ENTERTAINMENT
Saturday, December 28, 2019
East Oregonian
C3
Johnny Vinyl counts ’em down
By JOHNNY VINYL
Ride the vibe
W
hile it’s been a
great year for
vinyl releases,
it has been a rough year
for the national social
fabric. In recognition of
J OHNNY
V INYL
the Orwellian existence
RIDE THE VIBE
the nation fi nds itself in,
this year’s list attempts to
correct history as needed.
And for those who have not read George
Orwell’s “1984,” please do so or that fabric is
only going to unravel more and more!
10. Brittany Howard: “Jaime”
Brittany Howard, a Grammy award-win-
ning singer, songwriter, and guitarist for
Alabama Shakes, decided that she had a lot
of “things” she had to deal with. She told her
fellow Shakes that they were going to sit this
one out. The album is dedicated and named
for her sister, who died from retinoblastoma
as a teen. From the opening track, “History
Repeats,” things get personal. Nothing quite
prepares the listener for the fi rst time through
“Goat Head,” a song about the horrors of bla-
tant racism toward a family with a black
father and white mother from the perspective
of their young daughter. This is the album to
play when you want to “feel” something.
9. Samantha Fish: “Kill or Be Kind”
Samantha Fish has been showcasing
her blues-infused guitar-slinger skills for a
decade-plus, fi rst with the Girls With Gui-
tars tours and then with the Samantha Fish
Band. On her sixth album, “Kill or Be Kind,”
she proves her songwriting prowess is in full
effect as well. The title track opens with
“Back before I was a home wrecker, I was
a goodie, good, good girl ... make up your
mind, I can kill or be kind” — making clear
she’s tired of being messed with. The rest of
the album is 10 more of a similar vein. None
disappoint. A great party record.
8. Meat Puppets: “Dusty Notes”
Arizona’s Meat Puppets have fi nally
crafted the album they have been threaten-
ing since the early 1980s. “Dusty Notes”
fi nds their unique blend of psychedelic, sun-
baked country/pop at its twisted best. The
album would be equally at home on country,
pop, or classic rock radio. Original members
brothers Curt and Cris Kirkwood, and drum-
mer Derrick Bostrom, are all back and sound
energized. The Puppets get extra credit for
always releasing high-quality, creatively col-
ored vinyl.
7. Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds:
“Ghosteen”
Who would have thought back in 1980 the
singer for The Birthday Party would have
a massively prolifi c recording and touring
career for the next 40 years? Not only did
he accomplish just that, along the way he
became the patron saint of darkly elegant
rock ‘n’ roll. On “Ghosteen,” the fi rst album
written entirely since the death of his teenage
son, Arthur, he deals with death, grief and
despair in a unique way. The album is split in
two. The fi rst LP is eight shorter songs Nick
refers to as “the children” and LP 2 is two
very long songs with a spoken word piece in
the middle referred to as “the parents.” When
heard it all makes perfect sense. Here is the
“real” St. Nick!
6. Creedence Clearwater Revival:
“Live at Woodstock”
People often forget that CCR were among
the headliners of the famous festival that cel-
ebrated its 50th anniversary this year. The
powers that be fi nally relented and allowed
the entire set released. As the fi rst track,
“Born on the Bayou,” begins, the sound is
awful; sounding like a poor quality boot-
leg. John Fogerty noticeably yells at the
sound technician. The second track, “Green
River,” sounds much, much better. And the
sound keeps getting better throughout. The
separation of the four band members is par-
ticularly sharp. Never before has Tom Forg-
erty’s rhythm playing been given such focus.
It’s blatantly obvious in the silence between
songs that the relationship between the four
had begun to fray. But when they played it
was magic. The two fi nal tracks, “Keep On
Chooglin” and “Suzie Q,” each clocking in at
10 minutes-plus, remind why chooglin was
important in the fi rst place.
meant to be the follow-up to “What’s Going
On.” The title track was released in 1972 and,
not pleased with initial results, Gaye pulled
the project, never to touch it again. Marvin
was not known for making good decisions
and that was one. The estate has remastered
the original tapes and added a few nuggets.
