Now that the hippie gawking at the Oregon Country Fair has concluded, its time to turn our attention back to festivals that actually carry some musical merit.  With Portland’s Pickathon not until next month and Music Fest Northwest nearly two months away, we need a booze filled event to take up our lax summer weekends.  Seattle’s most notoriously trendy neighborhood, Capitol Hill, is throwing a block party just for you, July 23rd-25th.  This justly named festival, Capitol Hill Block Party is thirteen years in the making, but has just stretched its celebration to three days.  It’s only a five-hour drive north and 60 bucks for a full weekend of independent music in the Emerald City (the real one, sorry Eugene).  This year its headlining huge names like MGMT, Yeasayer, Atmosphere and the Dead Weather, along with indie greats like the Bear in Heaven, Fruit Bats, Holy Fuck, Dutchess and the Duke and the legendary dance phenomena !!!.    The Block Party’s long held tradition of local, independent music holds fast with local bands like infamous hipster favorites Mad Rad and Truckasaurus, along with hip-hop Fresh Espresso, and a plethora of upcoming musical collectives that bolster a variety of sounds.  Don’t spend another weekned in your rundown, air conditioning free Eugene apartment and caravan up to Seattle.  Why not.

Capitol Hill Block Party: July 23rd, 24th, 25th in Seattle

23$/Day, 60$/weekend

http://www.capitolhillblockparty.com/schedule.html

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Six weeks later, the Oregon Voice Plant Issue has arrived. Check it.

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

photo by Ali Moran

If one assumes that true art begins in unhappiness, than the Brian Jonestown Massacre is the tragic sovereign of revisionist rock.

Though the award-winning 2004 documentary DiG!, candidly detailing the escalating beef between BJM and the Portland-based Dandy Warhols that effectively put BJM on the map as notoriously troubled shoegazers, the band has come to represent something greater than mere  junkies-cum- struggling rock stars.

Championed by Alan McGee, toured with Oasis, BJM’s tumultuous 20 plus year revolving door of 40 or so band mates—including Black Rebel Motorcycle Club’s Peter Hayes and Sune Rose Wagner, the founding member of The Raveonettes—has led to a romanticized self-destruction, solidifying the band’s place as a cult favorite within the “keep music evil” category. Only when I hear BJM do I believe that this is the Last Great Rock Band alive. Clearly, I am not alone.

It’s the eve of June 17th and the crowd at Portland’s Crystal Ballroom is holding a collective breath as if undertaking the dangerous voyage to the underworld.

“Expect the unexpected,” is the hushed mantra BJM concertgoers must remember as the band has a famed (if not probable) proclivity for hijacking the unpredictable in the name of Chaos, Anarchy and, well, fuck… who knows. (Throwing lit cigarettes into crowds and kicking irritating audience members in the face? Its happened before.)

Like a bat out of hell, Anton Newcombe, the prodigal mastermind, only consistent member and infamous instigator of such shenanigans, is the first to appear.

As the remaining octet—including comic-relief Joel Gion and beloved Matt Hollywood—follow suite and tune their instruments, the loudest, most unswerving sound comes from offstage: “ANTON, ANTON!” adoring fans scream.

A bashful smirk peeks behind his stringy black hair, but after the lights go down and the music comes up, the smile vanishes—a cold reminder perhaps suggesting, “This is our music and music must be taken seriously.” Ladies and gentleman, the man and the monster are in the building.

This chemically imbalanced stage behavior alludes to the cross-pollinated loopy fuzz and raw jamboree that distinguishes BJM’s sound as both melodic retro-pop and ethereal space-rock. Any BJM refusenik would have to admit that at tonight’s show, the band’s synchronicity and adrenaline are as fresh and infectious as ever.

Surprisingly, however, the band overlooks its latest studio album “Who Killed Sgt. Pepper?” and instead opts to play its greatest hits—particularly those songs compiled on  “Tepid Peppermint Wonderland: A Retrospective.”

There are words on love (“Anenome”); words on political strife (“Ballad of Jim Jones”); words on self-proclaimed greatness (“Going to Hell”) and words on the unrelenting insecurities that can drive one mad (“Cabin Fever”). The crowd—notably young and riotous—goes bonkers when the Dandy’s Zia McCabe takes stage for a tongue-and-cheek rendition of “Not If You Were The Last Dandy Warhol On Earth.” Who would’ve thought that songs written a decade ago could still generate such fanfare amongst this youthful cohort—a generation generally more inspired by drum machines and digital samplers and than 8-string guitar riffs and effect pedals?

