Page 6A
RECORDS
East Oregonian
Saturday, July 16, 2016
Michelson comes home for Whisky Fest
By WILL DENNER
East Oregonian
Corvallis native Jackson
Michelson has seen his
popularity grow steadily since
he put out his irst solo album
in 2010.
He said he didn’t set out
to be a country artist, but
the positive feedback he
received from the album
pushed him in that direction.
He started touring around the
West Coast, slowly gaining
a following. After his 2014
single, “The Good Life,”
appeared on Sirius XM radio,
Michelson signed a deal with
Curb Records and moved to
Nashville.
Since then, Michelson
has continued touring and
opening for artists including
Lee Brice, Frankie Ballard
and Blake Shelton. He
released a self-titled EP in
June and plans to put out a
new single in the coming
months.
Michelson doesn’t make
it back to Oregon too often
these days, but Saturday
will be somewhat of a
homecoming. He will open
the Pendleton Whisky Music
Fest for headliner Zac Brown
Band.
Will Denner of the East
Oregonian spoke with
Michelson by phone this
week in advance of his
opening set. This is what he
had to say:
WD: How did your
upbringing in Corvallis
shape you as a country
musician?
JM: A lot of people are
surprised when they hear I’m
a country artist from the West
Coast, because there’s not
many artists who have come
out of there ... I ind it really
natural just because I grew
up in the grass seed capital of
the world. All my friends in
the summer time would work
on the farm either driving a
combine or a baler. Even my
guitar player, he worked on
the farm bagging seed. It’s
just a country way of life in
the area I grew up in.
I grew up listening to
country and when I started
writing songs for the irst time
— I got a guitar at age 10,
learned a few chords — the
EO media group ile photo
Jackson Michelson performs at Riverfront Park in
Salem, Oregon, during River Rock Salem in July 2014.
irst songs I wrote naturally
came out of stories I’d grown
up with.
WD: What kind of
music were you listening to
growing up?
JM: I loved country music
and I grew up singing in
church as well, so I loved
groups like DC Talk. Also
my dad loved soul music,
so Earth, Wind & Fire, Ray
Charles, Sam Cooke — all
that kind of stuff. I grew up a
country-soul mutt.
WD: You toured the
country with your older
brother, a fellow musician,
at a young age. What
did you learn from that
experience?
JM: I sold his T-shirts
and CDs. I just watched how
music worked at a national
level as a business and
how you have to make the
numbers work out. ... His bass
player got sick for a show
and I played guitar, but my
brother said ‘Hey, you need
to learn the bass and play the
show tonight.’ So I went for
it, ended up working out and
I played with him for a few
years traveling the country.
WD: Was there a
particular moment where
you felt like you got a big
break, or felt you were
making real progress as an
artist?
JM: Some people have
that moment where their
song got in front of the right
person and it just blew up. I
deinitely think getting a song
(“The Good Life”) on Sirius
XM really helped. I recorded
it here in Oregon. That was
deinitely a huge factor in
signing a record deal, but
I’m honestly just super
thankful that it’s been this
slow-growing process and
there’s just hundreds of little
victories every day. There’s
also huge things like getting
to open for Blake Shelton.
Just me and Blake played
a sold-out show to 25,000
people. That was pretty epic,
pretty life changing. The
next day my face showed up
on the cover of TMZ with
Blake. I was like, ‘OK, this
is pretty surreal. What am I
doing here?’
WD: This weekend
you’re returning to Oregon
for the Pendleton Whisky
Festival. How many shows
are you playing in your
home state these days?
JM: Not too many. I’m
playing the Willamette
Country Music Festival
and the Cape Blanco
Country Music Festival,
as well as headlining the
Benton County Fair in my
hometown. But Eastern
Oregon is one of my favorite
places. I played basketball
in high school and got to go
out to the state tournament
in Pendleton ... I grew up
going out there with my
dad hunting deer. I’m super
excited to go back and hang
out. And I’m a huge Zac
Brown fan. It’s going to be
a special night and it will be
great to see some familiar
faces.
