upcoming live events

Volcanic Theatre Pub & 1988 Entertainment Presents:

HomeGrown Kick Off Party

Featuring: Cptn Over & Amargoso

Thursday, April 17th 2025

Doors @ 7PM - Show Starts @ 8PM

Volcanic Theatre Pub Host The HomeGrown Music Fesival Kick Off Party! With Performances by local bands CPTN Over and Amargoso. Attendees to the Kick OFF party will receive exclusive deals on HomeGrown passes and merch! 

Cptn Over - CPTN OVER is a high-energy rock/psych/garage/whatever band based in Bend, OR. Members include: Brian Roudnev (guitar), Jason Roudnev (drums), Tyler Otis (bass), and Tom McCall (guitar). The group formed in 2021, releasing their debut album 'Rad' in 2023. New single 'Lullaby' out now.

Amargoso -

Amargoso. What does it mean? Why are they so loud? How come they aren’t playing in my town?

Truth be told. We don’t know. Come party.

Volcanic Theatre Pub & Bend Burlesque Company Presents:

FUNKTASIA

Friday, April 18th 2025

Late Show: Doors @ 7:00 PM, show @ 8:00 PM

Time to get FUNKY Bend! What do you get when you combine the whimsy of Fantasia with high energy disco beats? A burlesque show unlike any other! You will never think of the birds and the bees the same way after you see what we have in store for you. We're leveling up this show with incredible aerialist acts, pole performances, singing, dancing, a trippy light show and costumes straight out of a fantasy world.

Funky disco attire is high encouraged and bring those dancing shoes as well because the music, courtesy of our own DJ Disco Dino, will not stop all night! Be sure to arrive early to take in some special pre-show performances.

General admission seating is first come first serve and there are limited discounted presale tickets available for our early birds, so don't hesitate!

This show is for ages 21+

Volcanic Theatre Pub & 1988 Entertainment Presents:

Grand Royale - Tribute to Beastie Boys

Saturday, April 19th 2025

Presale - $20  Door - $30

Doors @ 7PM - Show Starts @ 8PM

Grand Royale - Beastie Boys tribute is one of the most visually & sonically captivating acts on the scene. Three MC’s (MCAin’t, Mike Double D and BADRock) backed by a four-piece band & DJ (The White Castle Combo) performing tracks spanning the Beasties entire catalog (even THE MIX-UP instrumentals!) with Beasties antics galore.

www.j-fell.com/grandroyale/ 

Volcanic Theatre Pub & 1988 Entertainment Presents:

Upon a Burning Body w/ Bury My Demons, Half Me, King 810, and Left to Suffer

Saturday, February 8th 2025

Genre - Metal

Doors @ 6:00 PM - Show Starts @ 6:30 PM

Volcanic Theatre Pub & 1988 Entertainment Presents:

Random Rab w/ Lapa and Tarekith

Genre - Dance Electronic

Friday, April 25th 2025

Presale - $25  Door - $35

Doors @ 7PM - Show Starts @ 8PM

Random Rab -

The multi-instrumentalist and singer offers a powerful and unique contribution to the West Coast electronic music scene, with his work having diverse influences ranging from trip-hop, classical,Arabic, jazz, and more.

Lapa - 

Progressive Downtempo. A complex array of sounds, melodies and textures, intricately woven
into a floating soundscape, that teleports listeners to a serene, dream-like places.

Lapa weaves together musical stories with complexly textured harmonies, expansive melodies,
and intricately layered beats. His music blurs borders and transcends boundaries, illuminating
the resonance of universal forces and teleporting people to wild, dream-like places of serenity
and connection.

Tarekith -

Growing up in Chicago, Tarekith’s early love of the house and techno scene led to a career and lifelong passion creating his own unique blend of dark, twisted, and flowing electronic music.  In addition to working for music industry heavy-weights Ableton, Elektron, Roland, Korg, as well as running an audio mastering studio, he’s spent the last 25+ years performing and DJing at clubs and festivals around the world

Volcanic Theatre Pub & 1988 Entertainment Presents:

2025 Hump! Film Fest Part One

This event is 21+

Saturday, April 26th 2025

Showing 1 @ 6:30 PM

Showing 2 @ 9:00 PM

Volcanic Theatre Pub & 1988 Entertainment Presents:

Heaven Zest w/ Rubbah Tree and BeLoveSki

Genre: EDM/Reggae Loop Artist Multi Instrumentalist 

Thursday, May 1st 2025

Doors @ 7PM - Show Starts @ 8PM

Presale - $20 Day of - $30

Heaven Zest -

Heaven Zest is a multi-instrumentalist, producer, live looper, and vocalist whose spirit-infused messages of magic and love shine through a captivating blend of Reggae, Dub, EDM, tribal rhythms, and hip hop. Each of his performances is a unique and deeply personal experience, crafted improvisationally to resonate with the audience.

