The Cherry Poppin’ Daddies don’t need no Zoot Suits.It's been 10 years since the Cherry Poppin' Daddies blew up the charts with their hit "Zoot Suit Riot," and the band's front man, Steve Perry (make your Journey joke here) says he's been in recovery from the mega stardom ever since.
Liner Notes: The Return Voyage From Pluto
Posted inMusic
True Life: I’m a Lynyrd Skynyrd Fan; this Yankee loves her some Skynyrd
Freebird!Let me preface this article by saying a few things straight from the hip. I'm from northern New York. My favorite store is JCrew, I love sushi and Greek food, classical piano and don't really think Larry the Cable Guy is funny. But my favorite band of all-time is Lynyrd Skynyrd.
I've been made fun of, openly gawked at, and called a liar when I tell people who've met me more than once that I am, in fact, a Skynyrd fan. Because Skynyrd is a "gateway" band, I also have a special place in my heart for Southern rockers like ZZ Top, Molly Hatchet, .38 Special and most of the bands of that era that include the word "Brothers" in their name.
Regardless of what you think about Skynyrd’s music, or its fans, you have to respect the band's "to-hell-with-change" philosophy. Bon Jovi cut his hair, Bono started wearing stunner shades, but Skynyrd is still playing largely the same set list as the band toured on in 1975. Onstage the band is proudly immune to fashion trends. Long scraggly hair, jeans and simple shirts are still the norm. In other words, Nuthin' Fancy. The dress code underscores that Skynyrd is purely about the music. This means over-the-top guitar solos and a hint of country twang. It's about how "Freebird" can literally give you chills sometimes and the opening chords of "Gimme Three Steps" means the party's officially started.
Posted inMusic
Mixing it Up: A year after the Grove, Bend’s DJ roster is as strong as ever
Hey mr. Dj.The mix tape. You made them on your twin cassette boombox with your massive ear goggle headphones in your locked bedroom. They were two sided, magnetic labors of love. The goal was to amass a cohesive and unique string of tracks that made for perfect listening - it was all the music that was fit to go on tape.
The venerable DJs of Bend are debuting their mix tapes ("mix CDs" actually, but "mix tape" is much cooler to say) and obviously the product they're peddling is far more expertly produced and artistically presented than what you threw together on your ghettoblaster - but the idea is still there. Almost a year after the closing of the Grove, the unofficial (or perhaps official) nest of Bend's DJ culture, the familiar DJ names reappear at the Tulen Center for a two-room show to display their new wares.
One of Bend's elder statesmen of the ones and twos, Brian Barisone (DJ Barisone), just finished up work on his mix tape aptly titled "Boombox," and sat down to talk before heading over to the PoetHouse for an Elevate Underground Art Festival fundraiser that featured the return of fellow beatsmith DJ Lacuna.
Posted inCulture
Our Picks for the Week of 7/9-7/14
Cascade Cycling Classic
wednesday-sunday
As if this town isn't bicycle crazy enough, we get to truly unleash our inner Armstrong for the 29th Annual Bend Memorial Clinic Cascade Cycling Classic. It's four days of all sorts of two-wheeled fun, highlighted by the downtown Twilight Criterium. Whether you're a hardcore rider or just someone who likes spandex, click over to cascade-classic.org to get yourself in gear.
Red Elvises
thursday 10
It seems like this band from Venice, CA by way of Russia is getting a hankering for Bend, seeing as how they've already returned for another show at the Midtown complex. The last time they stopped off they rocked the wood planks right out of the floor of the Annex, and expect them to do the same when the band with the big hair and bigger bass guitars (it's actually called a balalaika) returns for what promises to be a great night of rockabilly. 21 and over. 9pm. $12. The Annex, 51 NW Greenwood Ave.
Posted inNews
Waste Not, Want Lots: The tug of war over area restaurants’ waste cooking oil
The glamorous world of cooking oil recycling. "Sorry about the mess," Libby Rodgers says as she hoists herself into her big dark blue Ford pick-up. "I basically work out of my truck." Rodgers nods toward the back seat, which is piled high with paperwork, folders and business equipment, "Back there's my office." The truck rumbles into life as Rodgers turns the key in the ignition and we pull out of the airplane hangar-sized building that houses Rodger's fledgling business - Lookout Mountain Biofuels. Rodgers is on her way to collect waste vegetable oil from local Prineville restaurants that she will refine into biodiesel to run everything from the truck she's driving to area farming equipment.
