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About The Observer. (La Grande, Or.) 1968-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 28, 2021)
Thursday, January 28, 2021 GO! magazine — A&E in Northeast Oregon 3 Bringing the music to you Churchill concert streams live Jan. 29 By Lisa Britton BAKER CITY — Lauren Na- pier’s life changed last March when suddenly she had no venues to play. “Pre-pandemic, I’m a touring musician,” she said. “I’ve gotten very familiar with my four walls in Tacoma.” But this week she will again hit the road, along with Vic Rug- giero, to livestream a concert from Churchill School on Friday, Nov. 29. The music starts at 7 p.m. Here is the live link: https://youtu. be/L_7D2k5uGMY This is the school’s second live-streamed music event this month. Churchill owners Brian and Corrine Vegter hail it as the “In Your House Parties” series with the motto of “bringing the party to your house until it’s safe to party at our house again.” Donations are appreciated to make the concert happen: https:// venmo.com/punkrockdoll13 Napier and Riggiero met in Berlin, Germany, about three years ago. Never having roots in one place, Napier has tailored her interests to suit her ever-changing address in- cluding writer, singer, cellist, model and publicist. Ruggiero grew up in New York. He’s been a touring musician since the 1990s. Their backgrounds differ — his of blues and Americana, hers of classical music and cello. He likes “bar gigs” and she prefers small, quieter venues. When they fi rst toured together, each would play solo as part of their larger show. But audience requests fi nally brought them on stage together. Contributed photo “People kept asking ‘where’s the Vic Ruggiero and Lauren Napier will live stream a concert from Churchill School on Jan. 29. duet?’” Ruggiero said. They fi rst joined to sing songs by Dean Martin, then and Patsy Cline. “It’s worked better then I expected,” he said, a smile evident through his Bronx accent. “We har- monize pretty good, I gotta say.” Then they started writing songs together. Their musical life is a bit of a balancing act — she introduced him to camping between gigs (“I was scared of the dark,” Ruggiero said), and he can play whether the Let us help, contact us today audience is listening close or visit- bluemountaintech.com 541.963.8889 ing with each other instead (she prefers a more attentive audience). “That’s the beauty of it — bal- ance is important,” she said. As for the music, she’s missed the connection of a live audience. Livestreaming is just not the same (whereas Ruggiero likes livesteam, especially reading comments from FREE eBooks the listeners as he plays). AVAILABLE DAILY and audiobooks But it does still help her connect. Thousands of titles Noon to midnight “The only reason I continue to do them is people writing to tell me Unlimited # of sessions at NO CHARGE! ‘thank you,’ ” Napier said. It’s PRE-PAID with your taxes. She’s always, she said, sought to Access with bring a softer side of the world with your Baker County Library Card her music. from www.bakerlib.org/kids-teens “My mother’s constantly remind- ing me that I can’t fi ght the ugly. Explore the ONLINE LIBRARY at www.bakerlib.org 541.523.6419 info@bakerlib.org But I can do my part,” she said. Is your business one of the 25 million that aren’t backing up data correctly?