As a pivotal member of the band Indubious for nearly two decades, Heaven Zest’s solo project embodies his journey of overcoming immense challenges, including battling Cystic Fibrosis and surviving two double lung transplants. His music is a celebration of life, positivity, and the unyielding power of the human spirit.

Rubbah Tree - 

Rubbah Tree was created in the heart of Central Oregon in 2015. We wanted to bring our love of reggae rock music with our own take on how we see it. We are inspired by the beauty’s that Mother Nature has to offer all around us and how we can express that love through the power of music. We strive to bring new sounds and new ways of listening to reggae music. We are very excited to keep bringing the world cascade reggae music!

BeLoveSki - 

Beloveski and Friends will take you on a journey! This highly improvised band creates their soundscapes depending on the needs, intention and energy of each unique show. 

Genre-bending, meditative, innovative, chill, high energy, ecstatic…Beloveski and friends will take you where you want to go and beyond. Trap, rock, pop, funk, folk, originals, covers, meditative music medicine, and things you’ve never heard before… this rotating cast of some of Bend’s finest improvisational musicians will delight and surprise you with their range and expertise. They also love to get the audience involved and facilitate from the stage to make sure everyone is having a great or a deep time, depending on what the vibe calls for.

The heart-brain child of Andrew Belinsky, this curious collective consists of Central Oregon's most revered sacred improvisers. Beloveski and Friends are musicians, facilitators and community builders whose life mission it is to unlock the transformative force of music within individuals and communities around the world.

Check out the Beloveski's music on Spotify! His EP and single releases were created by Andrew Belinsky with multiple collaborators. These tunes will take you on a  dance journey a get you moving, feeling and give you a taste of the eclectic and innovative range of Beloveski and friends. 

Andrew homesteads in Bend, OR where he hosts transformational music workshops and retreats on his land, in the community and in the forest.

Volcanic Theatre Pub, Mobile Dance Party, & No Drums or Bass Present:

Passage - An EDM Celebration of Renewal 

Featuring Kurei, Beat Kitty, and more! 

Friday, May 2nd 2025

Presale - $19 Door - $25

Doors @ 7PM - Show Starts @ 8PM

1. On May 2nd, The Volcanic Theatre Pub is getting transformed into a lush wonderland for a celebration of spring and the coming summer. Co-headliners Beat Kitty and Kurei are supported by all-star local talent Lunallday, Dj Shalyssa & Teddles with visuals by Trippy Lights. This event is a one-night festival complete with photo booth and activities and more. 

    

Volcanic Theatre Pub & 1988 Entertainment Presents:

Leftöver Crack w/ La Pobreska

Genre - Punk Rock

Wednesday, May 7th 2025

Presale - $20 Door - $25

Doors @ 7PM - Show Starts @ 8PM

1. Leftöver Crack - 
2. Leftöver Crack is an American punk rock band formed in 1998 following the breakup of its predecessor Choking Victim, sharing band members Stza & Alec Baillie (also bandmates in their first band that they formed together in high school: No Commercial Value) until Alec’s tragic death in November of 2021. The band is currently recording new music & will be reissuing all of their previous albums, with the exception of their debut LP “Medicore Generica” (Hellcat/Epitaph). Manufactured & distributed by MVD in North America, Leftöver Crack’s own Recidivist Bible Camp record label released its first song & video for the track “Shooticide” from the upcoming Leftöver Crack recording: “Abandon the Precincts” aka Volume 4 on RBC records & psalms.
3.  

La Pobreska - 
La Pobreska was formed in 2004. With a mix of Hardcore/Ska and many more influences. We are a band that talks about Politics, government and real life issues. Our First Full Album " Estamos Unidos" was released in 2011. Took some time off and getting ready to release our 2nd Albulm.

Volcanic Theatre Pub and 1988 Entertainment Presents:

An-Ten-Nae: Limitless Experience AV Set

support from Eyeneye, Teddles, & Bowlski

This show is 21+

Thursday, May 8th 2025

Doors @ 8PM 

Volcanic Theatre Pub and 1988 Entertainment Presents:

NOT.GREENDAY w/ Chained to Stone

Friday, May 9th 2025

Presale - $18 Door - $28

Doors @ 7PM - Show Starts @ 8PM

NOT.GREENDAY -

The worlds most dangerous tribute to the band we are NOT. 

A live Green Day experience by fans for fans. 

Performing "dookie" in its entirety along with hits and deep cuts from every era of Green Day's iconic catalog that spans over four decades, NOT.GREENDAY delivers a high energy 90+ min set of pure nostalgia. 

Join us in celebrating Pop Punk legends, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductees, and 20 time Grammy Nominees, GREEN DAY, with the nation's premiere tribute act, NOT.GREENDAY. Performing hits and deep cuts from every era of Green Day's catalog spanning over four decades, including songs from; 39/Smooth, Kerplunk, Dookie, Insomniac, Nimrod, Warning, American Idiot, 21st Century Breakdown, ¡UNO!/¡DOS!/¡TRÉ!, and Revolution Radio! As 4 die-hard, lifelong Green Day fans, NOT.GREENDAY brings a high energy, non-stop performance that is guaranteed to have you dancing and singing along in a sea of nostalgia. 

