my new favorite band

Celilo.

I can't say the name does much for me (cee-lie-lo), but I do like the sound... to sound like what it is they feel like playing and not completely conforming to popular indie trends.  Mainly that means that their lead singer doesn't sing like a whiny, watered-down version of Neil Young... and they're not adverse to being poppy or melodic when the mood strikes them.  They remind me of Norfolk & Western in that regard.  They mix it up pretty well.  While Neil was definitely an obvious influence, I could also hear some Red House Painters... specifically, the lead singer had a tinge of Mark Kozelek in his voice.  And I would have to figure Wilco plays into their sound as well, with the noisy interludes and the lead singer referencing a Wilco show after one of those.  I don't know why that fascinates people so much, but whatever works for you.  At any rate, I'll be keeping an eye for them.  I hear they frequent the Alberta Street Pub quite a bit.

They have myspace:  http://www.myspace.com/celilo. The recordings don't seem to do the live show must justice.

Sera Cahoone was second on the bill.  I just saw here about a month back, as a duo, opening for Son Volt in Eugene.  This time she had the whole band.  I enjoyed each of these show equally, though I probably liked the first one mostly for that it was my first time hearing those songs live.  I appreciate the mostly simple approach she takes though, even in a band setting... aside from the consistent presence of electric bass, an electric guitar only peeks its head out on a few songs, and even then, it is played tastefully. 

The Moondoggies were last.  They really surprised me.  I saw them when I got here at Mississippi Studios, and just couldn't get into them at all.  Maybe it was bad sound... that place is capable of that sometimes.  Any venue is for that matter.  I think more than anything, they were able to play a sound that was, for the most part, theirs.  The first time I thought they were just some generic mountain rock band trying way too hard to sound like The Band.  My recollection of seeing them the first time was they were just way too derivative (eg. Ain't No Lord = Ain't No More Cane on the Brazos).  No matter, last night they managed to avoid pretty much any Band comparisons I had made to a friend of mine only minutes before they took the stage.  And while I do think they are slightly lacking in the imagination category when it comes to writing songs, I had quite a bit of fun.  Then the lead singer put away his SG.  I figured at that point, I should leave while I was ahead.  And did.

Slight non-sequitir... I think I might try to start playing some places.  We shall see. Stay tuned.