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About Eugene weekly. (Eugene, Oregon) 1993-current | View Entire Issue (July 28, 2005)
Thriftin’ For a Melody Family Reunion Home of Buddy Holly and Waylon Jennings. Stompin’ ground for Thrift Store Cowboys. Yep, it’s Lubbock. Lubbock, Texas. Say “Lubbock” a few times and it starts to sound exciting. The Thrift Store Cowboys grew up in the West Texas panhandle around Lubbock and Fluvanna (another small town name that’s fun to say) and soaked up the area’s rich musical history. All but one of the band’s six members were under 21 when their 2001 CD Nowhere With You was released, so these younguns have a lot of grow- ing up ahead of them. Still, the songs they showcase on www.myspace.com reveal similarities to Old 97’s, but with more sweetness and ten- derness than I’ve heard from that band in a long time. “Days We Remember” sways with a Mexican flavor thanks to snappy accordion, and would go great with hot salsa and cold Corona with lime. “Trails of Light” starts out like a tear-jerking ballad, with weepy violin and somber notes, but soon finds its legs and end up punchy. “Sleepy Engine” is anything but sleepy, with a kicky train-on- the-tracks rhythm that’s enhanced by sparkling violin. Speaking of which, Amanda Shires is billed as “fiddle and vocals” but at least on the tunes I heard, she ain’t play- ing fiddle-style. Her lovely way with the instrument, however it’s played, adds a delicacy I love. The group released a sec- ond CD, The Great American Desert, in November of 2003. It’s more of the same ener- getic, slightly dusty tunes that can only originate from the great open spaces of Texas. In addition to packing about 50 originals into a full-on, high- energy, three-hour set, the group honors their influences by playing covers of Jimmie Rodgers, Buck Owens, Bob Wills, Old 97’s, Elvis and more. Yeah, Lubbock is in the middle of nowhere, but as the band says on its web- site, www.thriftstorecowboys.com, “any- where’s walking distance if you’ve got the time.” The Thrift Store Cowboys play at 9 pm, Thursday, August 4 at Luckey’s. $3-$5. — Vanessa Salvia The day Jerry Garcia passed away was a rough one in Eugene. In the 10 years since his death, much has changed in the world. One con- stant remains: the draw of the man’s music, not just with the Dead, but in his solo work as well. In that spirit comes the Cozmic Garcia Birthday Bash, held at Cozmic Pizza on the 63rd anniversary of Jerry’s birth. Jerry profoundly affected many people in this community. Many folks moved here because of the rich Dead history in the area. While those who never tasted the Dead magic at its best may not quite understand it, Jerry was father, friend and family to many. Immediately following his passing, many events took place to bring the community together. Lately it seems these “family reunions” are becoming more scarce. Enter Cozmic Pizza! If you do enter Cozmic Pizza on Monday, here’s what you’ll find. At 7:30 pm there will be a screen- ing of a Grateful Dead concert film from June 26, 1987. This begins (and concludes) the all ages por- tion of the evening. After the kiddies have gone off to bed, the real fun begins (don’t it always?) as for- mer Dead collaborator Martin Fierro brings his out- fit Elijah to the stage. Fierro began his work with the boys in the 1970s, blowing his horn onstage with the band on a number of occasions. Drawing on some serious Dead ties, his lineup includes the always entertaining Melvin Seals, former key- boardist of the Jerry Garcia Band, as well as former members of Merl Saunders Rain Forest Band. This band was “born the day Jerry died,” so they should be the perfect fit. In addition to making music and Father’s Day gifts (ties), Jerry also made some serious A Return to the Power of Three Some people have mused that the age of the power trio is over, relegated now to jazz combos and fond, fading memories of Cream and the Jimi Hendrix Experience. Then along comes the Eric McFadden Trio to remind those naysayers what made the ass-kicking, prog-rock three- pieces of the ’60s and ’70s so cool to begin with — but McFadden’s band does it all acoustic. To those in the know, Eric McFadden has long been a guitar demi-god, sent to resurrect honest rock from its stale tomb. After crossing chords Eric McFadden Trio with some musical giants, including Les Claypool, Bo Diddley, Joe Strummer, Keb’ Mo’ and the Reverend Horton Heat, McFadden set out on tour with the immortal P-Funk Allstars, where he surely learned everything he didn’t already know about pure musi- cal energy. Because of the stripped- down approach, the key to any trio has always been finding three talented musicians who don‘t just play well together, but seem to play on a single, telepathic plane. EMT has apparently hit on this magic formula. James Whiton’s mas- tery of the amplified, stand-up double bass must be seen to be believed. A classically trained bassist, Whiton has blended symphonic discipline with pow- erful, inventive chops, creating new dimensions of unexpected texture. Frequent EMT drum- mer Paulo Baldi is currently off working with his other band, the widely beloved Cake, but his replacement for this tour is Jeff “The Commander” Anthony, who helped launch the band back in 2002. art. He was an accomplished watercolorist and EMT’s hard-hitting, experimental rock-fusion local Fenario Gallery is putting on a display of harkens back to a purer time in music, to some- original J. Garcia artwork. thing less packaged and closer to a real expression While it has been ten years since Jerry’s of an artist’s angst-driven forays into the great death, this is a birthday celebration. Cozmic unknown. If you missed McFadden’s stops in provides the pizza and beer, Elijah provides the Eugene with any of his other projects, don’t miss music, Fenario Gallery the art. In the Deadhead EMT this time for a chance to see a real rock hero world, though, it’s always been the crowd who in a stripped to the bone setting — and to witness has provided the “x” factor. Bring it! the mighty power trio’s return to glory. The Eric The Cozmic Garcia Birthday Bash takes McFadden Trio plays as the musical guest at John place Monday, August 1. Film starts at 7:30 pm, Henry’s Broadway Revue 10 pm Sunday, July 31. music at 9 pm. —Jeff Winicour $3-$5. —Dave Constantin Customer Appreciation Party & Summer Fest 2005 this Saturday, July 30th Car wash & Free BBQ from 12pm- 7pm Wet T-shirt contest at 11pm Door Prizes and hourly giveaways! open 7 days/week • mon-sat 12 PM -2:30 AM • sun 3 PM -2:30 AM 34 JULY 28, 2005 1444 Main St Springfield 726-7299
