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About Eugene weekly. (Eugene, Oregon) 1993-current | View Entire Issue (April 5, 2007)
BY JOHN DOOLEY Out of Their Gourds? Crazy twangy zydeco fun T As the website attests, pinning down here is something funny about The Gourds. Not to be confused with The Gourds’ sound isn’t easy: There is just absolutely no way to cate- the produce of Freeman Rowe, the intense gourd fanatic who sets up shop at gorize this music, these songs, without tear- the Eugene Saturday Market every year ing up the English language. ... They are (that’s an altogether different kind of quilters in the true sense of the word. funny). No, The Gourds on topic are a Scraps, fragments, leftovers, images strung tough-to-peg accordion, keys and strings together in a continuous scrabble of sheets draped over old wood like charm. This is thing from Austin, Texas. Familiar to fans of Austin City Limits first and foremost a music of joy. From and NPR, The Gourds tangle fur, fun and there it’s anybody’s guess what the friggin’ hell it is. fandango into a unique style The Gourds Lyrically, The Gourds’ of catchy pop-top front porch zydeco. With reminiscent 7:30 pm Saturday, 4/7 songs combine everyday Jaqua Concert Hall, dark humor, death, drinking, inklings of Bad Livers, Charlie Daniels, Buckwheat The Shedd • $20-$28 collections, Cat Woman, farts and even bizarre expe- Zydeco, Neil Young and a likely twist of Uncle Tupelo (The Gourds’ riences in Oregon hotels. Songs range from multi-instrumentalist Max Johnson is for- a Hammond B-3 infused Saturday morning mally of Uncle Tupelo and Wilco), The cartoon soundtrack (“Pick and Roll”) to the Gourds’ approach to music induces way universally unfortunate living situation in more joy than their bulbous namesake. “My New Roommate.” “My new roommate’s quiet he keeps to Unless you’re Freeman Rowe. The Gourds’ music is unapologetically himself / Been in the can for hours and I more old timey and zydeco influenced than can’t smell a thing / Why did you spill a Tejano or Norteño but with the rocking chair box of wine in my bathtub? / C’mon let’s insistence of Texan string/accordion/wash- get you to the ER let’s get you sewn up.” Someone please notify Freeman board twang. Still, each song comes out Rowe. sounding different than every other. ew WE DARE YOU TO WRITE A BETTER JINGLE! Songwriters, Singers, Musicians submit your 30 second jingle demo to EW’s Jingle Contest. Winner gets $500 plus an appearance in this year’s 25th Anniversary Best of Eugene Awards Show. Submissions must be received by May 15, 2007. See www.eugeneweekly.com for deTails FOR ONLY HORSEHEAD BAR & GRILL NOW SERVING CHEF JEVON’S BAYOU BAR-B-QUE FULL MENU TILL 2 AM WEDNESDAY SPECIAL - 16oz STEAK WITH 2 SIDES $12.50 THURS. SPECIAL - CATFISH SANDWICH WITH HABAÑERO MAYO - $6 INCLUDES FRIES & COLE SLAW (SUBSTITUTE SIDES $1.50 EACH) FRIDAY SPECIAL - CHILI $2.75, CHILI W/ CHEESE & ONIONS $3.50, OYSTER SHOOTERS - $1.75 *DAILY SPECIALS FOR DINE-IN ONLY!* ★ 683-3154 ★ 99 W. BROADWAY ★ EUGENE ★ APRIL 5, 2007 33
