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About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 8, 2018)
ENTERTAINMENT Saturday, December 8, 2018 East Oregonian Page 3C MASTER: Navy veteran served during Bay of Pigs invasion Continued from 1C He and his wife Leanna do perform — he on guitar, she on dulcimer and piano, and both singing. They play at the weekly Fiddler’s Nights at Avamere, a local retirement home. They have done music ministry for 45 years, at two Hermiston churches. McMasters occa- sionally plays other gigs around town, and the two of them perform at some music festivals through- out the year, including the Sacagawea Bluegrass Fes- tival in the Tri-Cities and a Fourth of July festival in Fossil. They played in a country band for five years in Fossil. McMasters had many careers before he began making guitars. “I signed up for the U.S. Navy, and my uncles were diesel mechanics,” he said. “That’s what I wanted to be.” Because of his experi- ence in woodworking as a high school student, he was instead placed in pat- tern-making, as a precision woodworker. He would make wooden patterns, which would then be sent to the foundry to make sand molds for molten metal. A native of Garfield, Washington, he served four years in the Navy, including at the Bay of Pigs Invasion in Cuba. They were capable of reproducing major pieces of equipment — as large as a 30-foot propeller for a ship. But a smaller item that McMasters still has holds special significance, as well. On a table in his shop, he still has the first thing he cast in the Navy — a small layout knife, with a handle fashioned into the shape of a knight’s head. He managed a Les Schwab in Fossil, and moved to Hermiston for the same job in 1977. He left, drove a truck and worked in concrete for a while, before going back to school to be an electrician. After work- ing for several companies, he retired, and continued to work part-time, until he decided there was only one thing he wanted to do. “Now, I spend all my time out here,” he said. Staff photos by E.J. Harris Left: Les McMasters uses a block planer to shape the braces on the back of a guitar at his shop in Hermiston. Right: Les McMasters inspects his craftsmanship while profiling the neck for a guitar using a spindle sander at his shop in Hermiston. WHAT TO DO an Country as part of her Project 562. The portraits are accompa- nied by written narratives and audio of the interviews. Runs through Jan. 5. Festivals Pendleton WinterFest •Saturday, Dec. 8, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. •Pendleton Convention Cen- ter, 1601 Westgate www.sahpendleton.org/foun- dation/winterfest Free. The Family Day event features tree viewing and lots of holiday-related activities. (541- 278-2627). Music Funk Factory •Saturday, Dec. 8; 8 p.m. No cover •Wildhorse Sports Bar, Wild- horse Resort & Casino, off I-84 Exit 216, Mission. Holiday Barrel Tasting •Dec. 7-9 •Various wineries in Mil- ton-Freewater, Walla Walla re- gion www.wallawallawine.com Some events free. Amidst the festive atmosphere of the season, winemakers and cellar staff provide samples of future releases straight from the wine barrel. Winterfest Light Parade & Chili Feed •Saturday, Dec. 8; 6 p.m. •Downtown Pilot Rock Free. Enjoy the lighted pa- rade followed by hot chocolate and a chili feed in the council chambers. (541-443-5832). Welcome Santa Drive •Saturday, Dec. 8; 6-8 p.m. •Main Street Boardman to SAGE Center Free. SECO Pallets sleigh delivers Santa Claus to the SAGE Center parking lot, 101 Olson Road, for pictures, hot chocolate and goodies (541-303- 3221). Rise or Die Trying Tourna- ment •Saturday, Dec. 8; 7-10 p.m. www.prestigewrestling.net •Eastern Oregon Trade and Event Center, 1705 Airport Road, Hermiston $10 via www.ticketweb.com Presented by Prestige Wrestling features eight wrestlers. Ticket sales benefits Cabins4Kids, to assist underprivileged kids to at- tend summer camp. Melonville Comedy Fes- tival •Friday, Jan. 25; 8 p.m. •Eastern Oregon Trade & Event Center, 1705 E. Airport Road, Hermiston www.melonvillecomedyfesti- val.com $25/advance, $35/priority seats. Features headliner Reno Collier, featured comedian An- drew Rivers and emcee Thomas Nichols. Holiday Music Festival Contributed photo Jill Cohn is on a regional tour performing folk-Amer- icana. She will play Dec. 13 at 40 Taps in