But If I had any significant revelations while the isolated strains of neo-pyschedliac compositions I have come to know so well penetrated my chakras and filled my lungs, it is this: Anton Newcombe doesn’t give two shits who’s listening or what people are saying or why people are listening or why they are not saying anything. Because of this, nothing will ever sound as good as BJM’s apathetic prowess. In short, BJM (cue the music) reminds us to “keep it cool” and “break the rules.” Not bad for a bunch of gifted deadbeats.

Related posts:

1. Gorillaz: Revolutionizing The Music Industry With just one day before Gorillaz’s new CD Plastic...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

photo by Carolina Riveria

Phantogram’s haunting, post-electronic dream pop oozes a certain amount of intoxication, and the epic performance by the New York duo at Eugene’s Willamette Valley Music Festival last Saturday was comparable to watching globules in a lava lamp. I pity any one who wasn’t in attendance. It really was a seductive—if not spellbinding—show.

I recently had the chance to interview Josh Carter of the group. Here is what he had to say on the West Coast, the music industry and the future of Phantogram.

Fond memories from your last visit to Eugene?

Indeed! We had a great time playing the Willamette Valley Fest. The crowd was awesome!

Any thoughts on the West Cost vs. your native East?

So far, we have enjoyed playing the West Coast very much. We’ve had awesome response to our music on both coasts – the Midwest is great too! We haven’t really gotten to play a lot of shows in the South yet. We are looking forward to getting down there soon. There are nice people and jerky people everywhere we go… We prefer meeting friendly, sincere people.
We definitely miss home on the East Coast right now, because we’ve been on tour for a month and will continue to tour for a while.

How would you describe your music to someone who hasn’t heard it?

Beat-heavy pop, with spacey synths, swirling guitars, chopped up samples, honest, emotional lyrics, and a lot of texture.

What are major influences to the band, musically and otherwise?

Musically- everything from Debussy to Talking Heads, Curtis Mayfield to Slowdive, The Beatles to J Dilla…. We like all kinds of music. We draw a lot of inspiration from film and movies, too. Some of our favorite directors are David Lynch, Terry Gilliam, Michel Gondry…

And what’s your favorite thing about music and the industry today?

My favorite thing about music is that it is as close as you can get to spirituality or the heart and soul of an individual. Music can touch people in ways that most other things can’t. It gets under your skin.

What’s the meaning behind the word ‘phantogram’?

A phantogram is a two-dimensional optical illusion that appears in three dimensions. We thought that ‘Phantogram’ would be a good name for our band as we are a two-piece that creates a stereophonic sound – a sound much larger than you would expect from two people.

Any acts you would like to collaborate with?

We would’ve liked to collaborate with Sparklehorse. RIP Mark Linkous. It would be cool to do scores for films too.

What are your three must have songs on a dance party mix?

EMF’s “Unbelievable”, Jay-Z’s “Empire State of Mind”, and “I Would Die For You” by Prince.

Besides a wealth of tour dates, what does the future have in store for Phantogram?

Lots of more music and albums!

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

It’s a matter of fact. The Oregon Voice reigns as the best body movin’ jerk jivin’ publication crew in town, after Friday night’s dance-off vs. Ethos Magazine.

In the multifaceted history of the dance-off, eccentricity of movement is not the only factor in clinching a title. The demeanor and visual presentation of a dancer are just as essential.

The meager uniform clad Ethos team couldn’t even begin to challenge the multi-colored, textile sensual, wild styles of the Voice wardrobe.

Uncharacteristic aggression came easy when attempting to establish dominance, with chest thrusting and ass backing up abound. The Campbell Club dance hall was nearly at capacity when DJ Foodstamp dropped his funky soul pressed beats on the battleground. A place where adrenaline induced early onset Alzheimer’s, making memories of one’s time on center stage a whirlwind blur.

