THIS WEEK AT THE CLUBS:   Curtis Salgado The "Original Blues Brother" is back in town. If you've never seen the man who was the alleged inspiration for the John Belushi character, you don't know what you're missing! Saturday, Wild Duck.   Eagle Park Slim If you live in Eugene, chances are you know this man. Long before he became the regular lead singer with the blues band, the Vipers, Eagle Park Slim was a regular and beloved fixture on 13th Street, playing sweet songs about "Bluegene." Saturday, 5th Street Beanery.   Songs: Ohia Led by Ohio native, Jason Molina, Songs: Ohia is a journey into sensitive indie rock-land, where "songs might be blown about...by the slightest hint of a breeze," (CMI Music Monthly). Songs: Ohia is touring to support their new album, Ghost Tropic. Sunday, Sam Bond's Garage. CLICK HERE FOR MORE CLUBS LISTINGS Gods & Chicken Local band hatched from 'introspective struggle.' By Dave Gingold   Hippity-Hoppity-Rahzel is on his way. WOW Hall, Wenesday. .   This is what it means to be a rock writer. You go to see a film like Almost Famous after scrimping and saving for months on what Eugene Weekly pays you. You're excited. This is a film about a rock writer. Little whiz-kid Cameron Crowe, who was writing for Rolling Stone before he was able to hold a drivers license, and back in the early '70s, when there were bands like Led Zeppelin to cover and hotel rooms full of groupies and then C.C. grew up to marry one of the Heart gals and write and direct Jerry Maguire, and then write this semi-autobiographical film about his younger days. In an early scene, when little William, as the protagonist is known, is turned on to the magic of rock and roll by his dim older sister and flips through the stack of life-altering LPs she leaves him, there is Joni Mitchell's Blue. It's 1969. That album wasn't out 'til 1971. This is what it means to be a rock writer. This mouthful of gravel in the limp side salad of this movie is what they call foreshadowing, a hint that maybe this movie won't add up to much more than a hill of sometimes-rockin' beans. They could have at least played up the otherwise unexplored time-travel angle a little more thoroughly. Billy Crudup, who did a great job as Steve Prefontaine in Without Limits and winked at me over by St. Mary's church during the filming, is fine here, too, as the lead guitarist for the mythical amalgam group Stillwater. Crudup grasps the axemaster gig well and they even give him Robert Plant's "I am a golden god!" line at one point, after he's done a mess of acid. It's a good excuse to put a lot of great Zeppelin songs on a soundtrack, and it makes you realize how underutilized they are in film. Christ, if a week goes by when I don't hear "I Feel Good" in a movie trailer, I worry. So along comes Chicken. A local band "hatched," they say, (yeah, you got it, huh) in Eugene last year, who list R.E.M., Sebadoh and The Velvet Underground as their influences, as they draw on "the introspective struggle between dissonance and harmony." But enough about my wardrobe. The four-song CD Chicken sent me, hand-notated "Live in Studio," was a real pleasure to listen to, 20 minutes of a really good time. Chicken's lethargic abrasiveness is very appealing, and the band's modern rock exhibits a skillful dynamic command and consistent tunefulness, even making the line "feel free to take a load off" a cryptic mantra in "You Fly." The gents of Chicken headline John Henry's, complete with its new hard bar, on the 26th. Plaster opens. This Week: The duo of Johnny Cunningham and Susan McKeown, along with Irish guitarist Aidan Brennan, bring a sit-down evening of Celtic folk to the WOW Hall the 22nd. Cunningham is as well known for his storytelling as his fiddling. Beloved local songstress Shelley James and her band Musicbox are at the Wild Duck the 24th for a special show full of songs "to make your heart overflow with thanks," the essence of this holiday week, no? Ohia brings alternative to Sam Bonds Garage the 26th, along with Damien Jurado. Amazing human beatbox Rahzel of The Roots is at the WOW Hall for a night of hip-hop the 29th, with Ugly Duckling. Country Swingin' The Leftovers provide that post-feast fix. By Mare Wakefield   Bring your own cranberry sauce to a post-Thanksgiving performance by the Leftovers. .   