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About Eugene weekly. (Eugene, Oregon) 1993-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 6, 2012)
music Are You In Or Are You Out? If five beach bums tried to surf their way to the classic California rock sound (The Doors, The Byrds, etc.) but instead got lost in a cloud of pot smoke and found themselves at a goth house party, you would end up with something like The Growlers. The Growlers are from Orange County; they like a little reverb on their guitars; there’s a little bit of dark soul in their sound; and they do look and act baked much of the time, but that’s where the similarities to those other bands end. The band’s psychedelic pop music is sometimes called “beach goth” because it has a groove that’s slowed down just a little too much. They add vaguely sinister-sounding circus- calliope sounds where you wouldn’t think they should go, and singer Brooks Nielsen’s jerky on-stage motions recall Ian Curtis. Yet while they appear as if they might have just found themselves in the middle of a live performance with no recollection of how they got there, they always seem to play like they know what they’re doing. The band’s third album, Hung at Heart, is being released in November on vinyl, CD and cassette (any doubts that they’re trendsetters?), so expect them to play some new material along with favorites such as “Sea Lion Goth Blues” or “Barnacle Beat.” Recorded in Nashville with Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys, the highly anticipated Hung at Heart is rumored to integrate a bit more country into the surf sound they’ve made their own. While Jim Morrison might have been enough to look at in nothing but leather pants, singer Brooks Nielsen gives people plenty of visuals through wigs, costumes and props (like a taxidermy wolf-dog that might crowd-surf along with fans dressed like mermaids). That kind of showmanship deserves more than the occasional Lizard King comparison. The Growlers play with Guantanamo Baywatch and Cosmonauts at 8 pm Sunday, Sept. 9, at WOW Hall. $13 adv., $15 door. — Vanessa Salvia The Sound of Zeros What would a modern take on The Sound of Music look like? Probably a lot like Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros. Take out the nuns, the Nazis and the children running around in curtains, and replace them with a troupe of musically gifted hipsters led by a charismatic conductor who looks a lot like Russell Brand. Said conductor is actually Alex Ebert, who spent much of the 2000s as lead singer of power-pop group Ima Robot. As of late, Ebert has turned his attention to a character of his own creation named Edward Sharpe. Ebert began drafting Edward Sharpe as a sort of imperfect savior to the masses who falls victim to his own human whims. In 2007 Ebert met fellow vocal- ist Jade Castrinos outside a cafe in Los Angeles and the Zeros began to take shape. Over the next two years Ebert and Castrinos amassed a group of eight extremely diverse musicians who all added color and spirit of their own to the Zeros’ indie-folk sound. In the summer of 2009 Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros released their first full-length album, Up From Below. Their sophomore release, Here, debuted this spring. The Zeros sound like a vintage summer day. Recorded on 24-track tape, Up from Below and Here maintain the slight hiss of songs played on a record player. With so many members playing different instruments, they’re reminiscent of a laid-back folk orchestra. All members contribute to vocals, which adds energy to the songs while encouraging audience participation during live performances. Live performances include much instrument swapping, clapping and dancing, even on stages that barely look big enough to hold the entire band. Highly energetic and eclectic, the Zeros fill venues with exuberant sound and eccentric characters. Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros play 7 pm Wednesday, Sept. 12, at McDonald Theatre; $35 adv., $38 door. — Natalie Horner PHOTO BY LAURE VI NC E NT BOULE AU 24 SEPTEMBER 6, 2012 EUGENE WEEKLY VOTE NOW! BESTOFEUGENE.COM
