Calendar:

TONIGHT!!! : Art Reception for Evan Sharboneau

SHOWTIME: 5:00 - 7:00 PM, PRICE: FREE!. BUY TICKETS NOW

9/04 : West African Dance with Alseny Yansane'

Come explore dance like never before! Master teacher, ALSENY YANSANE, who worked as a principal dancer and acrobat with the world renowned Ballets Africains for 14 years, is offering ongoing dance classes guaranteed to rock your world! This class is designed to accomodate dancers of all skill levels and experience. Whether you are a beginning or advanced student or whether you are looking to improve your technique or just get a good work out. All classes are accompanied by live drumming. This class is every Saturday 11:00-12:30 pm and drop-ins are welcome!

ARTIST BIOGRAPHY

Since age seven, Alseny Yansane has been immersed in the musical and dance tradition of his native country, Guinea, West Africa. Alseny trained and performed in many competitions as a dancer, drummer, and acrobat in the dawning of the Republic’s newly won independence from France. Historically, this was a time when art and cultural appreciation and cultivation were at an all-time high and the training that artists received was rigorous and systematic. Artists had to compete on a national level annually as a way of moving up to higher levels of artistic status. These competitions were held in the heart of Alseny’s neighborhood and attracted groups from all over Guinea who represented specific art and culture from various regions and ethnic groups.

This experience has given Alseny a wealth of knowledge about the history and cultural diversity behind Guinean performance arts, a solid artistic foundation, and a strong drive for excellence.

Alseny has worked with some of Guinea's most reputable performance groups, including Kemoko Sano’s Ballet Merveilles and Jean Macuely’s Ballet Sanke. In 1993, Alseny was recruited to join the most prestigious of all the national groups, the world-renowned Ballets Africains. Chosen to tour with them several times, Alseny has dazzled audiences all over the United States, Canada, Bermuda and Morocco.

Alseny's dance style is powerful, yet graceful. His movements have amazing precision and extension. He has brought crowds of spectators to their feet with his fancy acrobatics and lifting techniques. As a drummer, Alseny has incredible stamina and projection of sound. As a cultural ambassador, he has a wide understanding of the rhythms from each geographical region of Guinea and has brought new songs and musical arrangements to the Pacific Northwest.

Alseny is also a wonderful teacher who is energetic, inspiring and fun. He knows how to make West African dance and drumming accessible to a variety of levelsby breaking things down and being patient and encouraging. His joy and passion for his work fires up students of all ages and backgrounds.

SHOWTIME: 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM, PRICE: .

http://www.wontanaraproductions.com

9/05 : Zion I, E.T. of The pHormula, No I.D., D.J. Crown

On Sunday, September 5, Zumbi and Amplive -- better known as the Oakland-based hip-hop duo Zion I -- return to the WOW Hall with special guests E.T. of The pHormula, No I.D. and D.J. Crown.

Zion I has played at the WOW Hall quite a few times now, beginning in 2005 when they were touring their third release, True & Livin’. They’ve shared the mic with quite a few heavy hitters, too. In 2006 they toured with The Grouch in support of their collaboration Heroes in the City of Dope. They packed the house here again in early 2008 with Mistah F.A.B. Then in January 2010, Zion I showed that they dared to go where no hip-hop duo as gone before as they toured with reggae giants Rebelution and SOJA.

The past few tours have been in support of The Takeover, their sixth studio album, which features guest spots by Devin the Dude and Brother Ali.

“Zion I let their inner light shine and oh do they ever bless us. Inconspicuous and underrated, this East Bay hip-hop trio has been leaving busters lost in space ever since the Jung list classic Inner Light single induced nods from even the most drum ‘n bass phobic heads,” states an April ‘99 Urb review. “They vibe best on ‘How May Times’ and ‘Trippin,’ lacing irresistible beats with lyrics so intelligent and soulful you wonder why we can’t just all live the good life Zion I preaches.”

“Zion I has a reputation of being very spiritual and serious,” notes Zumbi. “I think The Takeover is a lot more fun than our past records. We still touch on serious subject matter, but this album shows the other sides of our personality.”

Over the course of five LPs and numerous EPs and mixtapes, Zion I has proven to be a welcome enigma in hip-hop. Lyrically, Zumbi runs the gamut on a range of issues both serious and frivolous, discussing problems and pleasures both spiritual and worldly. Throughout, his fanbase keeps coming back for his smooth delivery and ability to raise issues without sounding didactic. Musically, Amp draws from both the usual (funk, soul) and esoteric (house, drum n bass) to create soundscapes that work as well on an electronic music mixtape as it does hip-hop. An accomplished remixer as well, Amp has remixed everyone from Linkin Park to MGMT.

“Our songs go through many different styles and iterations,” admits Amp. “We try to make music that falls into a crack and fills a void for us as fans of music,” adds Zumbi. “We discuss what we want the album to feel like and then we just let the unconsciousness take over and let things go. We just allow that process to take on its own life.”

Zion I is currently offering free downloads at http://yonasmedia.com/ympress/downloads/zion-i/index.html

Zumbi and Amplive have met a lot of great people since they started coming to the WOW Hall, but on September 5 they want to add one more person that illustrious crowd, and that person is you. Tickets are $15 in advance or at the door. Doors open at 7:00 pm and showtime is 8:00.

SHOWTIME: 8:00 PM, PRICE: $15 Advance, $15 Door. BUY TICKETS NOW

http://www.zionicrew.com http://yonasmedia.com/ympress/downloads/zion-i/index.html

9/05 : West African Dance Workshop with Abdoulaye Thioub

SHOWTIME: 12:30 - 2:00 PM, PRICE: .

9/05 : Coalessence: Community Ecstatic Dance

Coalessence is an informal dance community reveling in free-form self- expressive movement. We provide a non judgmental space where you can explore dance solo, dance with another and dance in community. A wide range of music from local to global is arranged to inspire an ecstatic journey leading through many rhythmic and cultural landscapes.

We dance our joy, we dance our connections. We dance to the profound unknown, bringing our hearts to the surface through movement and stillness. We come to dance away our fears, our inhibitions, our sorrows ......peeling away the layers in search of our true shining selves. Please join us in this family friendly event. Our circle is warm and open and we welcome people with all levels of experience.

Coalessence is currently led by four facilitators, Grace, Amanda, Paul, and Zan, who take turns each week providing the music and holding space. We come from diverse backgrounds, united by our passion for dance, and a strong vision and commitment to grow the ecstatic dance community in Eugene. We look forward to dancing with you.