Wondering what to do with the relatives on the day after Thanksgiving? If you're looking for an excuse to get out of the house, the Leftovers provide the perfect post-Thanksgiving musical entertainment. The core members of this country-swing band have been playing together for more than a decade now and it shows. The harmonies are faultless and the all-string instruments stay in time even without the aid of a drummer to pound out the beat. But the true magic of the Leftovers lies in the songs they play. If the terms "country-swing" or "old-time music" don't mean very much to you; imagine Hank Williams, Fats Waller, Bill Monroe and John Prine all getting together to jam. The resulting mixture of great lyrics, tasteful solos and good times are what the Leftovers are all about. This is music that makes you dance, tap your foot, or just sit back, listen and enjoy. And just in case one night of music isn't enough for you, the band has put out some of their favorite songs on disc. Entrée, released in 1998, showcases a little bit of what the Leftovers are all about. The disc contains such classic songs as "Long Gone Lonesome Blues" and "Hey Good Lookin'" by Hank Williams, "Baby That Sure Would Go Good" by Cindy Walker and my personal favorite, "Milk Cow Blues" by Kokomo Arnold. "Well I woke up this morning went down to the barn, looking for my milk cow but she was gone," sings Eric Sprado. "Now if you see my milk cow, please boys send her on home, I ain't had no cream or butter since that old milk cow's been gone." We might wonder why the man is so upset about his milk cow, until we hear the line "this bed's mighty lonely with my sweetheart gone cross town." The author of the tune either had a dubious pet-name for his sweetie, or he was overly attached to his cow -- but that's another story. The whole disc is great. I listened to it three times while cleaning the house and never got tired of it. Even the most mournful tune on the album, "Yellow Roses," written by K. Devine and S. Nichols, manages to carry a moderately lively swing beat. "I'll place them near your photograph and as the petals fall, they'll hide from you my lonely tears that shouldn't fall at all." If the lyrics are too sad for you, all you have to do is get up and dance away your sorrows. The Leftovers consist of Dick Gunn on guitar and vocals, Johnny Schiller on string bass and vocals, Eric Sprado on fiddle and vocals, and Greg Biller on mandolin. "As a group, we probably represent over 120 years of experience," says Sprado. Sprado, Gunn and Schiller have been playing together for more than 13 years. Even newcomer Biller has been on board for two years now, and the band members' experience and dedication serves to guarantee an excellent performance every time they play. "The Leftovers could play for three days and not repeat a song," says Pete LaVelle from the public radio station KLCC. "I for one would be happy to hear all of it." So, after you've eaten all the turkey or tofurky you can handle, put away the leftovers and head out to see the Leftovers. The band plays this Friday, Nov. 24 at Sam Bond's Garage. The show starts at 9:30 pm; tickets are $3-$5 on a sliding scale. Adam's Place 30 E. Broadway * 344-6948 Thursday: Gus Russell--5:30, Jazz Friday: Mike Denny--7:30, Jazz Saturday: Mike Denny--7:30, Jazz Monday: Barbara Dzuro--5:30, Jazz Wednesday: Barbara Dzuro--5:30, Jazz Barnes & Noble 1163 Valley River Dr. * 687-0356 Bacari Restaurant 1210 Willamette * 343-8404 Beanery 152 W. 5th * 342-3378 Friday: Russ Wilbanks--11am, Acoustic Folk; Nicholes & Dymes--8, Acoustic Folk Saturday: Eagle Park Slim--10am, Blues; Russ Wilbanks--8, Folk Sunday: The Retired Cowboy--2, Songs from the Trail Beanery 2465 Hilyard * 344-0221 Sunday: Edson Oliveira--10am, Brazilian Black Forest Friday: Acoustic Etouffee--9:30, Fiddlin' Swamp Rock Saturday: Roy G. Biv--9:30, Psychedelic Rock Revival Sunday: Open Mic--9 sign-up Bliss Steak Ranch 2891 W. 11th * 484-6657 Borders 5 Oakway Center * 345-6072 Friday: Walker T. Ryan--8, Blues The Brickhouse 4136 4th St. Spfd. * 988-1612 Buzz Coffeehouse EMU, UO * 346-3725 Monday: Open Mic Poetry--9 Cafe Paradiso AA NS 115 W. Broadway * 484-9933 Saturday: Steve Pyle--8:30, Acoustic Blues Tuesday: Open Mic--8:30, Acoustic Chez Ray 44 W. 10th * 344-1530 Friday: Simply Jazz--7, Jazz; Stone Cold Jazz--9, Jazz