The songs from the original sessions have
that same supple groove that “What’s Going
On” had throughout. There are two versions
of the title track, one released as a single and
an alternate version that suggests that Mar-
vin thought the best man to be U.S. presi-
dent is a woman. A few odds and ends were
tacked on to make a more complete package,
but it’s the core songs that make up that long
lost album which make this such a signifi cant
release.
3. Mercury Rev: “The Delta Sweete
Revisted”
Out of nowhere in 1967 Bobbie Gen-
try released “Ode to Billie Joe” as her very
fi rst album. The title track was a huge hit. In
1968, she released her second album, “The
Delta Sweete,” which was avant-country
for the time and sounded nothing like her
“hit.” The album was a commercial fail-
ure, her career never saw the heights gained
from that fi rst album, and by 1981 she had
retired from music completely. The music
buying public doesn’t always see greatness
the fi rst time exposed to it. Alternative rock
band Mercury Rev recruited a number of
female vocalists to revisit that album, includ-
ing Norah Jones, Hope Sandoval, Rachel
Goswell, Margo Price and Beth Orton, to
set the record straight. Every single vocal-
ist nailed their performance. The incompara-
ble Lucinda Williams closes the album with
a weathered cover of “Ode to Billie Joe” as
an homage to what Ms. Gentry might sound
like today if things had gone differently way
back when.
Cover contributed by Mavis Staples
“We Get By”
5. Mavis Staples: “We Get By”
Mavis Staples decided to celebrate her
80th birthday in 2019 by going on tour in
Europe. She had such a good time and the
band was so hot that she immediately got
them all in the studio, and gave each co-pro-
ducer credit on the entire album. Ben Harper
wrote all of the songs and produces, but other
than one duet with Mavis, he stays out of
their way. Smart move on his part because
they ended up with what rivals any of her
solo releases as her best yet. The album
cover, a Gordon Parks photo from 1956, enti-
tled “Outside Looking In,” is a social com-
mentary all its own.
4. Marvin Gaye: “You’re the Man”
Ever wonder how Marvin Gaye got from
1971’s social and environmental masterpiece
“What’s Going On” to the smooth crooning
of 1973’s “Let’s Get It On” in just two years?
“You’re The Man” is the album that was
Cover contributed by The Cranberries
“In the End”
2. The Cranberries: “In the End”
The Cranberries’ Dolores O’Riordan
had a singular voice. Her vocals made the
band’s songs instantly recognizable. At the
time of her death in 2018 she had recorded
an album’s worth of songs in vocal demo
form. The remaining Cranberries knew how
excited Dolores had been about the new
music that they felt they owed it to her to
complete the songs for offi cial release and
ultimately put a formal end to the band. They
must have loved her greatly, based on the
magical farewell they have created. So sad
that they’ll never be able to share these songs
with their fans live. “Wake Me When It’s
Over” will be especially bittersweet for hard-
core fans — they’ll want to sing along until
they realize Dolores will never wake again.
If you’ve never really gotten into the Cran-
berries before, this is actually a good place
to start. If you’re already a fan, you have to
hear this record.
Cover contributed by Black Mountain
“Destroyer”
1. Black Mountain: “Destroyer”
The sound of freedom and the open road.
