music
BY SARAH BRICKNER
Santigold and the Weirdest Bill Ever
A taste of Sasquatch comes to the Cuthbert
P
utting Santigold on the same bill
with the prince of jam, Michael
Franti , makes about as much sense
as a show featuring Lil Wayne and James
Taylor. It’s hard to imagine there’s any fan
overlap at all. But then again, this show
is basically a mini-Sasquatch, most likely
born of circumstance — Santigold and BLK
JKS were gonna be rolling through town
en route to Sasquatch, and Franti probably
said, “Aw, shucks, guys. You can all just
come and play with me at my show!” (Even
people who loathe Franti’s music have to
admit he seems like a pretty decent human
being.) Franti should be sympathetic,
since he’s played Sasquatch almost every
year since the inception of the fest. While
neither he nor reggae band SOJA (Sons
of Jah Army) are on the roster this time
(Franti’s playing Bumbershoot instead),
both Santigold and BLK JKS appear at
Sasquatch on Monday. Otherwise, you’d
never see a bill this eclectic. BLK JKS play
Interpol-esque indie rock that hints at the
band’s African origins while Santigold’s
synthy sound comes off like collaboration
between M.I.A. and Blondie. Then again,
Santi White, aka Santigold, has called
reggae music an infl uence, too, even if it
doesn’t always come across in her music.
White’s only put out one album so far,
a self-titled record that dropped last year
when Santigold was still Santogold (she
had to change her name after a jewelry
company, Santo Gold, threatened legal
action) but she’s poised to be pop music
Michael Franti and Spearhead,
Santigold, SOJA and BLK JKS
5 pm Sunday, May 24
Cuthbert Amphitheater
$35 adv., $40 door
next big thing; she’s not only collaborated
with international artists from Lily Allen
to Kanye West but has toured with huge
acts from Bjork to stylistically similar
powerhouse M.I.A. By all rights, Franti
should be opening for her. Then again, it’s
not so bad that Santigold’s fans won’t have
to sit through Franti fi rst. Whether or not
a single soul in the house will remain for
the entire show is anybody’s guess, but
bringing a taste of Sasquatch to Eugene can
only be a good thing. Because seriously:
Who can afford it this year?
ew
BY EW READERS
BES
T H 20
AP 07
PY
HO
U
R
BES
T B 200
AR 7
FOO
D
VOTED # 1
Sparking Downtown
Revival Since 2002
- Lots of Ninkasi
- Patio Seating
- Down Home Chow
- Wall Art
- PBR- CHEAP!
- Good drinks
- Bunch of Pool Tables
- Video Games (No Poker)
“Go Emerald City
Roller Girls!”
99 W EST B ROADWAY
541-683-3154
24 MAY 21, 2009
EUGENE WEEKLY
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