WD: Opening for Zac
Brown Band, how does that
compare to other people
you’ve opened for?
JM: It’s always great to
share the stage whoever you
share it with. There’s certain
artists you get to open for that
you’re a big fan of. Those
nights are pretty special
when you get to spend
time with artists backstage.
Musicians are fans of music
too. That’s the coolest thing,
is we’re all in this together.
Especially with country
music, everybody wants to
help each other. It’s not this
cutthroat thing where there’s
only room for so many.
I’d buy tickets to this
show even if I wasn’t
playing.
WD: How has your
move to Nashville inlu-
enced your music?
JM: I’ve always written
songs in my living room
or with my best friends,
and it’s always been this
organic process. ... Moving to
Nashville, there’s some of the
best songwriters in the world
there, not only musicians.
Sitting down to write a song
with someone I’ve never
met before and saying, ‘This
is what I’m thinking, this is
what I’m feeling today.’ Then
hearing that person try to
wrap his head around what’s
going on with me as an artist,
it’s such a cool thing.
I think my songwriting
has grown. I’ve learned so
many things in the short time
I’ve been there. Also I’ve
built some great friendships
and relationships with song-
writers like Dan Couch, who
has written hits “Hey Pretty
Girl” and “Somethin’ ‘Bout a
Truck” for Kip Moore. It’s a
really cool culture and super
inclusive. ... I’m young and
the new guy in town, but I’m
having the time of my life.
COMING EVENTS
SATURDAY, JULY 16
GREENFIELD
GRANGE
BREAKFAST, 7-10 a.m., 209
N.W. First St., Boardman. Cost is
$5 for adults, $2.50 for children un-
der 10. (541-720-7267).
LET ‘ER BUCK AND DASH ‘N
SPLASH RUNS, 7 a.m. same-day
registration and check-in, 8 a.m.
5K run begins, 9 a.m. 1K Dash ‘n
Splash for ages 3-11 begins, Pend-
leton Round-Up Grounds near Let
‘er Buck statue, 1205 S.W. Court
Ave., Pendleton. Costs $25 for 5K,
$15 for 1K. Shirts may be available
for $15 (adult)/$12 (kids). Partci-
ipants in the 1K run get a free pass
to the Pendleton Aquatic Center
plus pizza and soda after the race.
Register at www.pendletonround-
up.com or at Pendleton Round-
Up and Happy Canyon Gift Shop,
1114 S.W. Court Ave.
HERMISTON’S OWN FARM-
ERS MARKET, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.,
McKenzie Park, 300 S. First St.,
Hermiston. Food, crafts, live mu-
sic, art.
LIL BUCKS OPEN GYM, 8:30-
9:30 a.m., Pendleton Recreation
Center, 510 S.W. Dorion Ave. For
students in irst and second grade
and parents/guardians. Free bas-
ketball skills and pickup games.
CHILDREN’S
CLOTHES
SWAP, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Bethel
Assembly of God Church, 1109
Airport Road, Pendleton. Bring
gently used children’s clothes to
swap for other sizes. (James 541-
215-8141).
INDIAN LAKE FAMILY FUN
DAY, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Indian Lake
Campground 19 miles south of
Pilot Rock on East Birch Creek
Road. Wildlife (9 a.m.) and isher-
ies (10 a.m.) presentations, LIGO
presentation at 11 a.m., free lunch
from noon to 12:45 p.m., National
Weather service presentation at
1 p.m. and water fun with kayaks
and canoes from 2-4 p.m. Free
admission and free camping Sat-
urday night, but camping reserva-
tions required. (Leigh or Tami 541-
276-3873).
FREE FOR ALL, 9:30-10:15
a.m. Pendleton Center for the Arts,
214 N. Main St., Pendleton. Fami-
ly art experience for children up to
age 12. Children under 8 should
be accompanied by an adult. (541-
278-9201).
