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
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