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