HERITAGE DAYS, 9 a.m. to 5
p.m., Emigrant Springs State Her-
itage Area, off Interstate 84, exit
234, near Meacham. Muzzleload-
ers, wood carvers, living history
displays, Blue Mountain Fiddlers,
scavenger hunt for kids, gold pan-
ning, cake walk, rafles, food and
more. Free. (541-983-2277).
UGLY DOG CONTEST, 10
a.m., Fiesta Foods parking lot,
1875 N. First St., Hermiston. First
place receives free dog food for a
year; second place receives a full
veterinary checkup; third place
receives a doggy bed. Dogs of all
ages and breeds welcome. Treats
for all participants. (Leo Leal 541-
567-4600).
HIP & HANDMADE, 11 a.m.
to noon, Pendleton Center for the
Arts, 214 N. Main St., Pendleton.
Free drop-in art project class for
adults. (541-278-9201).
MCKAY CREEK ESTATES
16TH ANNIVERSARY CELE-
BRATION, 12 noon to 5 p.m.,
1601 Southgate Place, Pendle-
ton. Free barbecue lunch with all
the ixings, watermelon, apple
pie and ice cream loats; vintage
car show, entertainment and door
prize drawings. (Karen Hoholik
541-276-1987).
STRAIGHT
TALK
WITH
BECKY MARKS, 2-4 p.m., Prod-
igal Son Pub & Brewery, 230 E.
Court Ave., Pendleton. Share
thoughts with Ward 1 councilwom-
an. (541-276-9147).
ECHO OPEN AIR MARKET,
4-7 p.m., corner of Main and Du-
pont streets, Echo. Produce, crafts
and more. Vendor space is $12
per market. (echoopenairmarket@
gmail.com)
PENDLETON WHISKY MU-
SIC FEST, 4-11 p.m., Pendleton
Round-Up Stadium, 1205 S.W.
Court Ave., Pendleton. Live music
with headliner Zac Brown Band
and openers Drake White, Jack-
son Michelson and DJ Sovern-T.
Interactive games and activities
for all ages, food and beverage
vendors and beer garden for those
21 and over. Tickets $45-$135 at
www.pendletonroundup.com
BLUE
MOUNTAIN
FID-
DLERS, 6 p.m., Emigrant Springs
State Heritage Area, off Interstate
84, exit 234, near Meacham.
MOVIE NIGHT AT THE
CHURCH, 6 p.m., First Baptist
Church, 200 Willow Fork Drive,
Boardman. Enjoy “Last Ounce of
Courage.” Refreshments available
for purchase. (541-481-9437).
BINGO NIGHT @ THE
GRANGE, 6:30-8:30 p.m., White
Eagle Grange, 43828 White Eagle
Road, Pendleton (between Pend-
leton and Pilot Rock on Highway
395 South). Cards are 50 cents
each per game and $1 each for
progressive jackpot at 7:30 p.m.
and blackout at 8:15 p.m. Refresh-
ments available by donation. All
ages. (Gail 541-276-3778).
SUNDAY, JULY 17
“ROBBERS, REPROBATES
AND THE RED LIGHT DIS-
TRICT” WALKING TOUR, 12:30
p.m., beginning at MaySons Old
Fashioned General Store, 369 S.
Main St., Pendleton. Local histori-
an Keith May will discuss the Na-
tional Historic District of downtown
Pendleton. Costs $5. (541-276-
8206).
KBLU-FM CITIZENS ADVI-
SORY GROUP, 3 p.m., Bowman
Building Suite 352, 17 S.W. Frazer
Ave., Pendleton. Share ideas on
format of Pendleton area’s newest
radio station. (Vicki 541-566-2744
or Gary 541-566-0131).
