Our friends at Redemption Rocks! present Kutless, Disciple and Carlos Whittaker

WHERE: Eugene First Baptist Church – Eugene, Oregon
WHEN: May 11, 2011 @ 730PM

From Redemption Rocks! –

The least expensive place to get tickets is from First Baptist (18$ GA individual, 15$ GA groups of 10 or more. #541-345-0341). The next least expensive place is the Tree of Life bookstores at Valley River Center and Gateway Mall (18.50$ GA individual, 15.50$ GA group)

Hurdcore.com is “fans supporting local music.” Reppin’ local by teaming with artists, fans and venues to celebrate local efforts. Hurdcore covers metal, hip-hop, pop and rock from Eugene to Seattle to Davenport and beyond. Stay tuned to hurdcore.com, friend us on myspace and join us facebook.

The Kingdom of God is near! Turn from your sins and believe this Good News!” - Jesus

J Philly has been known for sometime throughout local hip hop circles within the Southern Willamette Valley, but for the aspiring artist 2010 was a year of leaps and bounds. From mainstay at Eugene hip hop extravaganzas such as Summer Jam, to charismatic host of Oregon Duck flash mob inspired Flock The Village to feature tracks on Eugene Weekly’s Next Big Thing, J Philly and his Phil-Da-Beast Records are taking tremendous strides to Reach The Top of the music mountain. Now joining forces with Balou The Sasquatch to form the rap duo known as Cave Dwellers, J Philly is making feel good music that gives more than lip service to faith and doing hip hop in a positive way. J Philly is vested in every aspect of music, making his mark with crisp beats, fresh flavors and tight flowing rhymes that are rooted in classic hip hop. Keep an eye out for the Cave Dwellers debut album Out Of Hibernation dropping late Spring 2011.

There is a lot of thanking “God and my mother” within rap, what is different about your approach faith and hip-hop? I use Hip-Hop as a ministry tool, so my faith in God gets thrown into a lot of my music. As far as bringing the people closer to Christ, I leave that up to them, not pushing my views, but opening doors. I try not to push my faith on anyone, kind of like honey to vinegar, because nobodies trying to hear an arrogant Christian Rapper.

Do you remember the first album/song that got you hooked on hip-hop?
Yes! Sir Mix-A-Lot’s first album “Swass”. As cheesy as it was, I was only 4 years old and didn’t know any better but, Posse On Broadway and Iron Man were definitely the prime cuts, then I moved onto De La Soul’s 3 Feet High And Rising and developed an obsession.

You talk about “the original elements of hip hop,” what is hip-hop to you?
Hip Hop to me is another way to express yourself through a vastly growing culture; you always have to stay relevant and know what sounds good. If you come out with something wack, you’re automatically labeled as “just another wannabe” or “not serious with your music”.

Is there a difference between hip-hop and rap? Yes, there is. Which pertains to your last question. Rap is just one element of the Hip Hop culture. Rapping is what an MC does, where as you’ve got the DJ on the turntables, Graffiti artists, B-Boys and B-Girls break dancing, beatboxing, and knowledge of the culture, so study up!

Are you at a point where hip-hop is paying the bills or do you still have the 9 to 5? I am happy to say that I quit my job a few years ago to focus on my music! It’s been a great ride so far, and I don’t see myself going back. My wife keeps a 9 to 5, but the ultimate goal is to make enough doing what I love to let her stay home.

Phil-Da-Beast Records is another venture of yours, are you involved in all aspects of recording? Phil-Da-Beast Records is a label I started back in 2007. I needed the business aspect of things to give it a professional feel and push myself out of a 10-year slump. I do everything including production, editing, recording, mastering, DJing, and self-promotion. I’ve always gone by the independent rule, “do as much as you can, for as long as you can, then ask for help”.

Do you produce artists other than yourself? I’ve produced for a bunch of artists, mostly local, but if you want a taste of the Phil-Da-Beast flavor, you can check out Todd G, The Cave Dwellers (Balou The Sasquatch and myself), Incyte, Endr Won, The Reward System, Mack Dub, KB The New, Brittani G, Fish Martinez, and recently a 12-year-old singer named LeLe. I’m always looking for people to collaborate with as well.

