Acclaimed musician Skerik to play WOW Hall
Skerik and his Seattle-based band
Syncopated Taint embody the spirit
of the musical style ‘punk-jazz;'
they hit WOW Hall Saturday night
By Cart Sundberg
Pulse Columnist
Punk is usually the last thing most people
think of when it comes to jazz. But like Bob Dy
lan said: “The times, they are a changin'" Punk
jazz is becoming a way of life for musicians and
fans who are sick of the mundane and ordinary.
One saxophone player from Seattle is touring the
country to bring this new sound to the ears of
every man, woman and child he can. He goes by
the name of Skerik, and to the uninitiated, pay
attention: Here is the a story of an up-and-com
ing musical revolutionary.
"Punk-jazz is more of an attitude than a sonic
description," Skerik said. "The punk sound of the
'90s has been used and abused and commercial
ized. When I think of punk, I think of (Minute
men bassist) Mike Watt — you know, integrity,
honesty. It's not motivated by a corporation. It's
direct honesty at a personal expense."
These personal expenses come at a price.
Skerik said he has actually lost thousands of
dollars on his current tour, adding that music
education has also suffered since the 1980s
with government cuts to artistic programs na
tionwide. "America has been destroying art in
this society," Skerik said. "Of all professional
endeavors, musicians are the lowest paid and
the least respected."
Skerik added that the key to changing this is to
get rid of misconceptions about what music is
and where it should be heard.
"You have to connect with people," he said.
"You have to make art accessible. You should be
able to enjoy art.
"That's why we play places like Oklahoma,
and not just (cities) like Seattle or L.A. or New
York. Your cultural experience in life can't be the
record section in Wal-Mart."
Skerik grew up in Seattle and played in jazz
ensemble and orchestra in school, as well as
in a rock band during his spare time. During
Courtesy
Skerik’s Syncopated Taint Septet will perform at the WOW Hall Saturday at 8:30 p.m. From left to right: Craig
Flory, Joe Doria, Skerik, Steve Moore, Dave Carter (lower middle), Hans Teuber and John Wicks. Skerik says the
band’s shows are based on improvisation, and the band will play different tunes depending on crowd reaction.
the 1980s, Skerik left home to pursue his ca
reer as a musician, playing in bands all over
the world in places such as London, Paris and
the South Pacific. The styles of music he
played included blues, rock, jazz, Caribbean
and African music. He returned to Seattle dur
ing the late 1980s and started the sax-drum
bass trio, Sadhappy. Later, he began the band
Critters Buggin.
Skerik's approach to music has garnered him
a great deal of praise from musicians and fans.
"He has a no-holds-barred (style that) com
bines everything he's learned to (create some
thing) without fear of what other people think,"
said Tim McLaughlin, a trumpet player and
leader of the local band Eleven Eyes.
McLaughlin's band will open for Skerik and
his Seattle-based group Syncopated Taint
Septet this Saturday at WOW Hall, located at
291 West Eighth Ave. Doors open at 8 p.m. and
showtime is 8:30 p.m. Tickets are $10 in ad
vance or at the door.
WOW Hall Publicist Bob Fennessy described
his experience seeing Skerik.
"I saw Skerik perform here (at WOW Hall)
when he was in Critters Buggin. He's a flamboy
ant player who uses a lot of effects to distort the
sound of his saxophone," he said.
Skerik has made a name for himself playing
with some of the most cutting-edge and innova
tive performers in postmodern America. His
presence became otherworldly in the band Crit
ters Buggin, an avant-garde punk-jazz tribal-elec
tronic fusion group. Since then, Skerik has per
formed in several bands, including Garage a
Trois and Les Claypool's Flying Frog Brigade. He's
also played alongside legends such as Roger Wa
ters, Galactic, John Scofield, Medeski Martin &
Wood, DJ Logic, Robert Walters and Fred Wesley.
Rolling Stone magazine has called him "jazz's
best kept secret."
The Syncopated Taint Septet consists of sev
en all-star musicians from Seattle. The lineup
includes Craig Flory on baritone saxophone,
Joe Doria on Hammond organ, John Wicks
on drums, Dave Carter on trumpet, Hans Teu
ber on alto saxophone and flute, Steve Moore
on trombone and Wurlitzer electric piano,
and, of course, Skerik on tenor and baritone
saxophone.
"We have about 50 compositions (written) for
seven musicians, five (of which are) horns,"
Skerik said.
Although the songs are rehearsed and writ
ten, Skerik said, they are also reactionary and
firmly based in improvisation. He added that if
the crowd is sitting and quiet, the band will play
more tunes that are more ambient and sub
dued. But if the crowd is lively, the band will
rock the house.
Contact the Pulse columnist
at carlsundberg@dailyemerald.com.
T~/te /YotteSt r/7 f/fe /Vott/ffmTf
Every liiMhrd<3y!
'3
Show your Student ID for FREE Admittance
• $3 Lunch Special Sun-Thurs 12pm-2pm
• $4 Dinner Special Sun-Thurs all night!
Ladies and couples get in for FREE!
2165 W. 11TH AVENUE • EUGENE • 683-6021
Monday-Friday 12-2, Saturday & Sunday 2-2 • www.hotbody.com
Bourbon Street Lounge
All Well Drinks All Day, Every Day!
$ 1 Pints Of Pabst Blue Ribbon - Always!
$3 Microbrewed & Import Beer - Always!
Stop Chasing Cocktail Specials!
Neighbors Features The Lowest
Regular Prices In The Campus Area!
Neighbors Also Offers Eugene’s Largest
Selection Of kegs To-Go!
Call Today To Make Arrangements
For Your Party!
Convenient Campus Location
1417 Villard - Two Blocks East Of Campus
541.338.0334
www.TheEugeneBar.com