Finally, a third attempt to rediscover Emerald Valley BMX race track, Eugene, OR and it was open for business: my first time riding here in 35 years.
Filming my riding experiences has become a bit of an addiction. Cherity asks, “Do you have to film every time you ride?!” Well, yes, I do! I guess, watching the playback has certain satisfaction. Then, adding music and trimming the video to make it flow and appear more dynamic is part of the fun.
Kinda funny ‘cause I thought I was gonna stomp it… but, hit my wall sooner than expected. Quite the workout. Shout out to my Mom for supporting and fueling a love for BMX. For several years, in the early 80’s, racing here on Thursday night and Saturday mornings was a pretty routine thing. The parentals carting me and other kids from Veneta/Noti back and forth to Eugene.
Throw back to 1984. Emerald Valley BMX race track. Riding provided me a sense of autonomy very early on. I can remember sitting on my bike at the corner of our neighborhood and draping the comics section of the newspaper over my handlebars. Something about the bike… Go time!
Now an Olympic sport, BMX seems a lot faster than I remember. Asphalt berms. Super flow. Seems like other O.M. are back in the saddle these days like Kirk Linder who we idolized as one of the cool kids back in the day.
Without knowing, consciously, that Tyler Spencer was a “local” musician – I’ve seen Tyler around. Over the last year, our paths crossed with more frequency. He rides MTB, is a student mountain biking (NICA) coach, shows up at Newport Area Trail Stewards meetings and has been involved in the Coast Hills Classic Mountain bike race. At some point, I friended him on Facebook and learned about his new album Sonar becoming available on iTunes. We downloaded Sonar and begin jamming his tacks during our morning commute. (https://music.apple.com/us/album/sonar/1478790328)
I’m constantly making new Didjeridu and play religiously. I’ve experimented with many different materials and approaches to crafting this instrument and have narrowed it down to what I feel is the best possible Didjeridu for people to play, no matter what skill level you’re at. – Tyler Spencer
It is typical for Reed and I to crank the tunes driving, especially on the way to school. As we started listening to Sonar the album grew on me the way good music does. It’s often the best music that gets better with each listen. Such as the case with Tyler’s Sonar. The better the music got the more I became intrigued with Tyler, his musical process and the mystery of his primary tool – the didgeridoo. On Sonar he’s laid the solid trance like and hypnotic beats. As a “former” multi-instrumentalist (and perhaps at some future date continued musician) I know that nailing these beats is no simple achievement. They are good. I also become intrigued with the didg riffs on these tracks. What is happening?! How many tracks? What can be done with this didgeridoo? Fascinating.
Reed. 9 years old. Super stoked to experience Tyler in real time. Cafe Mundo 9.9.19. We left early because it was a school night and I wanted him to get his rest. We could hear Tyler opening one of our favorite jams from Sonar as we were pulling away. I kind of regret that now…
Wikipedia: “There are no
reliable sources of the exact age of the didgeridoo. Archaeological studies
suggest that people of the Kakadu region in Northern Australia have been
using the didgeridoo for less than 1,000 years, based on the dating of rock art painting”.
It wouldn’t surprise me if this
instrument goes further back in the depths of time…
I have so much more to learn about Tyler and the history of this instrument. I feel like I have seen photos of him in Australia hunting for trees to craft new instruments. So much to verify and correlate. I believe he designs, crafts and sells these instruments, as well. “My life’s work is dedicated to the crafting and playing of the didjeridu. These pursuits have taken me around the world and helped forge strong ties to the didjeridu community.” (www.primaltones.com)
As I began editing the video I realized that 10 years ago Spencer had a show at Café Mundo and was witness to a “angel like entity” who he would later marry. I assume this encounter would later cause his current roots to be planted and grow. This show may be his last at Cafe Mundo. Lorie and Greg have sold the restaurant and property to pursue (www.realcannahoney.com) Reed and I are very grateful to have seen Tyler play live at Mundo. This video’s intro from Tyler discusses the narratives and origins of meaning. It’s significant in this universe – Lincoln County’s Universe – and the sounds that we all experience. Enjoy…!