Sunday Mornings 10:00 ‘till Noon $7-12 at The Wow Hall 291 West 8th Avenue, Eugene & Tuesday Evenings 6:15 ’till 7:45 $5-10 at The Vet’s Club 1626 Willamette Street, Eugene

SHOWTIME: 10:00 AM - Noon, PRICE: .

http://coalessencedance.blogspot.com http://www.facebook.com/group.php?v=wall&ref=search&gid=31161346370

9/08 : The English Beat, Chris Murray, Cub Scout, Rock Steady Soul Club

On Wednesday, September 8, KRVM welcomes The English Beat back to the WOW Hall along with special guests Chris Murray, Cub Scout and Rock Steady Soul Club.

Fresh from their gig at Seattle’s Bumbershoot Festival and recent dates with Squeeze and Bad Manners, 2 Tone ska legends The English Beat, headed up by the ever-affable Dave Wakeling, continue to bring their feel-good ska vibes across the United States. Hailing from Birmingham England, The English Beat is celebrating the 30th Anniversary of the release of their 1980 debut album I Just Can't Stop It, which spawned the hits "Tears of a Clown", "Mirror In the Bathroom", "Best Friend", "Twist & Crawl" and "Too Nice to Talk To".

As a major part of the 2 Tone ska music revolution of the late 70s and early 80s alongside The Specials, Madness and The Selector, the English Beat's hybrid was a delightful blend of Toots and the Maytals, the Velvet Underground, Buzzcocks, The Four Tops and Van Morrison. The band toured internationally with The Clash, Talking Heads, The Police and REM and their songs had prime soundtrack placement in the films Ferris Bueller's Day Off and Grosse Pointe Blank.

The musical juggernaut that is Dave Wakeling hasn't lost any momentum in songwriting. Dave is the singer/songwriter from two of the most popular bands of the end of the millennium, The English Beat and General Public. Whether it's the personal as political in "How Can You Stand There", making politics personal in "Stand Down Margaret", taking a stand against global warming as he did with Greenpeace's "Alternative NRG", or helping little kids stand up proudly with "Smile Train", Dave has always stood for something. And like the mighty Redwoods of his adopted home of California, it's been easy for Dave to take a stand because of his strong roots.

Hailing from working-class Birmingham, England, Dave and The English Beat entered the music scene in the 1979. It was a time of social, political and musical upheaval. Into this storm came they came, trying to calm the waters with their simple message of love and unity set to a great dance Beat. The six member band managed to fuse all of their respective musical influences -- soul, reggae, pop and punk -- into a unique sound that was highly danceable.

Over the course of the three albums, The English Beat achieved great success in their home country, charting several singles into the top 10. In addition to their UK success, in America the band found a solid base of young fans eager to dance to the their hypnotic rhythms. Success enabled Dave to act on the world’s problems. The band donated all the profits from the single version of "Stand Down Margaret" to the Committee for Nuclear Disarmament. They donated their music to causes including the anti-nuclear benefit album "Life in The European Theatre", "The World of Music and Dance" album focusing on indigenous people's art, and lent their voice to anthemic song of freedom "Free Nelson Mandela", to name but a few.

The English Beat disbanded in 1983 after their third album, "Special Beat Service". Then Dave and The English Beat’s Ranking Roger recruited Stoker (drums) and Mickey Billingham (keyboards) of Dexy's Midnight Runners, Horace Panter (bass) of The Specials, and former Clash guitarist Mick Jones to form General Public. Their first album, "...All The Rage", met with fantastic success, charting high in the U.S., U.K. and even winning the band a coveted Juno award in Canada for Best New Artist in 1984.

After the fantastic success of "...All The Rage", the band spent two years writing and recording their follow-up, "Hand to Mouth". The album was a critical and fan favorite, and spawned two hit singles, "Too Much or Nothing" and "Come Again".

After the second General Public Album, Dave and Roger went different directions. Dave went on to produce the soundtrack and record the title track for the John Hughes film "She's Having a Baby". After that he recorded his first solo record, "No Warning".

After his solo album, Dave decided to use his notoriety for good, and pursued a full-time position saving the planet at a job with Greenpeace. This didn't mean a break from music, as he stepped inside the mixing booth to produce the Greenpeace album "Alternative NRG". What made this album ground breaking was not just the roster of rock luminaries who Dave convinced to perform on it, including REM, U2, UB40, Annie Lennox, Sonic Youth and more, but the fact that it was recorded in 14 separate venues across America using a recording truck powered exclusively by solar power.

Dave teamed up with old friends to reform General Public and released their third album, "Rub It Better", in 1995. The album provided yet another hot single for the duo of Dave and Roger, with their infectious reggae remake of an old Staples Singers song "I'll Take You There" climbing the singles charts and anchoring the soundtrack of the box office smash hit "Threesome".

Dave continues to tour across the States, Canada, the UK and beyond for two reasons: first, he loves to play music, period. Second, his job here on Earth is to bring a message of love, unity and a steady, rhythmic groove of danceable songs with a message to the masses. To the young bands coming up he's the elder statesman of ska. He's now repeatedly referred to in the press as a "legacy artist" and an "icon".

Dave is currently entering a musical renaissance and is planning on going into the studio to lay down two new albums. Dave continues to tour as The English Beat with an amazing all-star ska band playing the hits of The English Beat, General Public, and his new songs. New tunes such as "The Love You Give Lasts Forever", "How Can You Stand There" and "Said We Would Never Die" are quickly becoming fan favorites and will be released in 2010.

"I have plans to record this year," Dave explains. "Some great new demos are done, and now I'm just figuring out how to put the recording and touring schedule together."

Tickets are $20 in advance, $23 at the door. Doors open at 7:30 pm and showtime is 8:00.

SHOWTIME: 8:00 PM, PRICE: $20 Advance, $23 Door. BUY TICKETS NOW

http://www.myspace.com/officialbeatspace

9/09 : Adventure Galley with Sea Bell

SHOWTIME: 8:00 PM, PRICE: FREE!.

9/09 : Board of Directors Meeting

Meets at Growers Market Building, 525 Willamette St., upstairs.

SHOWTIME: 6:00 PM, PRICE: Free & open to public.

9/10 : Ramana Vieira

On Friday, September 10, the CCPA and KRVM proudly welcome Ramana Vieira to the WOW Hall for a seated show.

Ramana Vieira sings with such a wide range of emotions one cannot help but be mesmerized by images of “old world” Portugal that emerge from the depths of her soul. Her extraordinary gift of bringing this 15th century style into modern times is her unique trademark. Often referred to as the “New Voice of Portuguese World Music,” this powerful vocalist is making her mark as one of the premier contemporary Fado artists.

According to the Portuguese, Fado is a melancholy and often-mournful music similar to the American blues as it tells stories of heartache and disappointment. The essence of the poetry is the quality of “saudade,” a word that is difficult to translate as it expresses a myriad of feelings.

Ramana’s personal relationship to Fado music lies deep in her family history, as her grandfather was a famous musician and composer from Madeira Island, Portugal. Born in San Leandro, California to Portuguese immigrants, Ramana was fortunate to be exposed to the voices of Portugal’s past at a young age.

