Sights on the Steel Wheels
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K k NOVEMBER 2016 K g VOL. 28 #10 H WOWHALL.ORGk 2007 LP as Trent Wagler and the Steel Wheels. Concurrently, they worked day jobs and started fami- lies. Finally, they took the leap of faith, throwing their lots together as The Steel Wheels, a band name redolent of steam-powered railroad trains, America’s industrial age and the buggies of their Mennonite forebears. Their initial offering as a com- mitted unit, 2010’s Red Wing, put the newly minted fulltime band on the map at the dawn of the folk- music renaissance; the LP spent 13 weeks on the Americana Music Association’s Top 40 chart, while TRAIN YOUR the track “Nothing You Can’t Lose” was named Best Country Song at the Independent Music SIGHTS ON THE STEEL WHEELS Awards. On Sunday, December 4, the netic revival. timely songs with timeless sounds. Dickel and Brubaker were college Leave Some Things Behind Community Center for the “These men don’t rely on cli- The four band members — lead students in Harrisonburg, Virginia. stands as the culmination of five Performing Arts and KRVM’s chés, but they do have their feet singer/guitarist/banjo player Trent “We met at Eastern Mennonite years of maturation and intensive Miles of Bluegrass proudly wel- steady in the firmament of sophis- Wagler, standup bass player Brian University,” Wagler recalls. “One roadwork. The new work turns on come back The Steel Wheels. ticated folk music,” states No Dickel, fiddler Eric Brubaker and of the unique things about our a concept that dates back to Homer The Steel Wheels have captured Depression. “Woody Guthrie and mandolin player Jay Lapp — are band is that all four of us grew up and the Old Testament. audiences across the country with Hank Williams would be proud of joined on various tracks by roots in Mennonite families — and I “A theme emerged, which I’d their heady brew of original soulful their word play, their ambitious music luminary Tim O’Brien, hesitate to even use the word been somewhat conscious of as I mountain music and their deep colorful language in their story... Nashville-based singer/songwriter because many people who don’t was writing — the Exodus theme,” commitment to roots and commu- The Steel Wheels should be enjoyed Sarah Siskind (who co-wrote two have much experience with Wagler points out. “I don’t want nity. Based in the Blue Ridge because they sound like no one else songs and sang on another), drum- Mennonites see that as Amish, but to overstate the biblical aspect, but Mountains of Virginia, this dynam- in roots music.” mer Travis Whitmore and that’s not accurate.” those biblical metaphors are big ic four-piece string band marries The group’s most recent album, Hammond B3 player Ethan After making an album together metaphors in our lives.” old-time musical traditions with 2015’s Leave Some Things Behind, Ballinger. under Wagler’s name, they contin- Tickets are $15 in advance, $18 their own innovative sound and is a deeply human, emotionally The band’s genesis actually ued to play informally for the next at the door. Doors open at 6:30 lifestyle, generating a truly mag- authentic work that interweaves dates back to 2004, when Wagler, half decade, while also recording a pm and showtime is 7:00. H k INSIDE THIS ISSUE THROUGH THE ROOTS P2 FLAMINGOSIS P2 WITCHES BALL P3 BARON VON SPIRIT P4 CLASSIXX P4 WATSKY P4 YELAWOLF P5 SHANE MAUSS P5 STEEP RAVINE P6 FIRST LOUIS THE CHILD P6 CAR SEAT HEADREST P6 STOP FOR MC CHRIS P7 GABE DIXON & DAVID RYAN HARRIS P7 TU, YO, Y MI ARTÉ P7 AESOP PAID ROCK U.S. Postage U.S. Permit No. 303 No. Permit On Friday, November 25, the CCPA serve as opener. There’s also moments of levity though, Eugene, OR 97401 Eugene, Nonprofit Organization and University of Oregon Campus Radio The Impossible Kid is Aesop Rock’s as Aesop taps into the funny side of his 88.1 FM KWVA proudly welcome Aesop first album in nearly four years. While persona that he suppressed during the Rock back to he WOW Hall with special all of his dense, metaphorically rich period where being taken as a serious guest Homeboy Sandman. albums have been acutely personal, The lyricist was more of a priority. Like his When Aesop Rock (Ian Bavitz) Impossible Kid finds him the most last solo album, 2012’s Skelethon, Aesop announced dates for his upcoming Hey exposed --with the rapper opening up exercised complete creative control over Kirby Tour, we learned that the tour about depression, regrets and aging — he every aspect of the album, from the pro- starts right here at the WOW Hall in turned 40 on June 5th. duction (which he handled himself, with Eugene. Aesop Rock is touring in sup- Rap’s supposed to be a young man’s instrumental