.
Extreme
Edges
De
Grassi's world acoustic and YOB's doom metal.
BY VANESSA SALVIA
 |
| ALEX
DE GRASSI |
Folk singer and guitarist Alex de Grassi will
appear Sunday at Cafe Paradiso. Though born in Yokosuka, Japan, he grew
up in the San Francisco Bay Area, a product of a musical family. De
Grassi started out a trumpet player at age 13, but learned his true
path once he discovered the guitar and has been playing for three decades.
De Grassi debuted as a Windham Hill artist in 1978 with Turning:
Turning Back. His most recent recording, released in June, is Now
and Then: Folk Songs for the 21st Century, on Tropo Records.
Over the years de Grassi has become known as a virtuoso
guitarist, having been hailed by Acoustic Guitar magazine as
"one of the world's finest finger-style, steel-string guitar players/composers."
Now and Then pushes the boundaries of what is normally considered
acoustic guitar music, which is just fine with de Grassi, as today's
music reflects so many different influences from the world's diverse
cultures and musical heritages, along with changing social mores.
For Now and Then, de Grassi takes on popular
folk tunes and gives them new life to reflect a changing landscape.
In de Grassi's world, "Streets of Laredo" is clothed in 4/4 time instead
of a waltz and "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot" is offered as a lively, celebratory
song. Bassist Michael Manring guests on "Oh, Susanna," which de Grassi
re-imagines as a samba finished with a dash of banjo. Percussionist
Joe Craven makes a guest appearance, performing on "Oh, Susanna" as
well as "Hushabye."
De Grassi recently collaborated with Chilean multi-instrumentalist
Quique Cruz on the CD TataMonk, exploring the sounds of South
America. Another CD, Bolivian Blues Bar, reveals de Grassi's
take on jazz standards, while Beyond the Night Sky showcases
arrangements of lullabies from around the globe. Yet another facet of
this talented performer is the CD Shortwave Postcard, an avant-garde
exploration with guitarist g.e. stinson. De Grassi's performance will
include selections from these recordings and others.
Eugene's kings of doom metal, YOB, are causing
a scene both here at home and across the ocean. With a name drawn from
an old Bugs Bunny episode in which an Earth baby and a Martian baby
(whose name is Boy spelled backwards) are switched at birth, YOB has
completed a new CD, Catharsis, slated for a Nov. 4 worldwide
release. Catharsis will be available in the United States next
week.
With strong interest from European metal magazines brewing,
the European division of their label, Abstract Sounds, is gauging interest
levels here before agreeing to send YOB on a European tour, but a full
national tour is in the works for next summer, and a European tour seems
likely. YOB, which has been together since 1996, initially allied with
a Canadian website, www.stonerrock.com,which connects disciples of metal
worldwide with music and info. Soon after, people everywhere began requesting
the debut, Elaborations of Carbon.
Vocalist and guitarist Mike Scheidt says, "Our first
demo circulated worldwide, and I got e-mails from Brazil, England, Japan,
Belgium, Germany. It's a small underground scene. Doom metal and the
metal and hardcore world are still pretty underground but it's a mega-devoted
scene."
YOB's label began promoting them in Europe, and the
Bible of doom metal, Psychedelic Magazine, named YOB the top
doom metal band in 2002; no small feat, considering the staggering numbers
of metal bands today. Scheidt is "stunned" by how well the new CD sounds
and reveals that it's a bit different.
"It's three songs and 50 minutes. It's not soloing really,
it's all arranged stuff." To Scheidt, doom metal is "basically a mixture
of the first two Black Sabbath albums, some Melvins too, and some of
the modern influence, the darkness of some metal bands. Its roots are
in punk, metal and '70s rock."