NOT.GREENDAY is:

CAMERON SCOTT MOORE - LEAD VOCALS & GUITAR

MARK BROWN - BASS & VOCALS

ASHTON ADAMS - DRUMS

SAMMY DIAZ - LEAD GUITAR

Chained to Stone -

A dynamic 90's grunge cover band bringing the iconic sounds of the era to life with their authentic performances. From the gritty riffs of Nirvana and iconic vocals of Alice in Chains, to the emotive melodies of Stone Temple Pilots, the band captures the raw energy and spirit of the grunge movement. Known for their powerful vocals and precise melodic renditions, Chained to Stone delivers a nostalgic experience that takes audiences back to the heart and soul of the 90’s, and the music that etched its place in rock history.

Volcanic Theatre Pub & 1988 Entertainment Presents:

Victor Wooten & The Wooten Brothers

Genre - R&B/Soul/Jazz

Saturday, May 10th 2025

Presale - $35  Door - $45

Doors @ 7PM - Show Starts @ 8PM

1. The Wooten brothers’ first public performance occurred in Hawaii in 1966 and established their identity as prodigies. Regi, the eldest son of Elijah "Pete" and Dorothy, was born in 1956. The first three sons arrived just a year apart—Roy in ’57, Rudy in ’58. Joseph was born in ’61, and three years later, in '64, Victor came. Victor learned to talk and play music at the same time.

   Fast forward six years. REGI, still the leader of the family band, is 13 years old and Victor, the youngest, is 5, when the Wooten Brothers began opening a series of shows for R & B legends, “War”, and two years later for Curtis Mayfield, and many other national acts.Fast forward to the present, 2024. The Wootens have racked up 10 Grammy wins, and  26, yes, 26 Grammy nominations. And the youngest of the family, Victor, the brother who learned from all his older brothers, has been named by Rolling Stone Magazine as one of the ten greatest bass players of all time.

   Acclaim has come to each Wooten brother. REGI is a virtuoso guitarist, also renowned for his musical teaching skills. At the tender age of ten, Regi began teaching bass to his two year old brother Victor, while also teaching keyboard skills to his five year old brother, Joseph. Now, Regi teaches many students who travel from all over the world in various genres of music to learn from him. Regi is affectionately called "The Teacha", and he, similar to the legendary teacher Nadia Boulanger, is a teacher to a global family.   ROY also known as “Future Man”  has invented an instrument called the Drumitar that  is re-discovering the drumset, while helping to re-invent bluegrass and deconstruct jazz. Another instrument Roy invented, the RoyEl, is a piano shaped instrument and an homage to early pre-thirteenth century African-based music and mathematics, that derives rhythms and pitches from the golden ratio. With the insights gained from these new Instruments, Roy also serves as the creator and composer of the Evolution d’ Amour ballet and the Black Mozart Symphony, which introduces the legendary 18th century Black classical artist, Joseph Boulogne de Saint Georges, to the 20th and 21st century.

   The late RUDY WOOTEN, who passed away in 2010, was inspired by the virtuosity and unique articulation of the legendary trumpet master Clifford Brown. He also mastered the playing styles of saxophone legends, Charlie Parker, Cannonball Adderly, John Coltrane, and the blind triple saxophone playing master, Rahsaan Roland Kirk, so that his own double saxophone horn parts and solo’s became legendary!

   JOSEPH came to Nashville as a singer but quickly became known as "The Hands of Soul" for his keyboard playing skills and songwriting genius. Joseph introduced his playing and songwriting mastery to a wider audience by re-arranging the Steve Miller classic "Fly like An Eagle" to include new spoken word lyrics. Since 1993, Joseph has travelled the world with Rock-in-Roll Hall of Famer Steve Miller in his Steve Miller Band, which has now sold over 60 million records—with a bulk of the sales  coming after Joseph  became a member of the band. And the extraordinary music making doesn’t just happen when the Wooten Brothers play all together or venture out singly-

   Victor and Roy, working together with Banjo master Bela Fleck, pianist and harmonica virtuoso Howard Levy, and saxophonist Jeff Coffin —well they earned a whole lot of those Wooten Grammy’s and Grammy nominations.

   The Brothers' music bends and defines genres; amplifies centuries, and spans continents. The Wooten Brothers began in R+B. They evolved as teens into Jazz, Jazz Fusion, Classical and Country. Then, they emerged in 1985 on Arista records with an album called, "The Wootens", that combined Electronic, Funk, Soul, Disco, and Boogie—and offered only a sliver of the Wooten whole. The Wooten whole is all of that… and classical, and jazz, and country, and Rock-and-Roll. The Wooten whole is Prince before Prince. Maybe Clive Davis and the Arista team, who were focused on launching the extraordinary Whitney Houston, were not ready for that in 1985.

