A Big Damn Favorite in the Making

Posted inMusic

A Big Damn Favorite in the Making

The Source Staff

The pig plays the kazoo…sometimes.There's little reason why The Reverend Peyton's Big Damn Band
shouldn't be embraced as one of Bend's next favorite acts. They've got
the twang of long-standing Bend favorites the Gourds, the gritty blues
feel of Hillstomp and enough energy to hold court alongside any of our
town's favorite bluegrass bands.
The Indiana based trio (not
exactly the enrollment you'd except from an act billed as a "Big Damn
Band") rides on the quintessentially countrified voice and fingerstyle
guitar playing of Reverend Petyon and is anchored by the percussion
provided by his wife Breezy on washboard and his brother Jayme on the
drums. The familial nature and instrumentation of this band might
suggest a novelty act, but the Big Damn Band uses its intensely
simplified approach to produce quality sounds that have allowed them to
tour widely and attract a dedicated fan base. Some of these fans have
joined on after taking in the band during their opening appearances
opening for Celtic/punk crossover act Flogging Molly (who are also
their label mates on Side One Dummy Records).

Posted inMusic

Here’s Hoping…

The Source Staff

Prediction: In 2009 all hip-hoppers will follow Mosley Wotta's head gear trend.It was a call and response of the strangest and most hilarious sorts
as Mosley Wotta, wearing some sort of lioness headdress bounced atop
the Old Stone Church stage yelling "I love myself! I love myself!"

And people, all of whom apparently love themselves, shouted back as Wotta
fired off a long line of chants as the members of El Dante jammed on
behind him. Soon, he began chanting "2-0-0-9, 2-0-0-9" and soon enough
it was in fact, Two oh, oh Nine and the band played on. And so was the
scene at the Source Weekly's Wig Out party at the Old Stone. Earlier in
the night, Wotta and collaborator Mud were on stage playing their tasty
brand of eclectically influenced hip-hop and dishing tracks from
Wotta's Scrap Mettle EP and beyond to a wigged audience that was all
but licking the floor for more tastes of Wotta.

Posted inMusic

Strings and Suits: Steep Canyon Rangers on keeping bluegrass traditional

The Source Staff

Reservoir Dogs: bluegrass style.For the first time in as long as he can remember, Mike Guggino of the
Steep Canyon Rangers has New Year's Eve off. The previous years have
seen the Asheville, N.C.-based bluegrass quintet playing high-profile
shows, including a pair of shows the past two years opening for the
legendary Del McCoury Band.
But on the last day of 2008, Guggino, who
plays mandolin and contributes vocals in Steep Canyon Rangers, is on
the other side of the country, sitting somewhere ambiguously loud
(which is largely acceptable with it being 6:30pm on New Year's Eve)
and filling me in over the phone about the current state of bluegrass.
Although Guggino is only 30 years old - much younger than what you'd
expect for someone in a traditional bluegrass band - he has a tight
grip on the past, present and future of bluegrass and also is acutely
aware of his own band's standing within the genre.

Posted inOpinion

Pass the Patchouli

Eric Flowers

In addition to low-pay and long hours, one of the great benefits of a career in journalism is the ability to be publicly crucified by readers. So it is with great reverence that we present staff writer and resident local music guru Mike Bookey with this well-crafted cross courtesy of Mark Smuland.

Posted inOpinion

Lost in the Blago-sphere

Eric Flowers

Rod Blagojevich, the beleaguered Governor of Illinois, must be incredibly naive to fail to recognize that warrantless wiretapping and other forms of police state surveillance are accepted methods of control in the Reign of Bush. Does Blagojevich think he is immune from such tactics just because he is an elected official? Silly him.

Posted inOpinion

Death and Taxes

Eric Flowers

I believe that most of us assumed that the stimulus checks we received earlier this year were considered to be "tax free." But I was surprised when I read through my new Oregon Tax booklet that we must deduct the stimulus amounts from our federal tax liability before figuring out our Oregon taxes.

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