ENTERTAINMENT
Saturday, November 30, 2019
East Oregonian
’Tis the season for holiday music
C3
BRIEFLY
By TAMMY MALGESINI
East Oregonian
HERMISTON — I have
a confession to make —
I’ve already been jamming
ahead with the Christmas
spirit.
I’ve been “fa la la la
la-ing” driving down the
street in my Jeep since
before Halloween. While
many people wait until
Thanksgiving to break out
the holiday tunes, I usually
start hitting play on Nov.
1. However, a week or so
before the big candy grab,
my husband popped a CD
he found at Goodwill into
my player — and the rest is
holiday history.
“Songs of Christmas” is a
collection of 10 instrumen-
tal carols played on acoustic
guitar by Carl Tosten. The
musician, who grew up in
Eastern Washington, plays
superbly on a DL Noble
baritone guitar. While I
don’t have fine-tuned ears
for music, it seems to have a
calming effect — much dif-
ferent than the screeching
vocals and power chords of
Twisted Sister.
And, although the ‘80s
metal band loudly pro-
claims in one of their hit
songs, “We’re Not Gonna
Take It” — they did. The
band released “A Twisted
Christmas” in 2006, tak-
ing their piece of the pie in
regards to Christmas music
sales. However, I think
Neil Diamond is the one
who really cashed in over
the years with a handful of
Christmas albums.
In a 2016 interview with
National Public Radio, Dia-
mond said he was denied
celebrating Christmas tra-
ditions while growing up
Jewish. He called making
Christmas albums “a joy-
ful experience.” For me, lis-
tening to his rugged bari-
tone-bass voice lifts my
spirits.
Being married to Johnny
Vinyl has many benefits —
one of them is his interest in
sharing his love for music.
He has helped me amass
quite the varied catalog of
Christmas tunes — despite
the fact that he loathes most
traditional holiday music.
A decade ago, John
ordered
Bob
Dylan’s
“Christmas in the Heart.”
We’re both big fans and I
Photo contributed by Vicky Hart
Various ensembles featuring more than 200 musicians per-
form at Eastern Oregon University for the Holiday Music
Festival each December. This year’s concerts are Dec. 7-8.
By Twisted Sister
“A Twisted Christmas”
By Neil Diamond
“Acoustic Christmas”
By Bob Dylan
“Christmas In The Heart”
was excited. After listen-
ing to it several times, I told
my husband that maybe tra-
ditional Christmas music
wasn’t where it was at for
Dylan. Designed as a joyous
hymn, his version of “Hark
the Herald Angels Sing”
was more like a funeral
march.
John was a bit incensed
— yet I continued, “Do
You Hear What I Hear.” No
offense, but yes, Zimmy I
do, and it sounds like you’re
“Knock, knock, knockin’
on heaven’s door.” I feel like
I can say that because I take
it literally where the Bible
says “Make a joyful noise.”
The latest being added to
my collection is “Season’s
Greetings from moe.” It
originally came out in 2002,
but never before on vinyl
— until now, as part of the
Record Store Day Black Fri-
day releases. It features old
favorites, such as “Linus
and Lucy,” an obscure
gem with “We’re A Cou-
ple of Misfits,” and several
original tunes, including
“Together At Christmas”
and “Home.” Referring to
them as a jam band, Johnny
Vinyl said, “It’s Christmas
music I can endorse.”
———
Tammy Malgesini is
the community editor. Her
column, Inside my Shoes,
includes general musings
about life and appears reg-
ularly in the Hermiston Her-
ald. Contact her at tmalge-
sini@eastoregonian.com or
541-564-4539.
Music festival
rings in this
holiday season
Crow’s Shadow
announces holiday
open house
LA GRANDE — More
than 200 regional perform-
ers will ring in the holiday
season during the Observ-
er’s 28th Annual Holiday
Music Festival in La Grande.
The concerts are Satur-
day, Dec. 7 at 7:30 p.m. and
Sunday, Dec. 8 at 3 p.m., in
McKenzie Theater on the
Eastern Oregon University
campus. Ensembles to per-
form include the Grande
Ronde Symphony Orches-
tra, Community Band
Northeast, the EOU Cham-
ber Choir, the Grande Ronde
Community Chorus, EOU’s
45th Parallel Ensemble,
EOU African Drumming
Group, and the EOU Fiddle
Ensemble.
