Sound Stories & Interviews
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Spitting Fire

A conversation with chart-topping reggae-rapper Matisyahu as he brings his “Hold the Fire Tour” to Bend
Avatar photo by Armando Borrego

American rapper Matisyahu, born Matthew Paul Miller, has long captivated audiences with his distinctive fusion of infectious reggae and thought-provoking lyrics. “When I started out, I had this punk-rock attitude of f*ck the world, that people weren’t good and everything was shallow,” Matisyahu said. “Even though I sing about unity and about everyone coming together, […]

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A Recipe for Rumpeppers

Enigmatic front-man for The Rumpeppers, Zeus Guelfex, shares his thoughts on the band’s evolution and what’s gone into the group’s recent comeback
Avatar photo by Armando Borrego

Local rock band The Rumpeppers were originally founded on two pillars, “we’re drunk and we’re hot,” lead singer Zeus Guelfex explained. The initial idea, a flame from Stratocaster-wielding guitar player Paul Streichan, helped launch the four-piece onto the Bend music scene as a force to be reckoned with. The band’s undeniable chemistry came from the […]

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Over the Edge with Dead Nettle

Ethereal indie-rock band Dead Nettle talks about recording its new demo tape and bringing the shoegaze genre to the forefront
Avatar photo by Armando Borrego

City of Bend, meet four-piece shoegaze and noise-rock group, Dead Nettle. While the band is still fresh, the genre of shoegaze/noise has been around since the early ’80s and is easily identified by its use of obscured vocals, guitar distortion and overwhelming pedal effects to create an ecstatic sounding wave of alternative rock. Dead Nettle […]

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Luck Be a Lady

Travis Ehrenstrom on what stood out during the recording process of Travis Ehrenstrom Band’s new EP, “Lady Luck,” plus an early review of the album
Avatar photo by Armando Borrego

We definitely experimented with more instruments, and synths,” local singer/songwriter Travis Ehrenstrom of Travis Ehrenstrom Band admitted. The experimentation he’s referring to, of course, is the science of piecing together a new album with his bandmates. “It was really just the impetus of feeling like we had enough material to work on something. We took […]

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A Friend Named Palo

Palo Sopraño loves Mac Demarco, Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder, but his style of expression and his approach to the music could not be more his own
Avatar photo by Armando Borrego

Ryan Pickard is a Bend native and extremely talented singer/songwriter who explores dream-pop and alternative indie under the moniker Palo Sopraño. A little under two weeks out from his next performance at Silver Moon Brewing on Friday, Feb. 2, Sopraño and I met at Duda’s Billiard’s Bar to catch up on his latest music and […]

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California Drivers

Central valley bluegrass ensemble Boot Juice explores genre-blending “new-grass” music while maintaining a respect for the creative traditions of the genre
Avatar photo by Armando Borrego

Since the band’s inception in 2017, and following three successful albums released in 2019, 2021 and 2023, a nine-piece new-grass band from California’s central valley known as Boot Juice has quickly gained traction as a party-starting crew that explodes on stage — driving its performance and fans effortlessly between cosmic blues music infused with New […]

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Tender Heart

Ashland-native Bekkah McAlvage doesn’t mind the moonlight miles that come from hitting the Oregon highways to perform. In fact, it’s a welcome respite from teaching.
Avatar photo by Armando Borrego

Country-folk singer/songwriter Bekkah McAlvage draws inspiration from the raw beauty of the Southern Oregon region where she lives, infusing her music with echoes of forests, rolling hills and the untamed spirit of the outlaw country troubadour. With a command of country, folk and indie elements, McAlvage showcases her soulful and haunting voice in every song, […]

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Source Material: 5 songs for 2024

To usher in the new year, songs that can help center, inspire and motivate
Avatar photo by Armando Borrego

The new year is a lovely time, as the shedding of the past year can often feel like a fresh breath and a chance to start anew. Many take up spirited resolutions or, if you’re like me, promise to think of one and then just end up cutting out ice cream for a month. Regardless […]

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Patrick Lamb’s Venn Diagram of Happiness

Having brought premier artists such as Eric Darius, Haley Reinhart and The Lao Tizer Band to Bend, Lamb has helped cement Jazz at the Oxford’s status as a premier jazz event
Avatar photo by Armando Borrego

Jazz at The Oxford has embodied the essence of musical innovation and tradition in Bend since its inception over a decade ago. The changing lineup of artists slated yearly is renowned for fusing timeless jazz melodies with contemporary resonance, mastery over their instruments and an innate ability to craft music that captivates the soul. At […]

Posted inMusic

Bluegrass and New Grass

Railroad Earth drummer Carey Harmon on the band’s beginnings and its two decades recording
Avatar photo by Armando Borrego

Railroad Earth is a seven-piece new-grass band known for its song-crafting abilities, impeccable bluegrass production quality and infectiously electric energy during live shows. For over two decades, these New Jersey musicians have been providing lovers of the bluegrass genre a wealth of music. I spoke with Carey Harmon, the drummer for the band, before a […]

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