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May 22, 2012
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Too Loaded To Write Words: A Barcrawlin, Showhoppin’ Photo Essay

Photos by Joshua “Fat Times At Ridgemont High” Finch

Soothesayers: https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Soothesayers/136810456343131

Lovesores: https://www.facebook.com/TheLovesores

Underlings: https://www.facebook.com/theunderlings

Anyone know who this is? Could use a bit of help (email exiledineugene@gmail.com)

Sickman: https://www.facebook.com/AICSickman

The Estranged(Now Red Cloud):  https://www.facebook.com/TheRedCloudBand

LeMay: https://www.facebook.com/LeMayBand

The Big Small: https://www.facebook.com/TheBigSmallMusic

Tags: Lemay The Big Small The Estranged Lovesores Soothesayers Underlings

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May 21, 2012

FRIDAY NIGHT!!!

Is our great big issue three release party featuring: Not Counting The Mezzanine, Growwler, Red Cloud and Æshtree. Cheap subscriptions! Good music! Hugs! Come on down to the Maize Lounge and celebrate with us. 

Event: https://www.facebook.com/events/141424675991063/

Tags: Exiled In Eugene Maize Lounge Red Cloud Not Counting the Mezzanine Æshtree Growwler

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May 20, 2012

Ninth Moon Black - Chronophage

Words by Chris Muravez

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ninthmoonblack

How does one explain Ninth Moon Black? On the surface they would seem to be your standard post-metal instrumental band, yet beneath this cold description lies the psychedelic undertones of an acid rock craze. Coupled with an uncanny expertise in form, flow and function, NMB has set themselves apart from the rest of the music scene here in Eugene, whilst at the same time being and integral part of it. With this in mind, one does not simply describe NMB. That being said their latest release, Chronophage, is a seemingly endless sonic adventure and it would do the whole album little justice to speak about it track by track. So read my humble esoteric story of my experience with their latest incantation, and take it with a grain of salt.

Following their first full length, Kalyug, NMB’s latest release has raised the bar on what is possible in the minds of these musicians. The album opens up with a warm welcoming, NMB then invites you into their world with smooth hallow notes shrieking through the sky and consistent beat that seems to match your own heart’s rhythms. This strong opener helps to prepare you for an auditory journey through the depths of your imagination.

This leads you down the path of an audio adventure, where hard guitar riffs begin to roughen up your soul and insert a dark and foreboding atmosphere. Yet all the while there remains the ever softening hallow notes that off set the doom, and the heart beating drums remind you that you’re still alive. Just as you feel close to the depths of despair in your soul, NMB then marches you forward to the promise of hope and rejuvenation. The hallow notes then talk to you, as if the psychedelic chords swimming into your brain became an actual voice. This surreal voice, made through combination of sound and imagination, helps you to question your current reality in all it’s forms.

After you’ve been forced to question your meager existence in this world, NMB’s shrieking guitars call you forth like the mythical siren to help lead you away from reality. After what seemed like an eternity, NMB gradually lowers you back down to earth at the end of their album. It was a surreal experience for me, and I lack the proper mentality to tell you every detail about it. Chronophage is one of those rare instances where music speaks volumes above anything I could put into words. So sit down, listen and enjoy Ninth Moon Black’s new CD, you will not be disappointed, I promise.

Tags: Ninth Moon Black Chronophage Drone Instrumental Metal Soundscapes Eugene Music Chris Muravez

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May 20, 2012

Which One Of You Daisies Is Next??

Somehow this page was left out of the current issue of Exiled In Eugene (because we’re kinda disorganized). We’d like to extend a HUGE apology to Jeff Curry & The Lowmen. Read on:

Tags: The Lowmen Cowpunk Country Punk Eugene Music Reviews

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May 10, 2012

Gruff and Rumble: Antique Scream, The Purpose Of Silence, Explode-A-Tron and Pouch at Black Forest

I had just had an AWFUL stand up set at The Granary, hugged a friend goodbye (possibly forever, long story) and stumbled to The Black Forest for an auditory pick me up. I needed a little spirit lifter. It had already been a shitty day, and was shaping up to be a shitty night.

As I arrived I was informed that I had missed the opening act, Seattle’s Pouch (not Prong as they were billed on the flier and in the weekly, which, coincidentally was MY fault) and that they were BADASS.

The hits just keep coming.

