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About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 12, 2017)
ENTERTAINMENT Saturday, August 12, 2017 East Oregonian Page 3A New Transit brings twangy Americana to Roy Raley T he band name New Transit evokes an image of a semi-futuristic bus cruising down a desert highway, gleaming in the sun, and occasionally stopping to exchange riders before bolting off to its next destination. The Boise-based Americana band New Transit is much like that bus. Over the duration of its eight-year history the ridership of New Transit has shifted from album to album but the course that it initially charted as an outlet for roots music-based songwriting has remained constant. New Transit was originally founded as J.D. a vehicle for singer- Kindle songwriters Sean Hatton Comment and Adam Gates in 2009, on guitar and bass respectively. The group’s first album “One” was an even mixture of songs by the two. Although he contributed to the songs and recording of their second album “Country Music Dead,” Gates left the band following its release to focus on his family. Gates’ replacement, bassist Jeremy Coverdale, was a brief fixture in the group and founding lead guitarist Dave Manion left not long after for other musical pursuits. Undeterred by these departures, Hatton responded by adding two in-demand sidemen from the Boise scene: Bernie Reilly and Thomas Paul. It should be added that founding drummer Louis McFarland, the smoothly purring motor of this metaphorical bus, has remained a steady presence throughout. As a foursome the crew recorded their eponymous third album, which was self-released in June. Hatton has never felt fully at ease being the focal point of the group, preferring to work in a more collaborative project. In Gates’ Photo contributed by New Transit The band New Transit will perform at Music in the Park at Roy Raley Park on Aug. 16. absence he was rather reluctant to solely take on the creative leadership duties. “I was always looking for a band that was a ‘band,’” says Sean. “I may be the one that pushes things forward to some extent. Bernie likes to tell me that in every democracy you still have to have somebody who makes the final decision and unfortunately I have to be that guy and I stress ‘unfortunately.’ I still prefer their input on everything we do to my own inclinations.” Although he wrote all the material on “New Transit,” Hatton opted to give his bandmates more creative input on the album by relegating his presence to only singing and allowing McFarland, Reilly, and Paul full control of the production. Handing over the arrangement duties to the band members perhaps explains why the textures are more varied on “New Transit” than on previous efforts. Occasionally the record takes a turn towards the quasi- experimental with vignettes like vocal harmony-heavy introductory track “Where Do We Go From Here” or the sparse piano and manipulated vocal duet “In Our Nature.” The ballad “I’ll Do My Part” becomes a warm, soul song with the addition of a horn section and Hammond organ. Elsewhere on the album “In a Cold Dark Spiral” is driven by a bossa nova rhythm and electric piano that hearkens back to the yacht-rock sound of Michael McDonald-era Doobie Brothers or Christopher Cross. That’s not to say there isn’t a fair amount of twang on the album. The highway rock anthem “So We Run” embraces a mellow alt-country feel that, dare it be said, sounds reminiscent of the Eagles. The album closer “She Moves Me A Little” is an up-tempo barroom waltz and arguably the most hardcore country the band has ever sounded. Guitarist-singer-songwriter Thomas Paul reflects positively on the interpersonal vibe present in New Transit. “It’s a good batch of guys. It’s a good mix of personalities. You get us in the van and you have two motor mouths with two quieter, thoughtful people — who aren’t wilting flowers or anything. We just seem to have a good dynamic. It a good balance of that ‘let’s get things done’ energy versus that ‘let’s be patient’ energy.” New Transit is carrying forward with the former as they’ve already prepared a new batch of songs for a fourth record. This time around, though, the songwriting duties are spread out amongst Hatton, Reilly, and Paul, the latter two being accomplished authors in their own right prior to joining. Paul expects that their set will be peppered with those new compositions