Thursday, 13
Chelsea McBee & Hales Ale Tasting, Bombs Away Café, 2527 NW Monroe Ave. Tasting: 6 p.m.; Koko Show: 9 p.m.
Chelsea McBee and her band, known as The Random Assortment, pump out an eloquent, modern take on traditional folk, Americana, and bluegrass. Led by smooth vocals and the unique timbre of a claw-hammered banjo, this will be a show for those of you that can’t get enough of that earthen roots tone.
Meet the Author: Barbara Drake, Grass Roots, 227 SW 2nd St. 6 p.m.
Morning Light is a book that tells the tale of a couple’s experiences in rural Oregon after having left the bustle of Portland. There’s dog herding training, well-searching, and all manner of nighttime stargazing goodness. Incredibly deep and personal, this fantastic read is likely to be enjoyed by anyone, no matter their level of rural living reverence. Come on out and meet Barbara Drake, discuss her book, and pick up a copy!
http://osupress.oregonstate.edu/book/morning-light
Friday, 14
Sol, Triacus, Jordan Norton, Bombs Away Café, 2527 NW Monroe Ave. 9 p.m. Free
Time to get a little excited. Sol is a metal amalgam from Portland that basically cherry-picked all the best elements of doom and post rock, slapping it together into something that makes you want to put on a cape and fight dwarves. Triacus a disturbingly original Corvallis proggy-post-punk act that sounds like nothing you’ve heard (in all the best ways). And Jordan Norton? That guy… he’s just a goddamn musical wizard.
http://solpdx.bandcamp.com/releases
Cascade Rye, Calapooia Brewing Company, 140 Hill St., Albany. 8 to 11 p.m.
Based out of Shedd, this local roots rock four-piece offers up an abnormally awesome listen. I dare say that they seem to have sponged up a bit of mid-90s alt rock, as their sonic output makes me feel a bit like I’m 12 again, sans the Ninja Turtle collection. Do yourself a favor and check these folks out, as their sonic palette is likely to please a pretty wide variety of listeners.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Cascade-Rye/237688042955892
Saturday, 15
Kokobola, Squirrel’s Tavern, 100 SW 2nd St. 9:30 to 11:30 p.m. $5
Every once in a while a band comes along that refers to themselves as “Groovalicious Rock,” and then it turns out that they actually are. This is one of those bands, fittingly out of Eugene. Their music makes me want to sing like a total butthole driving down I-5 with the windows open. If that’s not enough of a selling point, I don’t know what is.
http://www.reverbnation.com/kokobola
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Kokobola/341585492606760
YOya w/Macrofocus, Cloud & Kelly’s, 126 SW 1st St. 10 p.m. 21+, $6
Oh, great, another fantastic folktronica duo from Los Angeles… just what we need around here. Actually, we do. This is a really cool act with a powerful sound that borrows liberally from a number of genres. They’re doing quite well as a band, and for good reason. It’s good to see the local bands get a break in their task of keeping things diverse around here.
https://www.facebook.com/yoyatheband
Sunday, 16
Meet the Author: Mark Pomeroy, Grass Roots, 227 SW 2nd St. 2 p.m.
Redemption, love, betrayal… and a good sex scandal. Pomeroy’s debut novel The Brightwood Stillness has had critics reading. That sounds really lackluster, but given the circumstances… yeah, anyway. The book unravels the parallel stories of Nate Davis and Hieu Nguyen around the vertex at which their lives meet—the far-off nation of Vietnam. It’s infinitely more interesting than that, so how about you go online and check out an extended summary? Published via OSU, this is a great opportunity to meet the mind behind the pages.
http://www.grassrootsbookstore.com/event/mark-pomeroy-brightwood-stillness
Monday, 17
Audition Workshop, Majestic Theatre, 115 SW 2nd St. 7 to 9 p.m. $5
The last time I auditioned for a musical, I awoke seven months later handcuffed to a Tijuana hospital bed while two mustachioed gentlemen attempted to remove a chicken from my colon and a third tried to wash peanut butter out of my hair. Needless to say, I wish I had known about the Majestic’s $5 “How to Audition for a Musical Workshop” beforehand. If you’ve ever wanted to score a part in an art form that causes most people to bleed internally, this is the first step!
http://www.majestic.org/how-to-audition-for-a-musical/
Tuesday, 18
Community Movie Night with Ygal Kaufman, Darkside Cinema, 215 SW 4th St. 7 p.m. Free
In the pantheon of comedy greats, there are many great pairs. One of the greatest makes their CMN debut this week. It’s Laurel & Hardy in The Flying Deuces (1939). It’s a lot like the Van Damme movie Legionnaire, only not quite as slapsticky. As usual, Ygal Kaufman will be on hand for an interesting introduction replete with cartoons, newsreels, and other vintage treasures. Get there early; this is going to be hilarious and likely packed.
www.facebook.com/freemovienightcorvallis
Wednesday, 19
Christine Wallace: Meet the Author, Grass Roots, 227 SW 2nd St. 7 p.m.
Author Christine Wallace’s Prepare to Come About is about her wildly successful business, Gracewinds Perinatal, that brought her national recognition and rewards all while wreaking havoc on her family and personal life. The story takes the reader through the highs and lows of the family pressure, teenage crisis, and chaos known to many working families—and a whole lot more.
Thursday, 20
Curtis Monette, Bombs Away Café, 2527 NW Monroe Ave. 8:30 to 11:30 p.m.
A local legend of the experimental kind, Curtis Monette and his personal approach to his instrument always guarantee a hell of a show. Another unique voice contributing to Corvallis’ musical kung fu!
https://myspace.com/curtismonette
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