JANUARY 2013 WOW HALL NOTES g VOL. 25 #1 ★ WOWHALL.ORG Peter YaRrow, Today On Friday, February 1, the Peter Yarrow, with great love These books add to Peter’s Community Center for the and conviction, has assigned to dedicated efforts to bring folk Performing Arts and KRVM himself a special role in “carrying music back into the mainstream by proudly welcome Peter Yarrow to on” Mary Travers’ and the exposing children to folk music on a the WOW Hall. This is a seated trio’s tradition. Although folk broad scale in their homes, summer show. music has been largely side- camps, churches and synagogues, A Peter Yarrow performance barred for decades, Peter’s own and schools. In turn, the books, today does more than assure a groundbreaking successes might and their free-to-educator songs, memorable evening of music, change that. His million-selling also advance Peter’s central current camaraderie and “Puff’s special illustrated children’s book and CD advocacy — the utilization of the magic” for young and old alike. of Puff, The Magic Dragon has magic of music to help create safe, Peter’s music and songs resonate provided him with a new platform, bully-free school environments. with a history that he and his and created a new path, whereby Twenty-two thousand schools musical compatriots, Mary and folk music might occupy the in America now use the “Don’t Paul, not only helped to write, but limelight once again. Few, if any, Laugh At Me” Program (DLAM) one that has changed and inspired other folk singer/activists have, in of Operation Respect, a nonprofi t millions to continue to keep on recent years, sold a million copies that was founded by Peter and keepin’ on, hold fi rm to principle, of a CD, or anything else for that world-renowned educator Dr. and not be deterred in the face of matter? Charlotte Frank over a decade adversity. A lot that’s atypical Signifi cantly, Peter’s success with ago. Uniquely using music in happens when Peter performs. Puff led to the publishing of four conjunction with well-tested Something special occurs when other children’s books including social-and-emotional development he brings an audience together in his self-penned late-60’s hit, Day curricula, DLAM helps create a song, creating a caring community Is Done, which like Puff reached strong school community that effective in preventing the kind of on Martin Luther King’s historic in a way that only folk singers can. the #1 spot in Publisher’s Weekly. assures children and youth a safe, violence, bullying and harassment marches and at other marches, In the wake of Mary’s passing, Peter also released three children’s welcoming, environment free of that exists elsewhere, but presents festivals and gatherings (many that Peter has properly asked himself, songbook collections: Favorite bullying, ridicule and teasing. a particularly painful problem in he himself has organized) for equal “How can we make sure the legacy Folk Songs, Sleepytime Songs and Beyond the US, DLAM has been that volatile part of the world. rights, peace and justice — and of Peter, Paul & Mary endures?” Let’s Sing Together, each with 12 adopted in countries such as Hong Peter’s songs and words resonate continues to sing music that has Partly, the trio’s continued presence illustrated songs and a CD. Most Kong, Croatia, South Africa and with Peter, Paul & Mary’s entire inspired his life while helping move is assured simply because people’s important, all forty-plus songs most recently Israel where, funded history as well as refl ect his current society towards fulfi llment of its lives have been touched and, in from these books have, at Peter’s by the United States Embassy, the efforts for the common good. hopes and dreams. meaningful ways, shaped by the direction, been made available, program had been translated into More than a famous performer, Tickets are $25 in advance, trio’s music. Remarkably, four free, to all educators, teachers, both Arabic and Jewish and is Peter has become an icon of caring $28 door, and $30 for reserved generations of children have now school counselors, administrators being implemented with the hope who has played for presidents seating (available only at WOW grown up loving PP&M. and others: downloadable at www. that this approach — that uniquely and royalty — someone who has Hall). Doors open at 7:00 pm and In answer to his question, operationrespect.org. features the use of music — will be walked the walk of commitment showtime is 8:00. ★ INSIDE THIS ISSUE The Wood Brothers Get High On Thursday, February 7, the Community Center for the Led ZepAgain P.2 Performing Arts and KLCC proudly welcome back The Wood Regional Yoga Asana Championship P.2 Brothers with special guest Seth Walker. Hot Buttered Rum & Fruition P.3 Just before plucking the opening chords of “Stumbled In” on Arkhum P.3 the band’s upcoming live album, Live Vol. 1 Sky High, Oliver Membership Party Thanks P.4 Wood poses a simple question to the audience: “Anybody going Notes From The Board P.4 to church tomorrow?” he deadpans. El Ten Eleven P.4 While The Wood Brothers