Eugene weekly., April 13, 2006, Page 31, Image 31

play the old songs note for note.
What do you enjoy most about being a
musician?
Everything. I love the people who come
out to listen. Watching music on TV is pas-
sive, uninvolving. People who come out,
they’re participating in music just as much as
I am. I just love playing music. I love the
sound, the feel of my fingers on the strings. I
love the vibration of the guitar as it leans
against my chest. I just love it all.
David Jacobs-Strain plays at 8 pm Friday,
April 14 at Luna. $10 stu. adv./$14 gen./$16 dos.
—John Ginn
Chasing Away
the Tax Day Blues
All the genres in the world couldn’t begin
to describe these guys. The harmonies in
songs like “Changing Lanes” sound like a
generic country album and the attempt at a
hip hop verse in “Breakfast” is cornier than
watching Snakes on a Plane with a $5 tub of
Orville Redenbacher. Their saving grace is
that the band members are quite talented
with their instruments.
If your desire for yet more bluegrass in
Eugene hasn’t been satiated yet, then maybe
these guys will do it for you.
Blue Turtle Seduction plays with Ken
Babbs the intrepid traveler/capn and the
Prankster/Skypilots, UTF the Next Step and
The Great All Merge at 8 pm Thursday, April
20 at the WOW Hall. $13 adv./$15 dos.
— Dan Hoyt
Harlem Gospel Choir
It’s tax day, April 15, and you’ve just sent
your forms off to Uncle Sam. Bummed; you’re
bummed; you’ve just paid a lot of money to a
bunch of bums. It’s a bummer.
Fortunately, there’s a cure for that. The
Harlem Gospel Choir is in town on this very
night, the perfect antidote for all that
bummedness. Imagine the scenario:
You: I hate tax day. It’s not a good day.
HGC: We hear you, brother. Come on,
sing with us…
You: No!
HGC: Amazing Grace, how sweet…
You: La la la, I can’t hear you!
HGC : How sweet the sound, that saved...
You: No way! Forget it!
HGC : That saved…
You : That saved a wretch like me!
And suddenly there you are, almost
against your will, singing songs about
metaphorical lost sheep and letting your little
light shine on the darkness of the world, and
you are clapping and whooping and having a
rousing good time.
Formed in 1986, Harlem Gospel Choir was
founded by Allen Bailey, who was inspired by
a Martin Luther King, Jr. celebration at the
Cotton Club. Gathering singers and musicians
from various black churches in Harlem, the
group has become one of the most widely
known and traveled gospel choirs in the
world. Its mission is two-fold: To make the
world a more loving and peaceful place, and
to create a better understanding of the
African-American culture, gospel music and
how it relates to the black church. The theme
of every performance is bringing people and
nations together, and giving something back.
And for nearly 20 years now, that’s
exactly what they’ve been doing, raising the
roof on venues all over the world, sharing
stages with Diana Ross, U2, The Chieftains,
Bono, and, most recently, the multi-media
group Gorillaz.
Gospel is not a passive musical style. Do
not expect to lean back, eyes closed, and gath-
er in the sound. Participation is encouraged,
and toward that end, there will be a free work-
shop on Tax Day Eve open to anyone wanting
to learn more about spirituals, slave songs and
traditional and contemporary gospel. Those
attending the workshop can join the choir
onstage (concert ticket required) for a song at
Saturday’s performance.
The Harlem Gospel Choir hosts a free
gospel workshop, Friday 7:30pm April 14 at
the Hult Center and performs 8 pm Saturday
April 15 at the Hult Center. $18/$22/$26.
—John Ginn
Lukewarm Jam
Given that the bluegrass scene has taken
off like a rocket all over the bar circuit in
Eugene, it’s easy for bands like Blue Turtle
Seduction to get lost in the mix with all the
other silly-named groups with mandolins, vio-
lins and harmonizing vocals. Straight from
the back country of Lake Tahoe, Calif., these
guys try to mix it up with what they call a
“High-Altitude Bohemian Tribal Funk Grass”
sound that includes everything from world
music to hip hop to the skank rhythms of reg-
gae and ska.
APRIL 13, 2006 31