.
New
Directions
Dar
picks up the pace.
By
vanessa salvia
 |
Dar
Williams performs at the McDonald on Saturday. |
Dar Williams is a name not easily forgotten, especially after you've
made friends with her unique folk songs.
Williams was raised in a liberal, educated home in Chappaqua, New
York and began studying guitar at age 9. She wrote her first song
at age 11. In high school, an ankle injury pushed her away from athletics
and toward drama and more composing. During college she worked in
theater, but she also took voice lessons and continued composing.
After trials and travails on the coffeehouse circuit, Williams released
her debut album in 1993. Her riveting soprano voice and songwriting
knack caught the attention of critics, and she has been a major player
in the folk scene ever since.
She released her second CD, Mortal City, in 1995 and her third,
End of the Summer, in 1997. Cry Cry Cry followed in
1998, earning her even more fans and more prestigious gigs at fairs
and festivals all over the country. 2000 saw the release of The
Green World. Now, Williams unveils her latest masterpiece, The
Beauty of the Rain, which hit stores in February 2003.
This CD finds Williams moving in a different direction, musically
as well as physically. She relocated to New York City from New England
and documents this transition beautifully in the song Farewell
to the Old Me. Williams revels in a seeming new-found freedom,
filling up the spaces in her previously spare acoustic guitar-based
folk with more rock and pop. Obviously, fans find this new Dar appealing:
Beauty opened with her strongest first-week sales ever.
The CD also features some wonderful guest artists who add to the
allure. John Medeski offers keyboards on "Farewell" and "I Saw A Bird
Fly Away," and John Popper (Blues Traveler) adds vocals and harmonica
heat, as well. Trumpeter Chris Botti enhances the title track and
Allison Krauss (Union Station) sings on "The One Who Knows." Bela
Fleck kicks in some banjo, along with bass from Stefan Lessard (Dave
Matthews Band) and String Cheese Incident's Michael Kang on fiddle.
On this tour, Williams is promoting a non-profit organization called
SELF, which stands for Solar Electric Light Fund. The group encourages
the use of solar and renewable energy in rural areas and developing
nations. No coffeehouse can hold her now: Williams performs Saturday,
May 10 at the McDonald Theatre.
That same night across town at Sam Bond's you'll find the "anti-folkswagger"
of Minnesotan Ben Weaver. Born right here in lil' old Eugene, Weaver's
parents moved a lot as he was growing up and finally settled in St.
Paul. Not many singer/songwriters have big-name artists perform on
their debut, but veteran performer Greg Brown was impressed enough
to perform on Weaver's debut, El Camino Blues.
A second CD, Living in the Ground, soon followed.
Weaver is currently touring behind his third release, Hollerin'
at a Woodpecker. Weaver's songs are stories, and they seem
to take on a life of their own. Weaver inhabits his stories and gives
the characters and events a fullness that seems real and unexaggerated.
Weaver sings about long nights and people with worn-out hands and
hearts, driving around the countryside with only some cheap beer and
an AM radio for companionship. In Weaver's songs are people whose
memories of lost loves fade slowly, the visceral pain of a broken
heart never healing.
The songs on this CD aren't cleaned up and pretty. They are raw,
gritty and real, whether he's writing about the understanding that
one day he'll have lines on his face just like his father does now,
or hiding in the back of a friend's closet stealing glances at Playboy.
Weaver writes books when he's not writing songs, and has a keen ability
to project mood and setting into his lyrics and music. At 23, Weaver
has a gritty voice, a care-worn heart and a perceptive ability to
link past, present and future that you might expect from a man twice
or three times his age. He's currently working on a fourth album due
out Fall of 2003.
