music
Wickedly Lynchian,
Exclusively Adult
It’s kind of odd to imagine that a dude
like Chris Isaak, who sounds like he cut
his teeth alongside Joy Division and
Barry White, would throughout his career
find his music in a grip of movies. Hailing
from Stockton, Calif., Isaak’s strange
brand of post-eighties-balladic-ghost pop
has found its way into the backgrounds of
silver screen flicks from all over the map:
David Lynch (who used an instrumental
version of Isaak’s most famous song,
“Wicked Game,” in his 1990 film Wild at
Heart), Stanley Kubrick and Quentin
Tarantino each saw fit to throw Isaak’s
unique singer-songwriter prowess into
their films, and they probably weren’t
disappointed.
To top it off, Isaak has also starred in
a few films. Perhaps not big roles, but it’s
always cool to see somebody occasionally
multi-tasking with his career — opening
up all sorts of avenues and still being
liked while doing so (for unexample:
Justin Bieber).
A disclaimer here: Just because this
was your favorite music when you were a teenager does not mean that kids today are going to
like it. I’m absolutely certain that just about every 14-year old you play this for would rather be
shot in the face. At its heart, Chris Isaak’s sound is adult contemporary pop with an eerie new-
wave twist, and that’s why it’s awesome once you stop liking bullshit like Linkin Park and Korn.
For this tour Isaak is breaking out some super oldies. Presley, Orbison, Cash, Perkins and a
whole load of other genius artists that were signed to Sun Records at the dawning of rock ‘n’
roll adorn Isaak’s set list for his “Beyond the Sun” tour.
Chris Isaak plays 7 pm Thursday, March 22, at McDonald Theatre; $55-$100 rsvd. seating.
— Andy Valentine
Drinking is for the Dogs
Jesse Meade will play the 8th Annual Libation Foundation Celebration for the Pet
Population (say that three times as fast as you can), along with The Girin Guha Experience
and Lonesome Crows. If you love music and want to get drunk to help stop puppy
reproduction, this is the place to be. The event will also include a silent art auction with all
proceeds going to the Lane County Animal Services Spay/Neuter Clinic’s voucher program,
and dancing to the beats of B. Stee and Harlequin.
The Libation Foundation Celebration kicks off 8 pm Saturday, March 24, at Oak Street
Speakeasy; donations accepted. — Dante Zuñiga-West
Alternative Orchestral, At Large
Petoskey, a nine-piece chamber folk band out of Portland, is on the up and up, fresh off
performances at the SXSW Festival in Austin, Texas.
“It’s been a hilarious and cantankerous tour so far, full of mishaps and good things,” says
Angie Kuzma, a founding member who plays guitar, violin and sings in the group.
Among other hap-hazardous adventures, the band recently survived a sand storm on the
way from Austin to Tucson, which lead to a night of drinking and an impromptu performance
at a hole-in-the-wall bar somewhere in New Mexico. They are still at large, and heading north.
Top-notch musicians with an addiction to composing thickly layered multi-instrumental
soundscapes, Petoskey is Kuzma’s attempt to create an alternative symphony. “All nine of us
have a strong appreciation for meticulous (musical) arrangement,” she says. “I grew up playing
in big orchestras and that’s the sound we’re trying to recreate.”
Ghostly, trance-like and at times a little twangy, the band’s 2011 debut Bombs Away is a
standout freshman album. You can hear influences from all over, which is to be expected from
such a large and diverse collection of musicians — everything from Merle Haggard, to Bill
Callahan, to Beach House — and Kuzma’s vocals possess a haunting resonance. Petoskey’s live
show is homegrown and warm, perfect for a cold night in cozy bar. If you love neo folk,
chamber orchestra pop or simply appreciate full-sounding bands with classically trained
players, you don’t want to pass up this show.
Petoskey plays 9 pm Thursday, March 29, at Sam Bond’s; $1-$5. — Dante Zuñiga-West
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