The sound of classic Mopar-powered muscle
thundering down the highway. It’s also the
sound and energy that pervades Vancouver,
B.C.’s Black Mountain’s 2019 fi fth album,
“Destroyer.” The album’s title and theme
circles around the fact that Black Moun-
tain’s Stephen McBean, for whatever rea-
son, didn’t feel the need to obtain a driver’s
license until his mid-40s. A driver’s license
equates independence for most. “Destroyer”
is named after an ‘80s single-run Dodge
muscle car, and the sound contained therein
gives off the same sense of freedom as one
feels the fi rst time they legally rip down the
road. The music on “Destroyer” gives off
that same self-powered energy. It might be
easier to clarify what they don’t sound like
rather than attempt to classify. What they
accomplish in the format of a traditional
band, by recognizing all of their infl uences
openly, is to create music that is more futur-
istic-sounding than any progressive or post-
rock artist today. Jeremy Schmidt deserves
merit for use of the vocoder and making it
actually sound musical. If Yoko Ono were
to describe their sound she would simply
call it “Yes.” Like all great “albums,” it can
be enjoyed in any situation; but it’s great for
rockin’ down the highway.
———
A retired educator, Johnny Vinyl spends
his days with Lucifer, a 10-year-old German
shepherd, reading and riding the vibe. His
column focuses on entertainment. Contact
him via tmalgesini@eastoregonian.com.
WHAT TO DO
NEW YEAR’S EVE
Tuesday, Dec. 31
Bootlegger’s Ball
•5 p.m.; Oregon Grain Growers
Brand Distillery
•511 S.E. Court Ave., Pendleton
No cover. Enjoy Prohibi-
tion-style cocktails, a special
New Year’s Eve menu, live music
with Equinox Quartet, photo
booths, bootlegger cars on dis-
play and more (541-276-0070).
2020 New Year’s Eve
•8 p.m.; Rivers Event Center,
Wildhorse Resort & Casino
•off I-84 Exit 216, Mission
www.wildhorseresort.com
No cover. Dance to ’70s disco
band The Aphrodisiacs.
James Dean Kindle & The
Eastern Oregon Playboys
•9 p.m.; Great Pacifi c Wine &
Coff ee Co.
•403 S. Main St., Pendleton
No
cover.
All
ages.
(541-276-1350).
Roaring
Twenties
New
Year’s Eve Party
•9 p.m.; Midway Bar & Grill
•1750 N. First St., Hermiston
No cover. Don pearls and pin-
stripes and feather boas; food
and drink specials all night long.
New Year’s Eve Party
•9 p.m.; Union Club
•201 E. Main St., Hermiston
No cover. Party with a Roaring
’20s theme with food, dancing
and live entertainment, includ-
ing Jamie Nasario & Luke Basile.
New Year’s Eve Fireworks
•midnight; Festival Street
•180
N.E.
Second
St.,
Hermiston
Free. Fireworks and Water-
melon Explosion
FESTIVALS
Festive Christmas Light
Display
•December, nightly
•S.E. Emigrant Ave./Ninth St.,
Pendleton
www.pendleton.or.us
Free. Light show with a vari-
ety of Christmas music (tune
into 89.3 FM on car radio)
(541-966-0370).
Christmas Light Show
•Daily Dec. 4-31; 5-10 p.m.
•SAGE Center, 101 Olson Road
www.visitsage.com
Free. Light show accompa-
nied by Christmas music (outdoor
speakers on site or tune into 106.9
FM on car radio) (541-481-7243).
Eagle Cap Extreme Sled Dog
Race
•Jan. 22-25
•Joseph, Enterprise, Fergi Ski
Area
www.eaglecapextreme.com
Free, except Saturday night
banquet ($20/adults, $12/volun-
teers $9/ages 5-12) People can
watch races, which include the
Iditarod & Yukon Quest qualifi ers;
meet-and-greet with mushers at
vet checks; Race Central and Kids’
Corner.
ART, MUSEUMS & AUTHORS
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,
unique stocking stuff ers, one-of-a-
kind items. 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.
“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 interpre-
tive look at the history of Oregon’s
multicultural logging industry.
Runs through Dec. 31.
MUSIC
Shanks Pony
•Saturday, Dec. 28; 8 p.m. No
cover
Wildhorse
yuks it up with
comedy nights
MISSION — Laugh Out
Loud live comedy returns
with the new year to Wild-
horse Resort & Casino.
