BY VANESSA SALVIA
They Might Be Giants
performs Friday at the McDonald.
With the release of No!, TMBG has
produced a record the whole family
will love. (Trust me — my 5 year old
LOVES it, and it’s infinitely better
than listening to “The Teddy Bear’s
Picnic” for the millionth time.)
releases, which are planned
for mid-May. Co-founder
Jevon (no last name given),
who plays in Eugene’s
Chevron, says “We’re going
to do a compilation and a 7-
inch, too” (featuring two
Chevron songs on colored
vinyl). Performing at the
benefit will be Chevron
and Murder of Crows,
which features ex-members
of Mine 37, a local band that
has also recorded a CD for
Schapendoes
Records.
Portland’s Wet Confetti
(“kind of like a dark disco
band,” says Jevon), WW IV
(formerly called The Little
Twos) and Iodil, an elec-
TMBG, local label bennie, and of course, Fiesta Latina.
tronic side-project of another
Chevron member, will also perform.
never changed. He fell asleep and awoke to a
o one makes music like They Might
All of the bands performing at the benefit
strange futuristic world, but still no girl. “I Am
Be Giants and in the words of
will be on the CD, along with many others,
Not Your Broom” and “I Am A Grocery Bag”
Martha Stewart, it’s a good thing.
such as Colorado’s Ken and Tracer and
are sure to be hits in your house.
The duo of John Flansburgh and John Linnell
Blake Brown. “Most of the bands were cho-
Of course, there’s the title track, which
has 20 years behind them, 10 albums, 13
sen by submission and we asked some of the
tells it like it is about that bane of childhood,
music videos and six TV theme songs and
bigger names to be on the CD and kind of got
the word “No.” “If they say ‘no’ it means a
shows no sign of stopping. The two recently
the name out,” says Jevon. “It’s cool because
thousand times no. No plus no equals no. All
won a Grammy for the theme song to the hit
we got some rare stuff, like this band The
roads lead to no no no.” There’s only one song
TV show “Malcolm in the Middle,” which
Intima is giving us an improv track, and we’re
blatantly childlike, and that’s “In The Middle
they wrote and performed. So what to do next?
putting on an improv track as well.”
In The Middle In The Middle,” about safely
A children’s record, of course.
Schapendoes has been a label for two
crossing the street. Luckily, the lyrics are in-
With the release of No!, TMBG has pro-
years, and specializes in music that often flies
cluded in the CD booklet.
duced a record the whole family will love.
under the radar of mainstream music mags,
John Linnell has also completed the CD
(Trust me — my 5 year old LOVES it, and it’s
from math rock to guitar-driven ambient post-
State Songs. The pair has plans to release
infinitely better than listening to “The Teddy
punk to electronic excursions. The label
Gigantic: A Tale of Two Johns, which is an in-
Bear’s Picnic” for the millionth time.) The 17
started up with a business loan, which the ben-
dependently filmed (by award winning video
songs on No! are rhythmic and catchy, with
efit will help pay back.
producer A.J. Schnack) documentary captur-
engaging lyrics and topics interesting enough
The label is focusing on this project for
ing the band on stage, on the road and in the
to keep everyone happy. “Fibber Island” is a
now and will likely take a break after the May
studio. TMBG will appear May 2 at the
place you get to just by closing your eyes,
releases. Meanwhile, Jevon says Chevron
McDonald Theatre.
where some very wacky things happen. “Our
members still have the desire to find a quiet,
You’ll laugh. You’ll dance. You’ll scratch
dog is two miles wide and all he talks about is
small-town hideaway and do nothing but
your head in wonderment. You’ll be hooked.
pie” and “We swim on the ground, wheels are
record music: “We’re definitely going to be
On Saturday May 3, local start-up record label
square not round. We eat chocolate by the
out of here by fall, we just still haven’t decided
Schapendoes Records will have a benefit
pound.”
where. We’re looking for no distractions. We
show at Samurai Duck. Proceeds from the
“Four of Two” tells the story of a man who
just want to live together in a low-stress place
event will go toward two of the label’s future
went to meet a date but the time on the clock
Giant Show
N
and record music for a year and hopefully
come up with something cool.” Catch them
while you can.
Make sure you save some time this week-
end for the 12th annual Fiesta Latina, held
at Washington-Jefferson Park. Celebrations
begin Friday at 6 pm with a performance by
Raw Action Breakdance Crew, followed
by local favs Los Mex Pistols del Norte.
The Pistols, Eugene’s own kings of Mariachi,
never fail to satisfy the audience with their
electric approach to traditional Mexican bull-
ring and Mariachi music.
The always-popular Salsa Dance Contest
semi-finals will also be held Friday.
Headlining the Friday night bill is Seattle’s
Yerbabuena. This 11-piece band, based in
Seattle, is making their Eugene debut this
year. The group presents fantastic dance music
from Cuba: son, danzón, chachachá and salsa.
The party begins anew Saturday at noon with
dancers from local schools, followed by the
tropical rhythms of Son Melao. Trío Ritmo
y Romance will perform romantic ballads.
Traditional Mexican dance in authentic cos-
tumes will follow. Don’t miss Mexican group
Banda Vagos or the Salsa Dance Contest
Finals.
Eugene’s Caliente will close the festival
Saturday night. Come back Sunday at noon
for Lo Nuestro and an encore performance
by Bando Vagos. Orme Iré, an ensemble of
Cuban percussionists, singers and dancers,
will rumba the festival to a close. Many
Spanish-speaking cultures will be represented
at the wonderful food booths. Jewelry, cloth-
ing and arts and crafts will draw your eye.
Children’s events include pottery demonstra-
tions, piñata making and breaking, clowns,
magicians and more. This is an alcohol-free
event designed to bring a sense of the excite-
ment of a Latino street fair to the entire com-
munity. The sights, sounds and tastes of the
festival will delight all ages from 1 to 101!
Children 12 and under are free, while
adults pay a suggested donation of only $3.
LTD is offering free shuttle bus rides every 20
minutes to the festival from downtown. ew
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MAY 1, 2003 29