   So many albums after that Arista album, as the Wootens go their separate ways, they play in giant arenas and in intimate clubs, crisscrossing the globe. They always come back to play together, sometimes close to home, sometimes a thousand miles away from their Middle-Tennessee homes.

   Some of the best of times are in a camp Victor has established in a place called “Wooten Woods”, where people from around the world come to be inspired by Nature to learn to play with profound sound and silence to grow in new understanding and tones that are sweet and wise. Some of the other best times are in the jazz club named for the one brother who has passed on, Rudy.     Rudy’s Jazz Room is a live jazz club in Nashville with a growing jazz scene.The Wootens also play jazz and everything else in it, entertaining and inspiring  a growing Nashville music scene and city. The Wooten Brothers have even been known to play heavy metal in their unique Wootinish—way.

   What is “The Wootinish-way”? It’s honing your craft, taking the diamond and cutting it just right, and polishing it bright. It’s not just the in-born genius. It’s not just the wisdom and insight that comes from inspired and gentle living close to nature, close to art, close to each other. It is a disciplined commitment to the craft of making sound in community and sharing sound with community—born of knowing sound and the precious space of silence, — a true, good, and saving thing.

   And so they create new instruments, they revive compositions of dead composers, they leave the families they love, to bring the world they love the sounds they love. And they keep creating, performing, and recording  new music.

   As a family band, they are second to none. But they are comparable to other notable family bands: The Beach Boys, the Allman Brothers, The Neville Brothers, and the Jackson Five.  Sonically inventive, soulful, musically driven, blood kin, that fill the dance floor, tickle the brain, and rock your world-- they are comparable to the best of the best family bands. The Wooten Brothers are the family band you need to know that you don’t know, or the family band you know, and want the world to know. Connecting  musically deep past to musical future, the Wooten Brothers explode genres and build bridges across genres.  Bar by bar, in live performances and on recordings, they provide an exhilarating ‘connects-you-to-the-center-of-the-universe’ sound.

   The final Wooten paradox? They make universal music, but they are not universally known. Time to change that.  They are recording new music!! They have discovered deep vault tracks that include their late brother Rudy!

    

• Volcanic Theatre Pub & 1988 Entertainment Presents:

  Levitation Room w/ Los Blenders

  Genre - Psychedelic/Surf Rock 

  Sunday, May 11th 2025

  Doors @ 7PM - Show Starts @ 8PM

Levitation Room - 

In Los Angeles, where the weight and pressure of the city’s fast paced culture can make your legs feel like pillars, emerges psychedelic quartet, Levitation Room, to break the bonds of gravity with their cosmic wall of sound and thought provoking lyrics. “Just as their name suggests, Levitation Room’s music instills the listeners ears with a light feeling of floating. The dreamy guitar and Lo-Fi projections of psychedelic rock and garage are reminiscent of a deep 1960’s era, but still grounded in an alternative dreamgaze flavor that permeates modern indie music today.” - OC Weekly. Their decidedly hallucinogenic songs whisper and hum the same gentle refrain of their summer of love influences, conjuring up the cognitive imagery of sunny days at the park, spent with friends in a euphoric haze along with lyrical and sonic meditations on life, love, society and self-awareness.  

In tradition, and much like the bands and musical troubadours that inspired them, Levitation Room started out with late night jam sessions in a dimly lit garage between fellow musicians and long time friends, Julian Porte and Gabriel Fernandez. Julian, a dedicated street musician who felt he needed a broader platform, found chemistry with Gabriel, who he knew as a guitar player in various teenage punk and garage bands around town. Coming together in 2012, they bonded over a shared love of British Invasion groups (The Beatles, The Kinks, The Rolling Stones) and 1960’s psychedelic outfits like The Grateful Dead, Electric Prunes, The Pretty Things and began drafting their earliest tunes. It wasn’t until the late summer of 2012, that the band came to fruition when they found a rhythm section in two individuals with almost identical names; drummer, Johnathan Martin, and bassist, Jonathathan Martin. The four began writing songs, playing gigs and recording music out of a quaint studio in East LA. 

After the release of their self recorded demo “Levitation Room Vol. 1”, they quickly began gaining momentum and performing at local music venues throughout Southern California. 2015 saw the release of their first official debut EP “Minds Of Our Own” released on Burger Records. Later in the spring of 2016, they released their first full length album, “Ethos”, with the help of their friend and new keyboardist, Glenn Brigman, who recorded and helped produce the record. Since 2014, Levitation Room has participated in various shows, tours and music festivals across the US and Europe and continues to see the growth in listeners and followers on YouTube, Soundcloud and Spotify (with nearly 2 million plays on their song “Friends”). With the promise of a potentially bright future, Levitation Room has begun to mix and finalize their second album that they hope will display their process of maturity in sound and song- writing, exploring new territories of influence in music and instrumentation, combining folk, jazz, raga, soul, pop and of course… psychedelia. Stay tuned! 