so audience members will have a notion of where New Transit will be stopping next. WHAT TO DO Oregon Grange Festivals •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 Free. Exhibit features photos and memorabilia highlighting the history and accomplishments of the Oregon Grange. The Nation- al Grange is celebrating its 150th anniversary. Rock & Roll Camp HBO via AP A scene from the episode of “Game of Thrones,” which aired Sunday. Say no to spoilers ‘Game of Thrones’ fans shun HBO hack NEW YORK (AP) — For many “Game of Thrones” fans, the routine spoilers are bad enough: You miss an episode, then stumble on an unsought plot twist before you’ve had a chance to catch up. Worse than that is the threat of leaked details, or even a whole episode, by hackers currently targeting HBO and its most doted-on series. “It’s the worst news since the Red Wedding,” says Camden Wicker, a self-professed “GOT” superfan in San Diego. But the news isn’t all bad. Despite recent script leaks and an episode prematurely put online by Indian pay-TV, Sunday’s “GOT” airing was the series’ most-watched ever, seen by 10.2 million viewers. Wicker was one of them. When “GOT”-time arrives each Sunday, “the phones are off,” he says, as he and his flatmates huddle in the front of the screen. Afterward, they talk about the episode. Maybe watch it all over again. “It’s a camaraderie,” says Wicker. Hacks and leaks can under- mine that camaraderie. “Just when I thought White Walkers were the biggest threat,” he says, “this goes and happens.” The phone isn’t off for Adiya Taylor of New York. For her, a big part of watching “GOT” is the collective expe- rience, which for her includes live-tweeting during the hour, then checking Twitter afterward for a group post-mortem. “Between tweets, the messages in my work Slack group and the articles online the next day, watching at 9 p.m. on Sunday is a lot more fun than watching early for the sake of getting it first,” she says. •Aug. 14-18; 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. •Pendleton Center for the Arts, 214 N. Main St. •Friday, Aug. 18; 7 p.m.; con- cert •400 block Main Street, Pendleton www.pendletonarts.org Free. Teen day camp fea- tures playing, write and record- ing music. Also, sessions on rock journalism, creating T-shirts, pro- moting bands and more. Collected Works: Black & White Morrow County Fair & Oregon Trail Pro Rodeo •Aug. 16-20 •Morrow County Fair- grounds, Heppner www.co.morrow.or.us/fair/ page/county-fair $4/ages 8-and-older, free/ ages 7-and-under. Rodeo tick- ets are $10-$15 and $6/ages 7-12. Activities include daily 4-H/ FFA contests, live entertain- ment, wine/beer tasting and ice cream social. Saturday features a parade (10 a.m.), buyers lunch (noon) and youth livestock auc- tion (2 p.m.). Milton-Freewater Rocks! •Aug. 18-20 •Yantis Park, 200 Dehaven St., Milton-Freewater Free admission. Festival fea- tures live entertainment, food/ craft vendors, beer/wine garden, fundraising meals and the Fire- fighters Water Fight. Path of Almost Totality Tailgate Party •Sunday, Aug. 20; 11 a.m.- 11:30 p.m. •Umatilla Marina Park www.facebook.com/umatil- laoregonchamber Free admission. Features Blue Tattoo and The Outsiders. RV/tent sites available by calling 541-922-3939. Beer garden and food available for purchase. Eclipse Across America •Monday, Aug. 21; 9 a.m.- noon •SAGE Center, 101 Olson Road, Boardman www.visitsage.com Free. A NASA livestream of the total solar eclipse. Viewing of the eclipse from the SAGE Cen- ter is estimated at 97.7 percent totality. Contributed photo Cruise Control of the Tri-Cities will perform Aug. 14 at Music in the Parks at Irrigon Marina Park. Cruise Control revs up park series IRRIGON — The Music in the Parks series crescendos with its final performance of the season featuring Cruise Control. The free show is Monday, Aug. 14 at 7 p.m. at Irrigon Marina Park. Those planning to attend are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or blankets. Also, food and beverages will be available for purchase from Judy’s Chuck Wagon. In case of inclement weather, the performance will be held at the Irrigon Senior Center. An oldies rock and roll band from the Tri-Cities, the group also plays some country hits from the ’50s to the ’70s — as well as a few tunes from the 1980s. Sponsored by the North Morrow Community Foundation, the Music in the Parks series is funded by the Morrow County