Your last release was a Mixtape titled Leak Of The Week, was this a compilation of previous songs or all new material? It was all new. I wanted to come out with something to get a buzz, and to stay relevant, something for the fans between LPs. I decided to leak a free downloadable song to anyone that wanted it every Friday for 3 months. I gained quite a few fans from around the way, and got a lot of people to admit they know me, haha!

Obviously in these parts the Ducks have always been a big deal, but this past year was one for the ages. How did you get involved with the Flock The Village event? I was brought in to the project because I had auto tune, an effect needed for the track. The song we did was a rendition of The Black Eyed Peas’ “I Got A Feeling”, so they needed to make someone sound like Will.I.Am. They also wanted me to be the hype man-rapper guy. They didn’t really know much about me until I started suggesting crucial ideas, then I became the vocal editor and go-to what sounds good advisor. I even gave the band the name “4toFly”. That event went so well that there’s talk of doing an annual pep rally for the fans. Being a part of that project also stemmed off so much business for me, I’m still reaping the benefits.

2010 was a big year for you with popular local shows, Flock The Village and inclusion in Eugene Weekly’s Next Big Thing compilation album. What did you learn/discover in 2010 that you want to expand upon in 2011 as an artist? I really got a feel for how to conduct myself as an artist here in Eugene. I received loads of respect and head nods, and plan to keep pushing the envelope, giving the people what THEY want and not exactly what I want to give them. It’s an ongoing balancing act, but I think I’ve gained more knowledge of how to keep my music personalized, yet catchy.

With all that you were involved with in 2010 – what are some of the “must attend” events for local music coming up in 2011? Here in Eugene, the must attend Hip Hop event is always “Summer Jam”. That’s where they bring out all the heavy hitters. There’s talk of The Cave Dwellers opening for KJ-52 so be on the look out. Other than that, anything that Cool Nutz is at and anything that doesn’t involve a janky promoter.

When/how did J Philly and Balou The Sasquatch become The Cave Dwellers? Actually, it started with a weekly bible study. After each study, we would talk music. We became best friends and decided because we collab so much, it might be a good idea to do a project together. Thus, The Cave Dwellers were in full effect!

Is there any meaning or story behind the selection of the name? Yes! Since Big B is a Sasquatch and I am a Beast, we wanted to come up with something mutual. The only thing we could find was a cave. It’s for the people too! I believe that we all feel like we are stuck in a cave in some point in our lives, so it’s a metaphor for finally seeing the light and doing something about it.

How close are we to seeing an EP/LP from The Cave Dwellers? Very close, in fact it might be available before this interview comes out. We have a 17 song LP slated for April/May 2011.

J Philly (Hip Hop – Eugene, OR) solo hip hop artist as well as member of the rap duo The Cave Dwellers w/ Balou The Sasquatch and point man for Phil Da Beast Records. Look for Cave Dwellers to release their first full length album, Out Of Hibernation, April/May 2011.

Applying the hurdcore.com spin to album reviews, band bios and artist interviews. Covering local metal, hip-hop and indie artists and events from Washington, Oregon, Idaho, California, Illinois and far beyond. Interviews with local bands posted every Sunday, friend us on myspace and join us facebook.

What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world, but loses his soul? - Jesus

Redemption Rocks! Concerts Presents – A Benefit Show For Homeless Youth

Redemption Rocks! Concerts Presents – A Benefit Show For Homeless Youth

Paul Wright & Rootdown
w/ special guests Caleb & Sol
The Parker Brothers
guest emcee Josh Bidwell (NFL all pro and former Duck)

When: Saturday – April 2, 2011 @ 7PM
Where: Northwest Christian University
828 E. 11th – Eugene, OR

Tickets $10 Advance; $8 Group; $12 Door
Tickets available at Eugene area Tree of Life Store, www.itickets.com or charge by phone 800.965.9324
More info 541.344.3370 – www.redemptionrocksconcerts.com

All Profits Go To Hosea Youth Services

Redemption Rocks! Concerts with Hope 107.0, Eugene Weekly, Tree of Life Christian Outlet, Northwest Christian University, Hosea Youth Services, Techna Print, Nicholas Fargher.

