Funny-man Doug Benson is kickin’ it in Eugene this Thursday, 4/21, at WOW Hall for his “I’m Still High” Tour.

Benson, who is most well known for his work with Last Comic Standing and the movie Super High Me, is one of the most prolific comedians of the past few years. He podcasts, hosts, and does stand-up, using his love for marijuana as the basis for his comedy. “Every day is 4/20 in Eugene!” he replied when I asked why he chose our beautiful city for the day after his favorite day of the year.

Benson has always been enthusiastic about his smoking. “In honor of 4/20, I’m thinking about getting a bacon sundae at Dennys. #NotAnAd #JustAStoner #Happy420″ he wrote on his twitter account. But people underestimate his impact on the stigma surrounding pot use; his support for marijuana acceptance has helped put the controversy in a different light.

“There are a lot of pot smokers in the world,” he said, “and they don’t want to feel shame for smoking a plant. It helps to have someone like me saying, ‘I smoke a ton of pot,’ and things have gone pretty well for me!”

In addition to his stand-up, Benson hosts a TV show called “The Benson Interruption,” inviting his fellow comedians to have their stand-up ruined by the man in the giant chair. He also hosts and produces “Doug Loves Movies,” a podcast broadcasted live from Los Angeles’s Upright Citizens Brigade Theater, where he interviews a guest and talks about, well, movies. “I love podcasting,” he said. “Because it’s so much fun to do shows where I can say anything I want to say, I don’t have to answer to anyone.”

For tomorrow night, he’ll be doing his stand-up and it’s something you don’t want to miss. Tickets are still available and the doors open at 6:30.

Finally, when I asked whether he would live the rest of his life on Living Island with H.R. Pufnstuf or live in a world without pizza, he replied, “I’ll hang with Pufnstuf and down some pizzas, thank you very much.” Don’t miss Doug Benson tomorrow at WOW Hall!

WHERE: WOW Hall
WHEN: 4/21, Doors at 6:30
HOW MUCH: $20, $25 at the door

The music didn’t start until 10-ish … or maybe it did, but at least that is when Eskmo turned it on. For those of you who do not know Eskmo, let me paint the scene for you. On the stage we’ve got one guy (Brendan Angelides), hella cords and buttons, random musical trinkets, and vibrant visual lighting blasting out from behind. Eskmo has been doing his thing for a little more than a decade now, gradually progressing, and perfecting his sound. He just started touring a year or two ago, and luckily he was joining the Beats last night, kicking it off with his second show of his 5 month 2011 US tour.

Though Eskmo may seem obscure to the untrained ear, his shit sort of epitomizes the contemporary experi-lectric phenomenon that has been coming into bloom in our nation’s West coast region. The ever evolving tool of technology is a major component in this undefinable genre of noise — allowing the opportunity for more and more minds to experiment with expressive audio and groovy visual art, energizing the bunny at hip clubs up and down the coast.

But when I had a chance to catch up with Eskmo himself, he made sure to mention that despite his prominence in the party realm, that is not what he is into. He went on to explain that his music is much more intentional than what some would fail to believe, and it is true, his is one hell of an artist. Other than simply displaying his mastery on the keys and other gadgets, he implemented an array of abstract rackets from tearing paper, to gangling keys. Celebrating is one thing, said Eskmo, partying is another––and he wanted me to make it clear that he does not promote the habits of some of his crowd. It was really sweet to here this perspective from a musician immersed in the rave culture. Other than that, Brendan and I just talked a little about the sound revolution and we shared names of inspirational artists. After chatting, I bought his self-titled album (which you should do too!) and had him sign it.

When I wasn’t trancing out to Eskmo’s melodic assaults, I was floating to the indigenous rhythms of Beats Antique. If you have not heard of this three-piece set of imaginative entertainers, then I would recommend scoping it out, just for the sake of witnessing a fine example of New Age musicians. Belly dancin’, banjo slappin, and elaborate stage costumes kinda say something about what this band is all about. Having heard them for my first time this summer at a festival in Tahoe, I added their tunes to my tune bank and have listened to them since. When I attempt explaining their work to others, I struggle, which is what is happening right now. I would simply strongly suggest checking these guys out live for your first time too, so where down the line if you every get the chance, they’re just about three of a kind.

1980s reggae legend Barrington Levy brought a sweet, tropical slice of Jamaica to Eugene’s WOW Hall last Wednesday. Backed by twangy guitar, electronic organ, syncopated rhythms, groovy bass, and dancehall reggae’s obligatory air horn, Levy sang a solid set of strikingly happy island jams. The music was rad, but the round, middle-aged performer was way too into call-and-response crowd interaction. He wanted more energy than the patrons were able to muster. It was awkward.

“Eugene, are you sleeping?” he would call out.

The Rastafarian bunch would sing back an enthusiastic “No!” But they were too few to be convincing.

Levy would repeat, “I said, Eugene are you sleeping?”

No, we’re just really stoned.



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.

Dan deacon gave the kids of Eugene a taste of the East of Coast’s ‘wham city’ last night with his beautifully absurd performance at the Wow Hall. Despite false rumors of a fourteen-piece ensemble accompanying Mr. Deacon, the morale of fellow observers was higher than I anticipated. In the furry of week four I found myself almost studying through the show, but decided to drop everything and let myself get a little sweaty.

As a relative newbie to the Dan Deacon legacy, and a virgin to his live performances, the show dominated my expectations. I was comforted with Deacon’s familiar staples of oversized eyeglasses, grainy backdrop videos and that glowing green skull as I nestled into the crowd. From the start he had us on our knees smacking kisses onto each other’s foreheads, making us countdown to fifty before the music came. Set up on ground level he led our newly founded dance community with his digitally synthesized orchestra. Fidgeting with his light fixtures just as much as his switchboards, Deacon’s symphony of sound and light consumed the lower floor of the venue. The high pitched hum of his voice rang through the modulators along side the electronica waves. By his instruction we all partook in a tag-team dance contest, formed a synchronized interpretive dance and made a human tunnel that wrapped around Wow Hall. His social experiment/dance party glory left us all a little lighter.

But.

Swede Jens Lekman performs tonight at the WOW Hall starting at 8 p.m.  Lekman, formerly known as Rocky Dennis, is a singer-songwriter who blends melodic guitar with digital samples (think Andrew Bird) to produce a sound that can be experienced here.  Heavily influenced by Modern Lovers front-man Jonathan Richmond and the Scottish rockers Belle & Sebastian, Lekman is now on Secretly Canadian and is on tour in support of his epic 2007 album Night Falls Over Kortadela.  His performances often take different shapes ranging from just him and his guitar to a cappella to a full choir and string quartet.  While I have no insider information to what he’ll pull from his bag tonight (Save for comedian and actress Tig Notaro as an opening act), I’m sure it will be well worth the $15 inside the WOW Hall tonight.  If you’re not engulfed in course work, check it.