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About Eugene weekly. (Eugene, Oregon) 1993-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 28, 2003)
BY BRETT CAMPBELL SERVING DELICIOUS NEW YORK PIZZA -BY THE SLICE AND BY THE WHOLE PIZZA PIE- Rebel Music 11:30AM-MIDNIGHT MON-SAT ★ 3:30PM-MIDNIGHT SUNDAY World music legend plays for the home crowd. W ho’s the most famous musician in Eugene? You might guess Mason Williams, or the Cherry Poppin’ Daddies, but it’s really no contest: Thomas Mapfumo is one of the world’s most revered musicians. Beginning in the 1960s, the com- poser and guitarist from what was then called Rhodesia developed a powerful form of protest music called chimurenga, wedding lyrics protesting the oppression of the apartheid regime to danceable, pulsating sounds that featured his major musical inno- vation: translating the bubbling sound of the mbira, the thumb piano of the Shona people, to the electric guitar. The government recog- nized him as a threat, but Mapfumo perse- vered in writing his powerful protest music, performing for tens of thousands of his coun- trymen, and rejoicing in the 1980 demise of the apartheid regime. Sadly, the advent of majority rule didn’t end the need for protest songs, and Mapfumo soon began applying his social conscience — and his compelling music — to critiques of the increas- ingly corrupt regime of Robert Mugabe. Rather than turning a blind eye to Mugabe’s corruption and oppression, he decided to leave his Zimbabwean homeland, but maintain the strug- gle from a safe base. After death threats and other intimidation tactics, Mapfumo entered a voluntary exile to Eugene. But though he still records mesmerizing albums and tours the world, bringing his message of liberation and justice to listeners throughout the world, Mapfumo seldom performs in this area, so his Aug. 30 concert at the WOW Hall is a must-see event for any fan of world music. With the sul- try reggae of Ichele & the Circle of Light opening, this is easily one of the most recom- mended shows of the year. The other big show coming up is Wilco at the McDonald Theater on Sept. 4. It’s hard to believe anyone reading this doesn’t know about what’s easily one of the finest rock bands to emerge in the past decade (espe- cially after the fine documentary I Am Trying to Break Your Heart played at the Bijou last spring), but briefly: Emerging from the ashes of the alt country pioneers Uncle Tupelo, Wilco has evolved into one of the most interesting and ex- ploratory rock-oriented bands in the world, as songwriter Jeff Tweedy’s musical vi- sion has expanded and deepened. We’re lucky to get them here at all, much less at a venue as ideal as the McDonald — another can’t miss show. The string of strong bluegrass shows stream- ing through town contin- ues this weekend when Foghorn Portland’s String Band returns to Sam Bond’s Garage Friday, Aug. 29. I first encountered these stal- warts of Portland’s re- markable old-time music revival at OFAM last spring, and was startled to find that they more than held their own with some of the legends of bluegrass also appearing there. They’ve been playing square dances in Portland, but there’s nothing square about these young ex-rockers, who mix the fire of rock and roll with the traditional mountain fiddle tunes and high-spirited Appalachian dance music of unadulterated bluegrass. If that’s not enough twang for you, on Thursday, Aug. 28, the Lo-Fi Breakdown, another hot young bluegrass band (this one out of Utah) that mixes originals and tradi- tionals, comes to Sam Bond’s. Some strong jazz comes to Luna this month. On Thursday, Aug. 28, one of the most exciting bands in town, Eleven Eyes, will blow the doors down. I caught this funk/electronic/jazz ensemble at the Wild Duck last month and was knocked out by their sound: ’70s fusion licks and 21st cen- tury sounds over turntable zips and samples, then trumpet, tenor and (in this show) bass clarinet — 13 eyes? Sometimes languid (de- spite the propulsive rhythm section), some- times soaring into outer space, always cook- ing, this is a band that doesn’t hold back. Maybe not everything is quite in focus all the time, but they create an undeniable excite- ment. A few jazz purists may blanch, but for my money, Eleven Eyes represents a truly original and coherent new direction in impro- vised music. In fact, I’d recommend this band as much to rock and funk fans as jazz. On Friday, Sept. 4, Luna hosts singer Kari Gaffney and pianist Jeff Williams. She’s been winning acclaim across the coun- try for her warm covers of jazz standards. And on Sept. 11, the club brings one of the real divas of jazz vocals, Meredith d’Ambrosio, back to town. For almost four decades, this cool alto (often compared to Blossom Dearie) has been winning accolades from the likes of Leonard Feather and per- forming with musicians as esteemed and di- verse as Dave Frishberg, Fred Hersch, Dick Hyman, Hank Jones, Milt Hinton, Lee Konitz, Ken Peplowski, Phil Woods, and Kevin Eubanks. Luna’s in- timate setting is an ideal place to hear her. ew $ 2.00 OFF ANY 18” LARGE OR 16” MEDIUM PIZZA PLUS 2 FREE 20oz. SODAS 686-9598 COUPONS GOOD UNTIL SEPTEMBER 11, 2003 10¢ OFF PLUS A SLICE ® 1 FREE 12 OZ. SODA 1211 ALDER ON CAMPUS NEXT TO SACRED HEART HOSPITAL Thomas Mapfumo and the Blacks Unlimited perform at WOW Hall on Saturday. AUGUST 28, 2003 23