But then Antique Scream took the stage like a rock and roll machine with an ax to grind against peace and quiet. A slim, trim, rough and tumble blues-rockin two piece sporting a sound with enough dirt under it’s fingernails to grimy up YR bathroom sink. If you haven’t seen these guys, you might wanna catch ‘em next time their in town (keep YR eyes peeled for ‘em in August). 

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ByaS9JNrzzM

Next up were local boys, Purpose Of Silence, delivering a hearty helping of hard rock party tunes and pseudo-metalcore/post hardcore tunes. Complete with snarky stage banter and the unceremonious destruction of a unicorn pinata, leaving the crowd to dance high on sugar as well as crunchy break downs. Minus a few first time hiccups, a solid set from what promises to be a unique addition to our little rock scene. 

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ssWIwbCck-8

Also Explode-A-Tron played.

VEINS WIDE OPEN!!!!: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lyiTA_PKoaU

All in all, music pretty much saved a bullshit night, once again. Thanks to all the bands, the Forest, Scott Stapp and alcohol. 

Pouch: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Pouch/149863601742231?sk=app_2405167945

Antique Scream: https://www.facebook.com/AntiqueScream?ref=ts

Purpose Of Silence: https://www.facebook.com/ThePurposeOfSilence

Explode A Tron: https://www.facebook.com/explode.a.tron

Creed: https://www.facebook.com/Creed

Tags: Purpose Of Silence Explode-A-Tron Pouch Not Prong Antique Scream Black Forest

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May 10, 2012

Get YR Stumble On

Tags: JonzAlone Living Legends Sunspot Jonz Aceyalone DCP Mike Snow Stay High Kings John Henry's

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May 02, 2012

A Wide Array

Hip-Hop/roots/dubtronica act, Tribal Spectrum is back with a solid new piece. Omni Culture is a head-nodding slice of audio wallpaper that hangs, like a dusty tapestry, though unassuming, it sure ties the room together. It’s warm, familiar, and the place wouldn’t feel quite right without it. Managing to capture what our home sounds like, while still bringing all kinds of world influence, Omni Culture is rich, diverse, sonic syrup to drizzle over your day. 

Dig in: http://tribalspectrum.bandcamp.com/album/omni-culture

Tags: Tribal Spectrum World Music Beats Dubstep Hip Hop

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April 28, 2012

Underlings VS Troll Hunter

By Dan Jones (Reblogged from his Daily Records Blog: http://danjonesmusicramble.blogspot.com/)

Last night before I went out to The Underlings cd release, I watched a really cool movie called Troll Hunter.  First off: my self-assigned plan to watch every movie in David Thomson’s Have You Seen…? kind of bottomed out when I realized I’d have to watch three movies a week for five years, or something like that, to methodically get through the book.  My Netflix list would be dictated by a film critic’s book.  Why would I want to do that? Hundreds of great films have come out since it was published.  So, it remains my random go-to film book; I’m into the B’s and really enjoyed Bay of Angels a few nights ago.  

Anyway, Troll Hunter looks like a Blair Witch-type premise crossed with a monster movie—the found footage of a young, inexperienced documentary film crew who is terrorized in the woods by ugly old trolls.  But what makes the film different is the central character of the troll hunter, who is as methodical, low-key, and unimpressed by pretty much everything as the kids are hysterical and freaked out.  His loneliness and his melancholy duty to his job working for the nation’s top secret Troll Security Service is central.  He’s like the old guy from Dursu Ursula, living out of a trailer.  He’s as comfortable with trolls as a bear hunter would be with bears, or a fly fisherman with steelhead.  He cooks Troll Stink on his gas stove so that he can move among them without smelling human.

As a monster flick, it’s really funny and cool when the trolls finally come out of the shadows.  They’re ugly, dangerous, grotesque, and totally dense.  But I flashed on something totally different—Thomas Moore’s Jungian psychology book The Re-Enchantment of Everyday Life.  By being very stereotypically Norwegian—quiet, stoic, non-emotive, matter-of-fact—the troll hunter creates a real sense of enchantment.  So riding my bike down to Luckies in the dark to see The Underlings was kind of magical in the resonance of this film.   Troll Hunter could have gone the route of low-budget, low-visibility, victim-attrition sheer terror but was more about a woodsman teaching these smart-ass kids to calm down.