Also, this year’s spe-
cial guest is the Elgin High
School Calypso Band,
directed by Tucker Mur-
phey. Comprised of 12 stu-
dents and a physical educa-
tion teacher, the group plays
traditional calypso and soca
music from Trinidad and
Tobago.
Admission is $10 for
adults and $8 for students
and seniors. Tickets are
available at the Red Cross
Drug and EOU Bookstore,
both in La Grande, or via
www.eou.edu/music.
All
proceeds from the event go
to the music funds held in
the EOU Foundation.
The
community-wide
festival features traditional
holiday music from around
the world and “is a wonder-
ful beginning to the holiday
season,” said Peter Wordel-
man, EOU music professor.
For more information,
contact Wordelman at 541-
962-3352 or pwordelm@
eou.edu.
MISSION — The com-
munity is invited to visit the
Crow’s Shadow Institute of
the Arts fine printmaking
studio as well as see some
of the resulting works hang-
ing on the gallery walls.
The annual holiday open
house is Sunday, Dec. 8
from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at
48004 St. Andrews Road,
Mission. The free event
is family-friendly. Light
refreshments will be served.
Crow’s Shadow is
housed at the historic Saint
Andrews Mission on the
Umatilla Indian reserva-
tion, about 10 miles out-
side of Pendleton. The non-
profit organization was
founded 27 years ago under
the guidance of local art-
ists James Lavadour (Walla
Walla), Phillip Cash Cash
(Cayuse and Nez Perce),
and their creative friends.
It was envisioned as a place
for creative folks from
the area to foster artistic
development.
In 2001, CSIA turned
its focus toward fine print-
making and hired a master
printer. Since then, its rep-
utation for publishing fine
art lithography has grown
and artworks produced in
the studio have gone on to
many venerable institu-
tions, including the Library
of Congress, the Whitney
Museum of American Art,
the Portland Art Museum,
and the Smithsonian’s
National Museum of the
American Indian.
For more informa-
tion, contact info@crows-
shadow.org, 541-276-3954
or visit www.crowsshadow.
org.
— EO Media Group
WHAT TO DO
FESTIVALS
ART, MUSEUMS & AUTHORS
Hermiston Farm Fair & Trade
Show
•Dec. 4-6
•Eastern Oregon Trade and Event
Center, 1705 Airport Road; BMCC/
OSU HAREC, 2121 S. First St. Hermis-
ton Community Center, 415 S. High-
way 395
www.hermistonchamber.com
$40/banquet tickets (Thursday,
Dec. 5 at 6 p.m. at the community
center. Vendors, seminars, displays.
(541-567-6151).
Pendleton WinterFest
•Friday, Dec. 6; 6-10 p.m. Saturday,
Dec. 7; 10 a.m.-2p.m.
•Pendleton Convention Center,
1601 Westgate
sah.ticketleap.com
$40/evening gala, free/Fam-
ily Day. (541-276-5121). Gala event
includes dinner, dancing live/silent
auctions of holiday decor. Family
Day offers a chance to view trees and
engage in holiday activities.
Holiday
Barrel
Tasting
Weekend
•Dec. 6-8
•Various wineries in Walla Walla,
Milton-Freewater area
www.wallawallawine.com
Some events free. Amidst the fes-
tive atmosphere of the season, wine-
makers and cellar staff provide sam-
ples of future releases straight from
the wine barrel.
Echo Toy Run
•Saturday, Dec. 7; noon departure
•Main Street, Echo
www.facebook.com
Free. Participants (motorcycles,
cars, trucks) bring a new, unwrapped
toy to deliver to Good Shepherd
Medical Center in Hermiston. After-
wards, gather at the fallen rider
bench at the Hermiston Cemetery
(Amanda Silvani 541-720-9304).
Hermiston Festival of Trees
•Saturday, Dec. 7; 6-10 p.m. Sun-
day, Dec. 8; noon-4 p.m.
