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About Eugene weekly. (Eugene, Oregon) 1993-current | View Entire Issue (April 3, 2003)
DAN STEINBERG PRESENTS BY VANESSA SALVIA WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW Baroque Folker SALEM ARMORY WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW Proctor at Paradiso; punk at WOW Hall. B race for a night of punk rock Thursday, April 3rd, when F-Minus, Blasphemous Abnormality and Before Braille blast into WOW Hall. Before Braille doesn’t quite mesh musically with the other two hardcore and thrash acts on the bill, but that’s just fine with the band. Though their music has been dubbed “emo-core,” the musicians say they “bristle” at being stereotyped and categorized. They are un- apologetically DIY (do it yourself — a philosophy of being an independent act and not relying on artificial major label ex- posure and support) and just want their music to speak for itself. Proctor’s virtuosity has often been compared to Leo Kottke and Michael Hedges and he is sometimes billed as “baroque folk.” Spawned in Mesa, Ariz., the same ground that produced the popular group Jimmy Eat World, Before Braille started with four high school friends who joined forces about three years ago. Lead vocal- ist/guitarist David Jensen and guitarist Hans Ringger teamed up to write songs. Bassist Brandon Smith and drummer Kelly Reed joined in the efforts. Guitarist Rajiv “Reggie” Patel came on board and Before Braille was born. The name, according to Jensen, relates to using guidelines to realize goals: “Everybody battles rules, but there are some that help you achieve. Braille is an example...with universal guidelines, a whole new world opened up.” Proudly citing Fugazi as a marked in- fluence, Braille debuted with The Rumor, released in Sept. 2002 on Aezra Records. Braille’s musical style is difficult to con- vey through words, which accounts for some of the attempts by music critics to pi- geonhole the reluctant stars. The 15 songs on The Rumor ably slither from chunky power pop to guitar-led intricacies to quiet, passionate musings on life’s va- garies. The lyrics and music are honest and from the heart, whether it be surreal and dream-like or visceral and raw. F-Minus, a hard- core band from Huntington Beach, Cal., debuted on Hellcat Records in 1998 with Failed Society. The band’s latest, Wake Up Screaming, was recorded by the master knob-twister Steve Albini. Finally, Eugene’s three-piece thrash-punkers B l a s p h e m o u s Abnormality are Andy Larson on guitar and vo- cals, Denver Hamlin on bass and vocals and drummer Ken Roberts. The group’s been together two years, and won the WOW Hall’s 2002 con- test for Best Band Name. Switching genres, on Friday, April 4th, Cafe Paradiso will host fingerstyle gui- tarist Chris Proctor. Proctor is touring in support of his newest release, Influence. Proctor has released nine recordings in all, and Influence is his seventh solo record- ing. Proctor’s virtuosity has often been compared to Leo Kottke and Michael Hedges and he is sometimes billed as “baroque folk.” Since winning the National Fingerstyle Guitar competition in 1982, Proctor has toured constantly. He records both his own compositions and his own arrangements of others’ songs. Nationally recognized as a master of fin- gerstyle guitar and as a steel-string guitar promoter, Proctor has also published several books and videos instructing others in his style of playing. His recent pursuits include the release of his fifth book of guitar tran- scriptions for Mel Bay Publications. As an endorser and clinician for Taylor Guitars since 1984, that company recently honored him with the new “Chris Proctor Signature Model” guitar. Proctor also has a track on an upcoming Windham Hill recording high- lighting instrumental guitar called “Wood and Steel 3.” Proctor is also known for his ground- breaking uses of the electronic bow. As a performer, Proctor lets the guitar become the prime instrument of expression, releas- ing all of its components — rhythmic, melodic and harmonic, and allowing them to fully flourish. It’s been several years since Proctor has performed in Eugene, so this promises to be a special evening. ew TICKETS ON SALE SATURDAY APRIL 5 10AM WED MAY 14 7:00 PM ALL AGES WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW JOHN HENRY’S WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW JAZZ HIPPIE BREWERY WELCOMES... Standing Wave WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW SUN APRIL 6 8:00 PM 21 & OVER THIS ! SUN WILD DUCK WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW SUN APRIL 13 8:00 PM ALL AGES TUES APRIL 29 8:00 PM ALL AGES DUNCAN SHEIK MELISSA BATHORY THE WEEKEND Chris Proctor performs Friday at Café Paradiso. FOR A FULL SCHEDULE VISIT Radio State Urmston of Dispatch ) (featuring Chad WWW.THRASHERPRESENTS.COM + Pepper 1-800-992-8499 APRIL 3, 2003 23
