WOW Hall rocks hometown style
Top four bands of Eugene Chosen contest play the popular venue
Katherine Fisher
Issue date: 5/7/09 Section: Arts
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The four bands received the most votes out of 60 local bands that competed. Voting was done via e-mail, generating 12,599 votes.
Tickets for the show are $8 in advance, $10 at the door or free for those willing to dress up as one of the sarcastic '80's throwback computers from outer space, Blinky and Vektra.
Local artist Michael Erickson and event organizer Cindy Ingram created the duo as the foul-mouthed hosts of the Eugene Chosen daily blog.
"They kind of just walked into the door one day," said Erickson, a self-taught graphic artist who has been drawing "ever since I could hold a pencil."
Killer Wails took first place. This four-man band was founded in 2005 by vocalist Jarred Yacob, Andrew Mast on drums, bassist Jason Fylan, guitarist/vocalist Andrew Gunsul and guitarist Tristan Gruener.
The second-place band was LYCKWYD. Musicians Todd Anson on bass/vocals, guitarist Mike Nelson and Eric Boteilho on drums make up this group, which has been together since 2002.
"A new wave of American heavy metal," Anson said, describing the band's latest EP, "River of Souls," a wave that motivated a sea of support for the band that earned 2,591 e-mail votes.
Half Shark Half Jesus is a foursome comprised of Jennifer Oberst on vocals/guitars, Chris Luptin on guitar, Joe Ricken on the drums and bassist Cory Davis took fourth place with 2,052 votes.
The high-energy rock band with no religious connection beyond the name hails from the Willamette Valley, Los Angeles and Florida. They now call Eugene their home.
The final band to grab a spot on the program was Sons of Confusion. Guitarist Dustin Gatchell, vocalist/guitarist Terry Geil, bassist Lance Thill and Jake Quinnett on the drums make up the band that will open Eugene Chosen.
The alternative hard rock band started in 2008 and will release "Two For Flinchin'," their premier seven-song EP the following Saturday, May 23, in Albany at Bogey's Bar.
"I've never been happier playing in a band than with these guys. I'm very proud of our songs. I see people get excited when they hear our music," Gatchell said. "That is what it is all about."
A musician since '93, Gatchell enjoys the opportunity to play with good friends. "I knew when we first started talking about the project it was going to be a lot of fun and we'd be able to create a lot of great songs," Gatchell said.
The number of bands competing in the Eugene Chosen competition amazed Geil of Sons of Confusion. "It's definitely great exposure for all the bands that didn't win too, because there were a lot of hits on that web site and everybody was looking at all the bands that were entered," Geil, who plays in three separate bands, said.
One duo that hopes to gain exposure despite not making it into the show is Bajuana Tea.
Drummer Matrisha Armitage and guitarist/lyricist Austin Armitage are a married couple who have been playing together for 10 years casually and two and a half as Bajuana Tea; the self-proclaimed natural band has a mellow acoustic sound reminiscent of 1960s music.
"We did our first CD in 2005 and that's when we said, 'we're going to do this,' and we started gigging the next year," Matrisha said. She is a former LCC student who helps her husband write some of the band's original repertoire.
"Participating in the Eugene Chosen Competition raised my confidence, I was really happy to get 13th place out of all the people who were in the running … to see where we were at locally," Martisha said. "It made me feel really supported."
"There is so much music talent in Eugene, so many unique bands," LCC student Tanelle Azzato said. Azzato enjoys watching local bands play the WOW Hall.
Eugene Chosen was the brainchild of local promoter Ingram of Cindy Ingram Booking and Promotions LLC. A former WOW Hall manager, Ingram collaborated with the WOW Hall to launch EugeneChosen.com on Feb. 27.
"It's been really awesome to see how many people have been to the website; thousands of people e-mailing their votes is really encouraging for a small town like this," Ingram said. She wanted to give local bands a chance to play the WOW Hall for the first time without financial risk to the venue.
"Give Cindy Ingram big kudos … we're grateful for her giving us this chance," Geil said, recognizing Ingram's contribution to the local music community.
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