Music news, reviews and interviews posted weekly at hurdcore.com. Partnering with artists, fans and venues to fan the flames of local ambition. Hurdcore supports local rock, pop, hip-hop and metal from Northwest to the Midwest. Keep reppin’ local, friend us on myspace and join us facebook.

There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death. – Proverbs 14:12

97.9 KNRQ, 96.1 KZEL and John Henry’s announce that they are accepting band/artist submissions for LAST BAND STANDING 2011 (Eugene, Oregon)

• One submission per band please.
• The final 32 band roster is selected by committee.
Band Submission Page

2010 saw 3 rounds of competition with local bands competing for the final spot. Sponsors for last years event included 97.9 KNRQ, 96.1 KZEL, PRS Guitars, Eugene Weekly, WOW Hall, John Henry’s, CD Game Exchange and more to crown Invane as the winner of the 2010 Last Band Standing.

Local bands, artists and events from Northwest and Midwest. Hurdcore.com is promoting local music, art, entertainment and related news from our base in Eugene, Oregon and Moline, Illinois. Whether hardcore, punk, indie or rap. Check in throughout the week, friend us on myspace and join us facebook.

Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart. Proverbs 3:3

Dizzy D Promotions presents Green and Yellow Throwdown at Diablo’s Downtown Lounge (DTL) in Eugene, Oregon. In celebration of Dizzy D’s 4th year of promoting local hip-hop, the promotions vehicle gathered samples of some of the best local rap from Eugene and the Willamette Valley. The hurdcore.com crew arrived early to shoot some pool and found the DTL to be a spacious venue with pockets where conversation is possible while still being engaged in whatever action is happening on stage.

Zay Oni opened the show followed by Darkfeather who proudly wore his Native American heritage utilizing beats with good blends, throaty vocals and plenty of base to get the crowd moving. For a Green and Yellow Throwdown, the first jam explicitly Duck themed was brought by Drama Causin Poet. DCP is fairly new to the scene but has taken support and inspiration from veteran acts such as MackDub and initiated his own hip-hop revolution in his hometown of Roseburg, Oregon. The Biz and his branded Killer Team glimmered a frat-boy presence with the Blazer Red and Black.

Yung If is a marketing minded man with a laid back demeanor, the local hip-hop up-and-comer combines “Solo-Dolo” lifestyle with the groove and flow of rap royalty. Hurdcore.com is now the proud owner of a Yung If album given to us by the man himself – look for review soon (send us your albums for review). Though he may be Eugene’s shortest rapper there is no shortage of presence when Undermind is at the mic, unleashing his rare flavor of electronic-hip-hop upon fans throughout the Willamette Valley. The set is a little bit Mario Bros beats meets ADHD hip-hop as Undermind crams more words per minute into every square foot of the stage than most performers get in a whole set. Historical and political references, pockets of humor, range from fast to mellow, Undermind is an entertaining electo/trance/rap work out for the body and mind, closing his set with the only freestyle of the night.

Suganuts came down from Albany, Oregon to share in the festivities, performing a mix of classic and new jams for the Eugene crowd. Albany’s resident speedster, Yung Royal provided some backup for the song “Broken” which is to be one of the tracks on Suganut’s yet to be released upcoming album. Suganuts spit out the radio-ready title track “Natural”, which is a hurdcore.com fan favorite, as well as his most widely known tracks such as “Friend 2 Foe” and “F’in Around”. As one of the four horsemen who are instrumental in the development of hip-hop in the Willamette Valley, MackDub made his presence known throughout the night and finally taking the stage to Dub-u-tize the crowd. MackDub is a family minded man and brought guest spots with posse members of individual note Drops (of Green State) and Dustin Fuller.