Band Members:

Julian Porte : (Lead Vocals/Guitar)

Gabriel Fernandez : (Lead Guitar/Bck Vocal)

Brandon Graham : (Bass Guitar)

John Martin : (Drums)

Glenn Brigman: (Piano, Keys, Farfisa)

Los Blenders -

In the vibrant heart of Mexico City, where contrasts shape the days and nights brim with endless possibilities, Los Blenders emerged—a band that transformed the ordinary into unforgettable anthems. Since their beginnings in the early 2010s, they’ve captured the spirit of a youth that seeks refuge in art, music, and humor, blending garage rock, surf, and lo-fi rhythms with a unique and undeniable identity. 

With three studio albums and one live record, Los Blenders have established themselves as a cornerstone of the independent music scene in Latin America. Their debut album, “Chavos Bien” (2015), marked the beginning of their ascent, with tracks like “Amor Prohibido” and “Meta y Dinero” becoming the soundtrack to countless stories of youth and camaraderie. Later, with “Mazunte 2016”, the band showcased their ability to evolve musically, exploring sounds and themes that connected deeply with their audience. Their most recent work, “Lxs Vamprixs”, further solidified their distinctive sound and positioned them as one of the most relevant acts in the Spanish-language indie rock scene. 

Beyond their recordings, Los Blenders have earned a reputation for their dynamic live performances, which have become a defining element of their success. They’ve graced some of the world’s most iconic stages, including Coachella, Vive Latino, Pal Norte, Teatro Metropólitan, and The Roxy, among many others. These live shows have not only showcased their energetic stage presence but have also elevated them as a must-see act, earning accolades from fans and critics alike. 

In 2024, Los Blenders achieved a new milestone with the release of their hit single “Verano Todo el Año”, a collaboration with Anabella Cartolano of Las Ligas Menores. The song resonated across four countries, further expanding their reach and cementing their influence on the indie music scene. 

Looking ahead to 2025, the band is poised for one of their most exciting years yet. With a new album on the horizon, they’re preparing for an ambitious tour that will take them across Mexico, the United States, Latin America, and Spain. This tour promises to bring their vibrant sound to new audiences while rekindling connections with their loyal fan base. 

Los Blenders are more than just a band—they are a movement that embodies the spirit of an era. Through every chord, lyric, and electrifying performance, they’ve created a musical universe that feels both intimate and universal. In their sound, time stands still, and the possibilities are endless.

Parallel 44 Presents Neal Francis w/ Color Green

Join us in Bend on Thursday, May 15, 2025, at Volcanic Theatre for an unforgettable night of live music!

We’re thrilled to welcome singer/songwriter/keyboardist Neal Francis and his incredible band to the stage. Known for delivering soulful, deeply funky tunes that are as emotionally resonant as they are danceable, Neal Francis promises a performance you won’t want to miss.

Opening the night are California-based psych-pop sensations Color Green, bringing their signature blend of dreamy melodies and vibrant energy to set the tone for an amazing evening.

• Doors: 7:30 PM Show: 8:00 PM
• All Ages Welcome

Don’t miss this dynamic lineup—secure your tickets now and get ready to groove!

About Neal Francis:

The latest album from Neal Francis,Return To Zero,emerged from the kind of visionary feverdream that only the most masterful and inventiveartists are capable of bringing to life. Amid agrueling tour schedule that found him playing nearly 400 shows from 2021 to 2024, the Chicago-based singer/songwriter/pianist immersed himself in creating a beautifully strange entangling oftimeless rock &roll and ’70s-era dance music, merging supremely heavy guitar riffs with lush andpulsating grooves—all constructed sans digital programming, in keeping with his devotion to allthings analog. Worlds away from the glitzy fantasia of archetypal disco,Return To Zeroinhabitsa far moodier atmosphere and ultimately makes for the most thrilling manifestation of Francis’peerless musicality yet.Equal parts heady and hedonistic, pensive and euphoric, Francis’ third studio LP echoes both hisdeep-rooted psych-rock sensibilities and a lifelong affinity for classic funk. “I’ve always beenintrigued by music that toes the line between funk and rock,” notes Francis. “In the past I’veasked myself things like, ‘What would it sound like if Thin Lizzy cut a disco record?’ It’s somethingI’ve been fascinated with for a very long time, so I finally decided to really go for it.”The follow-up to his 2023 double live album and concert filmFrancis Comes Alive,Return To Zeromarks Francis’ first full-length studio effort sinceIn Plain Sight—a 2021 release acclaimed by thelikes of leading rock critic Steven Hyden, who praised its “throwback big-band sound that recallsthe highs of 1970s funk and swamp rock.” With his past work also including his 2019 debut albumChanges(hailed as “the reincarnation of Allen Toussaint” by BBC Radio 6), Francis began playingpiano at the young age of four and became an in-demand sideman while still a teenager, touringwith revered blues artists and beloved instrumental band The Heard beforeembarking on hissolo career. Over the years, he’s sold out headline shows all across the globe, supported the likesof Wilco, Black Pumas, and My Morning Jacket, appeared at major festivals such as Bonnaroo,Fuji Rock, and Lollapalooza, and even performed at historic venues like Carnegie Hall.Like all of his studio work so far (including his 2022 EPSentimental Garbage),Return To ZerofindsFrancis co-producing alongside his frequent collaborator Sergio Rios and recording live withmembers of his touring band (drummer Collin O’Brien, bassist Mike Starr, guitarist KellenBoersma), elegantly showcasing his prodigious talent and dazzling originality as a keyboardplayer. Mainly created at Rios’ L.A. studio, the album’s grandiose yet warmly inviting sound alsotook shape from his close collaboration with composer/conductor Dom Frigo (who aided Francisby transcribing the LP’s symphonic string sections), Say She She (a Brooklyn-based psychedelic-soul trio who adorn a number of songs with their beguiling backing vocals), and a stacked lineupof co-writers that includes Queens of the Stone Age bassist Michael Shuman and Wild Belle co-founder Elliot Bergman.In the making of his most ambitious work to date, Francis faced countless moments of creativefrustration—a factor that eventually gave the album its title. “I was cutting a lot of the vocals at

