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About Eugene weekly. (Eugene, Oregon) 1993-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 25, 2007)
The Comforters The Comforters at 7 pm Thursday, Jan. 25 at Territorial Winery. Free. — Amanda Burhop New! Fresh! Controversial! Rocking Us Softly Why are husband and wife duos so darn adorable? And why are we such suckers for them? Perhaps it’s the romantic idea of spending lazy summer days writing music with the person you’re most comfortable with. Aw, the very notion of turning out lovey-dovey songs about each other is so saccharine I can hardly stand it. But all mushy feelings aside, we also like them when they’re good musicians. The Comforters, Pia and Jason Robbins with Sean Peterson on upright bass, de- scribe their sound as “tender Americana pop.” The acoustic trio’s debut record, Transplants, is saturated with seemingly weightless songs. Pia’s delicate vocals float over a loose acoustic guitar and keyboard melody, recalling Rose Melberg or Maria Taylor but with a more ethereal quality. Recording at their own Big Timbre studio in Eugene, The Comforters create songs that are pretty on the surface but dark in the lyrics. As much as I’d like to boast of their cutesy songs about one another, the album is mostly devoid of love songs with the ex- ception of “I Want to Rock.” And that’s OK. While that song feels warm and breezy and brings to mind postcard images of a tropical isle, others, like “Lazy Sundays” and “The Call,” are melancholy and brooding. The Comforters aren’t always acoustic. The record is full of electric and slide guitar, organs, drums and airy harmonies, which add diversity to each song. So go ahead, feel Among the explosion of new and unusual music at the UO this month is the always exciting Music Today Festival. On Jan. 29, the festival’s big concert features So Percussion in a belated celebration of the 70th birthday of the world’s greatest liv- ing composer, Steve Reich, including some of his mesmerizing early so- called minimalist works — “Music for Pieces of Wood,” the once-contro- versial, still powerful “Four Organs,” (which sparked both raucous cheers and catcalls at its early 1970s performances) and part of the massive, highly influential 1971 master- piece Drumming. This mighty music still packs the power to move the emotions like nothing else, and this is certainly one of the most highly recommended concerts of the year. The program also has sounds by one of Reich’s musical descendants, David Lang of New York’s Bang on a Can all stars. So Percussion also joins the UO’s Pacific Rim Gamelan on Jan. 30 in music by UO gradu- ate composers. Two other Music Today concerts focus on contemporary songs: On Jan. 26, the har- monica/guitar/voices duo of Joe Powers and Lewis Childs perform music by Astor Piazzolla as well as Brazilian, Italian, Yiddish, and jazz songs, with guest appearances by Japanese koto master Mitsuki Dazai and even some tap dancers. The next night has Loyola University faculty musicians Philip and Ellen Frohnmayer singing classical songs from Mozart, Handel and others, then 20th century songs from Leonard Bernstein, Ned Rorem, Cole Porter and more. The Music Today Festival takes place Jan. 26-30 at Beall Hall, UO. Tickets to individual shows are $7-$10. — Brett Campbell A Musician for All S ea s o ns Way back on Sept. 28, I was lucky enough to profile the Eugene Symphony’s concert- master, Kathryn Lucktenberg (check out www.eugeneweekly.com/2006/09/28/09280 6bravo.pdf if you’re dying to read it). Not only was she a gracious subject, but the others who spoke to me about her said she was a mar- velous and dedicated musician. That’s most likely clear to anyone who has been to the Symphony this year and seen her passion for the music — the pounding feet during ap- plause, the flickering tongue as a sign of con- centration, the joy on her face when others perform well. On Thursday, Jan. 25, the Symphony highlights Lucktenberg performing Antonio Vivaldi’s über-popular Four Seasons. Yes, you may have heard this piece in any cof- fee shop you care to visit, but there’s a reason: The music is darn fine. And a bonus, unavail- able with espresso, is that the Symphony will also project translations of the four sonnets on which Vivaldi based the music. After intermission, the Symphony and its valiant concertmaster return for another bang-up piece, Beethoven’s towering and massively familiar (OK, at least the first four notes) Symphony No. 5. The evening will be a musically comfortable night for those who haven’t heard much classical music before, but conductor and artistic director Giancarlo Guerrero likes to provide energetic interpre- tations, so even those who would love to hear newer music from the Symphony will probably be pleased (and anticipating the UO’s Music Today fest). If you don’t have a ticket yet, you’re probably out of luck; there might be last-minute returns, of course, but these superb musicians have sold out the house. But take heart, those of you who waited a bit too long! The Symphony performs the same program at 7:30 pm Friday, Jan. 26 at Jacoby Auditorium in Roseburg (and it’s less spendy, which makes up for the gas costs). See this show by hook or crook; you won’t regret it. — Suzi Steffen Musical string theorist Adrian Legg, whom Joe Satriani says has “hammers for fingers,” is renowned for his unmatched acoustic prowess. Legg flings musical moods and guitar glitter with unfettered ease, from eclectic folk ballads to intricate percussive minstrelsy. Voted Guitarist of the Decade by Guitarist magazine and chosen as Guitar Player’s Reader’s Poll Winner for Best Acoustic Fingerstyle Guitarist four con- secutive years, Legg is considered a master of the craft. Legg’s passion for the guitar remains re- spectful and optimistic. “Although we may look fondly on the simple acoustic instru- ment,” he says, “and while it still has a sweet little voice, the mechanical and technical op- portunities offered by this constantly evolv- ing instrument are there to be enjoyed by any artist who wants a broader palette.” Acoustically and aesthetically, Luna is the perfect room to witness Legg’s intricate tal- ents. It’s hard to imagine a cozier Eugene venue matching Luna’s intimacy. Sure, Luna’s prices are a little steep, but well worth it for an evening spent absorbing Legg’s unusually warm virtuosity. Adrian Legg plays at 8 pm Saturday, Jan. 27 at Luna. 21+ show. $20. — John Dooley Fingerpicking Kicks 2007 will be remembered for a long time as having one heck of a win- try winter. At least until we have an- other winter next summer. While it’s still nippy now, why not head to Luna, cozy up with a hot toddy and toast your loaves next to a blazing guitar? Adrian Legg JANUARY 25, 2007 25