Unified Recreation District and Portland General Electric. For more information, call Tami Sherer at 541-571-0844. opening reception •Saturday/Sundays; noon-5 p.m. •Arts Portal Gallery, 508 N. Main St., Milton-Freewater Free. Artist’s reception with exhibit featuring student artwork. Also includes local fruits and vegetables celebrating the sea- son’s bounty. Harvest of Art •Aug. 18-20 •Central School, Milton-Free- water Free. The indoor exhibit of- fers cash prizes awarded in four categories. For entry forms, call 541-938-5126 or pick up at local libraries (by Aug. 12). OMSI portable planetarium Art, Museums & Authors SAGE Saturday •Saturday, Aug. 12; 10 a.m.- 1 p.m. •SAGE Center, 101 Olson Road, Boardman www.visitsage.com Free. Kids and their parents design and make eclipse glass- es. Museum’s regular hours are Sunday-Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Friday/Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Summer’s Bounty Student Art •Saturday, Aug. 12, 2-4 p.m., •Friday, Aug. 18; 1 p.m., 3 p.m. & 6 p.m. •Memorial Hall, 214 E. Main St., Weston Free. Limited seating on first-come basis. Special pro- gram from the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry. For in- formation, call 541-566-2378 or 541-566-2470. Small Works Invitational •Tuesday-Fridays; 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; Saturdays; noon-4 p.m. •Pendleton Center for the Arts, 214 N. Main St. Free. Features small works from regional artists. Runs through Aug. 26. Naamí Nisháycht, Our Living Culture Village •Monday-Saturdays; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. •Tamástslikt Cultural Insti- tute, near Wildhorse Resort & Casino. www.tamastslikt.org $10/adults, $9/senior cit- izens, $6/youths, free/5 and under or $25/family of four. Highlights American Indian life, including displays, activities and stories from tribal leaders. Runs through Sept. 2. A Kaleidoscope of Color: American Indian Trade Blankets •Monday-Saturdays, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. •Tamástslikt Cultural Insti- tute, near Wildhorse Resort & Casino. www.tamastslikt.org $10/adults, $9/senior cit- izens, $6/youths, free/5 and under or $25/family of four. Showcases pre-1925 Indian trade blankets from historic man- ufacturers, including Pendleton Woolen Mills. Runs through Oct. 14. “A Love of Western Color” •Monday-Fridays, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Saturdays; 10 a.m.-2 p.m. •Pendleton Art + Frame, 36 S.W. Court Ave. Free. Features watercolors and fluid acrylic paintings by The Dalles artist Mary Rollins. Runs through Aug. 31. Abandoned POWs focus of new post-war thriller By RENEE STRUTHERS W hen grief and paranoia collide, the result is devastating. R. Cyril West, whose first book about missing servicemen, “The Thin Line,” received the BRAG Medallion Award for fiction, has released the second novel in his POW/MIA series, “Some Never Forget,” about a man slowly being crushed under the weight of his belief that his son was forgotten and abandoned in Vietnam at the end of the war. Walter Greene, a Korean War veteran, was proud when his son Tommy volunteered to serve in Vietnam. When Tommy first was listed as missing, then a prisoner of war, and then killed in action, Walter begins to believe the government isn’t telling them the Cover photo courtesy truth about Molon Labe Books. his son and the other soldiers who never made it home. In his determination to uncover the truth, he becomes more and more certain that someone is trying to stop him. And his family and friends grow concerned that the obsession has become something much worse as he becomes more erratic and paranoid. West’s protagonist spirals from disgruntled veteran to psychotic conspiracy theorist as his proof piles up and shadowy strangers stalk his home on Baranof Island, Alaska. Does Walter really have informants feeding him secret documents about his son’s disap- pearance? Was a secret government cabal tasked with keeping him quiet? Or was it all in his head? A cliffhanger ending leaves the door open for a sequel. ——— “Some Never Forget,” by R. Cyril West. © 2017, Molon Labe Books. •Monday-Thursdays; 10 a.m- 8 p.m.; Friday/Saturdays; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. •Pendleton Public Library, 502 S.W. Dorion Ave. www.pendletonlibrary.wee- bly.com Free. Features Walla Walla artist Susan How. Runs through Aug. 31. Music Evan