Saturday: Thais Perkins & Amanda Stark--7, Acoustic Sunday: Vaudeville--6; Chip Cohen--7, Fiddle Monday: Gordon Kaswell--7, Acoustic Tuesday: Open Mic Poetry & Stone Cold Jazz--7 sign-up Wednesday: ALS Blues Social--8, Blues Diablo's 959 Pearl * 683-3855 Thursday: Dance Classics w/ D-Rock & DJ Jon--9, DJ Dancing Friday: Body Rock w/ D-Rock & Tremor--9, DJ Dancing Saturday: Retro & Deephouse 2/DJ RNA & Now--9, DJ Dancing Tuesday: SIN DJ Tremor--9, DJ Dancing Wednesday: 80s w/ DJ Jon--9, DJ Dancing Doc's Pad 165 W. 11th * 683-8101 Duck Inn 1795 W. 6th * 342-5729 Thursday: Karaoke--8 Saturday: Karaoke--8 Fool's Paradise 460 Willamette * 338-9733 Foxfire 4740 Main, Spfd * 747-7900 Friday: Jet Harris & His Hotrod Hellcats--9:30, Rock Saturday: Ozone Baby--9:30, Rock Sunday: Karaoke--7:30 Groucho's 100 E. Broadway * 484-1747 Friday: DJ Mario Mora--10, Salsa & Merengue Wednesday: Salsa con Clase--7, Salsa & Cumbia Hagen's 50 E. 11th * 343-8108 Hilton Lobby 66 E. 6th * 342-2000 Saturday: Forrest/Moulton Duo--9, Jazz Hollywood Taxi 535 Main, Spfd * 747-0307 Saturday: The Revelators, Liquid Genie--9:30, Blues Tuesday: PELT--9:30, Classic & New Rock JoFederigo's 259 E 11th * 343-8488 Thursday: Jo Fed's Jazz Jam--9:30 Friday: Olem Alves Quartet--9:30, Jazz Saturday: Nancy Verdouw Quartet--9:30 Sunday: Mark Alan--9, Acoustic Monday: Open mic--6:30 sign-up Tuesday: Barbara Dzuro--8:30, Jazz Piano Wednesday: Paul Paydos Jam--9:30, Variety John Henry's 136 E. 11th * 342-3358 Friday: Out of Order--10, Rock Saturday: Dirty Sanchez, Dim Fabian, Snukas, Short Round--10, Punk Sunday: Chicken, 7 Minute Cycle, Lado de Loma, Plaster--9, Rock Monday: IAM--10, Deep Funk, Disco House Wednesday: JLA--10, Hip-hop Lavelle Wine Bar 5th St. Mkt * 338-9875 Friday: Gus Russell--5:30, Piano Saturday: John Crider--5:30, Piano The Love Cafe 145 Pioneer Pkwy Spfd * 763-5710 Friday: Doctor J, Bobby Six Crows--4, Native-laced Tunes Meridian Building 18th & Willamette * no phone Moretti's 730 E. Broadway * 344-6673 Mystique Restaurant 959 Pearl St. * 343-4361 Thursday: Michael Kelley--10:30, Acoustic Rock & Modern Soul Nite Owl (Ramada Inn) 225 Coburg * 342-5181 Friday: Wild Rose--9:15 Saturday: Wild Rose--9:15 The Old Pad 3355 E. Amazon * 686-5022 Oregon Electric Station 27 E. 5th * 485-4444 Out of the Fog 839 Lincoln * 302-8194 Tuesday: Sunshine Daydream--6:30, Psychedelic Overtime Tavern 770 S. Bertelsen * 342-5028 Piccolo 999 Willamette * 484-4011 Quacker's 2105 W. 7th * 345-2617 Saturday: The Valley Boys--8, Rock Rascals 211 Washington * 345-2617 Wednesday: Westside Blues Jam--9:30, Blues Rick's Pub 20 Hwy 99 N. * 344-3074 Friday: Patty McCulla & Dave Clark Band--9:30, Blues Rock 'n' Rodeo 44 E. 7th * 683-5160 Sam Bond's Garage 407 Blair Blvd * 343-2635 Friday: Chip Cohen--5:30; The Leftovers--9:30, BYO Cranberry Sauce Saturday: Old Time Jam--5; Birdie Jo & Ty Connor--9:30 Sunday: Irish Jam--4; Songs: Ohia & Damien Jurado--8, Acoustic Alt. Monday: Dan Jones--9, Acoustic Tuesday: Bluegrass Jam--9 Wednesday: Flamenco Night--9, Balla Balla Sam's Place 825 Wilson * 484-4455 Friday: Karaoke--8 Senor Frog's 444 E. 3rd * 484-2927 Thursday: DJ Dancing--10 Friday: DJ Señor Mix--10, Salsa & Merengue Saturday: DJ Señor Mix--10, Salsa & Merengue Stepina's 1475 Mohawk, Spfd * 744-0811 Friday: Workman Project--9 Saturday: Mixed Blood--9 Taylor's 894 E. 13th * 344-6174 Tuesday: Mojo--10, Original Rock Theo's Jazz Club 126 W. Broadway * 344-6491 Saturday: Olem Alves Quartet--8:30, Jazz Tuesday: Jazz Studies All Stars--8:30 Tiny Tavern 894 E. 13th * 344-6174 Wednesday: Christie & McCallum--10, Classic Rock Tsunami Books 2585 Willamette * 345-8986 Saturday: Russ Wilbanks--2; Elizabeth Cable-Landry--4, Shaka--5 Valley River Inn 1000 Valley R. Way * 687-0123 Thursday: Tropic Starr---8, Variety Friday: Tropic Starr--8:30, Rock Saturday: Tropic Starr--8:30, Rock Sunday: Mike Denny & Greg Nathan--9am, Jazz Vet's Club 169 W. 6th * 345-3261 Waterfront Bar & Grill 2210 Centennial * 465-4506 Wild Duck Hall NS 169 W. 6th * 485-3825 Friday: Shelley James Music Box--9:30, Soul, Funk, Jazz & Gospel Saturday: Curtis Salgado--9:30, Blues WOW Hall AA NS 291 W. 8th * 687-2646 Wednesday: Rahzel w/ Ugly Duckling--9, Hip-hop Back to Top Table of Contents | News & Views | Arts & Entertainment Classifieds | Personals | EW Archive