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Justin Whited, bass player for the Oakland-based band Harness the Unseen, performs Tuesday at the Riversdale Grange. Local and regional bands, including Whited's band, converge from 2 to 10 p.m. Saturday to compete for bragging rights and $500 cash.
The Riversdale Grange stands alone in a dark sea of fog wafting up from the nearby river, its gravel parking lot filled with young, pierced people, its walls vibrating with the sounds of deep bass, drum beats, and mumbled lyrics from within. The entire scene is in stark contrast to the nearby Roseburg Country Club, and that is just the way the Riversdale crowd likes it.
The old grange building would seem to be one of the last locations for concerts staged for and by Douglas County's youth. Erik Carson, a local promoter, takes full advantage of the grange's low reservation fee and its owner's cooperation to put on several shows a month. This weekend Carson rings in his 21st birthday by doing what he always does — giving the kids a show.
Saturday will mark the second battle of the bands show Carson has brought to Roseburg. Ten bands from the region will converge on the grange from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. to compete for $500 cash, bragging rights, and respect from their peers. Three other touring bands will perform for the enjoyment of the audience, all of which is included for the $13 door ticket price ($10 advance tickets are available at Absolute Sound & Music).
“It's nice to do something for the kids,” Carson said. “Otherwise they get into drugs and drinking.”
Carson promotes drug- and alcohol-free shows in an environment where everyone is welcomed to be themselves, something he found comforting in his high school years. When he was a teen, Carson went to a series of shows put on by Nate Allen called Rock for Reason. There he met like-minded people and deepened his love of music.
“(The shows) helped shape who I am,” Carson said. “It was a nice alternative to high school.”
His production company, called Carlson Productions, is a labor of love. It is made up of himself, his family, and volunteers from the Sutherlin Family Church who print his fliers and run the kitchen during shows. He rarely makes a profit, and when he does he puts it towards show equipment. Carson hopes to provide a good environment to youth through his shows while giving bands a chance to show off their musical skills.
Tony Marin of the competing band Lidless Eye is among those looking forward to the opportunity.
“Music is my life,” Marin said. “Win or lose, we want to share it with everybody.”
With few area venues still allowing rock shows (noise and disputes over damages have been a problem at other places), many bands in the battle are just happy to be in the show.
“We are stoked that we get a chance to play,” said Craig Prater of Abandon the Shore. “The money would be fantastic, but we aren't going to cry if we don't win.”
Riversdale Grange President Ross Van Houten said the show's noise doesn't bother anyone at the remote location, and he has had very few problems with the crowd.
“Erik runs a clean show,” Van Houten said. “Anytime you can do something to get kids out of trouble its good. It helps the parents out.”
Allen a former Roseburg resident and promoter, also said he is happy to see Carson continue his legacy.
“I think he (Carson) has done a good job. I have seen him grow as a promoter in the last four or five years,” Allen said. “It is good to see him come into his own.”
Allen, who is currently touring the country as a folk artist, said rock and roll was a great influence for him. He said he hopes to see the community embrace Carson's shows the way they did his years ago.
Contenders in Saturday's battle, remain cautiously optimistic that they will sway enough votes in their favor, but they respect their competition.
“All the bands have their own specialty,” Prater said. “They are all good in their own way. It's anyone's game.”
Marin thinks his band has a “very, very good chance” at winning, but promises there won't be any love lost if another band takes the title.
Prater's band, which has members on the coast and in Eugene, said they also look forward to playing for the Roseburg crowd.
“The kids there are absolutely fantastic. They make an appearance at every show,” he said. “They never cease to please.”
• You can reach reporter Heather Morse at 957-4208 or by e-mail at hmorse@nrtoday.com.
The old grange building would seem to be one of the last locations for concerts staged for and by Douglas County's youth. Erik Carson, a local promoter, takes full advantage of the grange's low reservation fee and its owner's cooperation to put on several shows a month. This weekend Carson rings in his 21st birthday by doing what he always does — giving the kids a show.
Saturday will mark the second battle of the bands show Carson has brought to Roseburg. Ten bands from the region will converge on the grange from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. to compete for $500 cash, bragging rights, and respect from their peers. Three other touring bands will perform for the enjoyment of the audience, all of which is included for the $13 door ticket price ($10 advance tickets are available at Absolute Sound & Music).
“It's nice to do something for the kids,” Carson said. “Otherwise they get into drugs and drinking.”
Carson promotes drug- and alcohol-free shows in an environment where everyone is welcomed to be themselves, something he found comforting in his high school years. When he was a teen, Carson went to a series of shows put on by Nate Allen called Rock for Reason. There he met like-minded people and deepened his love of music.
“(The shows) helped shape who I am,” Carson said. “It was a nice alternative to high school.”
His production company, called Carlson Productions, is a labor of love. It is made up of himself, his family, and volunteers from the Sutherlin Family Church who print his fliers and run the kitchen during shows. He rarely makes a profit, and when he does he puts it towards show equipment. Carson hopes to provide a good environment to youth through his shows while giving bands a chance to show off their musical skills.
Tony Marin of the competing band Lidless Eye is among those looking forward to the opportunity.
“Music is my life,” Marin said. “Win or lose, we want to share it with everybody.”
With few area venues still allowing rock shows (noise and disputes over damages have been a problem at other places), many bands in the battle are just happy to be in the show.
“We are stoked that we get a chance to play,” said Craig Prater of Abandon the Shore. “The money would be fantastic, but we aren't going to cry if we don't win.”
Riversdale Grange President Ross Van Houten said the show's noise doesn't bother anyone at the remote location, and he has had very few problems with the crowd.
“Erik runs a clean show,” Van Houten said. “Anytime you can do something to get kids out of trouble its good. It helps the parents out.”
Allen a former Roseburg resident and promoter, also said he is happy to see Carson continue his legacy.
“I think he (Carson) has done a good job. I have seen him grow as a promoter in the last four or five years,” Allen said. “It is good to see him come into his own.”
Allen, who is currently touring the country as a folk artist, said rock and roll was a great influence for him. He said he hopes to see the community embrace Carson's shows the way they did his years ago.
Contenders in Saturday's battle, remain cautiously optimistic that they will sway enough votes in their favor, but they respect their competition.
“All the bands have their own specialty,” Prater said. “They are all good in their own way. It's anyone's game.”
Marin thinks his band has a “very, very good chance” at winning, but promises there won't be any love lost if another band takes the title.
Prater's band, which has members on the coast and in Eugene, said they also look forward to playing for the Roseburg crowd.
“The kids there are absolutely fantastic. They make an appearance at every show,” he said. “They never cease to please.”
• You can reach reporter Heather Morse at 957-4208 or by e-mail at hmorse@nrtoday.com.