Rodgers, a Crook County native, began the process of building her own
refinery about one and-a-half years ago. She began refining waste
vegetable oil for her own personal use about three years ago. Rodgers
will soon begin refining the waste oil she collects for commercial sale
to area ranchers and farmers along with a few individuals who will use
it to power their vehicles. Rodgers is young, petite and blonde and
works full-time as an outdoor guide.
She also coaches the local high school's girls' soccer team. During her
lunch hours and before and after work hours, Libby collects barrels of
waste oil which can weigh anywhere from 250 to 500 pounds, and brings
them back to her facility to later begin the refining process.
"I really have always had an interest in renewable energy, fuel
sustainability and being subsistent," says Rodgers. "I also want to
give back to my community because it's the community I grew up in and
they gave a lot to me," she adds later.
Posted inOpinion
Welfare for Builders
Just needs a little stimulus.As the housing slump widens and deepens, builders all over the country are in a world of hurt. Builders in Central Oregon are hurting too. But the builders here have come up with an idea to ease their pain: Interest-free loans from the taxpayers.
The loans would take the form of a break on SDCs - Systems Development Charges. These are fees builders pay to help cover the cost of new roads, sewers, water mains and other stuff made necessary by new construction. In the City of Bend, SDCs can run upwards of $13,000 on a new house.
As things stand, builders have to pay the SDCs up front, before they can get their building permits. But under the bright idea the Central Oregon Builders Association has put forward - an idea that, incredibly, has the support of the city's Community Development Department - SDC payments would be deferred for nine months, interest-free.
At the end of nine months, supposedly, the builder will have sold the house and be able to pay off the city. Or if he isn't, the city will have a lien on the house as security.
Posted inOpinion
Gender Benders: A new baby in Bend, truth squads and taking the Helms
Oh Baby!
This week's Upfront column must begin with congratulations to Thomas Beatie, the 34-year-old Bendite who gave birth to a girl last Sunday. Born a woman, Mrs./Mr. Beatie underwent "gender realignment" surgery (nip, tuck, pull, OWW!) and is legally recognized as a man. Reported to have delivered the child via traditional method (don't ask), Mrs./Mr. Beatie can be thanked for putting Bend on the map - And distracting the rest of the world from our fair, gender-neutral city's many problems, like hyper-inflated housing prices, pathetic governance and overall apathy. Anonymous sources close to City Hall say that in order to overshadow the remaining year's many issues - local transit based solely on imported oil, the continued housing slump and a general malaise among voters - the Mayor and City Council plan to impregnate a salmon with the sperm of a cougar, creating a monster fish that can't find its way home yet eats everything in its path, much like a Bend developer.
Defining Patriotism
Swift Boating without a paddle, the GOP and Democrats ignored our failing economy, the Taliban retaking Afghanistan and growing international cries for a climate treaty to engage in a useless debate over patriotism last week. While Obama (who was once criticized for not wearing a flag pin on his lapel) said that patriotism shouldn't be used as a "political sword" by any candidate, McCain's campaign announced the creation of the "Truth Squad" to defend his record of service. Meanwhile, retired General Wesley Clark said of McCain's time in Vietnam: "Well, I don't think riding in a fighter plane and getting shot down is a qualification to be president." Asked to grant a quote about service and patriotism, President George W. Bush, who served a few months in the Texas Air National Guard before disappearing into a fog of cocaine and floozies, offered, "Karl? Where's Karl? Rove! Turd Blossom? Who's got that fake letter we faxed to Dan Rather? Oh, wait! Is this thing on? Turn that off! You're either with us or against us! 9-11! Osama! Did I say that? I meant Iran…"
Posted inOpinion
Sex Message is No Joke
We are new to Westside church. We travel from Alfalfa to the Westside of Bend to attend, so the banners don't affect us one way or another.
Posted inOpinion
Back to Grammar School
I welcome new Outdoors columnist Pam Stevenson. Although I will miss reading my good buddy Robert W's columns, a woman's point of view is long overdue.
Posted inOpinion
Think Before You Pedal
With the ever-increasing price of gas pushing more and more people to get out of their cars and onto their bikes and scooters, the numbers of these new commuters seems to be increasing everyday. This is a great thing, and a definite upside to the situation.