1. home, using a hybrid process where I’d bounce the tracks from my computer to a tape machineand then record the vocals to tape,” he explains. “I’d be in my vocal booth in the closet with allour winter coats, and every time I needed to start over I’d press this button that says ‘RTZ,’ whichstands for ‘Return To Zero.’ I was doing take after take and pressing that button over and over—it was a huge pain, but it also linked up with what I’ve learned in my meditation practice: nomatter how frustrated you get, just remain calm and take inventory, and then begin again.”Although executingReturn To Zero’s highly elaborate arrangements often involved a very time-intensivetrial-and-error approach, the album-opening “Need You Again” surfaced from animmediate burst of inspiration after Francis attended a DJ set by Derrick Carter (a Chicago houselegend who created a 12-inch remix of “BNYLV” fromIn Plain Sight). “My girlfriend and I wentout to a queer dance party called Queen! and stayed till about four in the morning, and Derrickplayed a track that was a big rock riff over a funk beat,” he recalls. “The next day I went into thestudio on very little sleep and started working on the demo for ‘Need You Again,’ and after Ifinished I couldn’t stop listening to it.” Featuring a guest spot from Grammy-winning guitarist EricKrasno (Soulive, Lettuce), the result is a glorious entry point into the album’s groove-heavysoundscape,unfolding in sinewy riffs and larger-than-life rhythms as Francis narrates a tale ofruinous infatuation. “It’s a song about a love affair, and the experience of projecting magicalqualities onto another person and feeling almost addicted or beholden to them,” he reveals.Another charmed moment in the album’s creation, “Broken Glass” was sparked from a sessionfeaturing Francis on bass and Shuman on drums, with the two soon conjuring the hypnoticallypotent riff that propels the track forward. With itsviscerally charged depiction of lust and self-denial, the darkly majestic epic reaches a stratospheric crescendo at the bridge, when poundingdrums meet with Say She She’s near-operatic harmonies. “Once we had that riff I started fillingin some freeform poetry from my notebook, which had to do with the idea of taking direction inan intimate liaison,” says Francis. “It all came together so naturally because of how Michael wasplaying drums, bringing that Queens of the Stone Age heavy-rock thing I love so much.”One of the most dance-ready tracks onReturn To Zero, “Back It Up” glides along on glossy synthlines and a playfully swaggering riff, imbuing a carefree spirit into Francis’ deliberately over-the-top confession of romantic desperation. “That songwent through a few different phases beforewe got to the final iteration,” he says. “It took me a while to accept that it’s okay to have fun withthe lyrics, instead of making everything so serious all the time.” Meanwhile, on “What’s Left OfMe,” Francispresents a gorgeously sprawling power-pop anthem built on his resplendent pianowork. Co-written with Nashville-based songwriter Chris Gelbuda, the track arose from a piano-and-vocal demo captured at Chicago’s Fine Arts Building, soon evolving into a piercingly candidreflection on life on the road. “Chris and I are good friends and we got to talking about thechallenges of being in a committed relationship while you’re on tour,” says Francis. “A lot of thesesongs were influenced by Electric Light Orchestra and the way Jeff Lynne synthesizes classicalmusic and pop songwriting, and ‘What’s Left Of Me’ was definitely one where I was going for anELO vibe.”
2. Partly inspired by the funk and dance records he typically spins during his sets as an all-vinyl DJ,Return To Zeroalso encompasses everything from the spaced-out drama of “Dance Through Life”to the string-laced reverie of “Can’t Get Enough” (a collaboration with Durand Jones & TheIndications’ Blake Rhein that is a sublimely mellowed-out homage to acid-jazz pioneer Roy Ayers).In creating such a complex body of work, Francis found his sense of perseverance repeatedlytested. “Most of these songs were pretty hard-won,” he says. “There was a feeling of pulling outall the stops to achieve what I was goingfor, and in the middle of that I was dealing with somedepression and exhaustion. I ended up learning a lot about myself, and now I feel like I’m in acompletely different place in terms of my priorities with mental health.” Despite its moredaunting aspects, the writing and recording ofReturn To Zeroalso brought plenty of moments ofpleasure, including composing with strings for the very first time and tracking songs with hislongtime bandmates. “All those guys are like my brothers, and there was a feeling of us workingtogether with an almost athletic desire to get better every time we did a new take,” Francis says.“Those were really long days at the studio, but they were also so much fun.”Looking back on the making ofReturn To Zero, Francis pointsto certain crucial lessons absorbedwhile creating his most extravagantly realized work so far. “One of the main things I’ve learnedis that every album is going to be its own journey; I can’t really take the arsenal of things I’velearned in the past andexpect them to save me from any kind of frustration with whatever Imake next,” he says. “Creating art is always going to be a challenge, which maybe goes back towhy AI-created music is never going to be all that compelling—it’s just too fucking easy. ThebestI can do is use what’s at my disposal and try not to freak out or despair when it gets difficult, andhopefully end up making something that gives people joy.”

