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About Eugene weekly. (Eugene, Oregon) 1993-current | View Entire Issue (July 31, 2003)
BY VANESSA SALVIA SERVING DELICIOUS NEW YORK PIZZA Mark Olson and Victoria Williams. -BY THE SLICE AND BY THE WHOLE PIZZA PIE- 11:30AM-MIDNIGHT MON-SAT ★ 3:30PM-MIDNIGHT SUNDAY $ 2.00 OFF COUPONS GOOD UNTIL AUGUST 14, 2003 ANY 18” LARGE OR 16” MEDIUM PIZZA PLUS 2 FREE 20oz. SODAS 686-9598 10¢ OFF PLUS A SLICE ® 1 FREE 12 OZ. SODA 1211 ALDER ON CAMPUS NEXT TO SACRED HEART HOSPITAL Folk Family Olson and Williams at WOW Hall. FA R M E R ’ S M A R K E T TUE. 11-3 SAT. 9-3 Lots of free parking 2835 Oak St. 284-2825 FARMER’S MARKET 28th & Oak St. Blue Ribbon Rock! The Lovers Only months ago, local Lovers-to-be Nathan, Aja and Ash (left to right) squinted sideways searching for unique musical nomenclature, and believe it or not, no one had yet staked claim to that hyper-luscious band name. Thus shot Lovers from the sweaty womb, imbued with fleshy ambrosia and issuing sonic pop remedies for everything that ails you, and I mean everything. See Ash get ‘em screaming, Aja on her knees midriff beaming, Nathan popping skins to shake the living and wake the dead. Hear the Lovers play a show this week with The Vets and Fodder. Visit Eugene Weekly’s Clubs section and www.thelovers.us for futher details. 26 JULY 31, 2003 M ark Olson. Victoria Williams. Fans of rootsy folk group the Jayhawks will certainly know the names of these musicians, and those who don’t should go out of their way to educate themselves. These musicians have informed the modern generation of folk music with their haunting, sepia-toned music and poignant lyrics. Williams and Olson, who are married, have been crafting music together for years, and each also has their own successful individual careers. Olson formerly led the Minnesota-based group The Jayhawks, to which Williams contributed. Both artists have new CDs and are join- ing together on stage for a West Coast tour. Williams and Olson recently released December’s Child, Olson’s fifth release with The Creekdippers. This CD also shows Olson reuniting with The Jayhawks’ Gary Louris, the first collaboration for the pair since Olson left the group in 1995. Olson and Williams join up with Joshua Grange, Michael Russell, David Wolfenberger, Danny Frankel, Jon Birdsong and Don Heffington (also a Jayhawks contributor) to craft the spare beau- ty of this CD. The recording is born of a sense of community and collaboration, and was inspired in part by several personal places and events in the lives of Olson and Williams. “Alta’s Song” celebrates the life of a deceased, loved member of their home community. “Climb These Steps” is about a cousin of Olson’s who was killed while living in Kenya as a priest. Unlike the past four Creekdippers recordings, which were recorded at the cou- ple’s home studio in Joshua Tree, Calif., December’s Child was recorded in one week during a tour break in the spring of 2001 at a small studio in the rustic town of Monticello, Miss. The group had already been playing on the road together and the songs and setting came together easily. The ability to tour is a gift for this famous duo. In 1992, Williams was diag- nosed with multiple sclerosis. Added to that challenge was the reality of overwhelming medical bills. The musical community pulled through for her, with friends and admirers recording the album Sweet Relief. The revenue generated by this CD covered Williams’ medical expenses and estab- lished the SweetRelief Fund, which contin- ues to provide monetary assistance to musi- cians in need. Williams’ newest release shows her interpreting classics from the great American songbook. Sings Some Ol’’ Songs shows Williams shining a light on such favorites as “Moon River,” “Over The Rainbow,” “As Time Goes By,” and “Do You Know What It Means To Miss New Orleans,” a personal choice considering Louisiana is Williams’ home state. The talented Petra Hayden adds a sub- lime touch with her viola and violin. Birdsong and Frankel contribute as well. Williams and Olson perform Thursday at WOW Hall. Luna will host duo John Stowell and Paul Orbell. From Portland, jazz guitarist Stowell will team up with Eugene’s own Orbell for a rare duo performance. Stowell learned the art of jazz guitar in his native Connecticut. A migration to New York led to a touring and recording union with bassist David Friessen. The pair performed all over the globe, but the fair Emerald Valley drew Stowell westward to Portland. There he met flutist Paul Horn. The meet- ing led to a number of historic performanc- es with Friesen and Horn’s son Paul in the Soviet Union, the first time American jazz musicians had performed publicly in 40 years. For the past 10 years, Stowell has pursued a successful solo career, traveling around the world teaching and performing. Stowell will be teaming up with 19-year- old Orbell, his protégé and up and coming jazz guitar phenom. This young player is talented and hungry, unafraid to take chances in an improvisational setting. This Saturday promises to be an adventurous evening, with a show time of 8:30 pm. ew These musicians have informed the modern generation of folk music with their haunting, sepia-toned music and poignant lyrics.
