Vagabond Opera, Mood Area 52, Aeon Now

by Brandon LaFavor

On Friday, February 17, the CCPA and KRVM proudly welcome back Vagabond Opera along with special guests Mood Area 52 and Aeon Now.

A collaboration of sub-genres comes alive when this sultry six-piece brings their gypsy-steampunk themed operatic cabaret to town. The Vagabond Opera is the embodiment of the Pacific Northwest's version of the Neo-cabaret movement. For over ten years these hard working, theatrical performers with song lyrics in 13 languages have shared the stage with the likes of Pink Martini, Devotchka, The Decemberists, Balkan Beat Box, Al Franken, and the Oregon Symphony.

The lineup includes: Eric Stern - Operatic Tenor and Accordion; Robin Jackson - Saxophone and vocals; Jason Flores - Standup Bass; Mark Burdon -Percussion; Skip Von Kuske - Cello; and Ashia Grzesik - Vocals and Cello.

Based in Portland, the Vagabond Opera's performances offer styles found in all corners of the map. While your eyes are tantalized by Bohemian Cabaret, your ears will be on a journey around the world with the sounds of Paris hot jazz, gut bucket swing, tangos, Ukrainian folk-punk ballads, Yiddish-Klezmer, and a host of originals.

In an NBS Washington article, Kate Michael writes, "the folks behind the unique vaudeville group Vagabond Opera didn't set out with the intention of forming an eclectic musical phenomenon - it was as if they were compelled to do it"

"Like-minded weirdoes can smell their own," muses Jason Flores.

MOOD AREA 52

Eugene's pioneer on the cabaret scene, Mood Area 52, started in 1998 and has been busting the alleged boundaries between the hopelessly inadequate categories of jazz, classical and world music ever since. The core trio of accordionist and vocalist Michael Roderick, cellist Amy Danziger and guitarist Billy Barnett often expands to include many other polite and brilliant musicians. They perform in venues ranging from clubs to festival stages to alzheimers wards, accompanying burlesque troops and providing original soundtracks to golden age films.

Brett Campbell of Eugene Weekly and Portland's Willamette Week writes: "Starting as a careful neo-tango outfit fueled by accordion, cello and the wondrous compositions of Argentinian composer Astor Piazzolla, Mood Area 52 has gradually embraced a wider array of influences, including original songs and Balkan and cabaret sounds, with Billy Barnett's guitar and Michael Roderick's delightfully raspy vocals assuming greater prominence. Roderick has become a sharp songwriter with a talent for memorable tunes and impassioned singing. With groups like Vagabond Opera gaining national attention, this might be the moment that one of Oregon's most fascinating bands finally achieves the national play it's long deserved."

AEON NOW

Oregon's own Dream-punk band, Aeon Now will be starting the evening out with a BANG! Aeon Now is a cabaret chameleon changing from deep shades of jazz, to raw punk, to glimmering gypsy with theatrical flair. Accordion bellows, drum beats, washboard scrubbings and big brass paint a dream from the depths of boom-chank to a fanfare of dramatic triumph. Since emerging from the ashes of the Hungry Crow Sideshow in 2010, an ever changing cast of characters has played in the tide pools of magic and hard experience, with an undeniable curtsy to musical theater and low living.

Last year Aeon Now released their debut album, Timeless Outlaws, with a corresponding cabaret "The Dawn Key Cabaret" which toured with The Red Raven Follies and played at festivals such as Oregon Country Fair, Indidjinus, Tayberry Jam, Islewilde, Steamcon III as well as with Jason Webley, Mood Area 52, Zoe Boekbinder, Blackbird Raum. Aeon Now has recently released a music video "Corporal Carousel" as a teaser to a new album to come.

When vintage Americana and Victorian-industrial meets science fiction and fantasy infused with loads of energy and a hint of naughty, to me, that sounds like one heck of a good evening in Eugene. So put on your fish nets, grab a top hot, tighten that belt buckle, clean the fancy vest and leather boots and get down here to the WOW Hall for an evening your senses won't soon forget.

Doors open at 8:00 pm and showtime is 8:30. Tickets are $12 advance, $15 door and $20 reserved (available only at WOW Hall). Also available only at WOW Hall are special two-day tickets for Vagabond Opera AND MarchFourth Marching Band for $20.

SHOWTIME: 8:30 PM, PRICE: $12 Advance, $15 Door, $20 Reserved, Two Day Pass (Feb 17 & 18) available at WOW Hall for $20. BUY TICKETS NOW http://www.vagabondopera.com http://www.rocketboyarts.com/mood_area_52