About Color Green

For the California-based quartet Color Green, playing music together is all about stepping into the unknown. “When we play live, I don’t really know what’s going to happen,” says Noah Kohll, one of the band’s two guitarists and four vocalists. “You really have no idea what you’re going to get with this band, which keeps things fresh for us and maybe makes the live experience special.” In a very short time, they have developed a word-of-mouth reputation as a dynamic and unpredictable live act, grounding their cosmic jams in earthy melodies and drawing from ‘60s SoCal folk-r0ck, ‘70s classic rock, ‘80s underground rock, ‘90s psychedelic dance-rock, and any other sound that catches their ears.

Adaptable onstage and off, Color Green has shared stages with a range of groups that reflect both the sophistication and the wild malleability of their sound, including Fuzz, Kikagaku Moyo, Circles Around the Sun, Hiss Golden Messenger, and the Brian Jonestown Massacre. Yet, because they see boundless possibilities from one note to the next, they anchor their music in the urgent present rather than the distant past. Color Green can be a million different bands without losing their essential hue.

They capture that wild, mercurial quality on Fool’s Parade, a meditation on loss, grief, confusion, frustration, and the clarity to which they all lead. The album has the dynamic of a tight live set, full of ebbs and flows, highs and lows, quiet moments like the devastating “5:08” and reckless jams like the epic “Kick the Bucket.” “Four Leaf Clover” bustles and shimmies like the kaleidoscopic dance rock of the Stone Roses, while closer “Hazel Eyes” recalls the elaborate orchestrations of Brian Wilson and the whimsical melodies of Buddy Holly. “We shaped it to showcase our range,” says guitarist Corey Madden. “All the songs were written together as a band. It’s the four of us in a room, and it features all of our voices. It’s one step toward what this band truly is. We spent a lot of time getting our shit together as a band, and now it’s set in stone for me.”

Color Green started out as a very different, much more limited kind of group. “Me and Corey worked together in New York scooping coffee beans for a living and putting them into bags,” says Kohll. “I was living in a basement sublet, and he would come over to write and jam and record.” From those casual sessions came a self-titled EP in 2021, full of spectral jams and offerings up to Jerry Garcia, their spiritual guide. The next year they followed it up with a self-titled full-length via Aquarium Drunkard, with various friends helping to round out the songs. “These things happen in an interesting way,” says Kohll. “There’s been a lot of weird synchronization with this band. It’s all very organic. After we put out our first album, we thought, Oh, this needs to be a live band, too.”

After running through a few different rhythm sections, they met drummer Corey Rose and bassist Kyla Perlmutter, who not only are kickass players but opened up all new possibilities within Color Green. “Our first practice together, everyone was like, This is so loud,” says Rose. “That became a really important part of the band, and we try to capture that dynamic when we record.” Perlmutter adds, “We all really value each other’s input. It doesn’t feel like there’s an unfair hierarchy in this band. We respect each other’s tastes and recognize that we’re all very, very much in love with music in our own ways.”

After sharpening their attack on the road—playing DIY shows in small towns while opening for some of their heroes—the expanded Color Green began writing songs for what they considered a debut album. “One of us will come in with a riff or an idea, and the others will take it up and let it morph into something completely different,” says Perlmutter. “What we come up with together, I don’t think any of us could do by ourselves. The music we make is always surprising me.” The album’s title track, with its snaking guitar lines and parallax instrumental interplay, started out as an eastern jam when Rose came in with a very loose idea: “I wanted to write something in 6/8 time,” she says. “It was super awkward at first, but 40 minutes later, it sounded like Fairport Convention. It took everybody to get there.”