ADULT OPEN GYM, 6:30-
8:30 p.m., Pendleton Recreation
Center, 510 S.W. Dorion Ave. Free
access for ages 16 and up. (541-
276-8100).
MONDAY, JULY 18
ADULT OPEN GYM, 6-7 a.m.,
Pendleton Recreation Center, 510
S.W. Dorion Ave. Half-court bas-
ketball. (541-276-8100).
COFFEE AND CONVER-
SATION WITH CHUCK WOOD,
7-8:30 a.m., Bucking Bean, 405
N.W. Despain Ave., Pendleton.
Share thoughts with Ward 2 coun-
cilman. (541-310-7306 or chuck.
wood@ci.pendleton.or.us).
WALKING FOR WELLNESS,
8:30-9:30 a.m., Pendleton Recre-
ation Center, 510 S.W. Dorion Ave.
(541-276-8100).
SUMMER YOUTH THEATRE
CAMP, 9 a.m., Pendleton High
School auditorium, 1800 N.W.
Carden Ave. Sign up for a fun
and informative theatre camp for
kids ages 7-14. Cost is $75 per
camper; scholarships are avail-
able. Camp runs through the week
with performances Friday at 7
p.m. Bring lunch and water bottle;
snacks provided. (541-278-5953
or cct@bluecc.edu).
PRESCHOOL STORY TIME,
10:30 a.m., Athena Public Library,
418 E. Main St. For ages birth to 6.
(541-566-2470).
PENDLETON SENIOR MEAL
SERVICE, 12 noon, Pendleton
Senior Center, 510 S.W. 10th St.
Costs $3.50 or $6 for those under
60. Pool, puzzles, crafts, snacks,
Second Time Around thrift store
9 a.m. to 1 p.m. For Meals On
Wheels, call 541-276-1926. (541-
276-7101).
ART STUDIO, 4:00-5:30 p.m.
Pendleton Center for the Arts,
214 N. Main St. Free class for
ages 7-12 to develop skills and
encourage art exploration. (541-
278-9201).
TEEN ADVISORY COUNCIL,
4 p.m., Hermiston Public Library,
235 E. Gladys Ave.
MUSIC IN THE PARK, 6 p.m.,
Boardman Marina Park, 1 Marine
Drive. Free family-oriented musical
performance featuring a juggling
workshop at 6 p.m. and Juggle-
mania at 7 p.m. Bring a lawn chair
or blanket and a picnic. (Tami
541-571-0844 or Renee 541-922-
1560).
ATHENA KNITTERS GROUP,
7 p.m., Athena Public Library, 418
E. Main St. Open to all knitters,
crocheters and lovers of needle
work. (541-566-2470).
TUESDAY, JULY 19
TERRIFICALLY FREE TUES-
DAY, all day, Children’s Museum of
Eastern Oregon, 400 S. Main St.,
Pendleton. (541-276-1066).
ADULT OPEN GYM, 6-7 a.m.,
Pendleton Recreation Center, 510
S.W. Dorion Ave. Half-court bas-
ketball. (541-276-8100).
PRESCHOOL STORY TIME,
10:30-11 a.m., Stanield Public Li-
brary, 180 W. Coe Ave. (541-449-
1254).
BOARDMAN SENIOR MEAL
SERVICE, 12 noon, Boardman
Senior Center, 100 Tatone St.
Costs $4 for seniors 55 or $5 for
adults. (541-481-3257).
HERMISTON SENIOR MEAL
SERVICE, 12 noon, Hermiston
Senior Center, 435 W. Orchard
Ave. Costs $4 or free for children
under 10. Extra 50 cents for uten-
sils/dishes. Meals on Wheels avail-
able. Transportation arranged by
donation. (541-567-3582).
PENDLETON SENIOR MEAL
SERVICE, 12 noon, Pendleton
Senior Center, 510 S.W. 10th St.
Costs $3.50 or $6 for those under
60. Pool, puzzles, crafts, snacks,
Second Time Around thrift store
9 a.m. to 1 p.m. For Meals On
Wheels, call 541-276-1926. (541-
276-7101).
