Author Archive
Alan Armstrong
Looking to the Future of Funk Pop-Rock Fusion: An Interview with Fortune’s Folly
New Year’s Eve should be about recognizing the familiar—and introducing some optimism. If all done to the rhythm of a booty-shaking sound band and out on the dance floor, all the better! Cue: Eugene’s own fearsome four-piece, Fortune’s Folly: an alternative “make party with me” rock band made up of
Reggae Rock to Lift Your Spirits: An Interview with Frankie Hernandez
When Frankie Hernandez arrived on the Southern Oregon music scene sixteen years ago, he immediately immersed himself. In time he had played nearly every major venue in this area. Hernandez has had his songs featured on TV shows like Myth Busters and Hotel Hell, and he’s shared the stage with
The Soulful Vocal Stylings of a Southern Oregon Angel: An Interview with Shae Celine
Raised in Ashland, Shae Celine got her start studying vocal performance under Pamela Fry at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. Currently, she is the lead singer of six different band configurations in Southern Oregon. She continues to perform every weekend at various venues. Because of her accumulated experience with
Jazz Roots, Soul Steam Ahead: An Interview with Danielle Kelly
Raised in Alaska, Danielle Kelly absorbed every bit of performing arts experience she could. In school, she was in every play, every choir; she became smitten with jazz, practicing it all the way through high school. These days, Kelly and her band, Danielle Kelly Soul Project (DKSP) are fresh off
Catching Up with the Selma-Based Acoustic Guitar Songstress: An Interview with Dawna Crocker
Dawna Crocker will perform live at Weekend Beer in Grants Pass 5 pm, Monday, August 23 as part of the Messenger’s annual Music Sampler. She also performs at McGrews Lounge in O’Brien on Aug. 27. As a child, Dawna Crocker’s father, who was a talented musician himself, told her: “Unless
Reviewing “Loveland”: Rick Millward Invites Americana Dreams of Romantic Love with His Latest Release
Released earlier this year, Loveland features Rick Millward playing each of the featured instruments, short the saxophone and steel pedal guitar. Not quite a one-man band, but pretty darn (multi) talented. Originally from the Pacific Northwest, Millward lived in Nashville for years before returning to the west coast. But that
Staying Tuned Into Her Gratitude: An Interview with the Distinctive Guitar-Styling Songstress Alice DiMicele
Local musician and activist Alice DiMicele has been an established singer and guitarist in the Rogue Valley for more than thirty years. But last year, she had to change her approach, and learn technology to keep performing for her fans. DiMicele shares about her changes over the past year, and
The Soothing, Soulful Guitar of Jeff Kloetzel
Jeff Kloetzel has been in music for a long time, which is apparent by his polished, sublime performances. Being a self-taught guitar player from a musical family, he has graced thousands of stages, opening for musicians such as Jack Johnson, Natalie Merchant, and Jackson Browne. Locally, Kloetzel plays in wineries,
The Alt-Country Rock Sounds of Parole Denied
“Doesn’t it feel good to be back?!,” frontman Jay Rapp bellowed to the crowd as they forged through their hour-plus long set at Grape Street Bar on Friday, March 12. After the socially distanced crowd’s enthusiastic response to Rapp’s question, the night carried on with the band plowing through their
Celebrating the Diverse Musical Career of Jen Ambrose
Jen Ambrose has been a part of the Southern Oregon music scene for at least 20 years now. She studied flute, oboe, and piano in her early years. Then, she picked up the guitar and is now known for six and twelve string stylings ranging from intricate picking to fast