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Ethan Maffey

Both a writer and a fan of vinyl records since age 5, it wasn't until nearly three decades later that Oregon Native Ethan Maffey derived a plan to marry the two passions by writing about music. From blogging on MySpace in 2007 and then Blogspot, to launching his own website, 83Music, and eventually freelancing for publications in the Pacific Northwest, like Spokane’s alt-weekly Inlander, Ethan’s aim has been to provide fans of music alternatives to the mundane and overplayed. This included a nearly two year stint as the music editor for the Source, where he scoured the Bend music scene drawing attention to local talent and notable touring acts as they passed through town. In addition to deep knowledge of the local music scene, Ethan has an uncanny ability to quote lines from the television show “Friends.” He also has an eye for women’s fashion and feels a kinship with Lucky Day, Steve Martin’s character in ¡Three Amigos!

ethan@eightythreemusic.com
Posted inMusic

Headbanging Heirs

Portland trio Patrimony is from the next generation of classic rockers
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Patrimony (noun): property inherited from one’s father or male ancestor. Figuratively bequeathed a medley of talent from bands like The Paul Butterfield Blues Band, Johnny Winter and The Beatles, Patrimony members—and youngsters—Trevor Martell, Wyatt Phillipi and Jason Allenby form a balanced blend of rock artistry. Songs like “Advocate of the Blues” are hot and primal, […]

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Listen Local

Stevie Ray Vaughan lives… in the dreams (and music) of Hobbs Magaret
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A rocket ship shredding space on its way to the blazing sun; a charging bull free from confinement; or, the final scene in Fight Club where towering buildings all come tumbling down in fiery plumes—all good ways to visualize the massive rock sound of local blues group Hobbs the Band. It also doesn’t hurt to […]

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Born to Rock

Kyle Gass of Tenacious D fame launches new '80s-style metal band
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Once upon a time there was a mugger in New York City who spent his time learning guitar at Julliard, rocking out on stage in front of a giant penis-shaped bird and making television show cameos on par with Clint Howard appearances in film. OK, that’s a slight exaggeration, but not a story without some […]

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The Arc of an Artist

Folksy troubadour Brett Dennen doesn’t have a special approach, just good music
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Requiring little more than something personal to say, good enough acoustic guitar skills and a coffee shop to sing in, the singer-songwriter is as commonplace in America as the aspiring actor. In 2005, California musician Brett Dennen was one of many—Amos Lee, Brandi Carlile, James Blunt to name a few—who released debut albums hoping to […]

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Average Joes

Switchfoot isn’t into the rock band image
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While secular music—tunes without a religious undercurrent—has its fair share of artists who exude beauty and sex appeal (Britney Spears, Beyonce, etc.) in its totality, pop stardom does not demand a chiseled jaw line and flawless skin. There’s room for imperfection. Sometimes a lot of it. Consider: Tom Waits. Bob Dylan. Even Lady Gaga. Underneath […]

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Brass Punch

New Orleans jazz artist Trombone Shorty packs a Big Easy wallop
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When New Orleans trombone player Troy Andrews—stage name Trombone Shorty—takes to Twitter, 99 percent of his posts have at least one exclamation point; sometimes three, occasionally four. In many ways, it’s the perfect metaphor for a career punctuated by an explosive rise to new wave jazz greatness in one of America’s most remarkable cities. The […]

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