help from Philly’s Grimace port of his 7th studio album, The game, but Aesop’s only been improving Federation) to conceptualizing the cover Impossible Kid, which came out in April as he’s gotten closer to middle age. He’s art by his friend Alex Pardee. and features contributions from Chuck tackling different subject matter, going As you might have guessed, The D, Hanni El Khatib, and Kimya Dawson. deep on topics like depression, his some- Impossible Kid is a reference to Aesop Longtime collaborators Rob Sonic and times rocky relationships with his family, himself, a person who’s spent his life DJ Zone, both of whom helped out with and the turbulent handful of years that doing things that seemed unthinkable The Impossible Kid, will accompany the culminated in Aesop leaving his adopted before he just went and did them. RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED Community Center for the Arts Performing 291 West 8th 97401 OR. Eugene, rapper on the road. Homeboy Sandman, home of San Francisco to live in a barn Tickets are $18 in advance, $22 at the who worked with Aesop Rock earlier this out in the woods, where he recorded the door. Doors open at 8:00 pm and show- year on the Lice 2: Still Buggin’EP, will foundations of The Impossible Kid. time is 9:00. H K k The Community Center for the WOW HALL NOTES Performing Arts is located in the Historic Woodmen of the World Hall (W.O.W. Hall), 291 W 8th, Eugene, Or 97401, (541)687-2746, [email protected], www.wowhall.org, Box office hours Mon-Fri Noon-6:00 PM. Printed monthly by Western Oregon Webpress, Circulation 3,800, General Support made possible by a grant from Lane Arts Council with support from City of Eugene Cultural Services Division, Copyright 2016 All rights reserved Notes Staff: Copy Editor & Advertising Representative - Bob Fennessy, Layout & Design - James Bateman CCPA Staff: Program Coordinator - Calyn Kelly, Membership Coordinator & Publicist - Bob Fennessy, Asst Stage Manager - Davis Koier, Office Managers - Ross Shuber, Zac Townsend, Bookkeeper - Melissa Swan, Volunteer Coordinator - Laura Farrelly, House Managers - Sam Harmon, Jaley Osuna Concessions Managers - Angela Lees, Shawn Lynch, Kambra Morris-Mitzner Custodian - Jona Waterstone Volunteer Staff: Zac Townsend, Dan Wathen, Art Gallery Director - Sam Harmon, Poster Distribution - WOW Hall Poster Crew, CCPA Board of Directors: Chair: Aaron Dietrich, Vice Chair: Mike Janes, Treasurer: Jon Silvermoon, Members: Steve Lasky, Jesieh Love, Mysti Rose Frost, Daylon Sloan Revelate was released via online digital outlets and peaked at number three on the iTunes reg- THROUGH THE ROOTS gae charts in the first week of the On Sunday, November 6, the ally added Corrick Watson (lead release. The EP holds six origi- CCPA and KRVM’s Zion Train guitar/vocals) and Budda Foster nal compositions created by a proudly welcome back Through (bassist/keys). group with great potential and The Roots along with special Through the Roots looks for- high expectations. guests The Late Ones, Darenots ward to spreading its positive Not everyone can say they and Valley Green. messages and showcasing its high still roll with someone they met Through the Roots is fresh off energy shows to a growing legion in the first grade; Tim Lubic Jr., a tour with Rebelution and tour- of fans. (guitar/vocal) and Royce Fenske ing the release of its new single Based out of Laie, Hawaii, (drums/vocal) have been wander- “Miss Lovely”. brothers Tui Avei (lead vocals) ing Washington together since San Diego-based reggae/rock and Tau Avei (vocals), along they were seven. Characters col- band Through the Roots was with cousin Josh Brunson lided when they met Riley Austin born in early 2008, when Evan (vocals) are the voices. Rooted (keys/vocal) soon after and Hawkins and Taylor Boatwright in Samoan culture, the familial formed an alliance that would met at a local guitar center. bond between the three members one day become Valley Green. Brady O’Rear rounded out the transcends throughout the By 2011, the four began bring- group’s core. group’s conscious lyrics and ing rocking reggae raps and rec- Through the Roots quickly catchy melodies. ognizing their respect for the moved from the streets and back- In late 2014, The Late Ones roots. Riley, Royce and Tim yard shows to touring and soon recorded their debut EP at Sea started off 2014 with the release hooked up for West Coast and Major Seven Studio in Honolulu, of their album Northwest Rootz. national tours with some of the HI with engineer Noah Cronin Tickets are $12 in advance, reggae/rock genres top headlin- (Sammy J) and producers Lapana $15 at the door. Doors open at ers. The San Diego band eventu- Ieriko and Klandon Fetaui.