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About Eugene weekly. (Eugene, Oregon) 1993-current | View Entire Issue (July 7, 2005)
Fair Thee Well 5 Oregon Country Fair 2005 Musical Highlights at the OCF BY JEFF WINICOUR A hh ... the Oregon Country Fair. The sights. The sounds. The smells! Just don’t forget the music. After navigating the maze that is the figure eight of the fair, eating overpriced Saturday Market food and averting your gaze from those heathen breast barers, ’tis time for the tunes. Here’s a quick look into this year’s top musical offerings. Multi-instrumentalist David Lindley is, in a word, nuts. He is also one of the world’s finest musicians. His long list of cynical musical collaborators include Ry Cooder, Jackson Browne, Bob Dylan and Warren Zevon. Hailing from the quaint lit- tle burg known as “La La Land,” Lindley has an easy, laid-back feel to his music. That is not to say he doesn’t lay into his wide array of stringed instruments with a passion. His combination of storytelling, musicianship and downright awful choice of shirts is the perfect fit for the Fair. Don’t miss this special opportunity to see dementia at its musical best. Chuck Prophet is a bit of a revelation for the OCF. More bluesy than folksy, more intense than chill, he brings a more modern voice to the proceedings. But anyone with Dylan listed as their main influence (every- body?!) has a shot at fairgoers’ ears. His lat- est album Age of Miracles is, quite simply, a masterpiece. He takes the old sound of folk and is not afraid to electronicize it, wrapping his songs in a timeless duality. Lucinda Williams thought enough of his work that he opened up for her on her summer tour. I am curious of the marriage of Chuck Prophet, the OCF and the people who will be drawn to his shows. Will it lead the way for more modern future entertainment for the Fair? Will it bring frowns to the traditional folks? Or, perhaps most importantly, how far can a monkey with a wooden leg kick a pickle? Wow! Joe Craven at the Fair. A very special treat, indeed. Long time member of the David Grisman Quintet, among many other accomplishments, Craven is a walk- ing percussion instrument. He’s even cool- er than that guy from the Police Academy movies! His skills on fiddle, rhythm and his own body parts are beyond human nor- malcy-probably a lot like Craven himself. He describes himself as “a bit like Indiana Jones; a musical archaeologist going on wild adventures with his finds.” Bring the kids to this one. Last time I saw him, he sang a song directly to my then 3-year-old son. My kid has absolutely zero recollec- tion of the incident, but it’s a real warm fuzzy for me. Don’t miss this one! CrazyGrass makes its Oregon debut with two-time California flatpicking guitar champion and banjo player Sid Lewis leading the pack. Think smoldering hot, lyrical rock ala Santana or Trey from Phish. Should be quite a show. If you can’t wait until the Fair to hear their amazing jams, check them out this Thursday, July 7, at Cozmic Pizza. Show starts at 9 pm with a sliding scale cover. The modern day equivalent of a multi- cultural pow-wow, Alma Melodiosa will take you far and wide. This sextet from Northern California has enchanted fair goers for years now. Combining belly dancing, Spanish and English vocals, clas- sical guitar and percussion with electric guitar and keyboard, Alma Melodiosa is here with a purpose. Decidedly Old World with a fresh twist, they brew up tribal grooves that set booties shaking. For those staying the night at the Fair, the group’s magic is especially potent in the darker hours. If you’re looking for the new age of psychadelia, forget the Dead cover bands. Check out Alma Melodiosa. I can’t let any overview of Fair music go without including a jamband. The Motet sticks its neck out way above that label, delivering the real deal in impro- visatory sounds (see story p. 30). So, that’s it. Don’t forget to drink plen- ty of water, protect yourself from the sun and enjoy the music! e David Lindley Alma Melodiosa Joe Craven www.peakexperience.cc PRODUCED IN ASSOCIATION WITH PEAK EXPERIENCE PRODUCTIONS MADISON HOUSE PRESENTS THE MUSIC CAMPING august th th NO & RT H PLAINS, OR 5, 6, 7 th doors Aug. 4th EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOPS AND PERFORMANCE MORE! ART HORNING’S HIDEOUT with very special guests: A UG 4th: ZILLA AUG ARTURO SANDOVAL 5th: & NEW MONSOON AU G 6th: A UG RAILROAD EARTH & 7th: ANDERS OSBORNE PLUS additional performances by That One Guy, Banana Slug String Band, El Circo Performance Troupe & DJ Lorin and much more! T I C K E T S : www.stringcheeseincident.com ticketswest outlets JULY 7, 2005 13