“During my childhood, I sang with my mother to Amália Rodgrigues and other fabulous fadistas that were part of her special record collection,” says Ramana.

Her mother quickly observed her daughter’s gift for music and by the age of ten she bought a piano so that Ramana could study classical music. Her passion for music continued as she matured and eventually she attended The American Conservatory Theatre where she did her vocal training with Faith Winthrop, San Francisco's grande dame of song and one of the most respected singers and vocal coaches on the scene today. An unexpected journey to Portugal gave her the opportunity to perform with the local Fado singers and musicians -- bringing the house to it’s feet with her authentic, yet individual style.

Called a “rising star in World Music” by the San Francisco Examiner, Ramana has solidified her place as an artist who understands the tradition of Fado singing and continues to creatively construct a path into the future by combining new musical textures and original compositions. Many of the songs on her recordings are inspired by Ramana’s main influence, Amália Rodrigues, known as the "Rainha do Fado" ("Queen of Fado") and who is attributed to popularizing the Fado worldwide. According to Ramana, “nobody else is doing what we are doing with Fado. Take the feel and groove of Shakira and the melodic textures of Dulce Pontes and that is how I would describe our music.”

Some of the highlights of Ramana's performance career include: opening for Grammy nominated fadista Mariza; performing her original song “Unido Para Amar” for the 2006 Winter Olympics video montage; making her international debut with RPT TV Portuguese network; and chosen to sing for the Grammy’s 50th Awards special Music Cares benefit to honor Aretha Franklin. Her two prior recordings, “Despi A Alma (I Undressed My Soul)” and “Sem Ti” helped her to gain recognition, win awards, and appear on the cover of “Mundo Portuguese” Magazine.

Ramana’s truly magical spirit comes alive in her newest release on the Pacific Coast Jazz label, “Lágrimas De Rainha (Tears Of A Queen).” The emotional concept of “Lágrimas De Rainha” paints sonic pictures that support Ramana’s desire to invent a fresh Fado sound blooming from the ground of her own family roots and features an outstanding group of musicians, lyricists and arrangers such as Marcie Brown (cello), Jeffrey Luiz (classic and electric guitars), Stephen La Porta (drums and percussion), Alberto Ramirez (electric bass) and special guests Helder Carvallheira (guitarra or Portuguese guitar), Didier Bouvet (guitar) and Golden Reel Award winning film composer and arranger, Robert Randles (“The English Patient”, “The Talented Mr. Ripley” and “Amadeus”).

Ramana sincerely believes that her progressive and unconventional style of juxtaposing different instrumental layers and nuances will open new doors for Fado music while continuing to maintain the integrity of a time-honored tradition. With her incredible artistry and devotion for Fado music there is no doubt this bright-eyed beauty will accomplish her dream.

Tickets are $13 in advance, $15 at the door and $20 for front-of-house reserved seats. Doors open at 7:00 pm and showtime is 8:00.

SHOWTIME: 8:00 PM, PRICE: $13 Advance, $15 Door, $20 Reserved Seating. BUY TICKETS NOW

http://www.ramanavieira.net

9/11 : The Walkmen with The Helio Sequence

On Saturday, September 11, University of Oregon Campus Radio 88.1 FM KWVA welcomes The Walkmen with special guests The Helio Sequence.

“[The Walkmen's] music has remained steady as their popularity's swelled,” states GQ, “now it feels like their moment: They've just signed to hot-handed label Fat Possum with what may be their best album to date.”

The Walkmen are on a nationwide tour in support of Lisbon, their highly anticipated debut for Fat Possum Records, which is due to be released on September 14. Lisbon follows 2008's You & Me, which landed on numerous year-end “best of” lists including NPR, Pitchfork, Stereogum, Time Out NYC, and many others. You & Me received five stars from The Guardian who described the album as, “intimate, intense and beautiful,” while Pitchfork called it “the sound they've reached for since the beginning.” The tour will include stops in New York, Los Angeles, Philadelphia and Eugene.

Lisbon was recorded over a two-year period in warehouses on Girard Ave. in Philadelphia and on the Gowanus Canal in Brooklyn. A few songs that helped establish the record's tone were written during several inspiring and successful trips to Lisbon, Portugal. The 11 songs on Lisbon were carved out of 29 songs that the band recorded over the course of ten months beginning in August 2009. You & Me engineer Chris Zane (Passion Pit, Les Savy Fav, Tokyo Police Club) worked with the band from August to February, and then in March of 2010 the band traveled south to Dallas to finish the album with John Congleton (St. Vincent, Explosions in the Sky). Featuring the band's signature vintage instrument-sound, Lisbon brings a raw, fiery rock 'n' roll spirit to the complexities of the You & Me songwriting.

Lisbon will showcase, “a bunch of fast rockers and big bashers, and a couple great oddballs,” says front man Hamilton Leithauser.

The Walkmen broke through in 2002 with their debut album Everyone Who Pretended to Like Me is Gone. 2004's Bows & Arrows featured indie rock anthem “The Rat” which Pitchfork recently named the #20 song of the decade. In 2006 the band recorded a song-by-song cover of Harry Nilsson and John Lennon's 1974 classic Pussy Cats as a farewell to their Harlem studio space Marcata.

The Walkmen grew up playing together in various bands since the fifth grade including New York's Jonathan Fire*Eater and Boston's The Recoys.

THE HELIO SEQUENCE

Following two epic, self-produced albums on Portland’s Cavity Search, The Helio Sequence released their Sub Pop debut, Love and Distance, in 2004. Brandon Summers and best friend Benjamin Weikel then went on to record their most dynamic, extraordinary work to date, 2008’s Keep Your Eyes Ahead.

The Helio Sequence marries layered keyboards and impossibly big guitars with crisp songwriting and Brandon’s serene, self-assured vocal delivery. One listen to Keep Your Eyes Ahead, which was self-produced by the duo and then mastered by Greg Calbi (Iron and Wine, Interpol, and Paul Simon’s Graceland), confirms The Helio Sequence teem with an energy and a range that continues to defy narrow categorization. Unapologetic pop and folk meld seamlessly to create songs that are epic and polished.

The Helio Sequence toured with the British band Keane through the U.S. and in June, 2010 they were Keane's support act in several gigs through Great Britain.

Tickets are $13 in advance, $15 at the door. Doors open at 8:00 pm and showtime is 9:00.

SHOWTIME: 9:00 PM, PRICE: $13 Advance, $15 Door. BUY TICKETS NOW

http://www.myspace.com/thewalkmen http://www.myspace.com/theheliosequence

9/12 : Trace Bundy with Logan Martin

On Sunday, September 12, the CCPA and KRVM welcome Trace Bundy to the WOW Hall along with special guests Logan Martin.

