Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Eugene weekly. (Eugene, Oregon) 1993-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 13, 2007)
BY BRETT CAMPBELL THERE IS NOTHING “COMMON” 18 + to party • 21 + to drink LIVE IN CONCERT: TICKETS FOR ALL SHOWS ON SALE NOW! TONIGHT ABOUT US! • Free Tanning • Free Cable SEPTEMBER 13th • Free Internet • Free Washer/Dryer • New Vegas Style Pool The Lion Roars Again • New Gaming Lounge Afro pop master Thomas Mapfumo plays the WOW Hall • New 24 hour Fitness Center M any Eugeneans probably don’t re- alize that one of the world’s most revered musicians resides, at least part time, in our town. In 2000, the govern- ment of Zimbabwe’s dictator Robert Mugabe, frightened by the popularity of Thomas Mapfumo’s anti-corruption, anti- tyranny songs, cracked down on Zimbabwe’s greatest musician, banning his records and threatening and harassing him and his band. A hero of the former Rhodesia’s rebellion against minority white rule in the 1970s, Mapfumo, known as the Lion of Zimbabwe, eventually moved his family here and made Eugene his base of operations. Now, the same songs that metaphorically deplored colonial- ist oppression apply to Mugabe’s corrupt rule, which has driven one of Africa’s richest nations into poverty and despair. Meanwhile, Mapfumo has continued creating some of the world’s grooviest music, blending the upbeat mbira-based music of his Shona people with American R&B (he started in an early-’60s cover band that played music by his heroes like Otis Redding), reggae and, more re- cently, other pan-African sounds. Mapfumo hasn’t allowed the turmoil of politics to re- strain his restless creativity or idealism; he’s been dedicating recent concerts to AIDS awareness and fighting Zimbabwean poverty, and you can see him play a rare hometown show next Friday, Sept. 21, at the WOW Hall, with more fizzy Zimbabwean marimba music from Kudana and Hokoyo, part of the local Kutsinhira organization that’s done so much for African music here. Another immigrant who’s enriching America’s musical mix is Fabrice Martinez, a French fiddler who carried his affection for Romanian folk music to Oakland, Calif., where he joined accordionist Aaron Seeman, Serbian jazz bassist Djordje Stijepovich, shamisen (a three-string lute used in Japanese folk music) virtuoso Mike Penny, singer/vio- linist/sawer Ursula Knudson and guitarist Doug Smolens in the Fishtank Ensemble. The eclectic band deliciously integrates rock, jazz, gypsy, classical, Swedish and Japanese folk and other influences in a vibrant gypsy cabaret concoction that should entice Eugene’s contingent of Roma/Balkan music devotees and other world music fans. Catch ’em at the Landmark in Yachats on Sept. 23 or at Cottage Grove’s Axe and Fiddle on Sept. 24. After burning down the house in several visits with his bands Critters Buggin and Syncopated Taint Septet, that irrepressible Seattle saxaholic Skerik returns to Eugene in yet another setting. His Maelstrom Trio, featuring Brooklyn pianist Brian Coogan (from Coalition of the Willing) and N’awlins drummer Simon Lott (recently touring with Charlie Hunter), leaves more space for Skerik’s frenzied tenor exclamations; see him and his partners stretch it out at Sam Bond’s Garage Sept. 16. Jazz fans might also check out Portland’s Trio Subtonic, whose keyboardist, Galen Clark, spent a winter in Brazil exploring samba and added those traditional rhythms, as well as deep funk and hip hop influences (they’ve worked with DJs), to the group’s background in jazz and postclassical compo- sition. It’s still recognizably groove-based, funky melodic jazz, but spiced with a wider range of ingredients than most. The three- some plays Luna on Sept. 22. Another jazzy young trio, Eugene’s Bucket, puts the elec- tric guitar front and center like two of their models, John McLaughlin’s Mahavishnu Orchestra and Miles Davis’s Jack Johnson- era band, and you can hear that ’70s rock-jazz fusion sound, with a jam band garnish, at Cozmic Pizza on Sept. 16. Anyone craving bleeding edge music, dance, theater, visual art and much in be- tween — all conveniently crammed into a few nights — still has time to drive the 5 and catch the final weekend of Portland Institute for Contemporary Art’s Time-Based Arts Festival. The shows I’ve seen so far have ranged from inscrutable half-baked ideas to brilliant concepts stretched beyond their opti- mal limits to powerful works of theater (the unforgettable, beautifully scripted and acted Mexican two-woman play Las Chicas del 3.5 Floppies), dance (Donna Uchizono Company) and sly, high-energy, hip-hop-in- fused performance poetry (Marc Bamuthi Joseph). This weekend: acclaimed New York experimental musicians Fred Frith, Zeena Parkins and Ikue Mori at the Wonder Ballroom Sept. 14, singer/performance artist Holcombe Waller Sept. 14-15, electronic musician/performer Aki Onda Sept. 16 and much, much more. Details at www.pica.org/tba/tba07 18+ SHOW 21+ FULL BAR SERVICE SEPT. 20th LEON RUSSELL with full band • Courtesy Patrol UNDER NEW OWNERSHIP! Special guest The Essentials Formerly Campus Commons IT’S OFFICIAL! TABOO IS NOW A FULL SERVICE NIGHTCLUB 18+ to party 21+ to drink beginning this weekend F R I D A Y BO OGIE NIGHT Hosted by DJ Billy 9-10pm Ladies GET IN FREE! 18+ show • 21+ full service bar S A T U RD A Y 90 Commons Drive Eugene • 338-4000 stadiumparkapts.com THE DANCE PARTY H os t ed b y D J t ek n ee k 18+ show • 21+ full service bar 9-10pm Ladies GET IN FREE $1 WELL DRINKS ALL DAY, EVERYDAY 23 W. 6th (across from the Hult Center) 338-8787 • www.tabooeugene.com LANDMARK An Ocean view from every table 111 Hwy 101 in YACHATS • 541-547-5459 www.landmark-yachats.com Live at the Coast THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 9PM From New Orleans! Harmonica Red & The New Heard Legendary harp player brings in the sounds of New Orleans FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 9PM The T-Club Positive reggae, hip-hop, and Dub from young Eugene outfit SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 9PM Bluesdusters Originals soaked in the blues tradition, from Ashland SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 9PM The Co-Stars Indie pop and rock from Eugene Fresh Fish/Italian - Authentic Oregon since 1911 • Open Jam every Thursday 6:30pm • SEPTEMBER 13, 2007 31
