Oregon Music News

From all the side projects of The String Cheese Incident’s members, EOTO (pronounced like the Japanese city, Kyoto without the ‘K’) is perhaps the most diverse, experimental and strange. Thus, Oregonians should not be alarmed when they see robots in attendance at Eugene’s WOW Hall on Thursday night as EOTO brings a mixture of electronic, world music, and rock tastes to their second of three Oregon shows.

Since their 2006 debut release, Elephants Only Talk Occasionally, EOTO has nourished their fan’s hunger for a fusion between electro-rock while combining elements of hip-hop, world music, jazz, and R&B into their growing buffet of musical obscurities. In fact, after listening to one of their albums, one may get the sense of listening to a dozen bands in the span of fifteen minutes, when in truth, EOTO’s sound is composed by only two individuals. Drummer Michael Travis and percussionist Jason Hann of The String Cheese Incident created EOTO, an acronym for End Of Time Observatory, in attempt to craft an original, improvised set of trip-hop, house, and drum n bass that fluctuates between each tour stop.

Like most modern DJs, Travis and Hann find new approaches towards playing their music to audiences worldwide. However, Travis, who also contributes hand drums, electric bass and guitar, and keyboards to EOTO’s sound, differs from these artists because of his spontaneous tactics of live drumming. Hann, who usually controls the rhythmic building block of the band, has also been involved in a number of projects ranging from working with drum/dance artist Vinx to soul singer Isaac Hayes and enjoys mixing Latin, African, flamenco, and techno in with EOTO’s evolving sound.

After their debut record, EOTO released Razed in 2008 to worldwide audiences. Songs such as “Warp” and “Gloren” combine funk-like, electronic piano-pop that could only relate to tunes from the Flaming Lips’ Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots. Fans of Thievery Corporation and Massive Attack should rejoice after hearing Razed’s “Camel Bend,” which draws Latin-jazz, Persian music, and pounding drums into one eerie resonance. Other songs such as “Taking the Fife” and “Health Plant” bring on a smoother side of the band as they experiment with synthesizers, keyboards and sound effects to create something truly innovative for electronic listeners.

With so many influences, it is difficult for any audience to be prepared for their next set of live material. Although many of EOTO’s performances sometimes revolve around a multitude of themes, fans always question what scheme the band will take next.

“The only time we really talk about that is at the beginning of the set,” says Jason Hann in a 2009 String Cheese Radio interview. “We’re like, ‘what does it seem like the mood wants to be in here right now? Do we start straight off with dubstep? Or do we start straight off with house?’ Seems to me like we leans towards house just to get people moving and not play something that’s too far out.”

Following the release of 2009’s live and improvised Fire the Lazers, EOTO began planning a nationwide tour that will encompass all corners of the U.S. and even hit the Freedom Festival in Toronto, Canada. Though EOTO has just played in Medford, musical adventurers can see them in their live, untarnished state at Eugene’s WOW Hall on March 11th or at Portland’s Berbati’s Pan on March 12th.

EOTO will play with the WOW Hall with psychedelic hip-hop dub act Resident Anti-Hero. Tickets can be purchased in advance for $10 at the WOW Hall, $12 at the door. Doors open at 9 PM.

EOTO, accompanied by Lynx & Janover and DJ James Ho, will conclude their Oregon tour with a stop at Berbati’s Pan in Portland. Tickets are $12 in advance, $15 at the door. Show is 21+ and doors open at 9 PM.