Scheidt, bassist Isamu Sato and drummer Travis Foster
will perform Tuesday at Samurai Duck with Puny Human and Fireball Ministry.
 |
| BLACK
SHEEP PLAY FRIDAY AT THE ANNEX. |
ANNEX All Ages
23 W. 6TH ST. 431-1111
FR: Black Sheep, DJ Tekneek, The Burn Unit--10;
Hip hop
ART OF EVERYTHING
513 MAIN ST., COTTAGE GROVE
FR: DJ Dance--8
AX BILLY GRILL & SPORTS BAR
999 WILLAMETTE ST. 484-4011
SA: Tim Clarke Trio--8; Jazz
CAFE LUCKY NOODLE
207 E. 5TH AVE. 484-4777
TH: Raging Family--9:30; Trip-hop
SA: Brothers of Beat--10; R&B, hip hop, reggae
CAFE PARADISO
115 W. BROADWAY 484-9933
FR: Jair, Cosmos--9; Folktronic fusion, trip hop
SA: Michael Cochram Trio--9
SU: Alex de Grassi--7
CHAPALA RESTAURANT
68 W. 29TH AVE. 683-5458
SA: Lo Nuestro—6; Latin
WE: Lo Nuestro—6; Latin
CLUB RIO BAR & GRILL
444 E. 3RD 484-2927
TH: Must See TV--8
FR: DJ Mike--9; Hip hop
SA: DJ Alberto--9; Salsa
TU: Family Karaoke--6
WE: DJ Mike Wet 'n' Wild Wed.--9
COZMIC PIZZA @ THE STRAND
199 W. 8TH AVE. 302-6013
TH: Trio Grande--8; Jazz, funk
FR: Son Bossa--8:30; Brazilian
SA: Ginger Hustlers--8; Ambient rock
TU: DJ Moses--8; Spinning roots, culture
DOWNTOWN LOUNGE
959 PEARL ST. 343-2346
SU: Sprout City Battle of the Bands--8
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
GOOD TIMES
375 E. 7TH AVE. 484-7181
TU: Rooster's Blues Jam--8
JO FEDERIGO'S
259 E. 5TH AVE. 343-8488
TH: Jo Fed's All Star Jazz Jam-9
FR: Skip Elliott Trio--9:30; Jazz
SA: Side Project--9:30; Jazz
SU: Mark Allan--9; Acoustic guitar
MO: Open Mic w/Skip Jones the Boogie Woogie Man—10
TU: Barbara Dzuro—8:30; Jazz piano
WE: Latin Flavor w/Paul Paydos Trio—9; Latin
jazz
 |
| SEX
MOB PLAYS WEDNESDAY AT JOHN HENRY'S. |
JOHN HENRY'S
77 W. BROADWAY 342-3358
TH: '80s night w/Chris, Jenn, John--10
FR: Avery Bell, Mellowdrone, (the concubot) CD
release, Mine 37--10
SA: FRESH dj--10; Dance
SU: Sad Bastard, Mike B--9; Singer songwriters
MO: Anarchist benefit w/Kitchen Syncopators, Toad
in the Hole, Jupiter Hollow, others--8:30
TU: Rhetoric Tuesday, Alpha Charlie, Fuzz--10
WE: Sex Mob, Scrambled Ape--7; Jazz
LAVELLE'S TASTING ROOM
5TH ST. PUBLIC MARKET 338-9875
FR: Gus Russell--5:30; Jazz
SA: Gus Russell--5:30; Jazz
LEGEND'S GRILL & STADIUM
44 E. 7TH AVE. 683-5160
TH: DJ Mark--9; Country, rock
FR: Riffle--9; '70s and '80s rock
SA: Skip Jones and the Spirit of New Orleans--9:30;
Jazz
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
LUNA
30 E. BROADWAY 434-5862
TH: Grasshopper--8; Roots, folk, rock
FR: Erik Muiderman--6; Singer/songwriter, West
Coast Jazz Ensemble--8:30
FR: Erik Muiderman--5:30; Singer/songwriter, Today's
Menu--8; Jazz, classical, klezmer, salsa
MAC'S AT THE VET'S
1626 WILLAMETTE ST. 344-8600
TH: Christie & McCallum—7; Honky-tonk,
rock
FR: Jim Basnight--9:30
SA: Cheeseburgers--9:30; Jimmy Buffet tunes
WE: Bourbon Renewal--8:30; Blues
OVERTIME TAVERN
