Erythronium Oregonum: A Beacon of Spring

It was not until my most recent hike here in Eugene that I truly knew spring had arrived. My hiking partners and I found ourselves on an isolated trail far off to the north side of Mount Pisgah, which had led us through a clearing of utter green. The color green is a wonderful thing in late winter here, as its true vibrancy finally comes out after the preceding months of gray. A proper sense of outdoor color deserts us Oregonians abruptly after fall, and the only frame of reference we are left with for beauty is a mélange of gray and green as the winter sky contrasts the evergreens.

The result, however, when spring finally arrives is a glorious assault on our pupils as we see new colors for the first time. This is the essence of rebirth. I personally had allowed the sight of flowers, the smell of pollen and the sound of insects to evanesce from my memory during this winter, and I was jarred back to total recall by our first sighting of the beautiful native Erythronium Oregonum.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/curtdeath/ / CC BY-ND 2.0

(Photo: Curt Deatherage)

Known more commonly as the Oregon Fawn Lily, the pure-white of this trilliumesque wildflower is a call to arms for the residents of Eugene to prepare for spring. From two spotted green leaves grows the beautiful lily, its petals furled upward in a gravity-defying display of the plant’s insides. And while most can appreciate true beauty, rarely does the opportunity arise for us to witness such a perfect example at such a perfect time. As winter draws to a close, we need a reminder of the vivacious nature our state holds, and Erythronium Oregonum is that reminder. So next time you are out and about, study the ground closely for signs of this diamond in the rough.

Water Tower Bucket Boys

With soaring popularity in the last year, independent electronica and freak-folk artists have found themselves dragged to the forefront of local music scenes across the nation. Many listeners have whole-heartedly embraced the indie scene, allowing the trend to continue. While I personally have never had anything against even the most obscure of these artists, I found myself craving refreshment in late 2009. After several forays into more traditional genres, I discovered that my craving stemmed from a simple lack of conventional discipline. My thirst was finally quenched with the discovery of The Water Tower Bucket Boys.

Operating like a well-oiled machine, the four young virtuosos that make up the Bucket Boys take the bluegrass genre to a whole new level. With a unique (and at times eccentric) blend of punk, gospel and old time bluegrass, the originality of this band is undeniable. Whether they are playing on stage, or busking on the streets of Portland and Eugene, dynamic originals and unexpected covers always fill their set lists

(Photo: Jackson Voelkel)

“Playing together is like a group therapy session;” says guitarist Kenny Feinstein, “it brings good energy to us as well as our listeners.” The group formed when Feinstein joined forces with his neighbor Josh Rabie and together they “became addicted to playing.” The Bucket Boys have since added Banjo player Cory Goldman to the lineup as well as Leo Lober-Tracy, whose magnificent bass licks add further perfection to the group’s balanced sound.

Together, these four have played shows throughout the U.S and parts of Europe, and the group will soon celebrate the release of their fourth album entitled “Sole Kitchen.” Their three previous albums “The Squid and the Fiddle,” “Catfish on a Line” and “Eel-P” have earned the Bucket Boys a group of loyal fans that continues to grow larger with each new release. Each album contains devoted songs that deal with an array of topics ranging from love and loss to fun and games. When questioned about the group’s inspirations, Feinstein simply replied: “Relationships, trees, and things we do for fun.”

Beyond writing songs about trees, however, the boys all work tirelessly at advancing their musical proficiency to new levels. With an already freakish grasp of theoretical discipline, it may appear that they have no direction to go but down. Sure enough though, the next time you hear them they will have proved this theory wrong.

So if, like me, you fancy a break from the norms of local music in the Pacific Northwest, or if you are simply fed up with the rain, The Water Tower Bucket Boys may be a welcome change. With New York based label Hip-Folk honing in on their talents, it won’t be long until we see these guys cropping up all over the place.

Finely tuned harmony, magnificent solos, and an incredibly good time are the three things that are always guaranteed at a Bucket Boys show.