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ALAX
BILLY GRILL & SPORTS BAR
999 WILLAMETTE ST. -- 484-4011
SA: Carl Woideck--8; Jazz
BEANERY ALL
AGES
5th St. -- 344-0221
FR: Doug Roy--7
SA: Eric Nicholson--7
SU: Bright Brown--7; Gothic R & B, rock
BLACK FOREST
50 E. 11th st. -- 344-0816
TH: Motherfunction--9:15; Funk
SU: Open mic/w Pete Christie--9
MO: Open mic/w Pete Christie--9
WE: The Divers--9:15
BRICK HOUSE
136 4th St., Spfd. -- 988-1612
FR: Fever--10; DJ dancing, hip hop
SA: Fuzz, Backseat Willy--9
WE: The Goods and guests--9
 |
| Lucy
Kaplansky returns to Cafe Paradiso Tuesday. |
CAFE PARADISO
115 W. Broadway -- 484-9933
TH: Vienna Teng--8:30
FR: Tiro Slavej--8; Bulgarian, Macedonian folk
SA: Keith Greeninger, Dayun Kai--8
MO: Another Reason--8:30; Songwriters
TU: Lucy Kaplansky, Richard Shindell--6:30, 930
CHANTERELLE
5th & Pearl St. -- 484-4065
FR: Too Loose Jazz Duo--9:30
SA: Tao of Jazz--9:30
CHAPALA RESTAURANT
68 W. 29th Ave. -- 683-5458
SA: Lo Nuestro—6; Latin
WE: Lo Nuestro—6; Latin
DIABLO'S
959 Pearl St. -- 683-3855
TH: Request night—9; DJs Supa J, Ceez
FR: Tremorville—9; Hip-hop request
SA: House night w/DJs Howie Fresh, Anmar-9
SU: Epiphany--10; Drag cabaret w/Caress Slaughter
WE: Underground Open Mic w/Community Sound System--9; Open
mic, hip-hop
DOWNTOWN LOUNGE
959 Pearl St. -- 343-2346
TH: L80's night w/DJs Jon Smith, DMoeFunk, Ceez--9
FR: Dabbledooya, Montage--10; Psychedelic groove, jazzy
rock
SA: DMoe vs. Dinari, Organic Assault Weapons--10; Hip hop
MO: DJs Scott Von Rocket, Diablo, Monster Truck Bikini Girls--9
TU: Stone Cold Jazz, Kenny Reed--9
WE: Soulstice--10; Funk, jazz, groove
EMBERS SUPPER
CLUB
1811 Hwy. 99 N. -- 688-6564
TH: Billy McCoy—9; Country
FR: Michael Anderson Trio—9; Variety, country
SA: Michael Anderson Trio—9; Variety, country
WE: Billy McCoy—9; Country
EUGENE WINE
CELLARS
255 Madison st. -- 342-2600
WE: Tom Cats--6; Jazz
 |
| Les
Baton Rouge get it on at Foolscap books, with Bonfire Madigan
Sunday. |
FOOLSCAP BOOKS
780 Blair Blvd.
SU: Les Baton Rouge, Bonfire Madigan--9; Punk, cello
rock
FOOL'S PARADISE
460 Willamette -- 338-9733
TH: Frogg's open mic—6:30
FOXFIRE
4740 Main, Spfd -- 747-7900
TH: Ampt--9:15; Rock
FR: Repeat Offender--9:15; Rock
SA: Reefer Punks, Contender, Untyd--9:15; Alt.
SU: Karaoke w/Jarod--8
MO: Karaoke w/Jarod--8
TU: Jam Night w/Johnny Wilde--9:15
WE: Mr. Wizard--9:15; Rock
GOOD TIMES
375 E. 7th Ave. -- 484-7181
TU: Rooster's Blues Jam--8
G WILLICKER'S
440 Coburg rd. -- 338-9094
SU: Sonido Flamenco--6; Flamenco guitar
JO FEDERIGO'S
259 E. 5th St. -- 343-8488
TH: Jo Fed's All Star Jazz Jam-9
FR: Greg Goebal Quartet--9;30; jazz
SA: Jake the Cat--9:30; Jazz
SU: Mark Allan--9
MO: Open Mic w/Skip Jones the Boogie Woogie Man—10
TU: Barbara Dzuro—8:30; Jazz
WE: Latin Flavor w/Paul Paydos Trio—9; Latin jazz
JOHN HENRY'S
77 W. Broadway -- 342-3358
TH: '80s Night--9:30
FR: The Courtesy Clerks, 2 Bucks Short, The Perverts--10;
