Photo Story: A Deep-Dive into The Corvallis Music Scene

Albany, Oregon, May 25, 2022. On a sunny Tuesday afternoon, Nick, singer and lead guitarist of the band Skeleton boy practices with the rest of the band in his garage. The band is preparing for the upcoming open-mic at Bombs Away Café in the neighboring town of Corvallis. Skeleton Boy are no strangers to playing in the area and have been a mainstay at local gigs since forming in 2016. As they run through their planned setlist jokes and punchlines are thrown in-between. not only is this group a band, but friends who support each other and the music scene surrounding them.

Corvallis, Oregon, May 26, 2022. Nerves are high as Nick, Joel, Derek, and Skeleton Boy's newest member, Alyssa approach Bombs Away with their gear in hand. Although they have played gigs as large as Dante's in Portland, a humble weekday open-mic is a fun way to keep the rust off and get their name out to new people in the area. Bombs Away is happy to welcome them as they've been playing at these open-mics since the bands inception, even being a factor in the bar's decision to keep a drum set on stage for use of the performing bands.

Corvallis, Oregon, May 26 2022. Skeleton Boy, ready to give this act their all, go up on stage to show just how impressive a Wednesday open mic can be. Funky Friendship and Cosmic Love, the band that preceded them, gave them an act that would be hard to follow up, but they're up to the challenge. Giving a performance to remember and ending with a cover of Pixies' "Where is My Mind?", Skeleton Boy is met with thunderous applause. As the walk off stage, another mainstay of the Corvallis scene, Dreamcaster walks on. The show is so good that they are met with multiple encores, eventually having to resort to extended jam songs to fill the time due to lack of practiced material. All along the crowd is happy to dance and sing along as long as there's music to sing and dance to.

Corvallis, Oregon, May 30, 2022. Local punks stand in between sets, waiting in anticipation for the next band to play at Mudville Stadium. One of the most popular and longest established DIY venues in the area, Mudville Stadium sits neatly on the edge of OSU campus, at the corner of 29th and Harrison. If bands are the beating heart of the scene, house-run DIY venues like Mudville are the bones. In the past year, the Corvallis music scene has come back in full force from the shadow of the pandemic, with venues just like this popping up all across town. Many locals, young and old, have found new identity in the local scene post-lockdown. Most of these house-run shows put an emphasis on approachability and acceptance, using tools like donation based cover fees which allow anybody to afford to see their favorite band. Often times earplugs, masks, water, condoms, fentanyl test strips, and other necessities, are provided to anybody who needs them. On the posters, you will often see the words "safer space" and "all-ages", but this doesn't mean that these shows are going to be any sort of snooze fest. When these shows get rowdy, they get rowdy. Crowd-surfing and mosh pits can be a common occurrence when a hardcore or metal band step up to stage.

Corvallis, Oregon, May 30, 2022. A solo Act by the name of Happy front steps up as the first act of the night. His brand of bedroom punk set the tone that this will be a night to remember and the smaller early crowd enjoys it thoroughly. When he finishes his set, the second act walks on to set up their equipment. Jade Dust of Portland is ready to showcase their Hardcore music with large Marshall amps and an attitude that is felt the second they walk in the room. As the lead singer contorts his vocal chords to make roars that would seem impossible to those who haven't been yet baptized into hearing it and the growing crowd begins to dance and headbang to the aggressive music. Its at this point that it's obvious why earplugs are distributed at the door. The Corvallis scene is beginning to grow to the point that bands around the state are booking gigs to showcase their talents to such a grateful crowd. Its not uncommon for the top bill of a show to be from the much larger Portland or Eugene scenes, or even a touring act from a far away state.

Corvallis, Oregon, May 30, 2022. The final act steps on stage. Hailing from Eugene, Silence Mill a veteran band puts a cap on an unforgettable night. Keeping with the theme of screeching vocals and dawning a shirt that reads "NAZI TRUMPS FUCK OFF" (a play on the Dead Kennedys song "Nazi Punks Fuck Off" which is a phrase that has become deeply imbedded in punk culture) the lead singer gives a performance that steals the show. As she yells along to the distorted guitars, her face and body contorts with the music, showing that the emotions heard in her voice and the music are truly felt throughout her entire being. The Corvallis music scene is truly something special and everyone in attendance knows it. While it may have a scary face to the uninitiated, underneath is a home for all those who feel ostracized from society for how they look, feel, or are. At the end of the night the singer brings all of this to attention with a sweet speech on the magic that has been captured by this small college town.