Says Madden, “I like when stuff happens and it opens up the door to something else in my brain. We might spend a lot of time working on something and get nothing out of it, but then in the back of my head I’m thinking, if you take this and add it to that… Sometimes it takes hours to figure out two seconds of a song, but it’s always worth it.”

The aching heart of Fool’s Parade is “5:08,” a moving expression of grief—not moving through it, necessarily, but simply living with it, moment to moment. “What’s it like, on the other side?” they all sing together, as though consoling one another. “Oh, the longing for the space to peer thru.” Inspired by the death of Madden’s father, it is rooted in a Spiritualized show. “I was going through some gnarly personal stuff,” says Madden, “and it was all hitting me at once, all these emotions. I talked my way through some crazy shit, and by the end of the show I had ‘508’ hashed out in my brain. It’s about losing people very close to you and wanting to communicate with them and not really knowing how.”

“It’s the quietest song on the record,” says Rose, “but it’s also the heaviest. We all cried while recording it. Everybody’s singing on it, and everybody’s crying on it. Sometimes we’re like, Let’s not play that song tonight. It all depends on how we’re feeling.”

Parallel 44 Presents BANSHEE TREE & FAMILY MYSTIC live in Bend on Friday, May 16, 2025 at Volcanic Theatre. This bill brings together two of the most exciting young bands in the West and will be a festive Friday night dance party that is not to be missed ! Doors 7:30PM. Family Mystic kicks off the show at 8PM. All ages welcome.

About BANSHEE TREE:

Banshee Tree blurs the lines between jazz, indie, psych and electroswing. Their live performances showcase intricately composed songs that draw on emotions, while a deep pulse gets the dance party raging. Based out of Denver, BT has shared the stage with many national acts including Greensky Bluegrass, Balkan Bump, Twiddle and Leftover Salmon, and they tour nationally for growing audiences.

About FAMILY MYSTIC:

Family Mystic is more than just a band; they are a transformative experience that redefines healing through song, dance, and emotional connection. Based out of Portland, OR, this collective of four visionary songwriters blends elements of funk, soul, psychedelia, progressive jazz fusion, and angelic four-part vocal harmonies, innovating a genre-defying experience that calls listeners into the heart of being human through the sanctity and celebration of music.

Volcanic Theatre Pub & Seksé Presents:

Creatures Unleashed

Saturday, May 17th 2025

Early Show: Doors @ 6:00 PM, show @ 6:30 PM

Unleash your wild side at "Creatures Unleashed," a mesmerizing live show presented by Seksé. Join us for an electrifying evening featuring jaw-dropping dance performances that will leave you spellbound. Our talented instructors, students, and dance troupes will showcase a variety of styles including hip hop, heels, chair, and pole dancing, all infused with the spirit of the creatures within us.

Dress up in your most fabulous creature-inspired festival attire and prepare for a night of exhilarating performances and dynamic audience interaction. Get ready to be captivated as our performers take you on a journey that celebrates movement, creativity, and self-expression. Don't miss this unique opportunity to witness the amazing talent at Seksé and immerse yourself in a world where artistry takes flight!

Join us for an unforgettable night of dance, fun, and community. Grab your tickets now and let the creatures within you come to life!

THERE ARE TWO SHOWINGS FOR THIS SHOW, AND EARLY AND LATE (PLEASE PAY ATTENTION TO THE TIME.)

Show your support at checkout for Seksé Productions, and donate as much as you would like to the wonderful performers in increments of $5. There will also be an oppertunity to donate at the show.

Volcanic Theatre Pub & Seksé Presents:

Creatures Unleashed

Saturday, May 17th 2025

Late Show: Doors @ 8:30 PM, show @ 9:00 PM

Unleash your wild side at "Creatures Unleashed," a mesmerizing live show presented by Seksé. Join us for an electrifying evening featuring jaw-dropping dance performances that will leave you spellbound. Our talented instructors, students, and dance troupes will showcase a variety of styles including hip hop, heels, chair, and pole dancing, all infused with the spirit of the creatures within us.

Dress up in your most fabulous creature-inspired festival attire and prepare for a night of exhilarating performances and dynamic audience interaction. Get ready to be captivated as our performers take you on a journey that celebrates movement, creativity, and self-expression. Don't miss this unique opportunity to witness the amazing talent at Seksé and immerse yourself in a world where artistry takes flight!

Join us for an unforgettable night of dance, fun, and community. Grab your tickets now and let the creatures within you come to life!

THERE ARE TWO SHOWINGS FOR THIS SHOW, AND EARLY AND LATE (PLEASE PAY ATTENTION TO THE TIME.)

Show your support at checkout for Seksé Productions, and donate as much as you would like to the wonderful performers in increments of $5. There will also be an oppertunity to donate at the show.