Egerer •Saturday, Aug. 12; 6-9 p.m. •Hamley Steakhouse & Sa- loon, 8 S.E. Court Ave., Pend- leton No cover. All ages event as part of the Music on the Lawn concert series. Mandi Miller •Saturday, Aug. 12; 6:30- 8:30 p.m. •Sundown Grill & Bar-B-Q, 233 S.E. Fourth St., Pendleton. No cover. Reservations suggested by contacting 541- 310-1304 or raphael_hoffman@ hotmail.com. Pendleton native, who now lives in New Zealand, will perform on the garden patio. Shanks Pony •Saturday, Aug. 12; 8 p.m. No cover •Wildhorse Sports Bar, Wild- horse Resort & Casino, off I-84 Exit 216, Mission Umatilla County Fair Main Stage •Saturday, Aug. 12; 9 p.m. •EOTEC, 1705 E. Airport Road, Hermiston www.umatillacounty.net/fair Free with fair admission ($10/13-and-older; $6/ages 6-12; $8/60+). $12/reserved. Features Great White. Elwood •Sunday, Aug. 13; 5-7 p.m. •Heppner City Park, 444 N. Main St. Free. Bring a blanket or lawn chair for Heppner’s Music in the Park. Food available for pur- chase. In case of weather, event at Heppner Elementary School, 235 E. Stansbury St. Cruise Control •Monday, Aug. 14; 7 p.m. •Irrigon Marina Park Free. Final Music in the Parks of the season. In case of inclement weather, at Irrigon Se- nior Center. Bring a blanket or lawn chairs. Food available for purchase. New Transit •Wednesday, Aug. 16; 6-8 p.m. •Roy Raley Park, 1205 S.W. Court Ave., Pendleton www.facebook.com/sounds- likeentertainmentbooking Free. Wednesdays in the Park finale features Boise-based band playing original alternative country rock. Bring a lawn chair or blanket. Food, beer and wine available for purchase. Stompin’ Ground •Friday, Aug. 18; Saturday, Aug. 19; 8 p.m. No cover •Wildhorse Sports Bar, Wild- horse Resort & Casino, off I-84 Exit 216, Mission Badd Influence •Saturday, Aug. 19; 8 p.m.-midnight •Archie’s Restaurant, 194 Main St., Pilot Rock $3/single, $5/couple. Live music in the beer garden. Guest appearance by Medium. Wheatstock Music Fes- tival •Saturday, Aug. 19; noon-10 p.m. •Quantum 9 Arena, Helix www.wheatstock.org $20/advance, $28/gate, free/ military personnel and youths 12-and-under. Free camping with tickets. See article this page. Theater, stage, film & lectures Ione Movies in the Park •Saturdays; dusk •Ione City Park Free. Bring lawn chairs or blankets and a cooler. Aug. 12: “Moana.” Hermiston Movies in the Park •Fridays; dusk •McKenzie Park, 320 S. First St., Hermiston Free. Aug. 18: “Free Wil- ly.” Bring a blanket, chairs and snacks. Hot tickets •Dokken: Aug. 31, Wildhorse Resort & Casino. Tickets for the 21-and-older show ($29) avail- able via www.wildhorseresort. com •Round-Up Happy Canyon Kick-off Concert: (Gary Allan) Sept. 9, Happy Canyon Arena. Tickets ($40 to $130) via www. pendletonroundup.com •Maryhill Winery Summer Concert Series: Michael Mc- Donald & Boz Scaggs, Aug. 12 ($46-$325), Steve Winwood, Sept. 9 ($46-$86), Goo Goo Dolls & Phillip Phillips, Sept. 17 ($50-$1,500) near Goldendale, Washington. Tickets via www. ticketfly.com •Benton-Franklin Fair en- tertainment: (Pasco): Boyz II Men* (Aug. 22); Joan Jett & the Blackhearts (Aug. 23); Trace Adkins* (Aug. 24); Eli Young Band (Aug. 25); WAR (Aug. 26). Reserved tickets ($15) available via Kennewick Ranch & Home or www.bentonfranklinfair.com *Reserved sold-out, festival seating available with fair admis- sion Beer festival brews up suds and fun LA GRANDE — Breweries from across Eastern Oregon, the Pacific Northwest and beyond are featured during the fourth annual Eastern Oregon Beer Festival. The 21-and-older event also features live music, local crafts, food vendors and Q&A’s with brewers. The event is Saturday, Aug. 19 from noon to 8 p.m. at the Union County Fairgrounds in La Grande. Tickets are $25 if purchased in advance or $35 at the gate. In addition, VIP passes, which are $40, are available at the event website. The festival entry fee for non-drinkers or after-party (8-10 p.m.) attendees is $5. Everyone who purchases general admission or VIP passes receives a commemorative tasting mug and entry to the after-party, which feature entertainment by Bag of Hammers. Live entertainment during the festival includes The Jack Maybe Project (1-2:30 p.m.), a Q&A Panel with Brewers (2:30-3:30 p.m. & 5-6 p.m.), Trebuchet (3:30-5 p.m.), Survival Guide (6-7 p.m.) and the Tasters’ Choice Award and Auction Winners (7:30-8 p.m.). For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www. eobeerfest.org.