Trace Bundy must be seen, not just heard. His music is poetry in motion, using harmonics, looping, multiple capos, and his unique banter and stage presence to deliver an unforgettable live concert experience. Listening to his intricate arrangements is one thing, but seeing the fan-dubbed "Acoustic Ninja" play live confounds even the most accomplished music lovers as to how one person can do all that with just two hands and ten fingers.

Trace has independently sold over 58,000 albums on his record label, Honest Ninja Music, and regularly plays sellout shows with standing ovations at venues across the USA and around the world (16 countries and counting). Video clips circulate virally at astonishing speed, with over 9,500,000 YouTube views to date.

Trace was named "Most Promising New Talent" of 2008 by Acoustic Guitar Magazine, as well as winning third place in the magazine's "Best Fingerstyle Guitarist" category the same year. Last summer, he performed at Colorado's Red Rocks Amphitheatre in front of a crowd of over 7,000 people as part of The World's Largest Music Lesson. Over the past couple of years, Trace has shared the stage with Neko Case, Brandi Carlile, Judy Collins, David Knopfler (Dire Straits), Bill Nershi (String Cheese), Laurence Juber (Paul McCartney & Wings), David Wilcox, Chris Hillman (The Byrds), Stanley Jordan, and MOFRO, among others.

Dave Kirby from the Boulder Weekly says, "Possessing a staggering acoustic technique, on both right and left sides, Bundy has made his reputation as a next generation solo guitarist of serious repute."

Audiocast Magazine from Austin, TX agrees: "Bundy's live show is without a doubt an event that needs to be witnessed rather than told about. With such a jaw-dropping performance, Bundy's live concert is a slap in the face that would leave a palm print on the memory of everyone in the audience."

Take this opportunity to check him out in a small, intimate venue and you'll agree that Trace Bundy must be seen, not just heard.

Tickets are $10 in advance, $12 at the door. Doors open at 7:00 pm and showtime is 8:00.

SHOWTIME: 8:00 PM, PRICE: $10 Advance, $12 Door. BUY TICKETS NOW

http://www.tracebundy.com http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N9to1auUNTk

9/14 : Volunteer Orientation

SHOWTIME: 6:30 PM, PRICE: .

9/15 : Six Week African Dance Intensive Series with Alseny Yansane

Every Wednesday beginning Sept. 15 and running through Oct. 20, Alseny Yansane will offer an African Dance Intensive from 7:00-8:30 pm at the WOW Hall.

Alseny Yansane, dynamic teacher and fourteen year performing artist with Ballets Africains, is offering an intensive dance class focused on the beautiful and powerful dances from Guinea. Come share the joy and passion of West Africa culture through music and dance.

This class will help students better understand how the music and the dance go together so that they can find and dance on the beat correctly, recognize and respond to all of the various musical signals, create smooth transitions between dance steps, have more confidence to improvise and add accents to movements in solo circles. You will ease through rapid moves and regular tempo movements while increasing strength, stamina, flexibility and positive muscle memory.

We encourage everyone of all levels to attend because this is going to be a fabulous class with very positive dance outcomes for those who take it. Additionally, there is an opportunity to perform with authentic, West African artists in a “Creating Community” performance on Saturday, October 23, at Agate Hall.

Alseny has such amazing strength, stamina and power that he just embodies this dance perfectly and not only inspires students to push themselves and become better, stronger dancers, but is able to give concrete techniques to help dancers reach their peak potential. This six week intensive is a pre-registered, one and a half hour series for only $90 per person. Live drumming!

For more information contact Andrea DiPalma: wontanaraproductions@gmail.com , 541.232.5471.

Ongoing dance classes are held on Saturdays from 11:00 am to 12:30 pm at the WOW Hall. The cost is $15 and drop-ins are always welcome.

SHOWTIME: 7:00-8:30 PM, PRICE: $90.

http://www.wontanaraproductions.com/

9/17 : Endr Won CD Release Party with Undermind & KI, Mackdub, DZO, The Kid Espi, Lomo & Asol and BreakDown Dance Co.

On Friday, September 17, Endr Won is hosting a free CD Release Party at the WOW Hall with special guests Undermind & KI, Mackdub, DZO, The Kid Espi, Lomo & Asol and BreakDown Dance Co.

Endr Won is a Eugene hip-hop emcee and he’s so proud of his new E.P. that he wants all of you to come celebrate at his CD Release Party.

Raised in between Goleta, California and Eugene, Endr has only begun to make a name for himself in today’s music industry. Before having an album or even a mixtape out, Endr Won has performed with the likes of Twista, The Game, E-40, Mike Jones, Bone Thugs 'N' Harmony, Chamillionaire, Paul Wall, The Cunninlinguists, Mac Lethal, Scarb and Luckyiam of the Living Legends, Greyskull, World Battle Rap Champ, Illmaculate and Sandpeople, UFC Hall of Famer, Randy Couture and many more.

With the online release of his self titled debut E.P. available world wide in August 2010 and the official record release in September, Endr Won is breaking the norm of hip-hop with raw and serious lyrics and an in your face rhyme style that would make any radio rapper feel incompetent in comparison. Hell bent on putting the Northwest music scene on the map, Endr is booking shows far and wide, big and small.

Feel free to look around, play the music, buy the album, support the movement, drop a comment, or send a message directly with your thoughts. Either way, this rap game has been in desperate need of a new voice... and Endr Won is coming up quickly to be heard.

Admission is FREE! Doors open at 7:00 pm and showtime is 8:00.

SHOWTIME: 8:00 PM, PRICE: FREE!!!.

http://www.myspace.com/whoisendrwon

9/18 : Richie Spice, Snaccha, Medium Troy

This show moved from Sunday to Saturday

On Saturday, September 18, the CCPA and KRVM’s Zion Train proudly welcome Richie Spice back to the WOW Hall along with special guest Snaccha and Eugene's own Medium Troy.

Richie Spice is touring the U.S. after a recent five week tour of Europe. Richie and his crew also recently finished touring Australia, and they are now one year into a two year plan to tour the entire Caribbean. They have a lot of new singles and combinations out, including a new CD out this summer.

In the Old Testament’s Book of Judges, Gideon led Israel to victory over the Midianites, who dwelled in the southeastern part of Palestine, with a small army equipped with only trumpets, lit torches and jars to conceal the torches’ flames. Following Gideon’s instructions, his three hundred soldiers blew their trumpets and smashed their jars as they shouted “a sword for the Lord, a sword for Gideon”. With that, the tens of thousands of Midianite troops fled in fear.

