ENTERTAINMENT
Saturday, January 23, 2016
East Oregonian
Page 3C
Koala Cowboys bring ‘surf country’ to Pendleton
W
hen asked to give a succinct
description of the sound of
his backing band, The Koala
Cowboys, Brian Bovenizer is quick to reply,
“surf country.”
It makes sense Sur¿ng is a popular
pastime near Astoria where Bovenizer and
his band hail from, and having pedal steel
guitar and twangy guitar in the mix of
instruments places the band
in country territory.
He is also very quick
to praise them as well.
“I’m pretty blessed to have
this band. I’ve never been
comfortable enough to do
it alone.”
Considering his backing
band is a Paci¿c Northwest
J.D.
indie-rock supergroup,
Kindle
saying he is blessed is
Comment
almost an understatement:
Guitarist Jeff Munger was
one third of Sally Ford’s former backing
band The Sound Outside, bassist Luke
Ydstie is a member of indie folk bands Blind
Pilot and Hook & Anchor, Luke’s drummer
brother Olaf has been a touring member of
Portland band John Heart Jackie, and pedal
steel guitarist James Owen Greenan most
recently did time in the coastal alt-country
band The Cedar Shakes.
The Koala Cowboys marks Bovenizer’s
¿rst musical proMect after leaving Holiday
Friends, a fellow Astoria band, in late
2012. Without a band commitment he was
content to ful¿ll his duties as “ambassador
of marketing and music ambiance” at Fort
George Brewery while quietly working on
a batch of his own songs in collaboration
Photo contributed by Cabell Tice
Brian Bovenizer & The Koala Cowboys’ debut show at the Voodoo Room in Astoria
in October.
with Luke Ydstie. He had no intention
on performing the songs in a band until
Ydstie asked Brian to open up for all three
of his solo album release concerts this past
fall. It presented the perfect opportunity
for Bovenizer to reach out and work with
the Astoria-based musicians that he had
admired.
Originally from Chicago, Bovenizer
started his music career as a teenager
working for Peterson Electro-Musical
Products, a company specializing in high
end instrument tuning devices.
“I was in charge of artist relations and
marketing back when Myspace was a thing,”
says Bovenizer. “I redesigned the Myspace
page, put up videos and made sure that the
top players representing the brand were
taken care of.”
With Peterson being the brand of choice
for many professional pedal steel guitar
players, it didn’t take long for him to start
meeting country musicians and developing
an appreciation for the genre.
“That’s where I started to learn about
country and folk music,” recalls Bovenizer.
WHAT TO DO
HERMISTON
Temptations Revue features Motown hits
Festivals
Robert Burns Supper
East Oregonian
A perfect prelude to
Valentine’s Day features
Barrington “Bo” Henderson,
former lead singer of the
Temptations, with A Tempta-
tions Revue.
Henderson, who sang
with the group from 1998-
2003, is one of the only
Temptations lead singers to
have received a Grammy,
which was for the album
“Phoenix Rising.”
As part of the Desert Arts
Council season, the evening
features
unforgettable
Motown hits and choreo-
graphed dance steps. The
show is Friday, Feb. 12 at 7
p.m. in the Hermiston High
School auditorium, 600 S.
First St. Tickets purchased
in advance are $35 for adults
and $17.50 for students.
Tickets bought at the door
are an additional $5 each.
Called a dynamic and
driving show, it spans more
than a decade of Tempta-
tions classics. They feature
the most recognizable and
culture-de¿ning songs in pop
music history, including “My
Girl,” “Papa Was a Rollin’
Stone,” “Get Ready,” “Ain’t
Too Proud To Beg,” “Just
My Imagination,” “I Wish
It Would Rain” and many
more.
According to Phyllis
Shovelski, Desert Arts
Saturday, Jan. 23; 2 p.m.
Condon Elks Lodge, 117 S.
Main St.
$17/single, $30/couple. A
celebration of Condon’s Scot-
tish heritage — coinciding with
the birthday of Robert Burns,
Scotland’s beloved bard —
featuring music, recitations,
shortbread contests, Scottish
trivia contest, oral family histo-
ries, food, merriment and more.
The event continues into the
night. Contact 541-384-2421 or
times-journal@jncable.com for
more information.
Melonville Comedy
Festival
Contributed photo
A Temptations Revue featuring
Barrington “Bo”
Henderson, former lead singer of the Temptations,
is presented by Desert Arts Council Feb. 12 in the
Hermiston High School auditorium.
Council president, the show
will recreate the great harmo-
nies and choreographed
dance steps that made the
Temptations famous.
In addition, it features a
six-piece band that is a show
in itself. The musicianship is
second to none, and many of
the players have backed up
or opened up for many of
the original Motown artists,
including other former
members of the Temptations.
Henderson has sung
with groups such as The
Dramatics and Lakeside
before being recruited into
the lead position in the
Temptations in 1998. He
toured both domestically and
internationally in front of
tens of thousands of people,
including the King and
Queen of Denmark.