Dizzy D Promotions put on a great show with a good turnout at a reputable Eugene venue to celebrate their fourth anniversary of repping local hip-hop. Diablo’s Downtown Lounge offers drink specials nightly w/ PBR on tap @ $2.50 a pint every night. Three pool tables, plenty of seating, ample stage and a designated dance floor. Diablo’s Downtown Lounge @ 959 Pearl Street – Eugene, OR 97401

Local bands, artists and events from Northwest and Midwest. Hurdcore.com is promoting local music, art, entertainment and related news from our base in Eugene, Oregon and Moline, Illinois. Whether hardcore, punk, indie or rap. Check in throughout the week, friend us on myspace and join us facebook.

Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart. Proverbs 3:3

Eugene Weekly has long been the champion of all things entertainment, whether underground or above ground, in the Southern Willamette Valley. After a successful inaugural year of hosting an online search for the best original hit single in Eugene, they have assembled music friendly local forces again ignite the engines of this internet based and voter generated entertainment popularity contest.

For all local bands and artists interested in this contest, the process looks like this:

1) Artists can enter the contest by coming by Eugene Weekly offices at 1251 Lincoln Street. Artists will need to submit their song on CD plus photo and bio and a web-link if one is available. Artists must use the entry form located at http://nextbigthingeugene.com/entry.pdf

2) Entry fee is $20.00 per song. Bands can submit as many songs as they want.
You must submit only songs that are original and owned by the person or band making the submission. You will be asked to sign a release form for possible inclusion on the Compilation CD. All Artists selected for the compilation CD will be invited to host a “Release Party” in November of 2010.

Contact hurdcore.com – “fans supporting local music.” for opportunities to promote your band or event (hurdcore@gmail.com) album reviews, band bios, content management and more. New interviews posted every Sunday local shows posted on Thursdays, stay in touch by friending us on myspace and joining us facebook.

…for death is the destiny of every man; the living should take this to heart – Solomon

In it’s seventh year of showcasing some of the best hip-hop from Portland to Eugene, SummerJam 2010 gave the WOW Hall in the heart of Eugene, Oregon a full menu with flavors from Northwest’s old and new schools of rap. With premiere acts the likes of Cool Nutz, Endr Won, Maniac Lok, Mackdub and Todd G as well as rising local talent such as Absoloot, J Will, Drops, Philosophy and J Philly, to name a few. Willy Mays aka Mackdub, has been pushing Oregon’s hip-hop scene for over 20 years and has been working with local rappers to elevate the Northwest.

Caught the last song of the night for Drama, the sound live was laid back. There must have been a lot of performers that had places to go because many of their backups were wearing various backpacks – “Hey dude, thanks for having me in the show but I gotta jet.” I got away with one of Drama’s CDs and there is a characteristically low key vibe with just enough flavor to keep things interesting. DJ Shimmy and Crisis hit the ground running, introducing the first Hispanic flavor of the night, spicing his rhymes hot like habanera with some rapid fire cholo-chops. Crisis began to awaken the crowd, getting the people moving but also drawing out one tactless detractor eager only to hear his favorite rapper which didn’t happen to be the act at hand.

Arriving with a posse both on the stage and in the crowd, Absoloot animated the stage with enthusiasm and a smooth delivery of some heavily street influenced lyrics. Sporting the signature “Got Guap”, Absoloot spins a tale of the darker side of life in Eugene. If the depictions of E-town life presented by Absoloot and other artists are correct, party-goers in Eugene might be henceforth be warned – B.Y.O.B.B (Bring Your Own Body Bag) as the local atmosphere in the Southern Willamette Valley is pretty heavy through their street tinted glasses. Keno’s sound progressed with heft as his performance warmed through the set. SummerJam was happily broadcast as an international gathering of local talent, the African native now rapping as Young If (pronounced eef) mixed in some multicultural elements but otherwise fit into the backdrop of American hip-hop quite snuggly.

While there was diversity in sound from the artists who performed prior to the arrival of Philosophy, it seems the college graduate was unique in his attempts to elevate the room by delivering something other than the sex-money-drugs formula so often repeated in much of mainstream music. Philosophy was also the first to bring his own accompaniment and appeared to have produced the beats for many of his own tracks. Through innovation, showmanship and energy Philosophy got a majority of the crowd moving, shouting along with his Northwest inspired lyrics while bodies were bouncing up and down. The chorus line for Kent B’s homage to the ladies in the crowd, “You Don’t Know How You Make Me Feel” was perhaps the most sing-along-friendly hook of the night. Drops and the Green State crew had a fluid blend of styles with Mackdub and proud uncle Dustin Fuller contributing on several tracks.