I got to Luckies kind of later and only caught the last four or five songs of the Soothesayers set.  Brian, whose house I can almost see from where I sit and write, was ripping some wicked garage punk solos.  Sam was in fine, throat-shredding form.  The Soothesayers: a garage punk institution in Eugene.  Then the Love Sores came on—apparently this is the singer from The Humpers with a bunch of PDX vets.  It was extremely competent, kick-ass punk rock and roll a la Lazy Cowgirls and X.  They really clobbered the crowd with a super tight set.   

Earlier in the evening I spun The Underlings new album “Edgy” while I painted a section of the front room at home.  It is totally ripping.  It just tears out of the speakers, sounding vintage and very now at the same time.  They’re a tight band, they can all play, so the ferocious feel of it isn’t out of control or juvenile or shticky in any way.  Ed really is a remarkable singer and songwriter, singing in Lou Reed range over smoking three-piece rock, more and more comfortably and soulfully.  Much more up front and toothy than their first album Operational Excellence, which has its own vibe. 

This record is coming out just as Ed moves to Portland.  Very excited for him, and sad to see him go too.  Overall, I’m just always happy to see friends transition out of Eugene.  And I love Eugene. (Watching Mr. Random dance last night—one of the reasons I love Eugene.  Also dancing myself with Bruce Hartnell and being spun like a squaredancer—did not see that coming!)  It’s a personal paradox.  
   

More Underlings: http://www.reverbnation.com/theunderlings 

More Dan Jones: http://www.danjonesmusic.com

More TROLL HUNTER: http://www.trollhunterfilm.com/

Tags: Dan Jones Underlings Troll Hunter Soothsayers Lovesores Daily Records

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April 26, 2012
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Demolishing John Henry’s: Explode-A-Tron, Transcending Maya, IT=OR, & Black Hare

The only thing I like more than covering shows is actually playing shows. I got to do both a couple weeks back at John Henry’s when my new band, IT=OR had the pleasure of playing our first show with Black Hare, Explode-A-Tron and Transcending Maya. 

Explode-A-Tron, if you don’t know them by now, are one of our local super-hard-working, everywhere-at-once, bands. These guys are pure nose-to-the-grindstone rock/metal with more drive than the Indy 500. For fans of The Melvins, Jesus Lizard, all-things metal and Bill Hicks “fuck everything” sense of humor, The ‘Trons are becoming Eugene’s hard rock posterboys. Also, they’re good :)

VIDEO: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RBv2GMIguak&feature=youtu.be

Transcending Maya took the stage and blew me away. I’ve heard their name before, but have never managed to catch them live. Though not specifically a kind of alt/prog/rock that I typically listen to, it was incredibly well executed, intelligently crafted, and engaging. Think the understanding of math and timing of Tool coupled with the melodic qualities of Morning View era Incubus. Tight, and beautifully preformed, TM’s set had the crowd captivated.

 

It’s both unfair and stupid to “review” your own band. We played. It was our first set ever. We played some punkish tunes, made some ruckus, drank waaaaaayyy too much (before, during, and after) and told alotta jokes. It was fun. I sorta remember it. Sorta. Thanks to those who showed up. Thanks to Colin Hix for taking pictures of us. 

Black Hare closed out the night with their own unique blend of roots metal, hard rock, all things alternative, all with metalcore influenced vocals laid sparsely across the top like icing on what I, for some reason wanna call a “Hard Rock Homage Layercake”. They got short-changed for time (somewhat our fault for being drunk and long-winded) and made due with the time given like professionals. Smashing.

I couldn’t have asked for a better place to be on a Saturday, or a better first show. Thanks again to everyone involved. 

Explode-A-Tron: https://www.facebook.com/explode.a.tron

Black Hare:  https://www.facebook.com/blackhareband?ref=ts

Transcending Maya: http://www.reverbnation.com/transcendingmaya

IT=OR: https://www.facebook.com/BUNNIESX7

Tags: IT=OR Black Hare John Henry's Explode-A-Tron Transcending Maya Rock Metal Comedy

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April 25, 2012

Papyrus Tram.

Springfield’s PaperTrain play their own blend of post-grunge alt rock that stomps it’s feet and demands that it’s still 1995 and that Stone Temple Pilots don’t suck yet. Which is fine by us. We miss Stone Temple Pilot’s suck-free years. Help take the edge off and listen to their jam, Higher For High on their Reverb Nation. 

Get Some: http://www.reverbnation.com/PaperTrain

Tags: PaperTrain Springfield Grunge Blues Rock Alternative