Desert Arts Council
members said seeing the
show is an opportunity of
a lifetime. Shovelski urges
people to purchase tickets for
you and your sweetheart for
an evening that will create
new memories of the great
Motown sounds.
Tickets are available at
www.desertartscouncil.com,
the Hermiston Chamber
of Commerce at 541-567-
6151 and Hermiston Parks
& Recreation, 180 N.E.
Second St. For additional
information, visit www.
facebook.com/desertarts or
call 541-379-6992.
BOOK REVIEW
Eco-disaster meets teen angst in new novel
A mysterious sludge is contaminating Cullaby Creek
near the mountain hamlet of Mist, Washington, and the
wildlife is starting to ... change. But that’s not the scariest
thing happening when Portland transplant Savannah
Tucker and her family move into the old Henderson
house. First animals go missing. And then people.
“The Cats of Cullaby Creek” is a “Twilight”-esque
young adult novel set in western Washington state. Teen
heroine Savannah is caught in a good vs. evil struggle
between warring factions at her new school, while
her father becomes more reclusive about his Mob at the
plant that is Mist’s largest employer. Vannah would
be miserable if not for the magnetic Kyle Castle, who
practically purrs with charm.
There are no sparkly vampires in “Cullaby Creek,”
but Portland author Kimbra Kasch supplies enough
teenage angst, danger and intrigue to keep readers
hooked until the end. And parents will appreciate the lack
of profanity, sex and graphic violence. The cliffhanger
ending suggests the book is the ¿rst of a series.
The book is available on Amazon and iTunes, and
from publisher Clean Reads at www.cleanreads.com
Saturday, Jan. 30; 8 p.m.
Hermiston
Conference
Center, 415 S. Highway 395
www.melonvillecomedyfes-
tival.com
$35. Features stand-up
comedians Greg Hahn, Drew
Barth and Travis Nelson.
masterpieces. Mac’s provides
canvas, paints, easels, brush-
es, aprons and a lively atmo-
sphere with music. Reserva-
tions required. (541-276-5531).
American Art
Masterpieces
Monday-Thursdays;
11
a.m-7 p.m.,
Friday-Saturdays; 10 a.m.-
5 p.m.
Hermiston Public Library,
235 E. Gladys Ave.
www.hermistonlibrary.us
Provided by the National
Endowment for the Humanities,
artwork by John James Audu-
bon, Norman Rockwell and oth-
ers are on display through the
month of January.
BMCC Faculty & Staff
Art Show
Art & Museums
Monday-Thursdays, 10:30
a.m.-2:30 p.m.
Betty Feves Memorial Gal-
lery, Blue Mountain Community
College, 2411 N.W. Carden
Ave., Pendleton.
Free. Gallery also open by
appointment by calling 541-
278-5952. The exhibit runs
through Feb. 4.
ArtWORKz 2016
Music
Opens Saturday, Jan. 23
Monday - Saturdays, 9 a.m.
to 5 p.m.
Tamástslikt Cultural Insti-
tute, near Wildhorse Resort &
Casino.
www.tamastslikt.org
$10/adults, $9/senior citi-
zens, $6/youths, free/5 and un-
der or $25/family of four. Youth
art show and competition fea-
tures original artwork from area
youths. Prizes presented Sat-
urday, Feb. 6 at 1 p.m. during
an Awards Reception. Runs
through Feb. 27.
“We Won’t Forget You,
Mr. McGillicuddy”
Saturday, Jan. 23; noon-2
p.m.
Armchair Books, 39 S.W.
Dorion Ave., Pendleton.
Book-signing with Ira White.
The book explores the everyday
heroics of a family dealing with
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issues and grandpa’s dementia.
Call 541-276-7323 to reserve a
copy of the book.
Wine & Design
Paint Nite
Monday, Jan. 25; 7 p.m.
Mac’s Bar & Grill, 1400
S.W. Dorion Ave., Pendleton
$20. 21-and-older. Girls
Night Out participants follow
instructions to create unique
James Dean Kindle &
The Eastern Oregon
Playboys
Saturday, Jan. 23; 7 p.m.
Hamley Saloon, 8 S.E.
Court Ave., Pendleton
w w w. f a c e b o o k . c o m /
events/929270377163726
$5. Join Kindle & the Play-
boys for a concert which in-
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documentary of the band.
Rounding out the musical tri-
fecta are Brian Bovenizer & The
Koala Cowboys of Astoria and
Misty Mouth of Pendleton for a
night as decadent as the walls
of the Slickfork Saloon.
Colleen Heauser
Saturday, Jan. 23, 9 p.m.
No cover
Wildhorse Sports Bar at
Wildhorse Resort & Casino, off
Highway 331, Mission.
Expertease
Friday, Jan. 29; Saturday,
Jan. 30, 9 p.m. No cover
Wildhorse Sports Bar at
Wildhorse Resort & Casino, off
Highway 331, Mission.
