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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 17, 2002)
Pulse Editor Jacquelyn Lewis jacquelynlewis@dailyemerald.com Thursday, October 17,2002 Oregon Daily Emerald Notorious Margaret Cho's latest comedy is "hilarious" Page 8 Bands bring unique blend of talent, style to McDonald In my three years at the University, I’ve only been to the Mc Donald Theatre once — and that was back when it was still a movie theater. But I’m making up for lost time by catching two great shows this week. First up, Floater on Friday ($10 in advance, doors open at 7 p.m.). If you don’t know Floater, trust me and go to this show. The Portland band got its start in Eugene playing its brand of mystic hard rock at garage parties and the much-missed Uni versity beer garden. Though the band doesn’t fit into any one category (but who does these days?), the quick explanation of its music includes comparison with Tool. Floater’s lead singer and bass player Rob Wynia has the same capacity for pas sionate lyrics and sustained high notes as Tool frontman Maynard James Keenan, and both bands are highly melodic despite their loud, pounding sounds. But Floater isn’t just a Tool clone (not that being another musically and intellec tually intelligent rock band is a bad thing). In increasingly frequent acoustic perform ances, Floater shows its softer side and ex poses its real talent when stripped of the distortion pedal. At their first such show in Eugene last year, they covered U2 and Neil Young, giving insight into what music the band enjoys. Regardless of what Floater is doing, it is supported by some of the most loyal fans I have ever seen. I have friends who have seen the band more than 20 times and keep going back for more. Floater gives off some magnetic force when performing. It pulls people deeper into the show and always brings them back. Floater connects so well with fans because the band is so ac cessible. They don’t have international renown and primarily tour between Seattle and San Francisco. I mean, Wynia’s mom can frequently be found at Eugene performances. I’ve had the good fortune of talking with the band over a couple beers, and it’s plain to see that in their off-time, they’re just normal guys who do stuff like play video games and watch “Kids in the Hall: Brain Gandy.” How cool is that? A mere four days after this sure-to-be phenomenal show, the same stage will be graced by another charismatic bassist front man who is anything but normal: Les Glaypool. The former Primus visionary continues to be one of the most creative (read “weirdest”) forces in popular music, if it is all that popular any more. He constantly resists confinement by forming new bands and trading musicians to create new environments to play in — for music and amusement. Glaypool comes to us this time with The Les Glaypool Frog Brigade on a tour promoting their first studio album, “Purple Onion.” I must clarify “studio album” because the Frog Brigade released two live albums in 2001 (Live Frogs Sets 1 and 2) con taining song covers from previous Claypool bands as well as the entire Pink Floyd album “Animals.” “Onion” contains 12 new tracks from Glaypool and his co horts, of which I have heard none. But where Glaypool is con cerned, one can be certain the songs will touch on most genres of music while filling the gaps with out-there improvisations. I saw Glaypool almost a year ago when he came to the Salem Armory with super-band Oysterhead. Though fellow band mates Trey Anastasio and Stewart Copeland are icons in their own right, Glaypool ran the show, chatting up the audience and telling stories in his trademark nasal voice. The same is true on the Frog Brigade’s live recordings where Glaypool can be heard rambling and chiding his bandmates for extending their allotted solo periods. Basically, if you know and enjoy Claypool’s music, any band he forms will be up your alley. If you don’t know him from Adam, it’d be wise to listen to a CD before fronting the $17 for advance tickets, even though that’s pretty cheap for a Glaypool show. “Ask Nat” may handle the relationship advice, but it’s my sin cere culture advice that you suck up any reservations about cash flow or early Wednesday classes and attend at least one of these shows. You’ll be better for it. Mason West Selling out Contact the Pulse columnist at masonwest@dailyemerald.com. 1 • His views do not necessarily represent those of the Emerald. Art culture and tango bingo UO Cultural Forum enriches campus with films, art exhibits and musical performances Aaron Shakra Pulse Reporter What do Bob Dylan and Michael Moore have in common? They both visit ed campus this year, they both went to McArthur Court and they both came courtesy of the UO Cultural Forum. The Cultural Forum is a multifunctional organiza tion, regularly program ming films, lectures and a variety of performance and visual arts. And now that the school year is in full swing, there are a myr iad of activities for com munity members to immerse themselves in. Liz Lessner, the visual arts coordinator for the organization, chooses the artwork that is displayed at the Adell McMillan, Aperture and Buzz Coffeehouse galleries. All three are located within the Erb Memorial Union. Paintings and drawings by Whitney, an artist who goes by one name, are cur rently on display at the Adell McMillan Art Gallery. The pieces were created Danielle Hickey Emerald The Cultural Forum, located at the bottom of the EMU, is a great place to get caught up on future events going on around campus and to get in touch with the pulse of student life. on a variety of materials — mottled wood, cardboard, paper and canvas; her art could be likened to stills taken from the film “Waking Life.” “I pick what I think other galleries around town don’t show,” Lessner said. “Our goal at the Cultural Forum is to pro vide cutting-edge art.” Lessner, who is an artist herself and was part of last year’s “Spontaneous Com bustion” show at the Adell McMillan Art Gallery, has booked the work of Dr. Au drius V. Plioplys for the gallery in November. The exhibit is called “Neurothe ology,” and put succinctly, Turn to Culture, page 10 Controversial poet, actress first in line of powerful speakers „ .. ....Courtesy photo Sarah Jones, known for her battle with the FCC, will come to 180 PLC Tuesday evening. Performance artist Sarah Jones advocates for a non-misogynistic inclusive hip-hop community Jacquelyn Lewis Pulse Editor The ASUO Multicultural Center plans to include more “powerful women” in its line up this year, and it’s starting with a bang. Controversial spoken word performer, ac tress and playwright Sarah Jones will come to 180 PLC at 5:30 p.m. Tlxesday. Multicultural Center program adviser Steve Morozumi said Jones’ art addresses the issue of misogyny surrounding the hip-hop scene, advocating for a larger, more inclusive community. “We’re extremely excited about (her appearance) because we want cutting edge programs,” he said, “as far as people who are pushing the envelope, creating a more positive environment.” Jones’ “environment” is thought-pro voking to say the least. Dubbed a “slam poet champ” by Entertainment Weekly, the performance artist and winner of the Nuyorican Poets Cafe Grand Slam Corn Turn to Jones, page 10