•Hermiston Community Center,
415 S. Highway 395
$40/evening gala event sold out,
$5/Family Day suggested donation.
Get in the Christmas spirit with hol-
iday-themed decor. Family Day fea-
tures activities, entertainment and
pictures with Santa.
The Art of the Gift
•Tuesday-Friday; 10 a.m.-4 p.m.;
Saturdays; noon-4 p.m.
•Pendleton Center for the Arts,
214 N. Main St.
www.pendletonarts.org
Free admission. The East Orego-
nian Gallery features creative gifts
from craftspeople from across the
nation. Runs through Dec. 31.
“Yellowstone in Winter”
•Monday-Thursday; 10 a.m-8 p.m.,
Friday/Saturday; 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
•Pendleton Public Library, 502
S.W. Dorion Ave.
www.pendletonlibrary.weebly.
com
Free. Exhibit features the pho-
tography of Debbie McIntosh. Runs
through Dec. 31.
“This Good Land: Contempo-
rary Native Artists from Oregon”
•Monday-Thursdays,
9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
•Betty Feves Memorial Gal-
lery, BMCC, 2411 N.W. Carden Ave.,
Pendleton.
Free. Features prints made at
Crow’s Shadow Institute of the Arts
in Mission. Gallery also open by
appointment by calling 541-278-
5952. Runs through Dec. 5.
“Timber Culture”
•Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
•Tamástslikt Cultural Institute,
near Wildhorse Resort & Casino.
www.tamastslikt.org
$10/adults, $9/senior citizens, $6/
youths. A visual and interpretive look
at the history of Oregon’s multicul-
tural logging industry. Runs through
Dec. 31.
Crow’s Shadow Holiday Open
House
•Sunday, Dec. 8; 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
•48004 St. Andrew’s Road,
Mission
www.crowsshadow.org
Free. Tour the printmaking studio,
view works in the permanent collec-
tion and enjoy light refreshments.
MUSIC
Design
•Saturday, Nov. 30; 8 p.m. No
cover
•Wildhorse Sports Bar, Wildhorse
Resort & Casino, off I-84 Exit 216,
Mission.
WHISKEY, WINE, BEER AND
WEED
•Thursday, Dec. 5; 7 p.m.
•40 Taps, 337 S.W. Emigrant Ave.,
Pendleton
No cover. Americana Acid Grass is
live in the tap room.
Holiday Concert
•Saturday, Dec. 7; 4 p.m.
•Echo Community Center, 20 S.
Bonanza St.
www.inlandnorthwestmusicians.
com
Free. Ensembles of the Inland
Northwest Musicians usher the
season in with song. Reservations
encouraged (541-289-4696).
Holiday Music Festival
•Saturday, Dec. 7, 7:30 p.m.; Sun-
day, Dec. 8, 3 p.m.
•McKenzie Theatre @ Eastern Ore-
gon University, La Grande
www.eou.edu/music
$10/adults, $8/students & seniors.
Featuring a variety of musical ensem-
bles, more than 200 regional per-
formers will ring in the holiday sea-
son. (541-962-3352).
Sum People
•Thursday, Dec. 12; 7 p.m.
•40 Taps, 337 S.W. Emigrant Ave.,
Pendleton
No cover. Features reggae rock.
NIGHT LIFE
Karaoke w/DJ David
•Saturdays; 8 p.m.
•Riverside Sports Bar, 1501 Sixth
St., Umatilla
Saturday Night Trivia
•Saturdays; 9 p.m.
•Midway Bar & Grill, 1750 N. First
St., Hermiston
Free. Show what you know for
fun and prizes.
Karaoke Party
•Wednesdays & Thursdays; 9 p.m.
No cover.
•The Pheasant Blue Collar Bar &
Grill, 149 E. Main St., Hermiston
Wino Wednesdays
•Wednesdays, 2-6 p.m.
•Echo Ridge Cellars, 551 N. Thiel-
sen St., Echo
Karaoke at the Packard
•1st/3rd
Wednesday,
9 p.m.-midnight
•The Packard Tavern, 118 S.E.
