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About Eugene weekly. (Eugene, Oregon) 1993-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 21, 2003)
BY VANESSA SALVIA Al Larsen of Some Velvet Sidewalk. Larsen Evolution Olympia-based band brings velvet rock to Sam Bond’s. S an album he’s recording with producer Steve ome Velvet Sidewalk, an Fisk, with whom he’s worked before. Fisk Olympia-based outfit on the K contributes electric piano on the recording, Records roster, has Eugene ties which should be available by February. This going way back. The guitar/drum duo of Al performance will take place Sunday at Sam Larsen and Robert Christie (now deceased) Bond’s, along with local favorites The rocked the indie world with their primitive Visible Men. playing style and influenced a stripped-down Local band Mine 37 (www.minethirty- sound that survives and thrives today. The seven.com) began one and a half years ago as pair debuted with a self-released taped an almost entirely different band. Benjamin recording in 1998, then swiftly switched to K Max (bass) formed the band with his sister Records. Larson and company made a deep and a different drummer and guitarist. Mat impression on the music scene. Then what Foster joined up in February. Guitarist Ben happened? I caught up with Larsen in his Hubbird and drummer Jim Ewell complete Olympia home to find out. the new ensemble. The change in lineup was Larsen stopped writing songs and music brought about because everyone quit for for about two years, during 1998 and 1999. some reason or another, like graduating from He explains, “It was really odd. I was at a point where I didn’t know Larsen’s take on his music … what to write about anymore and it didn’t make sense to me ‘It’s a process of feeling like anymore.” With more years you’re rock and roll upon his head, the teen rebel- lion he had felt in the past .’ evaporated. “For me it was college and moving away. like, whatever I’m railing against is basically Says Max, “It just wasn’t going to work my fault, or my own responsibility. It didn’t anymore. The changes are more than skin feel right to me to be blaming the world.” deep; all have a shared vision of less pop and Larsen began writing again when he was more rock. The people in the other band were at a different place mentally. For the past more into pop and being more weird. I year Larsen has been performing solo, at always wanted to play more straight ahead local gigs and two short tours down the rock and these people are all about that.” The coast. For this tour, Larsen will be perform- group is nearing completion on a five-song ing with SVS drummer Don Blair, who EP which they will finish before September, debuted on the group’s 1992 recording when they embark on a short tour of several Avalanche. “We had a pretty good wave- Western states. (The band books their own length in Some Velvet Sidewalk, with the tour and releases their CDs themselves.) whole group really, in terms of everyone This self-titled release represents the staying in the same rhythm,” he says. band members’ first real recording, a studio Blair’s drums are noteworthy: Larsen effort they’re all extremely happy with. reveals that they lived a past life on a 1930s Gearing up for tour has cut into their time to cruise ship. “They’re Chinese, I think. They work on new material, but the band has sev- look like barrels and they have an animal eral new songs they’re itching to record, as skin tacked on. They have this ancient sort of well. Future plans for this talented band sound.” Larsen promises that rather than include more recording, more shows and playing a standard rock kit, these drums hopefully more fans. Max does not relish the bring an aura to the performance that’s thought of more band structure changes. “I almost magical. hope we all stick together for a while and try Larsen’s take on his music is one of to make this thing work,” he reflects. Mine invention. He says, “It’s a process of feeling 37 will perform Friday at WOW Hall with like you’re inventing rock and roll on your The Appleseed Cast, Mercury Project own terms.” and Chin Up Chin Up. Larsen is currently nearing completion on ew inventing on your own terms AUGUST 21, 2003 27