Related posts:

1. Nancy Drew and the Case of the Broken Voice Box “Nancy! Come quick. There’s trouble on the University of...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

By the time Macklemore came on the crowd had gotten much bigger. He put on a really good show, that included some acapella rapping about nikes and being an original. Sounds a little cliché, but the crowd was into it. For the last song he ran off stage and came back on with a wig and a british accent, at least I’m ninety percent sure that’s what happened. He started saying that he came all the way over from Great Britain to start a dance party, and he heard that in Eugene we liked to….dance. The crowd yelled back in response, although I’m sure they would have had the same reaction to anything else. Overall the performance was good quality and creative. Macklemore and Ryan Lewis’ new album is available for free online because as he put it, they are “hella nice.”

The Blue Scholars finally came on, the hall was for the most part packed with a large number of guys, but a good number of girls too (both groups with the “You Go Girl!” stamps that they got on their wrists at the door). They had great stage presence. For one song they managed to bring up about thirty girls, and a few eager guys, onto the stage. Their playlist included The Ave, 50 Thousand Deep, some of their newer material like Paul Valery (which samples the song Fireflies by Owl City), and some even newer material that they are working on for a new album. Their encore consisted of North by Northwest being sung by not only the Blue Scholars, but Macklemore and Bambu as well. Along with some crowd surfing by a couple of the rappers themselves.  

I think the audience in general felt a personal connection with the Blue Scholars and Macklemore that helped make the show. They are Northwest hip hop, they live and rap about the Northwest, and we ARE the Northwest. It also helps that they are singing about something more than a girl with a nice ass, not that I’m saying that doesn’t make a good song too. Finally there is simply something about a hip hop concert in general where each person is moving in unison to the beat allowing the crowd to almost pulse as one unit to the music. Thirteen bucks was more than worth the experience.

Related posts:

1. Blue Scholars Tonight @ the WOW Hall Blue Scholars are playing the WOW Hall tonight Friday,...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Emerging from the sleepy backwoods of rural Pennsylvania, Black Moth Super Rainbow’s musical genius, Tobacco, has broken solo and ventured into a new urban terrain.  Leaving behind a heaven of synthesizer daydreams and a host of angelic murmurs, the man behind the vocoder began to explore the gritty beat of the city.

Starting off in pure noise music, he shifted through the lo-fi realm, experimenting with outdated electronic musical instruments.  Through various personas and projects Tobacco began to gain his uniquely pop sound we have all grown to love in BMSR.  “I try to label what I do as pop music, but it’s really whatever you want it to be.”  Tobacco said Thursday.  “It’s the circumstance, it’s what you feel.”

After teaming with BMSR for four records, Tobacco has proven to be even heartier on his own.  With his 2007 release, Fucked Up Friends, the drums hit a bit harder, the snyths swell a little longer and the vocals dig deeper.  “I just want it to be memorable,” he said.  “Stuff that hooks into your brain.”  Tobacco focuses more on his aggressive beats, and a little more on his dark side.  His sound remains focused on analog synths, drum machines, and (of course) vocoders, but a tad rawer with a little more static.  His 2007 release featured Aesop Rock, which was rumored to have inspired more hip hop collaborations in his upcoming productions.

Fresh off SXSW, Tobacco glad to be back on the road and ready to hit the West Coast for the second half of his short tour.  A fan of the Northwest, he’s gladly playing WOW Hall this Sunday, March 28th.  “It’s been a few years but I remember Eugene, I liked it!” Tobacco said.  He will be showcasing some surprising material from his upcoming album Manic Meat.  Not only does Tobacco reign over us with a supremely unique style, he provides all the band art too, pretty impressive.  No doubt the live show will be lit up with his own eccentric video creations-eye candy while the conjurer does his craft.

March came in like a lion- let’s send it out like one.  Spring break’s not over till Monday morning, so come dance to the hipster mash-ups of Hood Internet and the eclectic styling of Tobacco with the Oregon Voice.  This is a show not to be missed.

And you know how we like to get down.

Related posts:

1. Portugal. The Man Tonight @ WOW Hall Portugal. The Man is playing WOW Hall tonight with...
2. Mr. Deacon Comes to Eugene. Dan deacon gave the kids of Eugene a taste...
3. Blue Scholars Tonight @ the WOW Hall Blue Scholars are playing the WOW Hall tonight Friday,...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

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.

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.