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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (April 16, 1999)
NU k Medley 'Emerald The members of Eugene band Jackass Willie perform their unique brand of dysfunctional bluegrass' at Sam Bond’s Garage. By Jack Clifford Oregon Daily Emerald Local band Jackass Willie, which gleefully plays what it calls dysfunctional bluegrass, is not going to score many wedding gigs. Unless a bride and groom just happen to stumble upon this motley crew. Which is exactly what hap pened not too long ago. “Yeah, we performed at a junkie’s wedding,” says banjoist Damon Frye, a founding member of jackass Willie. “We were play ing a private party in the Whiteak er neighborhood, and this couple came by and wanted us to play a song for their wedding, which was going on right then down at Shoot er’s [Monroe] Park.” Damon and friends serenaded the blissful pair with “Piss Up a Rope” by Ween. Considering the song’s lyrics — “My dinner is on fire, while she watches T. V.” is just a sample — it’s probably safe to as sume that tears weren’t flowing. At least, not tears of tenderness. “We’re a rowdy little band that All Ways Travel New York City- $202.00* Anchorage.$324.00* Mexico City...$325.00* o Tokyo.$525.00* g *lax not included, restrictions may apply. ^_Subject to change without notice. Free Eurail Pass!!! Stop by to register to win!!! E-mail: awt@luv2travel.com should not be taken seriously when we play,” understates Steve Harvel, lead singer and guitarist. “You see other bluegrass bands and there’s kind of an uptight stiff ness to them. We’re just a bunch of drunken slobs who play for drunken slobs.” Self-deprecating humor aside, Jackass Willie is carving a nice niche for itself on Eugene’s musi cal landscape. The band formed 14 months ago and recently notched its 116th show, according to mandolin picker Sean McKuen. Most of these spectacles take place each Monday night at Tiny Tavern, where the sextet crams into a small slice of the Blair Boulevard bar. Jackass Willie has also amused crowds at Sam Bond’s Garage, Max’s, Rascal’s and John Henry’s, and with pride the guys christened the Vets’ Club’s upstairs lounge. They certainly are not every one’s shot of rotgut. People have walked out during particular songs, Harvel says, and a local bluegrass organization indirectly chastised the group in its monthly Coining Up Who: Jackass Willie When: April 19 at 9 p.m. j Where: The Tiny Tavern, 394 Blair Blvd. I newsletter for contributing to "the bastardization of the genre.” True blue fans, however, are unabashed in their appreciation. “They make me laugh, they make me cry, they make me want to punch every one of them in the face,” spewed out a hyperactive devotee at a recent Tiny Tavern show. Jason, who gave his last name as “The Angry Cook,” chides those who are offended. “Every person who ever left a Jackass Willie show left with a sense of self-loathing be cause they were laughing at some thing they were morally against.” Ditties like “Thirstin’ For Blood: 0062781 Dance Party with jive Masters come jump and swillcf on the Collier House Deck Today, Friday, April 16 from 4 to 6 pm • jec admission, all aqes welcome at the big house across join the EMU The Ballad of Kip Kinkel” might raise a hackle or two, but Frye points out that “all of our songs are jackass-oriented, from a jackass point of view.” “Our music’s about souped-up cars and women and drinking and whiskey, so that’s where our name comes from,” chimes in drummer Jeff Buettner. Although a night of honky tonking includes mostly originals, the band also cranks out covers from Black Flag, Metallica, and The Eurythmics. Musical influ ences for the hand range from Tom Waits to John Coltrane, with a dash ofbluegrass legend Bill Mon roe. Frye and Harvel, with occa sional help from guitarist/har monica player Aaron Lowe, write most of the originals. Each member claims an long time affinity for music. Stand-up bass player Travis Harrison is ar guably the most accomplished of the lot, with four albums under his belt while playing in a Seattle based industrial dance hand. Chris Funk, the booking manag er for Sam Bond’s, describes Jack ass Willie’s style as “fast grass, with a splash of metal.” “Theseguys are fun, they attract a crowd — here it is Monday night and this place is filling up — and they’re part of a good local band scene that doesn’t get much press coverage,” he says. Frye maintains that his cast of characters is no longer just a joke, and they are aiming for a West Coast tour this summer. Frye, who claims Wichita, Kansas, as his hometown, says a dream double-bill woidd be Jackass Willie and his favorite blue grass band. Split Lip Rayfield. Whatever city this troupe wrecks next, rubberneckers should be aware that it’s never a pretty sight. “We did a show once and after each song, Steve [Harvel] took off a layer of clothing until he was nude, then we played ‘Naked Man’ by The Butthole Surfers,” Frye laughs. "We don’t play tradi tional bluegrass.” If you know of any upcoming junkie weddings, however, Jack ass Willie is at the ready. 0019471 Authentic Chinese Cuisine RESTAURANT & LOUNGE 947 Franklin Blvd. 343-4480 Is your CD collection missing something? If it’s Reggae you need, we have dig stacks of it-along with everything else your collection craves. 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