Court Ave., Pendleton
No cover.
Thirsty Thursdays
•Third Thursday; 6 p.m.
•Midway Bar & Grill, 1750 N. First
St., Hermiston
No cover. Hosts a local brewery
offering tastings and food pairings.
Karaoke
•Thursdays, 9 p.m.
•The Pheasant Blue Collar Bar &
Grill, 149 E. Main St., Hermiston
Repeal Day at the Distillery
•Thursday, Dec. 5; 4-9 p.m.
•Oregon Grain Growers Brand Dis-
tillery, 511 S.E. Court Ave., Pendleton
No cover. Celebrate with Prohibi-
tion-era cocktails and appetizer spe-
cials. A small funeral procession for
the 18th Amendment, champagne
toast and wake at 7 p.m. Period attire
encouraged.
First Thursday Wine Tasting
•Thursday, Dec. 5, 5-7 p.m.
•The Gathering Place at Bell-
inger’s, 1823 S. Highway 395,
Hermiston
Free. Featured winery or cellar
TBA
Wine tasting
•Fridays, 4-8 p.m.
•Sno Road Winery, 111 W. Main St.,
Echo.
Karaoke w/DJ David
•Fridays; 8 p.m.
•Riverside Sports Bar, 1501 Sixth
St., Umatilla
DJ and dancing
•Fridays, 8 p.m.
•The Pheasant Blue Collar Bar &
Grill, 149 E. Main St., Hermiston
Karaoke
•Fridays; 9 p.m.
•Midway Tavern, 1750 N. First St.,
Hermiston
THEATER, STAGE, FILM &
LECTURES
Sensory Friendly Movie
•Saturday, Nov. 30; 10:30 a.m.
•Hermiston Stadium 8 Cinema,
355 W. Theater Lane
www.facebook.com/
arcofumatillacounty
$6. In conjunction with The Arc
Umatilla County, sensory-friendly
screening of “Playing with Fire” with
lights up a little and volume down.
“The Best Christmas Pageant
Ever”
•Nov. 29-30 & Dec. 6-7; 7:30 p.m.
•Nov. 30, Dec. 1 & Dec. 7-8; 2 p.m.
•1130 Sumach St., Walla Walla
www.ltww.org
$15-$20. The timely comedy will
surely tickle the funny bones of audi-
ence members while getting them
primed for the holiday season.
“The Sound of Music”
auditions
•Monday, Dec. 2; Tuesday, Dec. 3;
6:30-8 p.m.
•BMCC Music Department, 2411
N.W. Carden Ave., Pendleton
www.collegecommunitytheatre.
com
Open auditions for ages 7 and
up. See website for song selections
(541-215-9917).
“The Nutcracker”
•Thursday, Dec. 5, Friday, Dec. 6;
7 p.m.
•Saturday, Dec. 7; Sunday, Dec. 8;
2 p.m.
•Bob Clapp Theatre at BMCC, 2411
N.W. Carden Ave.
www.facebook.com
$8/adults, $4/children under
12. Pendleton Ballet Theatre under
the direction of Julie Sneden-Carl-
son presents the holiday favor-
ite. Advance tickets highly recom-
mended, which are available Nov.
30 from 10 a.m.-noon at Great Pacific
Wine & Coffee Co., 403 S. Main St.
(970-261-5331).
HOT TICKETS
•College Community The-
atre-Blue Mountain Community
College: “The Sound of Music”
(February), and “The Two Gentle-
man of Verona” (May) individual
performances and season tickets
available via www.collegecommuni-
tytheatre.com
•Mannheim Steamroller Christ-
mas (Dec. 5; $40-$80) at Toyota Cen-
ter, Kennewick; tickets via www.tick-
etmaster.com
•“The Juice Joint is Jumping!”
(Dec. 31, $40-$70), at Schoolhouse
Village in Pilot Rock. Reserve tickets
for the murder mystery dinner the-
ater (541-975-4845 or 541-970-4622).
———
Want to get your event listed in our
calendar? Send information to com-
munity@eastoregonian.com, or c/o
Tammy Malgesini, 333 E. Main Street,
Hermiston, OR, 97838.