770 S. BERTELSEN 342-5028
TH: West Side Blues Jam--8:30
PERUGINO
767 WILLAMETTE ST. 687-9102
WE: Irish Jam--7; Celtic
PLANET GOLOKA
679 LINCOLN ST. 465-4555
TH: Anarchy film screening--6
FR: Blue Road & Friends--7
SA: Kirttan chant and dinner--6:30
TU: Poetry open mic--6:30
WE: Kava blessing--6:30
QUACKER'S
2105 W. 7TH 485-5925
SA: Lil' Lynne and the Smokin' Soles--9; Swingin'
rockin' blues
MO: Karaoke--9; Variety
WE: Quacker's Blues Bash—8:30; Blues jam
RAMADA INN
225 COBURG 342-5181
FR: Johnny Law and the Rebels--9:15; Rock
FR: Johnny Law and the Rebels--9:15; Rock
 |
| JASON
WEBLEY PLAYS WEDNESDAY AT SAM BOND'S GARAGE. |
SAM BOND'S GARAGE
407 BLAIR 431-6603
TH: Alasdair Roberts, Dan Jones, Ernie November--9
FR: Paul Curreri, Andy Friedman--9:30; music,
slideshow rants
SA: Fools Paradise, Cosmos Magaya, Vakasara Mbira--8:30;
Zimbabwean
SU: Irish Jam--4, Phamous
Phaces, Jim Basnight, Ed Cole--9; Rock
MO: Trio Grande--9; Jazz
TU: Bluegrass Jam--9
WE: Jason Webley--9; Accordionist troubador
SAMURAI DUCK
980 OAK ST. 345-6577
TH: Welsh Rabbit, Says Us--9:30; Acoustic rock
SU: Hip hop party--9:30
TU: Fireball Ministry, YOB, Puny Human--9:30;
Metal, heavy, doom
WE: Symbiet--9:30
SWEETWATER'S
VALLEY RIVER INN 687-0123
FR: Nicolette Helm and Queen Bee--8; R & B
SA: Bill Beach Trio--8; Jazz, R & B
TACO LOCO
900 W. 7TH AVE. 683-9171
SA: Mood Area 52--7; Tango
WE: Fuzz--7; Funk, jazz
TARASCO'S
100 E. BROADWAY 484-1747
FR: Salsa, Merengue w/DJ Mario Mora-9
SA: DJ Herman--9; Salsa, merengue
TINY TAVERN
394 BLAIR BLVD. 687-8383
MO: Open mic--9:30
WE: Cascadia Alive Anarchy Television--10
THE VOLCANO
535 MAIN ST., SPFD. 606-2645
TH: Bobby Six Crows Jam--9:15
FR: Rock--9:15
SA: Rock--9:15
SU: Karaoke--9:15
MO: Karaoke--9:15
WE: Ozone Baby--9:15; Rock
 |
| MELVIN
SEALS PLAYS WITH THE MIX, THURSDAY AT THE WILD DUCK. |
WETLANDS
922 GARFIELD ST. 345-3606
SA: Organic Assault Weapons, Big B and the Goods,
The Burn Unit, The Dynasty--10; Hip hop
WILD DUCK MUSIC HALL
169 W. 6TH 485-3825
TH: The Mix--9; Jam band collection
FR: Satin Love Orchestra--9:30; '70s disco, funk
SA: DJs Titus and Jayson--10; Hip hop, R &
B, dance, retro
WOW HALL All Ages
291 W. 8TH AVE. 687-2746
FR: Rock 'n' Roll Soldiers, The Koozies, the Empty,
Electric Turn, To Me--8; Rock
 |
| RAEKWON
PEFORMS WEDNESDAY AT THE WOW HALL. |
SA: Club Groove--9; DJ dance
WE: Raekwon, C-rayz Walz, Cool Nutz, Libretto--8:30;
Hip hop
YUKON JACK'S
4TH AND W. BRDWY., VENETA 935-1921
FR: Go 211--9; Rock
SA: Go 211--9; Rock
SU: Karaoke--7
CORVALLIS
BOMBS AWAY CAFE
200 NW. 53RD ST. 752-9011
SA: Michael Manring, TR Kelley--8
CLUB 99 W
6400 NW HWY. 99
SA: Hot Box--9; Dance, hip hop, freestyle battle
FOX 'N' FIRKIN'
202 SW. 1ST ST. 753-8533
TH: Sweetspot--9
FR: Cannon Lion of Judah--10
SA: Spontaneous Combustion--10
SU: Jacob VanAuken--6
TU: Beaver Sports Talk w/Mike Riley--7
|