CRAFTERNOONS, 4 p.m.,
Pendleton Public Library, 502 S.W.
Dorion Ave. Drop in for a group or
individual craft project. (541-966-
0380).
INSIDE OUTSIDE THE LINES
ADULT COLORING, 6-7:30 p.m.,
Irrigon Public Library, 490 Main St.
Materials provided by the library.
Bring snacks to share.
PENDLETON
KNITTING
GROUP, 6 p.m., Prodigal Son
Brewery & Pub, 230 S.E. Court
Ave. (541-966-0380).
PENDLETON EAGLES BIN-
GO, 6:30-9 p.m., Pendleton Ea-
gles Lodge No. 28, 428 S. Main St.
Public welcome. (541-278-2828).
STORY AND CRAFT TIME,
6:30 p.m., Milton-Freewater Public
Library, 8 S.W. Eighth Ave. For el-
ementary school-age children. (Lili
Schmidt 541-938-8247)
DEATH NOTICES
Calvin LeRoy Briggs
Pendleton
July 14, 2016
Calvin LeRoy Briggs, 68, of Pendleton died Thursday,
July 14, 2016, in Irrigon. At his request, no services will be
held. A private family service will be held at a later date.
Burns Mortuary of Hermiston is in care of arrangements.
Send condolences at burnsmortuaryhermiston.com
Pearl M. Holbrook
Pendleton
June 15, 1923-July 14, 2016
Pearl M. Holbrook, 93, of Pendleton died Thursday,
July 14, 2016, at a Pendleton care facility. She was born
June 15, 1923. Burns Mortuary of Pendleton is in charge
of arrangements. Sign the online condolence book at
www.burnsmortuary.com.
Penny (Giesen) Madsen
Umatilla
Oct. 18, 1959-July 11, 2016
Penny (Giesen) Madsen, 56, of Umatilla died Monday,
July 11, 2016, in Umatilla. She was born Oct. 18, 1959, in
Hermiston. Graveside services will be held Friday, July 22
at 3 p.m. at the Hermiston Cemetery. Burns Mortuary of
Hermiston is in care of arrangements. Send condolences at
burnsmortuaryhermiston.com
Oberta L. ‘Bert’ Smith
Hermiston
Sept. 22, 1931-July 13, 2016
Oberta L. “Bert” Smith, 84, of Hermiston died
Wednesday, July 13, 2016, in Hermiston. She was born
Sept. 22, 1931, in Colorado. A funeral service will be held
Saturday, July 23 at 1 p.m. at the Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints, 1035 S.E. Ninth St., Hermiston. Burial
will follow at the Hermiston Cemetery. Burns Mortuary
of Hermiston is in care of arrangements. Sign the online
guest book at burnsmortuaryhermiston.com
UPCOMING SERVICES
SATURDAY, JULY 16
BILL, VEVA — Mass of Christian burial at 10 a.m. at
St. Andrew’s Catholic Church, 48022 St. Andrews Road,
Mission, withe burial following at Agency Cemetery.
CIMMIYOTTI, MICK — Celebration of life service
with military honors at 10 a.m. in the chapel at Burns
Mortuary, 685 W. Hermiston Ave., Hermiston. Burial will
follow at the Hermiston Cemetery.
MONROE, JASON — Celebration of life with mili-
tary honors at 11 a.m. at New Hope Community Church,
1350 S. Highway 395, Hermiston.
MOSES, TRISH — Celebration of life from 1-4 p.m.
at the Hermiston Elks Lodge, 480 E. Main St.
SMITH, BOB AND JOANN — Joint graveside cele-
bration service with military honors for Bob at 11 a.m. at
Conrad Cemetery, Kalispell, Mont.
UHLES, REBECCA — Celebration of life at 11 a.m.
at the Family Worship Center, 330 N.E. Eighth St., Irrigon.