Eugene’s reformed and born again pimp Todd G brought some old school flavor with his Gorilla Gospel. Fresh on local soil after having recently returned from touring Europe with the premiere of Northwest hip-hop, Todd G has built his own celebrity with features in publications like The Source and Vibe, you can dig more into his personal story of streets-to-redemption at www.toddgministries.com. Todd G shared the stage with a cameo from Rated X who flawlessly delivered the only freestyle rhyme of the night. Rapper J Philly and Sasquatch have joined forces to create the hip-hop super group The Cavedwellers, and the crowd was responsive to their unique take on old school spits. In addition to his role as the organizer and MC of SummerJam 2010, Mackdub kept the party rolling by inciting the crowd with a few raps of his own. J Will was constant in his role of CEO of beats for the night and stepped from behind the turntables to kill the crowd by raising his own mic.

Northwest A-List Rap Celbrity Cool Nutz took the stage like a pro with Maniac Lok and DJ Fatboy tearing things up. For whatever reason, either Eugenian hip-hop heads are all on 11:30PM curfew or just don’t have a lot of respect for those who are really pushing the Oregon scene at the highest levels, but the crowd thinned out during one of the best performances of the night. Just in case the reader is unaware, Cool Nutz aka Terrance Scott, helms The Northwest Radio Breakout Show, Oregon Hip-Hop Festival and founded Jus Family Records with business partner Bosco Kante. Cool Nutz and the crew will be returning to E-Town on October 3, 2010 at the McDonald Theatre when Tech N9ne comes to town. Taking center stage in his hometown, Eugene’s own internationally known son of swag, Endr Won torched the stage with blends from his earlier and admittedly darker themes as well as the lighter, while still not cuddly, side of his more recent music. Endr Won was all pro even amidst the flippancy of Eugene’s too good for what’s good magically evaporating crowd.

SummerJam 2010 was a fun and full bodied blend of some of the best old and new school Northwest hip-hop available. Mackdub and the WOW Hall were enthusiastic hosts and our introduction to the venue left us hungry for more. Keep tabs here at hurdcore.com as we follow up with artists from SummerJam and prepare for more live performances here in the Willamette Valley.

Interviews with the best of local artists and national acts, hurdcore.com is – “fans supporting local music.” Posts interviews every Sunday with local artists from hip-hop to metal as well as additional content throughout the week. Covering local bands, concerts and venues from Seattle to Portland, Medford to Spokane, Eugene to Idaho and as well as the Midwest and California. Hurdcore.com supports local music ranging from hip-hop, metal, pop, punk, hardcore, indie and more. Stay tuned to hurdcore.com, friend us on myspace and join us facebook. To request album reviews, band bios, content management, interviews or to discuss advertising opportunities email us – hurdcore@gmail.com – be specific in “subject” line.

There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death. Proverbs 14:12

We’re late to the party but just discovered this Northwest treat from Portland-by-way-of-Eugene, Oregon hip-hop artist Lafa Taylor and his concept driven play on words. The lyrics, delivery and video are fun as well as engaging as you listen for the double meanings. WARNING: Some Explicit Lyrics.

For more information on local music, band interviews, concert updates and promotional content. Local bands, artists, concerts, venues, tours and events from rock, hip-hop, metal, pop, punk, hardcore, acoustic, indie, organic, progressive, funk, rap and more. Stay tuned to hurdcore.com, friend us on myspace and join us facebook. Hurdcore is open to partnerships to promote local arts, music and entertainment as well as advertising opportunities – hurdcore@gmail.com – be specific in “subject” line.