Armed with just a microphone, one-drop rhythms and purifying lyrical flames, singer Richie Spice is the Gideon of contemporary reggae. The publicly declared “prince of fire” uses culturally uplifting, spiritually fortified words to defeat the negative content that informs much of popular (Jamaican) music. Fittingly, Gideon Boot is the title track of Spice’s fourth album. Recorded over the timeless “Johnny Too Bad” rhythm (taken from The Slickers 1970s hit of the same name, popularized in the film The Harder They Come) the song details Spice’s strategic plan. “I need a Gideon boot and a khaki suit to stand out inna Babylon and defend the truth/ I got a strong reggae beat with a mic in my hand fe lead out de youth dem outta destruction and let de people know right from wrong.”

Just like the singer’s previous albums Universal, Spice In Your Life and In The Streets to Africa, Gideon Boot contains inspiring messages specifically aimed at empowering vulnerable youth. Spice’s flawless vocals effortlessly scale the high notes then smoothly segue into scatted improvisations as he weaves intricate, evocative melodies throughout the 15-track set.

Included is the Jamaican hit “The Plane Land” which details the frustration that oftentimes accompanies post 9/11 travel. “Saddle up myself fe take interrogation…tek off mi shoes, tek off mi tam, if they ever find you with a spliff yu gone another land.”

Since 2004, when his apocalyptic single “Earth A Run Red” became the year’s most popular reggae song, Richie Spice has performed throughout the world, insuring that cultural roots reggae continues as a thriving, evolving musical genre.

Born Richell Bonner in the Kingston, Jamaica suburb of St. Andrew, Richie Spice hails from a musical family that includes his older brother Pliers (from the deejay/singer duo Chaka Demus and Pliers of “Murder She Wrote” fame), singer Spanner Banner and deejay Snatcher Dogg.

Richie Spice has become the recipient of numerous awards and accolades, including being voted the Male Singer/Singjay of the Year at Jamaica’s IRIE FM Awards in 2007. His 2004 album Spice in Your Life was listed among the year’s best reggae releases by the New York Times; In the Streets To Africa reached number six on the Billboard Reggae chart and one of the album’s biggest hits “Youth Dem Cold” ranked at number 29 on Vibe Magazine’s Best 44 songs of 2007.

Tickets are $20 in advance, $25 at the door. Doors open at 9:00 pm and showtime is 10:00.

SHOWTIME: 10:00 PM, PRICE: $20 Advance, $25 Door. BUY TICKETS NOW

www.myspace.com/inthestreetstoafrica

9/21 : Kina Grannis with Ry Cuming and Imaginary Friend

On Tuesday, September 21, the CCPA and KRVM welcome Kina Grannis along with special guests Ry Cuming and Imaginary Friend.

Kina Grannis is on a fall headlining tour of the U.S. on the heels of a sold-out headlining U.S. tour this Spring that included a Lilith Fair date on July 16th in St. Louis, MO! Known for her sweet voice and beautiful melodies, Grannis has sung her way into hearts across the country. In addition to her successful spring tour, she made her National TV debut with a live performance on CBS The Early Show on June 19. Kina was noted by both the New York Times and WNYC Soundcheck for being one of the top Asian-Americans (she is half-Japanese) making inroads in the pop music world thanks to her incredible following on YouTube -- where her channel has more than 189,000 subscribers and more than 43 million total views.

Kina Grannis is a talented multiethnic 24-year-old from Mission Viejo, California. At age 15 she found her love for the guitar and has been creating sweet melodic pop songs ever since. In 2007, after self-releasing three EPs in college, Grannis entered herself into the Doritos Crash The Super Bowl Contest with a music video for her song “Message From Your Heart”. She eventually won the contest and subsequently had her video air for the 97 million Super Bowl viewers. Kina quickly built a fan base, now in the millions, and in February 2010 self-released her debut full-length album Stairwells. The album debuted on the Billboard 200, was #5 on the Billboard Top Internet Albums chart and #2 on Billboard's Heatseekers Chart.

Grannis will launch her fall headlining tour of the U.S. this September along with a second single, “In Your Arms”, a follow-up to the first single off her debut album, “Valentine”, whose video has been viewed 2.5 million times on YouTube. Her songs have been heard on television shows such as ABC’s General Hospital and MTV’s College Life.

Kina's music is both sweet and melancholy, but always filled with hope.

This July Kina played at Lilith Fair in St. Louis alongside Ingrid Michaelson, Mary J Blige, Metric, Marié Digby and Sarah McLachlan.

“It was something I remember hearing about on the radio in middle school and thinking it was probably the coolest show ever,” writes Kina in her blog. “This summer, 11 years after the last Lilith Fair, it was revived, and somehow I was lucky enough to be a part of it. It wasn’t until minutes before we sat down at the press conference (picture above) that everything kind of sank in. I had been excited for Lilith for a while, but I think I had forgotten just how much of an impact Sarah McLachlan had had on me. I found her at a time when I was just discovering how powerful music was… I remember when I was in high school laying in my bed with my candles burning and listening to her album all the way through (much like how I would sit in a dark closet in middle school and listen to K’s Choice for hours…). I guess I’ve always just connected to music on a very emotional (or creepy) level.”

Born on Woodford Island in the far-north coast of Australia and growing up in the coastal town of Angourie, Ry Cuming was a bleach-blond kid who spent his days on the beach and in the water. Cuming's music has garnered him two Australian Dolphin Awards for Best Pop Song and Best New Artist, placements on NBC's Extra and MTV's Laguna Beach: The Real Orange County, a spotlight in Vogue, and a musical appearance alongside Maroon 5 and Jimmy Buffett in the movie Hoot -- all before the release of his self-titled debut album.

The 11 songs on eponymously titled Ry Cuming move from the driving, lust-fueled opener “Tearing Me Apart”, to gorgeous and hushed (“Home”) to grimy and rocking (“Chemistry”). It featuring shout-it-from-the-rooftops choruses (“Meaning of It All”), vulnerable breakdowns (“Heartbreak”), and angelic, tumbling falsetto melodies (“Is This Love”). Ry hooked up with producer John Alagia (John Mayer, Jason Mraz) to produce his debut.

As a singer-songwriter-guitarist, Ry carries the late Jeff Buckley's torch well -- from the intimate, finger-picked acoustic guitar and legato strings of “Always Remember Me” (featuring Sara Bareilles, singer of the massive 2007 hit, “Love Song”) to the anthemic and swirling, long-distance heartbreak of “City of Lights”.

Lyrically, Ry is quite the romantic.

“Relationships and girls have always been incredibly inspiring for me -- beautiful and heartbreaking and romantic and destructive and breathtaking, and all these things at once,” he says. “My favorite poet is probably Pablo Neruda. The way he talks about anything -- from the ocean to relationships -- is incredibly romantic. So I guess I have a running relationship with romance in general.”

While each hook-filled song on Ry Cuming burrows its way into your consciousness, Cuming didn't want to make commercial viability the number-one priority in choosing which songs would make it to the final track listing.

