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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 11, 2016)
16 // COASTWEEKEND.COM Israel Nebeker speaks on inspiration, loss and community Blind Pilot’s new album ‘And Then Like Lions’ comes out Aug. 12 mentor in songwriting. We had an ongoing conversation about the creative process, and we would get really excited to talk for long sessions about it.” He also appreciates singer-songwrit- By DWIGHT CASWELL ers like Neutral Milk Hotel, For some of us, ideas Joanna Newsom and Bob come as pictures; for others Dylan for their ability to ind they take literary form. For “a universal core in a deeply Blind Pilot co-founder Israel personal sentiment.” Nebeker, ideas may come as Blind Pilot’s new album, song, “usually in a dream, or out Aug. 12, does exactly a hike, or that, cap- a random turing grief, ‘I WANTED TO moment in MAKE AN ALBUM loss, sense the day.” of place and THAT WAS AN “A INVITATION INTO community line and — universal CONVERSATION themes — in a melody ABOUT LOSS, will come a personal intertwined, way, as in FROM A without the single PERSPECTIVE explanation “Umpqua THAT IT’S NOT of its mean- in NEARLY SO HARD Rushing,” ing,” he which loss, IF WE EXPERIENCE memory says, “and I’ll have to IT TOGETHER.’ and longing work to ig- mingle in ure out what it means. The the waters and forest of the lyrics are there to be found, Umpqua. but it is hard to ind them.” Nebeker also mentions The indie-rock musician’s the influence of favor- father, the late painter Royal ite writers like the beat Nebeker, was “my biggest novelist and poet Jack Why Sugar Plum, Mr. Doobee’s always has fair prices for all products, plus special off ers and price reductions. And don’t even get me started on his huge selection of recreational and medicinal products. IN CONCERT 8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 19 – SOLD OUT 8 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 20 Liberty Theater 1203 Commercial St., Astoria ticketswest.com PHOTO BY DWIGHT CASWELL Israel Nebeker, who grew up in Gearhart, is the co-founder of Oregon indie-rock band Blind Pilot. Kerouac and the icono- clastic Charles Bukowski, whom many remember for his aphorism, “An intellectual says a simple thing in a hard way. An artist says a hard thing in a simple way.” In writers like Kerouac and Bukows- ki, Nebeker says he found, “these strange gestures of writing. They were not on solid ground. They wrote on an emotional level.” 2870 Ocean Avenue Raymond, Washington Between Raymond & South Bend on Highwayt 101 at mile post 56 3 6 0 -8 7 5 -8 0 1 6 www.mrdoobees.com Find us on And don’t forget about his supportive and knowledgeable store assistants, Butter Lips. They always take the time to listen and off er instruction. And I just adore the customer reviews! nts al Patie Medic terans e V & pent $ 10 s $ 1 off / w WADH ) sho ry Card (must r Milita orm o F d e M ad Bring o f in r $ off in. $50 m ase h c r pu 5 This product has intoxicating eff ects and may be habit forming. Marijuana can impair concentration, coordination and judgement. Do not operate a vehicle or machinery under the infl uence of this drug. There may be health risks associated with consumption of this product. For use only by adults twenty-one or older. Keep out of reach of children. All advertised prices in this ad are “While Supplies Last”. The songs in “And Then Like Lions,” Blind Pilot’s new album, are, “strung together through themes of loss and courage, and the idea of looking at loss from all angles, not just the sorrow and grief, but also from the perspective it gives you in life and closeness to community and family.” About three years ago, Nebeker lost an import- ant relationship. At the same time, his father was diagnosed with the cancer that would take his life. “I went through a chapter of my life where those were the things coming to me. I hadn’t really experienced loss in that way before,” he says. He found it strange that he had no vocabulary for it. “Our culture doesn’t have a good vocabulary for loss, especially death. It’s not easy for us to share,” he says. In the course of expe- riencing loss and learning to speak of it, Nebeker achieved a perspective that pervades the third Blind Pilot album: “I wanted to make an album that was an invitation into conversation about loss, from a perspec- tive that it’s not nearly so hard if we experience it together.” Nebeker first found a sense of community in Gearhart, where he grew up, writing his first songs as a teen to sing to friends around bonfires on Little Beach. “‘And Then Like Lions,’” he says, “is about what it means to be with each other, and place, and home.” It’s been five years since the last Blind Pilot album, in part due to the losses that led to “And Then Like Lions.” Nebeker scrapped some of the first ideas he had, and band members needed time to work on personal and family issues. Now, though, the band’s fall tour and Astoria CD release concerts Aug. 19 and 20 approach, and Blind Pilot is eager to be back touring. “We’re rehearsing a lot, figuring out how to play the songs live,” Nebeker says. “We recorded them to the album, and now it’s a different story.” Blind Pilot has been around eight years. “I’m incredibly fortunate to make a living doing it,” says Nebeker. “It’s super fun but a lot of work.” More important than longevity or work, though, is the opportunity he has to relate to the community, say- ing, “It’s astonishing to ind I can write something that other people can relate to.” Well over a thousand people will be at the Liber- ty Theater in a week’s time. None of them will feel astonished. They’ll feel connected. Buy buttons, support Astor Street Opry ASTORIA —The Astor Street Opry Company announces the 13th annual Miss Vivian and Macie Contest. Sponsored by NAPA Auto Parts of Warren- ton, this fun contest is running now through Aug. 26. The winners will be announced Aug. 27 at the irst intermis- sion of the show. This is how it works: Local bars and hair salons choose an in-house represen- tative to compete as one of two characters from ASOC’s original musical melodrama “Shanghaied In Astoria,” now running at the ASOC Play- house. Each representative has a button with their name on it. The basic goal is pretty simple — sell the buttons for as much as they can get, with a recommended minimum of $2. Proceeds help ASOC keep the lights on. To top it off, each contestant will put together a basket to be rafled off throughout the completion at the show Aug. 27. This truly is an election that can be bought. And the fun part is, whoever raises the most cash for ASOC will be awarded the coveted title of Miss Vivian or Miss Macie 2016, complete with prizes and bragging rights. This season’s contestants are: For Miss Vivian: Paula at the Wet Dog Café & Brewery, Sarah at The Chart Room, Rebecca at WineKraft, Tieler at Port of Call, Terry at Merry Time Bar & Grill, Cathy at the The Big O Saloon, and Alaina at Finns Fish House. Competing for Miss Macie are: Betsy at HYGGE, Ronell at Aura Salon, and Ashley and Patricia at The Shop for Guys and Dolls. The 32nd season of “Shanghaied In Astoria” is halfway through its season. The musical melodrama continues at 7 p.m. ev- ery Thursday, Friday and Saturday through Sept 10. Sundays matinees are 2 p.m. Aug. 14 and Sept. 4. The ASOC Playhouse is located at 129 W. Bond St. For more information, visit astorstree- toprycompany.com or call 503-325-6104.