Jesus answered them, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor — sick people do. I have come to call sinners to turn from their sins, not to spend my time with those who think they are already good enough. Luke 5:31,32

Whether its alternative, groovy and progressive or progressive, groovy and alternative, Greenlander will awaken your 90′s tonal senses while indulging your more modern tastes. With a firm foundation in the academic branches of the pursuit of musical excellence, these rock practitioners stand at the ready to help you get your boogie on. Greenlander joins the cast of the mixed genre (rock and hip-hop) extravaganza which will be performing with The Everything Show on March 27, 2010 at Riley’s in Albany, Oregon (more info at the end of this article).

How long have you all been at it and how did you get started
GL Greenlander has been playing together since we were sophomores in high school, which was back in 2004.

How would you describe your sound and what makes it different from other bands who may be in a similar genre?
GL Our sound is heavily influenced from 90’s alternative rock. We love to groove and we do so through the use of funk, syncopation, and unison riffs. We are a progressive, groovy, alternative band.

What is a live experience with Greenlander like?
GL When our bass player doesn’t have a dislocated ankle, mono, or SARS we are a very energetic band. Our music is the source of our energy. On stage we’re not acrobats and we keep power jumping to a minimum. However on rare occasions our energy sources will level up to a bewildering 48 jewels and then we get “buck wild” and pull wicked cool combos.

What are some of your best and worst experiences at a live show?
GL As far as our worst live show goes, one time we were playing on the UO campus and the sprinklers turned on during our second song of the set. Our best live experience was when we headlined a 4th of July show at Dexter Lake and had the opportunity to share our music for 3000 awesome people.

Where do the sons of Greenlander hail from?
GL Half of the band is from Cottage Grove and the other half Creswell, Oregon. After high school we all moved to Eugene where we live now.

What do you enjoy most about the local scene there in Eugene?
GL We love the laid back helpful attitude of the other bands we play with. It is nice to be able to hang with the other bands in the area.

Who have been some of the people that have helped you as you continue to develop your sound and presence as a band?
GL When we were going to high school our music director James Phillips was a huge influence, he really helped Merlin and Thomas get heavy into music. Our parents were also really helpful providing encouragement, food and rehearsal space. Now that we are in Eugene, James Book of Ninkasi Brewery has been really supportive of our band and has been really helpful with booking and production. Also our manager Austin Kovac has been amazing with everything he does.

What are some of the best memories for Greenlander from 2009?
GL 2009 was a great year for us because we started to get sponsorship deals. Both Ninkasi and Sparks sponsored our band in 2009. Also Trevor got arrested in Mexico.

What are you looking forward to most in 2010?
GL We are really pumped for 2010 because now that we have a manager we are really starting to get our act together. We are planning a tour in the summer and planning on doing some more recordings.

What do you hope fans will take from your music?
GL Our music is all about having fun. We want people to be happy and have a good time when they listen to our music.

Any favorite stories fans have told you?
GL One of our fans told us this story: When he was 5 years old he went to visit his aunt and uncle. At this point in time he had never heard of a ferret. So he strolled into his aunt and uncles house wearing his favorite sweatshirt, excited by the prospect of seeing his relatives. He sat down on the couch, an unassuming young boy in his favorite sweatshirt. When all of a sudden out of the back room his aunt’s ferret came streaking across the room leaping through the air toward the boy. Claws extended, like a cat pouncing on a startled mouse, the ferret assaulted the boy. He can’t remember if the ferret started pooping before or after it landed on him but he was certain the feces and the ferret hit at the same time. Upon landing the ferret began clawing and twisting and really just going crazy. The boy lept up screaming and running around the room trying in vain to remove the bloodthirsty ferret. Quickly his aunt came to his aid and removed the ferret. His favorite sweatshirt shredded and covered in ferret crap the boy wept. Since that day he has had a deep-rooted hatred for ferrets.

Recent trend that you will never join?
GL College boys with their flat billed hats with the stickers still on and college girls with the giant sunglasses that make them look like flies on acid.

Anything interesting that you’ve read recently?
GL We are musicians we don’t read for fun. All of the books we are reading now are text or music type books.

What has been grabbing your attention musically?
GL The band is on a really big Porcupine Tree listening binge. We are also into Dream Theatre, Mutemath and The Red Hot Chili Peppers.

In your spare time, what do you enjoy watching?
GL We are watching The Office, 30 Rock and Blazers basketball.