“It really just came down to sticking to my absolute favorite songs that meant the most to me,” Ry says. “When I wrote them, I loved them, and my love for them didn't go away. I love being an artist and touring, and every time I play those songs live, I feel captivated by being in that moment.” SHOWTIME: 8:00 PM, PRICE: $13 Advance, $15 Door. BUY TICKETS NOW

http://www.kinagrannis.com http://www.myspace.com/kinagrannis

9/24 : Les Nubians

On Friday, September 24, the CCPA and KRVM proudly welcome Les Nubians to the WOW Hall.

Les Nubians are celebrating the September 5 release of their third album, Nü Revolution.

Grammy nominated international recording artists Les Nubians have intrigued audiences for over a decade with their inventive and glamorous Afropean style. This distinctive sound embodies the timeless vibrations of Miriam Makeba, Ella Fitzgerald, Doudou N'diaye Rose, Fela Kuti, Edith Piaf, The Fugees and Soul II Soul.

Recognized for their colorful auras, Les Nubians' vogue is a fusion of Funkin' Fashion and Modern Amazon. Adoring fans pay tribute to the French/Cameroonian sister duo for their continuous flow of jazzy nuances, hard hitting drum ‘n' bass lines, harmonious melodies, conscious proclamations and humanitarian endeavors. Their hit single “Makeda” propelled their 1999 U.S. debut album to the top of the charts making Princesses Nubiennes the most successful French-language album in decades!

With two Soul Train Lady of Soul Awards nominations, Les Nubians were honored with the award for Best New Artist, Group or Duo in 1999. These dynamic entrepreneurs have also been nominated for two NAACP Image Awards.

The second Les Nubians release, 2005’s Echos: Nubian Voyager, launched Hélène and Célia Faussart on a five year mission of of international discovery. "Everywhere we go, we look for music that speaks of culture: people, history, stories,” say the sisters. “Our journeys have given us an opportunity to cross paths with many beautiful souls.”

Now Les Nubians and ready to set sail on a new odyssey in support of Nü Revolution.

Tickets are $15 in advance, $18 at the door. Doors open at 8:00 pm and showtime is 9:00.

SHOWTIME: 9:00 PM, PRICE: $15 Advance, $18 Door . BUY TICKETS NOW

http://www.lesnubians.com http://www.myspace.com/lesnubians

9/25 : An Evening with Thomas Mapfumo & the Blacks Unlimited

On Saturday, September 25, the CCPA and KRVM welcome An Evening with Thomas Mapfumo and the Blacks Unlimited.

Thomas Mapfumo and The Blacks Unlimited are a band influenced by traditional music from Zimbabwe (which is based on an instrument called the mbira, or thumb piano) and modern improvisational music. The musician became known as "The Lion of Zimbabwe" and "Mukanya" for his immense popularity and for the political influence he wields through his music, including his sharp criticism of the government of President Robert Mugabe. He both created and made popular Chimurenga music and his slow-moving style and distinctive voice is instantly recognizable to Zimbabweans.

"Our music speaks for the people. We are influenced by the people who are struggling at home,” declares Mapfumo. “Their voices have been silenced. Someone has got to talk.”

Thomas Tafirenyika Mapfumo was born in 1945, when Zimbabwe was a British colony called Rhodesia. He lived a traditional, rural Shona lifestyle until the age of ten, when his family moved to the Harare township of Mbare. He joined his first band as a singer at the age of 16. From then on he was always in one band or another, sometimes doing odd jobs on the side as well, including chicken farming. Hence the name of his 1972 band, the Hallelujah Chicken Run Band. He played mostly covers of American rock and soul tunes, such as Otis Redding or Elvis Presley, until he was in the Hallelujah Chicken Run Band. There he introduced the innovation of adapting traditional Shona music to modern rock instrumentation. He worked with others to transcribe the sounds of the chief instrument of traditional Shona music, the mbira, to the electric guitar. He also started singing primarily in the Shona language, rather than in English.

Just the fact that he was drawing on the native musical tradition and singing in his native language was a political statement. Rhodesia was ruled by a white minority who derogated the native black population and culture. But more than that, his lyrics became overtly political, supporting the revolution that was developing in the rural areas. He called his new style of music Chimurenga. In Shona it means "struggle", and was the name of a previous revolutionary movement in the late nineteenth century. His songs openly called for the violent overthrow of the government, with lyrics like "Mothers, send your sons to war." But since the white government didn't understand Shona, they didn't realize how radical it was.

Eventually they caught on, though. The climax came with a song called "Hokoyo!", which means "Watch out!" The government banned the record from the state-controlled radio and threw him into a prison camp without charges in 1979. But they couldn't stop his records from being played in discos or on radio they didn't control, like the Voice of Mozambique. Large demonstrations in protest of his arrest and an inability to trump up charges against him forced the government to release him after three months.

Free elections were held in 1980 and a new government was installed. Mapfumo performed at a celebratory concert which also featured Bob Marley. At first, Mapfumo supported the government of President Mugabe. However, that would soon change.

Recorded at Shed Studios Harare by legendary engineer Benny Miller, Mapfumo released the album Corruption in 1989. It criticized Mugabe and his government, with which Mapfumo was becoming more and more disillusioned. Mugabe wasn't happy with Mapfumo, either, and Mapfumo became the target of government harassment. Mapfumo was accused of being involved with a stolen-car ring. Things got uncomfortable enough that Mapfumo moved to Oregon in the late 1990s, where he lives now.

Thomas Mapfumo tours internationally, and still sings and speaks out about the problems of Zimbabwe. He hasn’t played at the WOW Hall since February, 2009, so please take advantage of this rare opportunity to hear and see this history-making musician.

Tickets are $10 in advance, $12 at the door. Doors open at 8:00 pm and showtime is 9:00.

SHOWTIME: 9:00 PM, PRICE: $10 Advance, $12 Door. BUY TICKETS NOW

http://www.myspace.com/thomasmapfumoandtheblacksunlimited http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Mapfumo

9/26 : The Reverend Peyton's Big Damn Band with Larry and his Flask

On Sunday, September 26, the CCPA and KRVM proudly welcome The Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band back to the WOW Hall along with special guest Larry & His Flask.

There aren't a lot of Warped Tour vets who can claim proficiency in the use of washboards, bottleneck slides and five-gallon buckets. Most didn't spend their teens playing along to Charlie Patton and Bukka White albums. And just about none are fronted by a commissioned member of the Honorary Order of Kentucky Colonels. But the Reverend Peyton's Big Damn Band, who appeared for two weeks on the 2009 Warped Tour and will be on the entire 2010 tour, are all that and more. With wild sing-a-longs and flaming washboards, their live shows have been converting skeptics left and right.

