Yellow Pages
The Oregon Donor, one of the bands that has made Anacortes a hub of the Northwest indie music scene, celebrates the release of its new full-length CD with a party 9 p.m. Saturday at the Brown Lantern Ale House. “A Pageant’s End,” the band’s darkest, grittiest and most epic work to date, was released Tuesday on Burning Building Recordings.
The foursome started making waves in 2002 when they followed the path of fellow Anacortesans Squid vs. Shark then John Van Deusen and the Lonely Forest to emerge as finalists in the Experience Music Project’s Sound Off! competition for young bands in Seattle. The Oregon Donor didn’t win the event, but did win over the crowd, taking home the audience response award.
The band — Christopher Edwards on lead guitar and vocals, Lance Umble on guitar, Jesse Cohen on bass and Kyle Holland on drums — has spent the last year touring and winning over live audiences, most notably opening a sold-out show with UK band The Wombats at Seattle’s Chop Suey, according to a press release.
“They’re young, ferociously passionate, with a progressive sound both energetic and expansive… one of the very best live bands that I’ve encountered in the past few months,” said Three Imaginary Girls, an online site billed as “Seattle’s sparkly indie-pop press.”
The Oregon Donor’s literate, memorable songs, range from sweet indie pop to nearly raucous pop punk, gradually growing edgier as the band matures. Employing instruments as diverse as flute and drum machine, they create precious and catchy yet melancholic pop tunes. The band is often compared to the likes of Modest Mouse, Built to Spill, Sunny Day Real Estate, and Faraquet.
Also this week:
• Department of Safety, 1011 12th St., presents: Why?, Mount Eerie and No Kids, Oct. 13. Call 293-2994.
• Rockfish Grill, 320 Commercial Ave., presents Frankly Moanin’, Oct. 7; Tony Furtado and Mia Dyson, Oct. 8, $8; Kim Archer, Oct. 10; Stilly River Band, Oct. 14. Music is 6 to 9 p.m. Wednesdays, 8 to 11 p.m. Thursdays and 9 p.m. to midnight Fridays and Saturdays unless otherwise noted. Call 588-1720.
• Star Bar, 416-1/2 Commercial Ave., presents The Tilted Stilts, Oct. 9; Coyote Blues, Oct. 10. Call 293-6747.
• Brown Lantern Ale House, 412 Commercial Ave., presents Open Mic Thursdays with Neil Stuchal, 9:30 p.m. to midnight; Movie Night after Monday Night Football; Tuesday trivia night. No cover. Call 293-2544.
• Anacortes Eagles presents live music 7:30-11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 6-8 p.m. Wednesdays: Rick Cooper, Oct. 9-10. Members and guests only. Call 293-3012.
• Thai Season Restaurant, 710 Commercial Ave., presents Emily Leopold 5-7 p.m. Sundays; no cover.
• Watertown Pub, 314 Commercial Ave., offers live music most weekends. Saturday is ladies night with top 40 DJ Ben Brown; Wednesday is karaoke night with DJ Steve, 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Call 293-3587.
• Johnny Picasso’s, 501 Commercial Ave., presents live music/open mic 7-9 p.m. Thursdays.
• Swinomish Northern Lights Casino presents Jazz Lunches 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesdays. Call 293-2691.
