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About Eugene weekly. (Eugene, Oregon) 1993-current | View Entire Issue (April 27, 2017)
CLUB 100 YEARS 10PM FRIDAY, APRIL 28TH: WHOLE LOTTA SOUL DANCE PARTY WITH THE READY STEADY SOUL CLUB $3 RARE SOUL DJS 10PM SATURDAY, APRIL 29TH: BLUE LOTUS, HIGH COUNCIL $5 ROOTS ROCK 933 Olive St | 541-687-4643 830 Olive St | 541-343-3204 luckeysclub.com • In the heart of the Barmuda Triangle PHOTO BY EBRU YILDIZ OREGON ROOTS Portland roots-harmony sister trio Joseph take their name from the northeastern Oregon town of Joseph. Band member Allison Closner says she and her sisters spent their summers as children in Joseph visiting their grandfather. “Initially it was the town that inspired us,” Closner explains. “We’d go out there every summer — swimming in the lake and camping and going up in the mountains. It felt like a piece of us.” Joseph stops by Eugene supporting last year’s acclaimed I’m Alone, No You’re Not, an album full of acoustic-leaning contemporary folk and Americana music centered on the siblings’ high-holy harmonies. Closner feels Oregon has its own unique style of roots music. “There’s nothing like the Pacific Northwest,” she says. “Oregon is just so beautiful — so full of all the trees and the fog in the morning. It totally runs in the music, that rootsy, earthy feel.” But I’m Alone, No You’re Not also shows mainstream pop influences with tracks like “SOS (Overboard)” and “Blood & Tears” recalling Adele’s weepy but ultimately triumphant torch ballads. Closner says she and her sisters have always loved pop music. On the most recent album, Closner says, “We tried writing with some different writers,” such as Teddy Geiger, known for working with young pop stars like Shawn Mendes. “I think that plays an influence on the pop sound,” she adds. “We all listen to pop music, as well as a lot of different genres. We’re always in for a good dance party. We love that kind of music and wanted to get the opportunity to sing our guts out.” Joseph plays 9 pm Saturday, April 29, at Hi Fi Music Hall; $20 advance, $22 door, all-ages. — Will Kennedy MILE-HIGH DREAM FOLK Colorado musician Gregory Alan Isakov is used to fronting rock bands — or singing alone with just his guitar. So he has to reach to describe the experience of performing his music backed by an entire symphony orchestra. “It was fucking amazing,” he recalls, slowly and pointedly highlighting each word for extra emphasis. “I don’t even have words for it. It became this really big ocean of sound.” Last year, Isakov released Gregory Alan Isakov with the Colorado Symphony Orchestra, the string arrangements adding extra depth and grandeur to Isakov’s drowsy voice and contemporary acoustic-folk songwriting — a lush backdrop for his romantic and melancholy tableaus. “I never thought that would happen,” he recalls. “I’ve always dreamed of that — one day playing with a symphony orchestra — but I never thought I’d ever get the chance to do it.” Isakov, of course, can’t take an entire orchestra on tour, but he says some stringed instruments — a cello, violin and upright bass — will back him up when he comes through Eugene. “We’ve simplified some of the symphony parts,” he says. And Isakov has already started working on a new record. “So we’ll be trying out some new songs.” Gregory Alan Isakov plays with Seattle lo-fi singer/songwriter Sera Cahoone, known for her work with Band of Horses, and Carissa’s Wierd 8 pm Monday, May 1, at Hi-Fi Music Hall; $25 advance, $30 door, all-ages. — Will Kennedy eugeneweekly.com • A pril 27, 2017 25
