By Savannah Brown

Led Zeppelin has always been my favorite band (hot take, I know…said sarcastically). Also, I love going to tribute bands (which probably is actually a hot take). Yet, even though I’d seen WOW’s advertisements for ZOSO: The Ultimate Led Zeppelin Experience for a while, they didn’t really sink in. But then, I came across the ad again at like 6 p.m., on March 7 — about two hours before the show. I had this impulse to Google “Best Led Zeppelin Tribute Bands in the Country,” and lo and behold, they showed up all over the results. I knew it was my Led Head obligation to go. I called my roommate, who I knew would be out for another hour (and who had never listened to Led Zeppelin), and told her that we were about to do something irresponsibly spontaneous (we both had a lot of work due). By the time she got home, changed, and the bus showed up (late — after we missed the first one) and several other detours, we…

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By Sadie Tresnit

I’ve realized lately that spring is a very temporal thing for me. This certainly isn’t the first seasonal playlist I’ve written for the blog and I’m sure it won’t be the last. I love listening to all of these songs year-round, but I’ve found that they particularly fit the sunny weather and bursts of flowers we’ve had in town lately. If you’re looking for a soundtrack to a sunny day walk through your neighborhood — you’re in the right place. Here’s to spring and all of its wonderful blossoming exuberance!

Honey - Marine Girls

When I first heard this song during the spring of my freshman year at UO, I fell in love instantly. The album “Beach Party” is on the list of Kurt Cobain's fifty favorites. The minimal instrumentation and somewhat unpolished…

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By Maddy Yen

Starting to work for a major record label at 20 years old has brought so many fun opportunities. For about a year now, I’ve been working for Warner Music Group (WMG) with a college program Warner Music U. I have gotten to work with many artists, but February 21st was the most fun yet.

I got a text from the VP of Promotion and Radio Marketing I had met once on a team call. She asked if I would attend the Alicia Creti show in Portland on February 21st. When I confirmed I was, she invited me to join her and Alicia’s team for content capture before the show, and I, of course, said yes. She sent a link to the Portland Goats Parties website and told me to meet here at 1 p.m. I thought she was kidding. Soon after, I realized this was not a joke, and I was missing my…

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By Samantha Lozano

Some iconic figures from the 90s New York social scene that many can resonate with include Chloe Sevigny, the Beastie Boys, and A Tribe Called Quest. These influential personalities all played a role in the 1995 film "KIDS," directed by Harmony Korine. The movie, known for its raw and controversial nature, revolves around the character Jennie, portrayed by Chloe Sevigne, who contracts HIV from Telly. Telly's primary goal in the film is to engage in sexual encounters with as many virgins as possible without telling them he’s HIV positive. The soundtrack of "KIDS" serves as more than just background music; it becomes a character — deeply immersing itself in the narrative. The carefully curated soundtrack enhances the film's atmosphere and intensifies its impact on the audience. The music, ranging from hip-hop to alternative rock, mirrors the eclectic and diverse sounds of the 90s New York City streets, further connecting…

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By Jack Skidmore

The excitement of discovering a young and promising band is phenomenal. When that band is from your same town, it substantially adds to the enthusiasm towards them. Since I moved to Eugene in 2021, I periodically saw concert fliers and stickers with the colorful cleaning item logo of the local jam band Spunj. From not knowing anything about their music, the sponge symbol alone was enough to catch my attention. The single-word misspelled band name is always something I have found clever, and it certainly is a trope of some of the all-time greats. After hearing Spunj live for the first time at Cervantes’ Other Side in Denver this last summer, I was an instant fan upon returning to Oregon. 

On February 14th, I attended Spunj’s Valentine's Day show at the Big Dirty. They played alongside Portland’s multi-…

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Written by Megan Lorich & Photographed by Max Rosenberg

WOW Hall is known throughout central Oregon as the hot spot for the freshest face in local music. A safe haven for house show fanatics, indie freaks, music dorks, and college kids, it makes more than perfect sense that WOW Hall would host a sweetheart dance. To those who were never asked to the prom or the lonely hearts on Valentine’s Day, WOW’s Sweetheart Dance this past February 16th marked the second year of a tradition that is already gaining love and traction. The show was attended by countless people in their best prom wear, with a killer lineup of classic Eugene college bands and up-and-coming Portland acts. 

The dance floor featured a photo booth with pictures taken by Butterfly Wings Photography with a variety of heart-shaped props for guests to use. Merch tables were manned by members of each act, with tapes, shirts, tote bags, and…

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Written by Samantha Lozano

The Los Angeles native Bek David Campbell, a.k.a Beck, found his place in the music industry as an alternative singer with skateboard hip-hop and Latin influence. His 1994 song “Loser” on his “Mellow Gold” album caused his career to skyrocket, and he continued to put out iconic albums such as “Odelay,” “Midnight Vultures,” and “Guero.” Beck, who was raised by music conductor David Campbell and artist Bibbe Hanson, who worked alongside Andy Warhol, took inspiration for his album covers from his parents. Hanson, who worked at Andy Warhol's factory in uptown Manhattan, spoke about the Zen and Buddhist influence behind the factory, “You can’t really understand Andy Warhol or any of these people—John Cage or any of them—without understanding Zen,” said Bibbe Hansen. This art style was said to have inspired Beck’s albums, especially Midnight Vultures.…

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By Jack Skidmore

The visual captivation of a live MarchFourth show is like no other. The band has a knack for incredible entertainment value while delivering high-quality music. As the name suggests, MarchFourth (abbreviated to M4) utilizes marching band style as a guiding theme of their live presence. However, with the integration of rock, jazz, and funk music, the group builds the perfect storm of diverse styles aided by the whimsicality of their marching band-esque uniforms.

Formed in Portland in 2004, M4 has thrived within its originality. First known as MarchFourth Marching Band, the group continues to showcase the beloved eccentricity of their home city through their zany appearance and style. M4 has always had a very high number of members to play a large array of instruments and perform dances and circus-style acts on…

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By Sadie Tresnit

In the modern day and age, we have the luxury of listening to music wherever we are. Streaming services have made it possible to constantly listen to music on the go, and hipsters have made vinyl records cool again. As a lifelong music lover and current college DJ, I take my music listening seriously. I compiled a pro/con list for all the ways people commonly listen to music today (sorry, 8-tracks). Throughout my life, I’ve listened to a mix of records, CDs, tapes, downloaded tracks, streaming services, and songs from the radio. I’m a big proponent of every one of them, but are any of them better than the others? 

Vinyl Records

A classic for a reason, vinyl records make up a huge part of my collection. There’s something really special about collecting these large physical versions of my favorite albums and looking through the inserts and cover art as I listen. I love seeing what each band…

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By: Savannah Brown

When University of Oregon alum Spencer Smyth talks about hip-hop, it’s as though he’s reciting poetry. He speaks in a cadence that naturally emulates passion and reflection, with every word carefully chosen to illustrate what the genre means to him. He’s an artist and a dreamer — striving to make a permanent name for himself in the Pacific Northwest music scene. 

Smyth, better known to his listeners as “Spinitch,” is a 28-year-old Portland hip-hop artist who has been involved in a plethora of musical projects. Among these are EPs, instrumentals, collaborations, and his most recent album, “BOXORAMA.” He’s an MC, a DJ, a producer, an engineer, and most importantly, in his own words, “a student of the art form.” 

Smyth has been interested in music since he was a child, with family playing a significant role in his journey. He grew up surrounded by —and drawn to— his parents’ music taste, which consisted…

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