SUNDAY, JULY 17
SIEBERT, BETTY — Graveside services at 11 a.m.
followed by inurnment, at the Lostine Cemetery. A potluck
for family and friends will follow the services at Wallowa
Park.
MONDAY, JULY 18
No services scheduled
TUESDAY, JULY 19
No services scheduled
OBITUARY POLICY
The East Oregonian publishes paid obituaries. The obituary can
include small photos and, for veterans, a lag symbol at no charge.
Obituaries may be edited for spelling, proper punctuation and style.
Expanded death notices will be published at no charge. These in-
clude information about services. Obituaries and notices can be
submitted online at www.eastoregonian.com/obituaryform, by
email to obits@eastoregonian.com, by fax to 541-276-8314, placed
via the funeral home or in person at the East Oregonian ofice. For
more information, call 541-966-0818 or 1-800-522-0255, ext. 221.
MEETINGS
MONDAY, JULY 18
WEST EXTENSION IRRIGA-
TION DISTRICT, 9 a.m., Irrigon
Fire Department, 705 N.E. Main
St. An executive session may be
called to discuss legal issues.
(Lisa Baum 541-922-3814).
WESTLAND IRRIGATION
DISTRICT, 1 p.m., Stafford
Hansell Government Center
Doherty conference room, 915
S.E. Columbia Drive, Hermis-
ton. An executive session will be
called at the end of the regular
meeting.
ECHO SCHOOL DISTRICT,
6 p.m., Echo School, 600 Gerone
St.
HELIX CITY COUNCIL, 7
p.m., Helix City Hall, 119 Colum-
bia St.
PENDLETON YOUTH COM-
MISSION, 7 p.m., Intermountain
ESD ofice, 2001 S.W. Nye Ave.
TUESDAY, JULY 19
RIVERSIDE RURAL FIRE
PROTECTION DISTRICT, 5
p.m., 116 S.E. Second St., Pend-
leton.
ATHENA CEMETERY DIS-
TRICT, 5:30 p.m., Athena City
Hall, 215 S. Third St.
IRRIGON CITY COUNCIL,
6 p.m., Irrigon City Hall, 500 N.E.
Main St.
PENDLETON DEVELOP-
MENT COMMISSION, 6 p.m.,
Pendleton City Hall council cham-
bers, 501 S.W. Emigrant Ave.
EAST UMATILLA COUN-
TY HEALTH DISTRICT, 7 p.m.,
district ofice, 431 E. Main St.,
Athena.
OREGON TRAIL LIBRARY
DISTRICT, 7 p.m., Irrigon Public
Library, 490 N.E. Main Ave.
PENDLETON CITY COUN-
CIL, 7 p.m., Pendleton City Hall
council chambers, 501 S.W.
Emigrant Ave. Meeting includes
a public hearing on the sale of
surplus real property in the city,
including commercial and/or resi-
dentially zoned properties.
PILOT ROCK CITY COUN-
CIL, 7 p.m., Pilot Rock City Hall
council chambers, 143 W. Main
St..
STANFIELD CITY COUN-
CIL, 7 p.m., Stanield City Hall
council chambers, 150 W. Coe St.
AAA MEMBER APPRECIATION
ALASKA CRUISE
SEPTEMBER 10-17, 2016
Round trip from Seattle via Glacier Bay
Starting at $899
Join us on this AAA Hosted Cruise, sailing
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10 p.m.: 8-3-0-4
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Enjoy up to $100 shipboard credit per
stateroom, an onboard social reception and
other AAA surprises!
Call or Visit AAA Travel Today
541.276.2243
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Friday, July 15
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All pricing is per person, double occupancy, cruise only, and subject to change and availability. Air, transfers, fuel surcharges,
government taxes and fees are additional. Shipboard credit is up to $50 per person for a maximum of $100 per stateroom.
Ships’ Registry: The Netherlands.