Sound Stories & Interviews

The micro-blogging of Twitter is typically a conduit to a vast universe of information. That is definitely true of these music industry-related accounts. They provide much more than just 140 characters of commentary—they provide insight that is often elusive or just plain overlooked by mainstream media.
@BackstageRider: This gal founded a website of the same name and, though based out of Vancouver B.C., travels all over the Pacific Northwest in search of great live shows and interesting interview angles.

When folk singer Langhorne Slim’s new album The Way We Move, starts spinning—figuratively, for you digitally-minded folks—there isn’t much you can do to keep from reflecting on your day, your week or let’s face it… even your entire life.
On The Way We Move, Slim returns with an album more focused on the theme of redemption through maturation than previous efforts that seemed to deal with fighting against that process. The new record speaks to being comfortable and ready for the next stage of life while remembering the path you traveled to get there.

It’s time for you to decide a victor in Bend’s edition of the popular Last Band Standing competition. Your votes will determine the outcome of the four-band battle slated for Thursday, June 21 in this year’s final round at Liquid Lounge.
Now in its third year of existence in Bend, LBS not only exposes the local community to music being made right under their noses, it also provides a platform for newly minted bands to work out performances and songs still in their infancy.
This year, the event started in April with 28 bands and audiences have been whittling them down American Idol-style since then. The bands are competing for a combined $20,000 in prizes and a chance to record in title sponsor Ninkasi Brewing’s studio. Past winners include Bend favorites MOsley WOtta (MoWo) and Necktie Killer.

The 4 Peaks Music Festival—our local backyard bluegrass hootenanny, is nearly upon us. It runs this Friday, June 22, through Sunday, June 24. Before you head out to camp at your home-away-from-home for three days, here are two bands playing this year you should know more about. Poor Man’s Whiskey
This Bay Area group plays finger-bleeding bluegrass with a flair for performing that immediately translates to a good time. Often dancing on stage with big smiles– Poor Man’s Whiskey has even doffed their clothing in favor of covering up their, ahem, fiddlesticks with whiskey barrels. Songs like “Humbolt Hoedown” and “Ramblin’” will provide tons of hand-clap inducing banjo and as a result, your feet will also be delighted.

Most parents do not expect the gift they give their son for his sixth birthday to have the kind of impact capable of shaping their child’s future. I’m sure that was true of my parents when they presented me with my first record player in 1983.
Even as a baby, my parents recognized the effect music had on me when they could get me to stop crying by playing the Happy Days theme song on our stereo. Still there was no way they could have foreseen the revolution that first record player would create in my life.

If you’ve lived in Bend for any length of time, you’ve gotten to know the Free Summer Sunday concert series at the Les Schwab Amphitheater quite well. And if you’re new in town, the series is a chance to experience Bend by throwing a blanket on the grass and seeing some great live music for free, during a family-friendly afternoon.

If you’re someone who likes to provide your friends with a party no matter the location, Jawbone’s latest addition to the crowded world of portable wireless speakers might just be the gadget for you.
Jawbone, known for their Bluetooth headsets, first entered the speaker market with the Jambox. Ultra-small and lightweight, the original Jambox speaker fit in the palm of your hand and weighed less than a pound. Now, for those needing a bit more punch, Jawbone has released the not-so-creatively-named Big Jambox.

Hail hail to the good times ‘cause rock has got the right of way We ain’t no legend, ain’t no cause We’re just livin’ for today — For Those About to Rock, AC/DC
The sun had just filtered through the dark, frozen clouds on a cold Sunday afternoon as I sat down with Leo Dolan, a freshman from Summit High and lead singer of The Catch at Thump coffee in downtown Bend.
“Man, I feel like I’m famous,” says Dolan with a grin. “I’ve never done anything like this before.”
Truth is, most high school bands rarely receive any ego-inflating attention from audiences, much less local media, even high school reporters like myself. But that doesn’t stop high schoolers from pursuing their rock and roll dreams. To the contrary, in a world where academics, sports, video games, and social media are all competing for teenagers’ attention, forming a band remains a tried and true rite of passage.