recognized with his new album with Ryan Lewis, they creatively work samples from other songs, including ones form artists like Beirut and Red Hot Chili Peppers into their beats. All in all it should be good. If you got tickets, see you tonight. Bring your Northwest pride.
For most individuals at colleges under the Oregon University System umbrella, March 29th simply marks the beginning of spring-term classes. But more importantly, to those in the know, March 29th marks the long-awaited Portland debut of band Animal Collective and director Danny Perez’s visual album, ODDSAC, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January. Together they aim to resurrect the lost construction of visual albums championed by bands like the Beatles, DEVO, The Residents and Daft Punk. Oddly enough, Portland is one of only six fortuitous U.S. cites hosting the current round of screenings.
The 53-minute feature-film collaboration between the Collective and Perez is a strange brew of audio and visual elements that create a visceral and engrossing experience catering more to connoisseurs of experimental film rather than to casual listeners of Animal Collective. It’s likely ODDSAC will be considered especially harsh for those fans who think “My Girls” is the band’s best song; but those who cherish the band’s entire discography will likely understand and respect the work of art.
At times there are walls of sound that drown out any wandering thought you may have in your head, causing your rapt imagination to question whether the visual and audio elements provide any linear narrative, which when done a foolish endeavor – they don’t. There are times when you will wish you were witnessing the simple optical illusion of Merriweather Post Pavilion cover art, rather than the ocular raping the intense yet delicate combinations of colors and video layers produce. And at other times, you may be asked by your cohort, “Are you also frightened?” when you uncontrollably open up your throat and gasp after one of the film’s darker, more exhilarating moments. And by film’s end you’ll question many elements: family camping and traditional marshmallow roasts; vampires and flesh canoes; artistic intentions and undulating emotions; and lastly, what it all means. And while it may lack a definite linear narrative, it is a cohesive structure with closing scenes echoing opening sequences and repeating images reappearing when they seemingly should – but it’s definition avant-garde, too.
Danny Perez and Animal Collective (Minus Noah Lennox AKA Panda Bear) will accompany ODDSAC as it makes two final U.S. stops in Portland and Seattle before the DVD release on June 29th. Each date, March 29th and March 30th respectively, will feature two screenings, a 7PM and 9PM, and a subsequent Q & A session with the creators. For more information or to buy tickets, visit here. Tickets are $15.
We’ve started to include a sports section. Here are some excerpts from our current issue.
words Tyler Pell
“Mo Money Mo Problems” The Antoine Walker story:
The former Celtics Forward earned over $110 in his twelve year NBA career. Unfortunately, Walker’s career took a nose dive when a self professed love of fried chicken got the best of his slowing metabolism. Now 33, an overweight and unemployed Walker owes numerous Las Vegas Hotels sums upward of $4 million. Still not clear sure if they are gambling debts or unpaid buffet tabs, either way consider this movie a juxtaposition of the MC Hammer and Kirstie Alley stories.
“Undisputed”TheRock‘EmSock‘EmRobots story:
This classic rivalry seems to have spanned generations. But what goes on behind the scenes — when the Blue Guy and the Red Guy aren’t fighting? Is there any real animosity between them, or is it contrived? Is there a Don King of the Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em circuit? Do they go out for a beer after fights? Which fighters did they look up to growing up? Did they really start the Crips/Bloods feud?
“Ellis D” The Dock Ellis story:
Consider Ellis the Hunter S. Thompson of the sports world. His most famous exploits involve a two day acid binge during which he was informed by his girlfriend that he was scheduled to pitch for the Pirates later that afternoon. Dock responded, pitching just the 174th no-hitter of all time; likely the only one pitched under the influence of a Schedule I hallucinogenic. YouTube “Dock Ellis & The LSD No-No” for a psychedelic animated re-telling narrative of the historic event.
“Pushin’ Weight” The Nate Newton story:
Newton was one of the NFL’s premier offensive linemen during the 1990s. He won three Super Bowls and made six pro-bowls appearances as a member of the Dallas Cowboys. While in the NFL, his 370 pound frame earned him the nickname “The Kitchen.” After retiring, ungodly weights continued to define Newton. In one 5 week stretch in 2001, Newton was busted with trying to move over 390 pounds of pot. After serving jail time, Newton has given up marijuana and took up Christianity. Maybe pot is a gateway drug.
The headline of today’s Oregon Daily Emerald boldly states: ”Passion’ drummer parties solo,’ in reference to the Passion Pit house party Friday night that was orchestrated by the Oregon Voice and The Nudelman in lieu of the band entirely postponing (Don’t say ‘cancelling’!) their performance that was scheduled to take place in the EMU Ballroom.
Of course, the Emerald headline is in need of correction.
In fact, 4/5 of the band were in attendance at the house party, along with DJ E603 and members of their crew. But whether or not it was Nate solo or with his comrades is irrelevant (Save for, you know, being accurate with headlines.) What matters is that the fine students at the University of Oregon didn’t get completely short-changed. The infectious tunes, loops and beats Nate delivered certainly highlighted an otherwise dark and dreary Eugene night.
Unlike the embedded video courtesy of Ivar at the Emerald suggests, the impromptu party was most certainly off-le-hook and came to a head in the early morning hours when swarms of police officers arrived to disperse the near 250+ people that packed the 12th and Washington basement.
The house received a $750 noise violation. No MIPs or furnishing citations were given.
If you’d like to help us help the inhabitants of the house with the now monetary woes, please feel free to send donations to: Oregon Voice, 1228 Erb Memorial Union, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97401.