Pendleton. Americana musician strums blissful folk PENDLETON — A soul-stirring musician will perform what’s been referred to as “folk Ameri- can bliss” during a show in Pendleton. Seattle-based Jill Cohn will play Thursday, Dec. 13 at 7 p.m. at 40 Taps, 337 S.W. Emigrant Ave., Pend- leton. There is no cover charge. Before swinging into the Round-Up City, Cohn will perform Tuesday, Dec. 11 at 8 p.m. at Ten Depot Street in La Grande. In addition, while on tour promoting her new release, “Balanced on the Rail,” she will play at additional regional ven- ues in Walla Walla — Gard Vintners (Dec. 14, 5:30 p.m.), Sinclair Estate (Dec. 15, 7 p.m.), Olive Market (Dec. 20, 6 p.m.) and Northstar Winery (Dec. 28, noon-3 p.m.). Also, at Emerald of Siam in Richland (Dec. 29, 6 p.m.). With nearly a dozen albums, Cohn has been a full-time musician since 1999. The Los Feliz Jour- nal named her “Beautiful I Love You” album a top 10 indie pick of the year. For more information about the Pendleton show, call 541-246-6772. For more about Cohn, visit www.jillcohn.com. Arts, 214 N. Main St. www.pendletonarts.org Free. The holiday exhibit and art/craft sale runs through Dec. 31. (541-278-9201). (janbeitel@outlook.com). Christmas Art Show & Sale Art, Museums & Authors Art of the Gift •Tuesday-Saturdays, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; Saturdays, noon-4 p.m. •Pendleton Center for the •Great Pacific Wine & Coffee Co., 403 S. Main St., Pendleton No cover. All ages. With more than 150 national/international shows per year and seven full- length records, Bart Budwig has become a mainstay of the Pacific Northwest music scene — and beyond. •Saturday, Dec. 8; Sunday, Dec. 9; 9 a.m.-6 p.m. •Oxford Suites, 1050 N. First St., Hermiston Free. Features paintings, jewelry, prints, Christmas cards, Western art and metalwork by lo- cal artists. Refreshments served “Seeds of Culture: The Portraits and Voices of Native American Women” •Monday-Saturdays; 10 a.m.- 5 p.m. •Tamástslikt Cultural Institute, near Wildhorse Resort & Casino. www.tamastslikt.org $10/adults, $9/senior citi- zens, $6/youths. Matika Wil- bur, a visual storyteller from the Swinomish and Tulalip peoples of coastal Washington, has been traveling and photographing Indi- •Sunday, Dec. 9; 2 p.m. •Vert Auditorium, 480 S.W. Dorion Ave., Pendleton www.oregoneastsymphony. org $25/adults, $20/seniors, $15/ students, $65/family. Presented by the Oregon East Sympho- ny, program also features Our Songs Are Alive, the Pendleton Men’s Chorus, Sisters in Song and the Pendleton Brass Quintet. Elwood aka Colt Haney •Tuesday, Dec. 11; 7 p.m. •Great Pacific Wine & Coffee Co., 403 S. Main St., Pendleton No cover. All ages. From the Blue Mountains of Cascadia, Elwood offers all natural folk ‘n’ soul music. Live Music Thursday-Jill Cohn •Thursday, Dec. 13; 7-9 p.m. •40 Taps, 337 S.W. Emigrant Ave., Pendleton No cover. Seattle-based mu- sician performs folk-Americana music. Sum People •Friday, Dec. 14; 6:30-9:30 p.m. No cover. •Nookie’s/Hermiston Brewing Co., 125 N. First St., Hermiston The Real Deal •Friday, Dec. 14; Saturday, Dec. 15; 8 p.m. No cover •Wildhorse Sports Bar, Wild- horse Resort & Casino, off I-84 Exit 216, Mission. Great Pacific Xmas Pag- eant •Sunday, Dec. 16; time TBA •Great Pacific Wine & Coffee Co., 403 S. Main St., Pendleton No cover. All ages. Features a variety of regional musical acts amping up the holiday season (541-276-1350). Christmas by the Camp- fire •Tuesday, Dec. 18; 7 p.m. •Pendleton Center for the Arts, 214 N. Main St. www.pendletonarts.org $10. Western musician Bar- bara Nelson of Pendleton gath- ers around the campfire with regional musicians Peter Willis, National Oldtime Fiddle champi- on Dan Emert and bass player Lori Brogoitti. (541-278-9201). (see story this page) Bart Budwig & his band •Tuesday, Dec. 18; 7 p.m. Night life Saturday Night Trivia No cover. Hosts a local brew- ery offering tastings and food pairings. Get Festive Trivia •Thursday, Dec. 20; 7 p.m. No cover •Mac’s Bar & Grill, 1400 S.W. Dorion Ave., Pendleton 21-and-older. Holiday cheer and Trivia. Teams of 2-8 compete with other teams. Live host and prizes, including for best holiday team name and best costume. •Saturdays; 9 p.m. •Midway Bar & Grill, 1750 N. First St., Hermiston Free. Show what you know for fun and prizes. Theater, stage, film & lectures Karaoke w/DJ David “Nutcracker” •Saturdays; 8 p.m. •Riverside Sports Bar, 1501 Sixth St., Umatilla •Saturday, Dec. 8; 9 p.m. •The Pheasant Blue Col- lar Bar & Grill, 149 E. Main St., Hermiston No cover. Bring back the big hair and party like it’s 1980-89. •Saturday, Dec. 8; 1 p.m., 7 p.m.; Sunday, Dec. 9; 1 p.m. •Richland High School, 930 Long Ave. www.midcolumbiaballet.org $14-28. The holiday classic is presented by the Mid-Colum- bia Ballet. With limited seats re- maining, people should buy in advance. Fugly Sweater & Bad Santa Party “Shamrock Murder Mys- tery Dinner Theatre” •Friday, Dec. 14; 9 p.m. •The Pheasant Blue Col- lar Bar & Grill, 149 E. Main St., Hermiston No cover. Drag out the ugly sweater and get ready for a “bad” time. •Saturday, Dec. 8; 6:30 p.m. •Pendleton Underground Tours, 31 S.W. Emigrant Ave. www.pendletonunderground- tours.org $75/21-and-older. Reserva- tions required. Interactive event also features food/beverages ca- tered by Oregon Grain Growers Brand Distillery. (541-276-0730). ‘80s Throwback Party Christmas Charity Pool Tournament •Saturday, Dec. 15; 2 p.m. •Midway Bar & Grill, 1750 N. First St., Hermiston $10/person. Benefits Har- kenrider Senior Activity Center. Also features a raffle, including a Traeger grill. Taco bar for $5. (541-567-5180). Wino Wednesdays •Wednesdays, 2-6 p.m. •Echo Ridge Cellars, 551 N. Thielsen St., Echo Karaoke at the Packard •1st/3rd Wednesday, 9 p.m.-midnight •The Packard Tavern, 118 S.E. Court Ave., Pendleton No cover. Wine Wednesday •Wednesday, Dec. 12, 5-7 p.m. •The Gathering Place at Bell- inger’s, 1823 S. Highway 395, Hermiston No cover. Features tasting and music. Christmas-themed Trivia Night •Wednesday, Dec. 19; 7 p.m. No cover •40 Taps, 337 S.W. Emigrant Ave., Pendleton No cover. Brush up on holi- day knowledge. Ugly sweaters welcome. (541-246-6772). Thirsty Thursdays •Third Thursday; 6 p.m. •Midway Bar & Grill, 1750 N. First St., Hermiston “How The Grinch Stole Christmas” •Friday, Dec. 21; 7:15 p.m.; Saturday, Dec. 22; 2:15 p.m. •SAGE Center, 101 Olson Road, Boardman www.visitsage.com $5/person. The Grinch will be on hand 30 minutes before show. Admission includes free bag of popcorn. Concessions available for cash purchase. Hot tickets •Jo Koy. Dec. 14, Toyota Center, Kennewick. Tickets ($37- $47) via www.ticketmaster.com •Mark O’Connor & Friends. An Appalachian Christmas. Dec. 16, Toyota Center, Kennewick. Tickets ($29-$40) via www.ticket- master.com •Bob Seger & the Silver Bul- let Band. Feb. 2, Moda Center, Portland. Tickets ($49-$125+) via www.ticketmaster.com •The Rolling Stones. No Filter Tour. May 22, CenturyLink Field, Seattle. Tickets ($94- $494+) via www.ticketmaster. com ——— Want to get your event list- ed in our calendar? Send in- formation to community@eas- toregonian.com, or c/o Tammy Malgesini, 333 E. Main Street, Hermiston, OR, 97838. Van Morrison’s latest finds him in relaxed, swinging groove Caroline International via AP The first thing long- time listeners to Van Mor- rison will notice is the lack of angst — his 40th studio album is missing the usual complaints about the greed and cynicism of the music business. The next and most remarkable aspect is the relaxed, easy groove that permeates through “The Prophet Speaks,” which finds Morrison relishing his relatively recent incarnation as a jazz singer backed by an expressive, moody band. It’s rather remarkable that Morrison has been singing for well over half a century and he’s rarely sounded so comfortable and unforced. He’s once again using the considerable talents of Joey DeFrancesco and his band. The results are impressive, with 73-year- old Morrison focusing on the feel and texture of each song rather than seeking the revelatory, soul-stretch- ing crescendos of some of his earlier works. He seems to have found a style that fits him as he ages, a blend of instruments, including Hammond organ and horns, that could have been heard in the late 1950s but sounds perfectly fresh today. There are a few straight- forward covers of old favor- ites, including John Lee Hooker’s “Dimples” and Solomon Burke’s “Gotta Get You Off My Mind,” that let Morrison pay trib- ute to departed performers he used to share bills with. A half-dozen new songs — including “Spirit Will Pro- vide” and the title track — conjure up Morrison’s more mystical approach to lyrics and arrangement. — Associ- ated Press