Spektors in the creek

Right here on campus, today, KPSU is holding an event that you shouldn’t miss for the life of you. At the Fifth Avenue Cinema, located across the street from hotel Ondine, there is going to be a performance by a local folk group Fanno Creek along with a screening of a Regina Spektor DVD of one her performances in London afterwards.

Fanno Creek, hailing from Forest Grove and held up by the duo guitar players and original founders Quinn Mulligan and Evan Hailstone, has been a work in progress since the two started up together in 2009. Tending to their interests and coping with their daily hardships, the two musicians would just get together to write music that meant something to them personally after they would each get off work. After creating a collection of great tunes, the two managed to produce enough folk-rock material to take another step—adding a percussionist, Dane Brinst.

Just like any other group with more than just an average confidence behind their music, the trio took to playing shows and populating their fanbase—which shouldn’t have been hard at all, taking into account their easygoing and catchy tunes. Whatever it is this group is doing, they are doing it well—the lyrics, the melodies and the transitions all come together to make your ears beg for more and keep your feet tapping.

Reaching listeners with their well-written lyrics, Fanno Creek has enough moxie to really touch people, as true folk music should. Upon first listening to them, a theme appears of a modern world having placed its usual burdens on them, which faintly echoes to something that Isaac Brock, lead singer and guitarist of Modest Mouse, might bring to the table as in one of his classic tunes “Custom Concern.” In one of Fanno Creek’s songs called “Thanksgiving Day,” the trio displays their ever-present songwriting talent. Opening the song with a progression that unintentionally pays homage to the classic ’80s tune “This is the Day” by Them, it continues to burst into fully melodic singing that is undoubtedly part of the talent that has gotten them this far.

What is highly respectable about these guys is that they have the ability to take a simple folk guitar riff and expand on it quite nicely with layers of clever lyrics and melodic vocal harmonies. Then, they add a talented percussionist who goes from playing a tambourine to using his sticks on the drum rims to add the perfect amount of bang. These guys are sure to get you out of your seat with the energy they bring.

The later half of this fun-packed KPSU event is the screening of Regina Spektor’s performance in London. It is said that she performs at her best when she is live, so this DVD is said to be one hell of a spectacle. The DVD and CD were recorded along the Russian-born artist’s world tour, which was sparked by her 2009 album “Far.” Directed by Adria Petty, the hour-plus of footage captures more than 10 of her fan favorites from “Far,” her 2006 album “Begin To Hope” and her debut album from 2004, “Soviet Kitsch.” ?