Sometimes when I set up an interview with a band coming through town, I’m not remotely familiar with their music. Obviously, before you interview them, you research the group and listen to as much music of theirs as you have time for (or can stand). Every once and a while I’m not a fan of […]
Bend Music
Posted inMusic
Have You Seen These Boys?
The Milk Carton Kids have returned
Just hearing the name of this band you might imagine a pop-punk band along the lines of Cloud Nothings, who never have a song longer than two and a half minutes—but The Milk Carton Kids offer something unexpected. I certainly didn’t expect an indie-folk duo that sounded more like Simon & Garfunkel than NOFX. Kenneth […]
Posted inMusic
When Country and Metal Share a Creative Brain
Fans of Staind’s Aaron Lewis may be catching onto the musician’s new-old style
Aaron Lewis encountered his share of naysayers when he first dipped his toes into country music with his 2011 EP, “Town Line.” As the lead singer of Staind, Lewis was a star on the metal scene, and plenty of people dismissed his foray into country as a vanity project. With the arrival this month of […]
Posted inNews
Local Band Parlour Releases Second CD
CD Release party scheduled for October 26 at McMenamins in Bend
Carol Sternkopf Photography Bend, OR – Bend-based folk band Parlour is set to release an 8-song CD of original music called “Seeing the Elephant.” The CD release party is scheduled for October 26 from 7-10 pm in Father Luke’s Room at McMenamins’ Old St. Francis School in Bend. The event is free, open to the […]
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Dance Dance Evolution
Niykee brings the heaton
The story of Niykee Heaton is an interesting one both for what it is and what it isn’t. She was discovered through her YouTube channel, where she played acoustic covers of hip-hop and contemporary hits, as well as original songs. In 2011, while she was still in high school, she started uploading videos recorded in […]
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A Jazz Room with a View
Mt. Bachelor Riverhouse Jazz kicks off in a new space
Mt. Bachelor Riverhouse Jazz is on the brink of launching its new seven-month long series, which will feature the likes of Mel Brown, Ravi Coltrane, Benny Green, and the Yellowjackets. Two shows will run one weekend each month from October 2016 to April 2017, giving both visiting and local music lovers the opportunity to experience […]
Posted inCulture
Picks 10/12-10/19
Thursday 13 & Friday 14 Bend Venture Conference STARTUPS–Ready to launch your business? Need some capital to get going? You’d better not miss this one. Bend Venture is the place to be for early- and growth-stage companies who want to show off their hot ideas and connect with the angel investors who will fund them. […]
Posted inMusic
Perseverance
The Tower presents an evening with Rita Moreno
The first thing I ask someone I’m interviewing is how the tour is going. I typically call a performer while they’re on the road somewhere, asking how it’s going so far, as it’s usually a good way to gauge how long the interview will be. If they talk about how tired they are, that means […]
Posted inMusic
Music With A Mission
Nahko and Medicine for the People are set to inspire and empower
“As an indigenous mutt, I have the unique gift to create bridges between many communities through music, activism and social work,” says Nahko Bear, the singer, songwriter and band leader of the worldly collective that carries his name. His project, Nahko and Medicine for the People, is one that nurtures a mission and delivers a […]
Posted inMusic
Blues, Rock ‘n’ Roll, Ready for Battle
Midwest mayhem is sure to ensue between The Yawpers and The 4onthefloor
Denver and Minneapolis are set to collide in a clash of who can bring Bend the best blues-fueled, rip-roaring rock-out the Midwest has to offer. Starting in Seattle, the Central Oregon stop will mark the third show of a co-headlining tour featuring Colorado’s The Yawpers and Minnesota’s The 4onthefloor–and each party is talking a big […]