Adults 21 and older are
invited to yuk it up with
some of the most entertain-
ing comics in the Pacifi c
Northwest. LOL Comedy
Night resumes Thursdays
beginning Jan. 2 at 8 p.m.
There’s no cover charge for
the free shows, which are
held in the Wildhorse Sports
Bar, located off Interstate 84
at Exit 216.
Upcoming acts include
Taylor Clark, Bree Jones
(Jan. 2), Monica Nevi, Mea-
ghan Gross (Jan. 9) Harry
Riley, Ryan McComb (Jan.
16), Marc Yaffee, Vanessa
Dawn (Jan. 23) and BJ John-
son, Jesse Warren (Jan 30).
For more information, visit
www.wildhorseresort.com.
— EO Media Group
•Wildhorse Sports Bar, Wild-
horse Resort & Casino, off I-84 Exit
216, Mission.
Elwood
•Friday, Jan. 3; 7 p.m.
•Great Pacifi c Wine & Coff ee
Co., 403 S. Main St., Pendleton
No cover. All ages. Folk and soul
musician from La Grande.
24/7
•Friday, Jan. 3; Saturday, Jan. 4;
8 p.m. No cover
•Wildhorse Sports Bar, Wild-
horse Resort & Casino, off I-84 Exit
216, Mission.
One Trick Pony
•Thursday, Jan. 9; 7p.m.
•40 Taps, 337 S.W. Emigrant
Ave., Pendleton
No cover. Enjoy an evening of
Simon & Garfunkel songs with a
Paul Simon tribute artist.
Groove City
•Friday, Jan. 10; Saturday, Jan.
11; 8 p.m. No cover
•Wildhorse Sports Bar, Wild-
horse Resort & Casino, off I-84 Exit
216, Mission.
THEATER, STAGE,
FILM & LECTURES
Dancing with the Hermiston
Stars
•Saturday, Jan. 11; 7 p.m.
•Hermiston High School, 600 S.
First St.
www.hermistoneducationfoun-
dation.org
$20/advance, $25/door, $10/
students. Features Bennett Chris-
tianson, Maria Faaeteete, Shawn
Lockwood,
Kimberly
Nevil,
Nazario Rivera and Scott Stanton.
Melonville Comedy Festival
•Friday, Jan. 24; 8 p.m.
•EOTEC, 1705 E. Airport Road,
Hermiston
www.melonvillecomedyfestival.
com
$35/advance, $40/door, $300/
table for 10. Features headliner
James Johann, featured comedian
Travis Nelson and emcee Jeremiah
Coughlan. (541-567-5180).
NIGHT LIFE
End-of-the-Year
Holiday
Spectacular!
•Saturday, Dec. 28; 7 p.m.
•40 Taps, 337 S.W. Emigrant
Ave., Pendleton
No cover. Celebrate with your
friends and Pendleton Whisky
(541-612-8559).
Karaoke w/DJ David
•Saturdays; 7 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.
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.
Thirsty Thursdays
•Third Thursday; 6 p.m.
•Midway Bar & Grill, 1750 N.
First St., Hermiston
No cover. Hosts a local brew-
ery off ering tastings and food
pairings.
LOL Comedy Night
•Thursdays; 8 p.m.
•Wildhorse Sports Bar, Wild-
horse Resort & Casino, off I-84 Exit
216, Mission.
No cover. Jan. 2: Taylor Clark,
Bree Jones; Jan. 9: Monica Nevi,
Meaghan Gross
Karaoke
•Thursdays, 9 p.m.
•The Pheasant Blue Collar Bar &
Grill, 149 E. Main St., Hermiston
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
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.collegecommu-
nitytheatre.com
———
Want to get your event listed in
our calendar? Send information to
community@eastoregonian.com,
or c/o Tammy Malgesini, 333 E. Main
Street, Hermiston, OR, 97838.