Any crazy pre-performance rituals? When you are all divas, what will you demand be in your dressing room?
GL We don’t really do anything before shows. But when we are rock stars we are going to demand appropriately sized bread and cheese, a miniature basketball hoop, an open bar and all we can eat Charleston Chews.

What are the top 5 songs in your personal playlist right now?
GL Arriving Somewhere But Not Here – Porcupine Tree; Aeroplane – Red Hot Chili Peppers; Typical – Mutemath; Set it Off – Audioslave; Home – Dream Theatre.

For more information, interviews and updates for live local music concert tours. Local bands, artists, concerts, venues, tours and events from rock, hip-hop, metal, pop, punk, hardcore, alternative, acoustic, power pop, thrash, R&B, soul, reggae, indie, heavy metal, organic, progressive, funk, death metal, rap and more. Stay tuned to hurdcore.com, friend us on myspace and join us facebook

Through hurdcore we have met artists, bands, promoters, fans, supporters…individuals who are teaming together to support local music. Its always inspiring to meet people who are actively chasing their dreams and using the tools they have to make a difference in their community. Of this caliber, there are few people working harder at the ground level for local music than Kit Day and Daniel Langenberg, whom hurdcore readers may recognize from their work with getting TreeHouse Venue up and running in Eugene, Oregon. So, we take pleasure in sharing our recent interview with Kit Day, of The Great Exploration, as he shares a bit of the story of how these man-students stepped out to add writing and playing music to their already robust efforts in promoting and hosting it at the local level.

The Great Exploration is fairly new as a band, how would you describe your sound?
TGE mixes progressive/experimental/and alternative all under the same roof.

You’ve played a few select shows and had some great turnouts, what is one of the coolest things a fan has ever said to/about your band? TGE Wow, that’s a tough question! We recently read an article in the paper where we were compared to Coldplay, Seabird, and Danyew. We thought that was pretty cool.

What was your favorite memory as a band from 2009?
TGE Honestly, our favorite memory was recording! We work with a close friend who is a recording engineer and had a blast with him.

TGE has a polished sound and you all play well together, as a band you’ve said, “Musically we strive to grow in the creativity God has given us and to give it back to Him through worship.” Is The Great Exploration a worship band, as in you play regularly for a church on Sunday mornings?
TGE I hope I don’t confuse you with my answer! Is TGE a worship band? Yes and No. When I say no, I mean we don’t “sound” like a typical worship band. We are beginning to progress more towards a experimental/progressive sound. When we create music, we try to be unique. When I say yes, our lyrics are completely geared towards worship.

Alright, so for those who still have trouble understanding the distinction, what’s the difference between a worship song and worshiping God?
TGE Music in general is worship. When you come to the realization that God is the one who has given you the talent and creativity to play music, you in turn give it back to Him. This is worship. Giving yourself in complete surrender. This is the difference between a worship song and worshiping God. It’s funny, we all go to different churches. Some of us play on worship teams, others don’t.

TGE had a strong upstart in 2009, what are you all looking forward to most in 2010?
TGE As for 2010, we were looking forward to playing at Tom Fest. Unfortunately we just read that the owner is revamping some things and will be postponing Tom Fest until next year. Oh well.

What has been your favorite show to date?
TGE Our favorite show was last Saturday night (Feb 6th)! We played with some fun bands and had a HUGE turnout of 500 people!

Have you had the chance to tour yet?
TGE Ha, no tour. We’re all in school full time, so a tour is kinda out of the question. Maybe someday!

At the time of writing this interview, your TGE MySpace profile quote reads, “Compassion will cure more sins than condemnation.” What do you mean by this?
TGE As a band, we believe God has sent us to love, not condemn people. You will find this mindset deeply rooted in both our hearts and our music.

Your song “Comforter” is obviously a spiritual tune, is this a general song about God or is there a specific circumstance that inspired the writing?
TGE “Comforter” actually was inspired from scripture:

Ecclesiastes 4:1 (NIV) Again I looked and saw all the oppression that was taking place under the sun: I saw the tears of the oppressed—and they have no comforter; power was on the side of their oppressors—and they have no comforter.