Now, with the May 25 release of “The Wages”, the soulful, swinging country-blues trio proves they're more than just a world class live band. Their second album for SideOneDummy Records, it was produced by Paul Mahern (Zero Boys, John Mellencamp) and recorded in the band's Big Damn Tradition: live in the studio with no overdubs on honest-to-goodness analog tape.

Appropriate to our times, “The Wages” is thematically rooted in the blues tradition of hard-bitten reality matched with enduring optimism. There are songs that deal with crystal meth abuse and the disappearance of the American family farm (“In a Holler Over There”), the cost of living (“Everything's Raising”), unrequited love (“Sure Feels Like Rain”) and, of course, murder (“Lick Creek Road”). But the Reverend's brood also celebrates rural life on “Born Bred Corn Fed”, serves up danceable sing-a-longs like “Clap Your Hands”, and offers renewed hope for hard times in “Just Getting By”.

The Big Damn Band is very much a family affair, with the good reverend on finger-style resonator guitar and lead vocals, his wife “Washboard” Breezy Peyton on washboard and vocals, and distant cousin Aaron “Cuz” Persinger on drums and bucket. The band's home base is deep in the hills of Southern Indiana's Brown County, which boasts a population of 14,957. (Or 14,954 when the band's out on the road playing close to 250 gigs a year, including appearances at the Austin City Limits festival and tours with Flogging Molly, Derek Trucks, and Clutch.)

“I grew up in the country, and rural life and rural culture has shaped me and my music,” says Reverend Peyton, who really is a Kentucky Colonel, just like Elvis Presley, Roy Rogers and Tiger Woods. “I have been playing music since I was a little kid. I am pretty sure we are on to something now.”

That combination of authenticity and originality is evident throughout “The Wages”, driven by the trio's big damn vocals and melodies, gutbucket guitar playing, and foot-stomping rhythms, all in service of songs that are honest and moving, devoid of irony or artifice.

“We may be few in numbers, but we sound big,” says Washboard Breezy. “And I think we stand for something big too. Even if sometimes it's just that it is okay to be a regular person.”

Larry And His Flask is made up of six young men who play their hearts out every chance they get! With beginnings in Redmond, Oregon LAHF started playing in late 2003 as a three piece punk rock band and have since evolved into something resembling a six man hillbilly jamboree. Passion and love of life is what powers them. It's never about drugs, money, or fancy things. It's about those perfect moments in a dank, poorly lit, cramped basement, a star lit field or a filthy street corner. Those are the moments that will last forever. With no sign of stopping or even breaking pace it is their every intention to sweat, bleed, travel to the point of exhaustion, and do anything it takes to take the music to the people who need it!

Tickets are $10 in advance, $12 at the door. Doors open at 7:00 pm and showtime is 8:00.

SHOWTIME: 8:00 PM, PRICE: $10 Advance, $12 Door. BUY TICKETS NOW

http://www.bigdamnband.com http://www.myspace.com/therevpeytonsbigdamnband

9/27 : Sarah Harmer with Bahamas

On Monday, September 27, the CCPA and KLCC proudly welcome Sarah Harmer back to the WOW Hall along with special guest Bahamas.

Mesmerizing singer songwriter Sarah Harmer is touring the U.S. with her 4-piece band in support of her release of ‘oh little fire’ (Zoë /Rounder Records), which American Songwriter is calling, "her most powerful recording so far."

Of a recent performance at Canada's Hillside Festival, AOL Spinner wrote that Harmer's, "virtuosity was on display from the opening notes of her loose, exuberant set that proved to be one of the highlights of the festival," adding that she "received a homegrown heroine's welcome from the capacity crowd."

Produced by Harmer and Gavin Brown (Metric), 'oh little fire' showcases a new immediate and direct style of production for Harmer. The eleven track collection of originals is Harmer's first since 2006's lauded 'I'm a Mountain’. She spent much of the last several years away from music, advocating for environmental issues.

Check out "Late Bloomer" from the album below at: http://bit.ly/a4qo5x.

Harmer sings with a "beautiful, precise voice" (New York Times) on upbeat tracks such as "Captive”, but employed a new approach for the album.

"I specifically tried to get out of the pastoral, contemplative end of the spectrum and went for a more direct, aggressive style of production," she says. The result is a lyrically forthright and musically immediate album, with vibrant sounds enveloping Harmer's trademark delicate, enthralling vocals.

The album was recorded in Gavin Brown's studio in an old building in the east end of Toronto. Harmer put the album together piece by piece through the heat of summer and the cold of the Canadian winter. Some parts were recorded with visiting friends on Lake Ontario's Wolfe Island and Neko Case's vocal contribution for the song "Silverado" was captured in a Rochester, NY hotel room while they were on tour together. Metric's Jimmy Shaw provided guitar and vocals on additional songs.

Literally returning from her "wilderness years," Harmer spent much of her time in between albums fighting for the environment, specifically, for a UNESCO World Biosphere in Ontario known as the Niagara Escarpment, which continues to face threats from industrial development. She even spent time touring along the spine of the area, camping out, hiking the Bruce Trail and rock climbing in between performances.

Harmer's last album 'I'm a Mountain' was called "exceptional" by Time Magazine, while the New York Times praised her songwriting as, "lovely but cunning," calling one track "the prettiest song about deception you'll hear all year.”

‘oh little fire” is, sonically, Harmer’s most fully realized album; its layers of textures, from ear-tingling atmospherics to gut kicking power chords, complement the deceptive complexity of her songs. Whether she’s channeling Neil Young through Teenage Fanclub on the likes of “Late Bloomer” or floating away on a stream of Julie Fader’s backing vocals on the evanescent closer, “It Will Sail”, Harmer is always offering new pathways for the listener to explore. Throughout, her voice, clear and precisely emotive, is the beacon that guides you on your way.

Afie Jurvanen, who performs as Bahamas, recorded his debut, Pink Strat, in a cabin in rural Ontario in the winter of 2008 with his roommate at the time, Robbie Lackritz (Jamie Lidell, Feist). Many of the songs were saved up over a period of five years of touring as part of Jason Collett's band, and then Feist's band.

Similar to an old John Hammond or JJ Cale recording, the production is straightforward, simple, and full of character -- highlighting the storytelling and quaintness of the performances. Though the arrangements are sparse, Jurvanen plays bass, drums, piano, various percussion, organ, slide, acoustic, and nylon string guitars, and his friends from Zeus, The Great Lake Swimmers, and Feist also join him on a few of the tracks.

Since the release of Pink Strat in summer 2009, Bahamas has performed with Elvis Costello, Sam Roberts, the Weakerthans, the Constantines, Amy Millan and most recently finished touring with Wilco. He also received his first Juno nomination for Roots Album of the Year.

Tickets are $15 in advance, $18 at the door. Doors open at 7:00 pm and showtime is 8:00.