Winter Chamber Music
Festival
Saturday, Jan. 30 ; 6:30
p.m.
Vert Club Room, 345 S.W.
Fourth St., Pendleton
www.oregoneastsymphony.
org
$20/adults,
$15/students,
seniors, $45/family. A series of
chamber ensembles, including
many Oregon East Symphony
players. Includes beer and wine
tasting with hors d’oeuvres.
Mardi Gras Party
Saturday, Jan. 30; 9 p.m.
The Pheasant, 149 E. Main
St., Hermiston
No cover. Party with friends,
a special guest DJ and dancing.
Stage & film
“Minions”
Saturday, Jan. 23; 2:15
p.m.
SAGE Center, 101 Olson
Road, Boardman
www.visitsage.com
$5/adults, $3/seniors, stu-
dents. Free popcorn with ad-
mission.
“Having It All”
Sunday, Jan. 24; 1 p.m.
Power House Theatre, 111
N. Sixth St., Walla Walla
www.phtww.com
Free.
A
documentary
screening about three women
who set out to live their dreams
of balancing career, marriage
and children. Each learns what
“having it all” really means.
“The Murder of
Handsome Jack”
Saturday, Jan. 30; 5:30
p.m.
Agape House, 500 Harper
Road, Hermiston
$35/admission ($20 tax-de-
ductible). A murder mystery din-
ner presentation features prime
rib meal and dessert. (541-567-
8774).
Cabin Fever Dessert
Concert
Sunday, Jan. 31; 3 p.m.
Heppner
Elementary
School, 235 E. Stansbury St.
$15/admission.
Includes
Dutch oven dessert by Sharon’s
Sweet Treats. John Wambeke
& Friends provide an evening
of music and humor. Tickets
available at the door, or in ad-
vance at The Cottage in Herm-
iston and the Ione and Heppner
branches of the Bank of Eastern
Oregon.
———
Want to get your event
listed in our calendar? Send
information to tmalgesini@eas-
toregonian.com, or c/o Tammy
Malgesini, 333 E. Main Street,
Hermiston, OR, 97838.
Cover photo courtesy Clean Reads
Heritage Station Museum hosts local author
PENDLETON
—
Heritage Station Museum
will host local author Peg
Willis as she introduces her
new book, “Rise Above.”
The author will be on hand
for a Terri¿c Tuesday event,
which offers free admission
to the museum, Jan. 26 at 7
p.m. at 108 S.W. Frazer Ave.,
Pendleton. Regular museum
hours are Tuesday through
Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4
p.m.
Willis will share about
the unexpected cloudburst
“It wasn’t till I was 19 or 20 that I learned
country could be cool and it didn’t have to
be rhinestones and bubblegum. I got a call
from Ricky Skaggs one day and almost
(expletive) my pants.”
Of course there were elements of
Chicago’s local music scene that also had
an impact on Brian’s perception of country
music. He cites fellow Illinoisan John Prine
as one of his primary musical inÀuences.
“Growing up in the Chicago suburbs, he
was a hero of mine. He was big in opening
up alt-country, I hate to say outlaw country,
but that true country that is trying to tell a
story — not sell a song.”
Bovenizer is optimistic about the future
of his new band. “We’re doing these shows
to tighten up the songs before we head into
the studio. Hopefully we can cut it live to
tape, then overdub on top of that,” says
Bovenizer.
Although it probably won’t happen for
their debut record, Bovenizer is hoping to
have a full-Àedged professional studio in
Astoria available for subsequent recordings.
North Coast Range, as he has christened it,
will be a turn-key studio designed for bands
along with their studio engineers to escape to
the coast for a weekend.
“Right now I have a temporary studio
where we are demo-ing things. Late 2016 or
early 2017 is a realistic timeline.”
Brian Bovenizer & The Koala Cowboys
play Hamley’s Slickfork Saloon, Saturday,
January 23 at 8 p.m.
Ŷ
James Dean Kindle is a Pendleton
musician and executive director of the
Oregon East Symphony. Contact him at
jamesdeankindle@gmail.com.
that turned an otherwise
mild day in 1903 into one
that the little community of
Heppner would never forget.
A novel, Willis blends factual
accounts and real heroes
of the Heppner Àood with
a ¿ctional storyline about
residents affected by the
disaster.
For more information,
call 541-276-0012. For a
book review, visit www.
eastoregonian.com/eo/book-
reviews/20151212/tragic-
Àood-basis-of-new-novel
A Drama By
Tennessee Williams
BY PERMISSION OF DRAMATISTS PLAY SERVICE
January 29, 30, February 5, 6, 7*, 12, 13, 14* 2016
ltww.org | 1130 E. Sumach
Directed by Jef Schlicher
Produced by Marion Inglis & Judy Schlicher
For more information or questions, call 509-529-3683.
* Matinee performance