John 14:16 (ASV) And I will pray (to) the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may be with you for ever.

It’s a song to remind us that we have a comforter who is watching over us no matter what situation we may be in.

How is He [God] a comforter? Is He only a comforter to those who believe/obey Him?
TGE He is our Comforter in this crazy world. Not only is He a comforter to those who believe in Him, but he can be a comforter to those who choose to let Him in. It all starts with a personal choice.

A lot of people say that they believe in God or some kind of higher power. Saying that you believe in God, and maybe even being a Christian, doesn’t necessarily tell a complete story, what specifically do you believe about God?
TGE We believe God is love. Absolute, complete, pure and perfect love. God is truth. He created us. He inspired creation. He is in us and around us. He chose to love us so much that He gave his son Jesus Christ to die a gruesome death so we might live forever with Him.

You’ve stated, “As a band, we don’t want to be surface Christians. We want to continue to grow deeper in our relationship with Christ and spread his love in every way possible. Every day we aim to discover more of this incredible God who has shown us so much love and grace.” When did you become a Christian?
TGE This is a hard question! Only because there are 6 of us and we all came to Christ at different points in our life. I personally (Kit Day) grew up in a Christian household. I will admit, when I moved away to college I slipped a little. It’s funny how when you have absolute “freedom” to do whatever you want you tend to give into the pressures of society. I can tell you I hit a point where I asked myself, “Is this really how you want to live?” My answer, of course, was no. I sensed I was distant from God and it felt horrendous. Once I made a point to turn back, God swooped me right back into His arms. It felt, for a lack of a better word, monumental.

What are the origins of TGE? Can you pinpoint the moment when you knew you wanted to get serious about being in a band?
TGE When TGE was formed, it wasn’t meant with the intentions to last. Dan and I needed a 3rd band to play at Treehouse, so we thought why not put some songs together? We collaborated with some of our music buddies and put some songs together in a month’s time. After that, we realized we loved playing together and it took off from there.

We thought we recognized some of your faces from The Treehouse Venue (see hurdcore article from 2009 on THV) how is this effort going?
TGE Daniel Langenberg and myself (Kit Day) operate a local music venue called Treehouse Venue. It’s been open for about a year now and slowly getting its feet off the ground. We’re in the middle of a transition phase (new building, new sponsors, and lots of other new stuff!). I can’t really go into details because nothing has been finalized, but we’re exhilarated with anticipation!

So, you have become a two-headed monster with your efforts in TreeHouse Venue and now The Great Exploration, are you all native Eugeneians? What makes Eugene special?
TGE I think I am the only one who is not a Eugene native. I come from different places in Oregon, California, and Washington. I finally ended up in Oregon after moving away to college. Our favorite feature in Oregon is how beautiful and green everything is! The summer’s here are also amazing!

Who has been the greatest influence and/or support in getting you to where you are now?
TGE My greatest support would definitely be my wife! She has been amazing during this process and I thank God for her every day. Our close friends also supported us tremendously.

What are the weapons of choice for TGE?
TGE Uh-oh, now you’re asking for a LONG list! Where do I start? We love having as many instruments on stage as possible. I won’t post everything we use because the list will tire your eyes. Here are the important brands we enjoy:
Fender! (Fender guitars, fender tube amps); Taylor Acoustic Guitars; Boss, MXR, Fulltone, Vox, and Ernie ball Pedals; Furman Pedal board; Schecter Bass; Ampeg Bass Amps; Pixiphone; Xylophone/glockenspiel;
Lots and Lots of percussion

As a fan of music, who are you digging right now? What would be the top 5 on your ipod playlist?
TGE Here are our the 5 that inspire our music the most: Future of Forestry, Deas Vail, Glorious Unseen, Mutemath, Danyew.

…A few quick questions: If I had an extra $1000, the first piece of equipment that I would purchase for the band is a massive glockenspiel!? Currently reading Come Thirsty by Max Ludado, listening to This Will Destroy You and watching Ice Age (yes, all at the same time!)?

Our thanks/kudos to Will Foster Photography for the pics of TGE.
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