Eugene weekly., August 01, 2013, Page 12, Image 12

Stage
Hand
Local and Northwest bands fl ock
to celebrate Block Party
BY SILAS VALENTINO AND LAUREN MESSMAN
BLACK BEAST REVIVAL
L
ike any good block party, the Whiteaker Block
Party has much to satisfy the aural senses —
perhaps too much for one person to make sense
of, and thus here are some (stage) handy picks
to check out on this wet, hot American summer
day and night. But be a good community member and
check out all the stages — Blair Alley, Slash and Burn,
Hostel, Uncle Brad’s Secret Stage, Territorial — and get to
know your neighbors.
G-spot Stage
WBP will kick off the day with a nod to its roots. Singer-
songwriter Jesse Meade has been a key component of
the celebration on and off the stage since he moved in
with fellow WBP performer Girin Guha six years ago. A
master of iconic Mississippi blues guitarist John Hurt’s
fi ngerpicking method, Meade blends earnest lyrics,
traditional blues and hints of country into a style all his
own. Catch him at 2 pm.
According to bassist Eli Copeland, the groovy territory
of Inner Limits is a space where heady jazz connoisseurs
and metal heads are known to set aside their differences
and dance. “It’s not something that you can put in a box,”
he says of the funky foursome’s multidimensional sound.
Inner Limits will embark on a quest to get your toes
tapping to its improvisational jazz-fusion funk stylings
at 5 pm.
Finishing off the night is another local band ready
to unleash rock ‘n’ roll fury upon this town. Cash Only
combines elements of rockabilly, surf rock and punk into
a musical concoction that resembles The Cramps and
Reverend Horton Heat. Their neighborhood ode, “Whiteaker
Bumps,” rolls on like a hearse en route to hell; the chorus
drone of “Why can’t you give me the Whiteaker bumps”
will ring like a true swan song for the night. Cash Only plays
at 9:30 pm.
Ninkasi Patio Stage
Quirky jazz folk group Hot Milk came together at
the UO because of mutual love for the way jazz fl uidly
moves without constraints. Lead singer Rebecca Conner’s
enchanting voice surges through masterfully syncopated
instrumentation, creating a warm, dreamlike experience.
This must-see group kicks off at noon.
“I’m ready to party and rock out,” says Eric James, lead
singer of the Bellingham, Wash., rockers Black Beast
Oral Traditions
The Spoken Word Stage rings in its sophomore year
B
efore books and magazines, newspapers and
scrolls, e-readers, tablets, tabloids and texts,
the spoken word reigned supreme. The oral
tradition still exists in many forms, in almost
all cultures, so it’s only fi tting that our seven-
year tradition, the Whiteaker Block Party, should collide
with one so formidable.
The stage kicks off at 3 pm with local poetry — an
art form best enjoyed when read aloud — and as the day
draws on the boards are home to a feast of different orators
ready to give it their all, among them comedians, singers,
storytellers and special entertainers. Last year the stage was
12
A ugust 1, 2013 • eugeneweekly.com
BY ANDY VALENTINE
quiet and secluded, a perfect oasis from the heavy-hitting
temperatures of that day, and this year will be no different,
but there is one draw to this year’s line up that makes the
Spoken Word Stage particularly inviting: a chance to hold
the mic in your hand.
Beginning after the poets, at 4:30 pm, the open mic and
variety show is destined for greatness, with all of Eugene’s
wacky, riveting (and perhaps drunken) mouths running off
in all directions. David Priest, the stage facilitator, is a man
who keeps his vision for the Spoken Word Stage apparent:
Fun is priority number one. So don’t be shy, folks. If you’ve
got a short story, anecdote, Gregorian chant, Christopher
Revival. BBR had a successful year since it played at
WBP last year. With an EP released, a vinyl record out and
a six-week tour of the West completed, BBR can’t wait to
return to Eugene. “It’s seriously one of the best times I’ve
ever had,” James says. Catch BBR at 6 pm.
Prepare for a truly electric performance from Portland-
based sister act Acoustic Minds. Twins Amanda and Jenni
Price lay soulful harmonies over producer and keyboardist
Aaron Altemose’s expertly blended synth-pop tracks and
Josh Lorenzen’s spacey bass beats. “We are trying to bring
live what happens behind the turntables,” Jenni Price says.
With an album on deck and new dance pop single “Love
Somebody” generating buzz, Acoustic Minds will be
blowing minds at 7:30 pm.
Cornerstone Stage
Volifonix is the Willamette Valley’s answer to
psychedelic funk. EW’s 2012 Next Big Thing winner
plays with funky riffs, pounding drums and sexy sax; like
a college freshman, these guys are more than excited to
experiment. You can prep for the quintet by chilling out to
the band’s 2012 sophomore album Space. Volifonix hits
the stage at 4:30 pm. ■
Walken impression, talent for throat singing or a cache of
jokes (I’m looking at you, Frrog Miller), then get your ass
to the Spoken Word Stage and give the public something
to talk about.
When all is said and done, there’s rumors of karaoke,
and what better way to show that you can scream into a
microphone than that, right? If the karaoke happens, it’ll
be at 7:30 pm, and you can wind down the evening and
bring on the night.
The Spoken Word Stage is a growing entity unto itself,
and may it become a tradition of traditions, a synecdochic
high-fi ve for the oratorical gods. And hey, the stage’s
format may be loose-lipped — it may be down right
nonsensical — but, Priest says, “I know the schedule isn’t
very specifi c, but I like it that way.” ■
For more info on the Spoken Word Stage, visit wkly.ws/1iq. There are still
slots available if you have a prepared act that stretches beyond the bounds
of open mic-dom.