The Thing was established in the spring of 2000 when the three musicians met to play several concerts and to record their first CD on Crazy Wisdom, a sub label of Swedish Universal. In 2001 they recorded another CD on the same label as a quartet with Joe McPhee.
(Both CDs went out of print but are available again as a box set on Smalltown Superjazzz (2008).
The trio was a long wanted constellation where several musical styles meet in a very high energetic outlet. All members are influenced by different traditions of free music derived from Germany, England and the US, and these influences are to be felt not necessarily heard.
When the trio started out, the book contained mainly tunes by Don Cherry, hence the group's name. Since Joe McPhee`s participation, the Thing's repertoire has included other free jazz standards by David Murray, Frank Lowe and Norman Howard. Also, the group’s enthusiasm towards rock music is heard when they play "To Bring You My Love" by PJ Harvey on the second CD. Today the book has expanded to include tunes by The White Stripes, The Sonics and Yeah Yeah Yeahs. These are just examples to explain how close musical styles are today, how similar the energy is and can be, and how much today’s audience is melted together, devoted to creative music.
The Thing is now signed on the Norwegian label Smalltown Supersound.
Mats Gustafsson is today Sweden's and one of Europe's biggest names on the free music scene. Through groups like Gush, AALY trio and Peter Brötzmann`s Chicago Tentet, he has established himself as a very powerful saxophonist, and has somewhat reinvented the way of playing the saxophone.
Ingebrigt Håker Flaten and Paal Nilssen-Love have become known as Norway`s heaviest rhythm-section. Since their long-time collaboration started in 1992, they have been working together in several groups like School Days with Ken Vandermark, Scorch trio with Raoul Björkenheim, and the Swedish/Norwegian jazz-group Atomic.
The Thing also performs with Joe McPhee, Ken Vandermark, Otomo Yoshihide and Jim O’Rourke as guests.
The Macks
“I can’t tell if you’re a wet dream or a nightmare” - fan in
Corvallis
The Macks are a young 4-piece garage rock and roll band from
Portland, OR. The Macks play fast, The Macks play loud, and
The Macks will get you moving one way or another. Featuring
vocalist Sam Fulwiler, guitarist Ben Windheim, drummer Joe
Windheim, and bassist Bailey Sauls, the band offers kinetic,
passionate, and impossible-to-predict live shows that appeal to
everyone from punks to blues enthusiasts. The music ranges from
sinister to sarcastic, playing off of the angsty vocals and the rowdy
blues guitar. Anything is on the table at a show, including but not
limited to: stage dives, public displays of affection, youthful
exuberance, partial nudity, and whomping solos. The Macks play
frequently in Portland, Eugene, and Corvallis, and have developed
supportive and dedicated followings in all three cities, taking an
active role in each music scene. The band boasts a DIY ethic while
maintain quality, producing all music, videos, merchandise, and
art to a studio standard themselves, as well as building many of
their own shows, whether it be a benefit show for the Portland
homeless community or house shows supporting touring artists.
Since their debut EP “Happy Camper”, released August 2016, the
band has been hard at work building their presence, completing
their first Northwest tour, and recording their debut album “Camp
Poppa”, slated for release with an accompanying Southwest tour
late 2017.
“Rowdy guitar solos, long instrumental interludes, and intelligent
lyrics…. this Portland four-piece’s newest release is a golden
addition to the flourishing community of up and coming
alternative rock.” - Northwest Music Scene
“Frantic and energetic vocals roar out over the bizarre riffs and
steady drum work, the guitar and bass flow together well and
create a catchy set of riffs that remind me of old school Primus
(and that is never a bad thing).” - 24Our Music
“It reminds me of all of my teenage angst I had. I feel young
again!” - fan in Portland