SHOWTIME: 8:00 PM, PRICE: $15 Advance, $18 Door . BUY TICKETS NOW

http://www.sarahharmer.com http://bit.ly/a4qo5x

9/30 : EOTO, MiMOSA, MartyParty

The West Coast is about to experience its first bass driven earthquake as three of the nation's top live electro, dubstep, glitch and house music producers join together for their first combined tour. The 11-day circuit will kick off this September in San Diego and will make its way up the coast featuring electronica artists EOTO, MiMOSA and MartyParty. Listeners can expect to be transported into another space and time with the sound and fury of the most respected dance music produced live on the scene today.

University of Oregon Campus Radio 88.1 FM KWVA will welcome EOTO, MiMOSA and MartyParty to the WOW Hall on Thursday, September 30.

Electronica music does not have humble roots. Since its inception, the driving beats have moved bodies with a tribal-like abandon; inspiring colorful dance parties with almost a trancelike effect. New technologies have given birth to entire genres of musical subcultures -- though none have seen such significant growth as the DubStep and Glitch categories are experiencing today. Built on unusual time signatures, clipped segments of samples and occasional vocals, the genre favors dark, experimental themes laced with break beats and heavy bass.

Embracing cutting edge techniques combined with live on the spot looping, EOTO is pioneering a whole new approach to this emerging genre of dance music. The duo creates samples in real time by playing; cutting and mixing every sound live before the audience. Using nothing prerecorded, they blend an array of live instruments including vocals, keyboards, bass, guitar, hand drums and a full drum kit as they twist and loop each sound into music that would easily suit a soundtrack for a sci-fi movie. With leagues of sold-out theater performances in 2009 and a seemingly endless tour, EOTO fine-tunes their approach and skill with each and every show, leaving the next performance more unique then the last.

MiMOSA has made a distinct mark on the West Coast sound in the past two years and has become one of the top west coast exports. This young producer's energy whilst performing is magnetic; the word has spread fast and MiMOSA has recently shared the stage with the likes Benga, Skream, Rusko, Datsik, Glitch Mob, Pretty Lights, Bassnectar and Flying Lotus -- playing shows across the US and festivals like Coachella, Symbiosis Gathering, Burning Man and Decibel Festival. Fans know MiMOSA as someone who brings a good-time energy that is as fierce as it is friendly, taking them on journeys through urban chaos and ecstasy.

Since 2007 MartyParty has produced sets of original music that range from melodic instrumental hip hop to bassline oriented dubstep. MartyParty has started a movement back towards the power of the melody and the harmony in electronic composition. Song writing has always been Marty's passion instead of the typical beat style dj production. The music is a hybrid of electronic music and hip hop that together form a totally new flavor of urban beat with the hypnotic elements of electronic music and hard-hitting bass. The MartyParty live performance is an intense journey that pulls together the MartyParty songs overlaid with urban samples triggered live. The result is a true “crunky” and "hyphy" experience like no other.

Tickets are $18 in advance, $20 at the door. Doors open at 8:00 pm and showtime is 9:00.

SHOWTIME: 9:00 PM, PRICE: $18 Advance, $20 Door. BUY TICKETS NOW

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LGZJ4AGWJIA&feature=player_embedded http://www.myspace.com/eotomusic

10/01 : James McMurtry with Jonny Burke

On Friday, October 1, KRVM welcomes James McMurtry back to the WOW Hall with special guest Jonny Burke.

James McMurtry is hitting the road again. He and the Heartless Bastards (his backing band) last toured through here in February.

Napster did a review of one of James’ gigs on that tour.

“Last Thursday night was a good night in L.A.— at least for those lucky enough to squeeze into The Mint on Pico Blvd. to see James McMurtry throw down a good hour-and-a-half set of his unique folk-rock-country- (running out of hyphens here) Americana-style story songs. While McMurtry's particular singer-songwriterly ways do defy easy categorization, "incisive" seems to be a good word to describe his precisely observed, elegantly turned narratives, each infused with a dark wit that allows him to show us bitter reality up close and personal without coming off as bitter himself. It's a good trick, and one he pulls off routinely. But then, his literary pedigree suggests that that such skill probably runs in the family.”

James is, of course, the son of Lonesome Dove author Larry McMurtry. His first album, produced by John Mellencamp, was released in 1989. His 2006 album Childish Things and the song “We Can’t make It Here” brought him critical acclaim and won the Americana Music Awards for album and song of the year. McMurtry released his most recent studio album, Just Us kids, in 2008. Last year he released the CD/DVD set Live In Europe.

McMurtry's song "Talking at the Texaco" is featured in Stephen King's latest novel, Under The Dome. The King novel is not the first to mention James and his music (others include James Patterson's Cross, and Emily Griffin's Baby Proof) but this is the first that uses McMurtry's lyrics to set the tone for the entire story.

Check out this excerpt from Stephen King's Under the Dome:

"And she sang, in a small but tuneful voice: 'It's a small town, you know what I mean?' Barbie smiled a little and sang the next line back to her: 'Just a small town, baby, and we all support the team.' It was from an old James McMurtry song that had the previous summer gained a new and mysterious two-month vogue on a couple of western Maine c&w stations. Not WCIK, of course; James McMurtry was not the sort of artist Jesus Radio supported."

Tickets are $15 in advance or at the door. Doors open at 7:00 pm and showtime is 8:00.

SHOWTIME: 8:00 PM, PRICE: $15 Advance, $15 Door. BUY TICKETS NOW

http://www.jamesmcmurtry.com http://www.myspace.com/jamesmcmurtry

10/03 : Flamenco International Presents Travesuras

SHOWTIME: 2:00 PM, PRICE: $15 Advance, $18 Door .

10/07 : Greg Brown

True West presents. Solo, seated show. SHOWTIME: 9:00 PM, PRICE: $28 Advance, $30 Door. BUY TICKETS NOW

http://www.gregbrown.org http://www.redhouserecords.com

10/09 : The Corin Tucker Band with The Golden Bears

Sleater-Kinney front woman Corin Tucker has been working on her first ever solo album at Little Golden Book Studio in Northeast Portland with Seth Lorinczi (The Golden Bears, The Quails), who is handling production and arrangements, as well as playing bass, keys, percussion and Sara Lund (Hungry Ghost, Unwound) on drums.

On October 5th, Corin will unveil the finished product when she drops the still untitled effort via Kill Rock Stars. Details remain at a minimum, but the singer/songwriter previously described the effort as “definitely more of a middle-aged mom record and noted, “I think the goal for me is to write some good stories.”

Corin will support the release with a brief trip down the west coast this October, including a show here in her home town of Eugene.

SHOWTIME: 9:00 PM, PRICE: $12 Advance, $14 Door. BUY TICKETS NOW