Alt. rock
SA: Oneself Connect--9; Electronic dance
SU: Ras Gabriel and 4-word--10; Reggae
MO: Strangefolks--10; Hip hop
TU: The Brothers of Beat--10; Hip hop, soul djs
WE: Bob Marley videos, interviews, music--8
Higher Ground Sound--10; Reggae dance hall
LAVELLE'S TASTING
ROOM
5th St. public market -- 338-9875
FR: Gus Russell--5:30; Jazz
SA: Gus Russell--5:30; Jazz
LINGO'S BOOKS
& COFFEE
741 Lincoln st. -- 338-8244
FR: Jim Hershey--7; Acoustic
LONE STAR BAR
AND GRILL
I-5 AT COBURG -- 686-8686
TH: Girls get wild--9; DJ dancing
FR: Guys get wild--9; DJ dancing
SA: Karaoke--9
TU: Open mic--9
WE: Coyote Ugly--8
LUCKEY'S CLUB
CIGAR
933 Olive St. -- 687-4643
TH: Huckleberry--9:30; Funky R & B, blues, reggae
FR: The Sidewinder Quartet--9:30; Funky jazz
Montherfunction--11:30; Soul, R & B
SA: Ailment--9:30; Soft metal
Stacked--11:30; Funky metal
WE: Huckleberry--9:30; Funky R & B, blues, reggae
LUNA
30 E. Broadway -- 434-5862
TH: Scott Cossu & friends--8; Piano
FR: Erik Muiderman—7; Guitar
West Coast Rhythm Kings--9:30; Jump swing boogie
SA: Erik Muiderman—6:30; Guitar
Lo Nuestro--9; Latin
MAC'S
AT THE VET'S
1626 Willamette St. -- 344-8600
TH: Christie & McCallum—7; Oldies, country
FR: Nimbus--9; Electro rock
SA: Jet Harris and His Hot Rod Hellcats--9; Rockabilly
WE: Eagle Park Slim--9; Blues
MCDONALD THEATRE
1010 Willamette St.
SA: Dar Williams--9; Singer/songwriter
OREGON ELECTRIC
STATION
27 E. 5th -- 485-4444
FR: Don Latarski Trio—8; Jazz
SA: Don Latarski Trio—8; Jazz
OVERTIME TAVERN
770 S. Bertelsen -- 342-5028
TH: West Side Blues Jam--8:30
QUACKER'S
2105 W. 7th -- 485-5925
FR: Bill Rhoades & the Party Kings--9; Rockin'
Blues
SA: Eugene Harmonica blow-off--9
MO: Karaoke--9; Variety
WE: Quacker's Blues Bash—8:30; Blues jam
RAMADA INN
225 Coburg -- 342-5181
FR: Valley Boys--9:15; Rock
SA: Valley Boys--9:15; Rock
 |
| bitch
and animal snarl their stuff at sam bond's garage. |
SAM BOND'S
GARAGE
407 Blair -- 431-6603
TH: Shannon Saunders and the Splinters, Wheel of Meat--9; Variety
FR: The Ovulators, The Cullottes--9:30; Rock
SA: Jahkuumba, Ben Weaver--9:30; Reggae
SU: Bitch and Animal--8:30; Folk
MO: Robert Paisley--9; Americanna
TU: Bluegrass Jam--9
WE: Fulero and West--9; Improv-avant electro
SAMURAI DUCK
980 Oak St. -- 345-6577
TH: The John Shipe Band, The Soul'stirs--9; Rock, R & B
FR: GoatHead, WHORE!--9; Metal
MO: Shag Night--9:30; '60s-'90s pop, punk, garage
TU: Says Us--9; Acoustic rock
WE: The Perverts, The Wobblies--9; Drunk punk
SENOR FROG'S
444 E. 3rd -- 484-2927
TH: Family Karaoke--6
FR: DJ Jose Cruz--10; Salsa
SA: DJ Alberto--10; Cumbia, Banda, Merengue-10
SWEETWATER'S
Valley River Inn -- 687-0123
FR: Paul Biondi and Friends--8; Jazz
SA: Paul Biondi and Friends--8; Jazz
TINY TAVERN
394 Blair Blvd. -- 687-8383
FR: The Great All Merge--9:30; Analog
SA: Bright Brown--10; Acoustic
TU: Los Pistoleros--10; Latin polka
 |
| Dylan-Thomas
Vance plays the Wetlands on Saturday. |
TSUNAMI BOOKS
ALL AGES
2585 Willamette -- 345-8986
SA: John Henzie, Flying Crooked--2; Folk
SU: Eugene Playback Theater--7
WETLANDS
922 Garfield st. -- 345-3606
SA: Dylan-Thomas Vance and the Powerhouse Revival--7:30; Delta, gospel,
whiskey-grass, blues
Bourbon Renewal, The Danged--10; Rock, blues
WILD DUCK MUSIC
HALL
169 W. 6th -- 485-3825
FR: Clumsy Lovers--9:30; Celtic rock
 |
| Mr.
lif hip hops at the WOW hall. |
WOW HALL ALL
AGES
291 W. 8th Ave. -- 687-2746
TH: Mr. Lif & DJ Faktz, One Sleep & Norman--9; Hip
hop
FR: KWVA Birthday bash w/Toad in the Hole, Hello Lobster,
Ovulators, Chevron, others--7:30; Variety
SA: Matt Buttler Band--6:30; Oregon Country Fair spring fling
SU: Blackfire, Dacajeweiah John Hill--7:30; Benefit for prisoner
& indigenous rights
CORVALLIS
AJ's
137 SW 2nd. -- 752-7570
TH: Clumsy Lovers--9:30; Celtic rock
BEANERY
2ND ST.
FR: Rebecca Helmer--8
SA: Joseph Pusey and Belly Dancers--8
BOMBS
AWAY CAFE
200 NW. 53rd St. -- 752-9011
WE: Acoustic blues jam--7:30
PLATINUM NIGHT
CLUB
126 SW 4th st.
FR: Signs, Taurus: The Second House--10; DJ dance event
SQUIRREL'S
100 SW. 2nd St. -- 753-8057
SA: Accordions Anonymous--8:30
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