As you may remember, around this time last year there was supposed to be a Cultural Forum sponsored concert in the EMU Ballroom with the nationally touring act: Rogue Wave. That show, because of a broken hand suffered by guitarist Zach Schwartz, was in most sense, a bust (Save for those local bands who did their best to still hold it down.)
It happens again – the curse continues.
Now, apparently Michael Angelakos of Passion Pit took the words of Disturbed a little too seriously and got “down with the sickness.” What sickness we’re not exactly sure, but word on the street (of course it is) suggests Swine Flu. Let’s hope that’s not the case.
For Pacific North-westerners, this cancellation comes as another major blow after the band cancelled their Nike-sponsored performance at MFNW this past September in favor of shakin’ it (At a completely different point on the spectrum that is history.) in Juan’s Basement – an entirely overrated and Pitchfork-approved (word on the street is) moldy venue with the capacity of a Ford Aspire.
Though if you’re into that sort of thing, check out this article and accompanying video for Passion Pit’s song “Sleepy Head” from the Portland Mercury.
As part of Allen Hall Productions, a series of short documentaries were made for each student publication at the University of Oregon. Here’s the one that was created for the Oregon Voice. Thanks to Abby Silverman and Christina Diamond for the video.
Please refrain from laughing (too hard) at our interview shyness.
Tickets to the Pixies’ upcoming Doolittle 20th-Anniversary tour went on sale this morning at 10a.m. The Pixies will be playing their 1989 masterpiece in its entirety and more – an event not to be missed.
If you’re a Pixies fan and have yet to get your ticket(s) to their ONLY OREGON SHOW, get ‘em now. Tickets are $37 for upper-balcony seats and $55 for all others. They may be spendy, but it’s surely worth it. I’ve got my four, now you go and get yours.
P.S. – If you’re currently broke but still yearn for tickets, do what I did. Charge them to your student account via a two-step process. First, go to the Card Office in the basement of the EMU and put enough money on your Student ID/Campus Cash card (By charging to your UO student account.) to cover the cost of the number of tickets you want (FYI: There is an 8 ticket limit per person.) Second, go upstairs to the ticket office and use your Student ID/Campus Cash card to purchase the tickets. Voila!
And lastly, if you get Federal Financial Aid, don’t forget to thank Uncle Sam for your Pixies tickets!
The alternative-rock juggernaut the Pixies are taking to the air and hitting the road this fall as part of their Doolittle 20th anniversary tour. The Pixies, known to many as the band that popularized now mainstream stop-start/loud-soft dynamics and influenced cult-status bands like Nirvana and Weezer, will be crossing the Atlantic Ocean to perform in England, Belgium, France and Ireland, before returning to the United States to wrap-up their tour. As far as the Pixies playing in Oregon, they’ll be making one stop in our state.
Not in the major-market Portland like you may expect, but in lowly Eugene (This, of course, is likely because Black Francis resides in our fair town while not touring.) As reported on Pitchfork.com, the Pixies will make a stop in Eugene to play at the Hult Center for the Performing Arts on November 14th, before continuing East to Colorado. Who says all the good shows are in Portland?Take that PDX!
Now that the Summer sun has burned many of our ears, necks and backs, we write to you with an update – a progress report of sorts. As noted in our last post, we have a plethora of projects that we’re trying to accomplish before Fall rolls around and here’s where we stand thus far:
Revamp website Acquire new distribution boxes Paint new distribution boxes Replace broken Plexiglas in boxes around campus (About 1/3 fixed.)
Scan and archive Volume 14 and others not on website Create master distribution list, distribute to more places (It’s still growing, but we have a good start.)
Clean/Reorganize office (It’s reorganized but not clean. Does it need to be?) Plan Rent-a-Pooch IV (Set for October 21st.)
Organize U of O Student Media Summit
Bind and archive volumes not already in library Blog, blog, blog Build roller-coaster (It’s very rickety.) Drink beer (Can we ever really cross this one out?)
While there are some items that have been taken care of, there is much more to accomplish. If you’d like to get involved and help us help you and the entire student body, give us a shout via the contact form.
Our latest and most rewarding/colorful/longest effort of the year is now available to be viewed on the Internet from anywhere around the world, yes, even from Norway, New York City or Chicago! The print version is available around campus and will be distributed to the greater Eugene area via bike brigade shortly.
If you’ve left for summer vacation and want us to mail you a print copy, let us know via the contact form and we’ll gladly accommodate you.
Special thanks to all the past contributers who found time in their busy schedules to send us a remembrance and for allowing us to reprint their words. Hopefully you enjoy the issue as much as we enjoyed putting it together.
While this was our last issue of the school year, don’t think we’re going to be simply taking it easy until school starts up again in the fall. Here’s a list of the projects we have in store for the summer months:
Revamp website
Acquire new distribution boxes
Paint new distribution boxes
Replace broken Plexiglas in boxes around campus
Scan and archive Volume 14 and others not on website
Create master distribution list, distribute to more places
Clean/Reorganize office
Plan Rent-a-Pooch IV
Organize U of O Student Media Summit
Bind and archive volumes not already in library
Blog, blog, blog
Build roller-coaster
Drink beer
If you want to give us a hand and hang out with cool people, get at us.
Oregon Voice Magazine is paid for and produced by students at the University of Oregon. Our weekly meeting is on Wednesday at 6pm in Century Room E. Contributors are welcome.
The alternative-rock juggernaut the 