might not extol any particular OV presents AU P.5 religious values, this marginally sarcastic comment elicits WOW Awards Ballot P.5 applause, whistles and shouts. As Oliver later confesses, the tune Leroy Bell and his only friends P.6 is more about, “the spiritual benefi ts of a nightclub” than a loftier pursuit, but the atmosphere created at a Wood Brothers gig is Fun With Fermentation P.7 not unlike an old-school revival: there’s a whole lot of sweatin’, Wovenhand P.7 shoutin’, stompin’ and singin’ happening. The band’s fusion of folk, blues, jazz and classic R&B has evolved dramatically in its existence, and there’s no clearer proof than the in-the-moment magic of this matched set of live albums, which will be released several months apart. Since forming roughly eight years ago, the brothers Wood have transformed from a stripped-down, roots-rock-inspired duo with jazz leanings PAID to a rollicking trio capable of holding their own in 10,000-seat U.S. Postage U.S. Permit No. 303 No. Permit arenas. Eugene, OR 97401 Eugene, Nonprofit Organization “The songs were arranged in a certain way so that we could play just the two of us,” guitarist and primary vocalist Oliver chemistry, it took them many years to recognize and acknowledge recalls. “We’ve been playing a lot of these songs for a few years, it. Both men left their childhood home in Colorado after their and we added a drummer as well, so we wanted to put out some respective high school graduations. Oliver’s main gig was of the old music again in its new, different sound and capture fronting the blues/roots band King Johnson, while Chris formed what we’ve been doing the past couple of years live.” instrumental jazz trio Medeski Martin & Wood. Beyond the addition of percussion — and occasional lap As The Wood Brothers, Oliver’s soulful, Van Morrison-meets- steel with Zac Brown band member Clay Cook guesting on Sky Freddie King vocals weave unforgettable melodies on top of his High — the Woods’ songs have the benefi t of time, talent and gritty and nimble slide guitar while Chris’ jazz-inspired double hindsight; Chris and Oliver have been able to tweak the tunes bass pulses underneath the surface, his high lonesome harmonies as much or little as needed. So, in an interesting twist, the live soaring far above the fray. Behind it all, Jano Rix’s drums lend album essentially afforded the band an opportunity to record additional weight to the music and his vocal harmonies allow the more polished versions of several songs that had appeared on trio to add even more dynamics. The fi nal product is perhaps previous studio albums. more accessible than either King Johnson or MMW. “We only had two weeks to make one album in particular,” “You get over some kind of hump and you get just burned out Oliver says. “Now we have, in my opinion, better versions of enough to where you know the music inside and out,” Chris said. songs that were already good.” “You stop caring about everything going perfectly, and that’s RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED Community Center for the Arts Performing 291 West 8th 97401 OR. Eugene, Although Chris and Oliver have an undeniable musical when the magic things happen.” Continued on page 7 WOW HALL NOTES and Anthony Murphy, a 40 minute The Community Center for the Performing Arts is located in the Historic Woodmen of the World Hall (W.O.W. pilot was shot with Anthony Hall), 291 W 8th, Eugene, Or 97401, (541)687-2746, [email protected], www.wowhall.org, Box office narrating and Swan providing the hours Mon 3-6 PM, Tue-Fri noon-6 PM. Printed monthly by Western Oregon Webpress, Circulation 3,800, soundtrack, with each original General Support made possible by a grant from Lane Arts Council with support from City of Eugene Cultural song corresponding to the ancient Services Division, Copyright 2013 All rights reserved Notes Staff: Copy Editor & Advertising Representative landmarks that delineate the shape - Bob Fennessy, Layout & Design - James Bateman CCPA Staff: Program Coordinator - Calyn Kelly, Membership Coordinator & Publicist - Bob Fennessy, Stage Manager - Selena Frame, Asst Stage Manager of the “tall man.” - Jason Schroeder, Office Managers - Donna Carbone, Ross Shuber, Katy Vizdal, Bookkeeper - Kimberly Swan has reached beyond the Johnson, Volunteer Coordinator & House Manager - Kayte McDonald, Volunteer Coordinator - Laura bounds of Led ZepAgain’s electric Farrelly, House Manager - Sam Harmon, Concessions Manager - Jessica Syverson, Angela Lees, show and created “Symphony Custodians - Richard A., Shawn Lynch Volunteer Staff: Marie Duclos, Dan Wathen, Art Gallery Director - To Heaven”, a full-production Sam Harmon Postering - Caitlin Mendiaz, Poster Boy Promotions, CCPA Board of Directors: Chair: Louisa deHeer; Vice-Chair: Craig Lawrence; Secretary: Sara Shmigelsky; Treasurer: Gayle Chisholm; Members: acoustic show featuring custom Sean Cannon, Aaron Dietrich, Robbie Greene, Michael Zarkesh visuals and an quartet playing original string arrangements to many of Zeppelin’s classic acoustic + 0 +$ , songs.