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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 23, 2003)
Station Wag meets rocking, rapid hometown success The Eugene-based rock band, formed in 2002, is working on its first full-length studio album By Natasha Chilingerian Pulse Reporter The members of Station Wag, a Eu gene rock band, have hit a positive streak lately. Last Sunday, they tied for first place at the first round of Battle of the Bands at the Downtown Lounge. Requests to play at local venues are rolling in, their first full-length album is in the works and they have found a style that works: playing hard. "Sometimes one of us is bleeding by the end of the show," bassist Eric Merchant said. Station Wag will compete with six other Battle of the Bands winners Sunday at 8 p.m. at Audio Liberation: Battle of the Bands. The event will take place at WOW Hall, located at 291 W. 8th Ave. On I lalloween, they will headline a rock show at Samurai Duck, located at 980 Oak St., at 10 p.m. The five-member band plans to put on "a fun visual show" with the sounds of "a driving rock." When Station Wag formed in the summer of 2002, there were only four members — lead vocalist Candice Kingrey, rhythm guitarist Ana Hewitt, lead guitarist Andy Dent and drummer Tom Newson. Newson came up with the name "Station Wag" during a long freeway drive. "It means nothing, really," New son said. But the name triggered a resolution within the group. A friend of Hewitt's was in a band that was headlining a show at a Portland dub, and she invit ed Station Wag to open the show. Sta tion Wag decided that if it was suc cessful, they would keep the name. After just three rehearsals, they head ed to Portland. After the show, the name became permanent. In November 2002, the four mem bers of Station Wag began to search for a bass player. Kingrey, a sign-language interpreter, was interpreting for a math course at the University when she met Merchant, a graduate teaching fellow at the University, and learned he was a bass player. Kingrey invited Merchant to a 1 Ialloween party where he met the other members and joined soon after. Station Wag started sending demo tapes to bars in Eugene and per formed one to two shows per month, fheir first big success was a New Year's 2003 show at the Samurai Duck. In May they performed at tire WOW I lall for Lesbopalooza. "Things just took off from there," Kingrey said. Now, the group plays five to seven shows per month. Kingrey said the members have reached a point where venues are asking them to perform in stead of the other way around. The members of Station Wag have a variety of performance back grounds. All have been in at least one band before and some have experi ence in musical theater. "Half of us have acting experience and the other half has been in previous bands," Kingrey said, "'I’hese back grounds are what give us our confi dence on stage." Hewitt said her tendency to start bands has been like a fixation. "I've been in four or five bands be fore Station Wag, but they all broke up," she said. "1 kept starting new bands because I just couldn't stop." Kingrey said a big part of the band's success is their friendship. "We all get along really well," she said. "A band has to have fun for it to be a success. Attitude is more important than anything." Although Kingrey said every show is "wild and different," the members of Station Wag aspire to write new songs for their fans to hear. "We'd like something new for people to listen to," 1 lewitt said. lire band previously released a three song demo. Station Wag's new album will be for sale at shows as soon as art work is completed. Aside from finish ing their CD, writing new music and keeping up with playing, members hope to take their act to Portland. "We'd like to play at the Ash Street Saloon or Berbati's (Pan) in Portland," Newson said. As far as long-term goals, Kingrey said as long as Station Wag is playing, they'll be happy. "rhis band has become an addiction for me," she said. "Whenever we take a break from playing, it's just so lousy." Contact the Pulse reporter at natashachilingerian@dailyemerald.com. £32 Courtesy Station Wag will play on Sunday at WOW Hall. “Sometimes one of us is bleeding by the end of the show," bassist Eric Merchant said. SUNDBERG continued from page 8 and played guitar again until the sun went down. 1 never got out of my pajamas. For me, the guitar is more than just an instrument. It is a way of silencing my mind. It is a meditation of sorts. I can close off all thoughts and just let the energy of music sweep through my hands and resonate through the strings. I can sit and play for hours on end. It is beyond enjoyment — it is necessary. Without it, I have no peace. The world outside is demanding. There is always something to think about. There is madness at every turn of the way. We all need something that quiets that crazed beast called reality. I think it is important for people to find the kind of peace that I find in playing my guitar. It doesn't have to be playing guitar, obviously. I know plen ty of people who say playing an instru ment frustrates them to no end. That's quite all right. We all have our thing. I chose the guitar. It hasn't always been this way, though. I can think back to when I first started playing. It was difficult. My hands hurt; they became calloused. I hated it. I quit for a while because I was terrible. I saw no reason to continue. Plus, I was only 12.1 just wanted to play "Sweet Child O' Mine" by Guns N' Ros es. 1 learned that and then I was done But then one day in high school, a couple of friends and I decided to start a band. I told them I could play "Sweet Child O' Mine," and it began. We learned some simple covers and started playing shows. It was then that I found myself practicing for hours every day. I saw something deeper than I had before. There was infinity, right before me, in the form of six strings. I knew then that I would play guitar for the rest of my life. I guess it depends on what you en joy, but I believe we all have that mo ment in which we find the perfect ele ment that completes us. That piece of Zen. That source of infinite power. Whatever it is. If you like gardening, plant some seeds. If you like dancing, go to the clubs. If you like falling from great heights, jump from a plane. I'm not here to tell you how to run your life. But if you're miserable, you're the only one that can change that. And quite often, the most amazing things are the things that have been there all along. We've either taken it for granted or we just don't see it. And sometimes, it just takes work and practice before this awakening occurs. Look around. What sets you free? Where is the peace that makes you ap preciate your life? Is it there? If it's not, maybe you need to reevaluate your sit uation. If you have that peace, smile and share what you have. Live it. The rest can wait. Joy is the most important thing in life. And with that in mind, I'm going to go back downstairs to play my Les Paul. Contact the Pulse columnist at carlsundberg@dailyemerald.com. His opinions do not necessarily represent those of the Emerald. NOV TICKETS ON SALE NOW! H0NQ1I .PRESENTS, HULT CENTER acoustic duo PRODUCED BY TRUE WEST CONCERTS IN ASSOCIATION WITH MONQUi PRESENTS with special guest Moanin' Michelle Malone HULT CENTER TICKETING UNIVERSITY OF OREGON TICKETING Charge By Phone 541.682.5000 www.hultcenter.org Ill EEIEOV. EHEIQSDflV • 10 PM • SH 80's Night FRIDAY, 24TH • 10 PM • $2 Ethic Returns • . 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