Eugene may have a shortage of pink belts this week and it has nothing to do with the economy.
Local band Aerodrone will return to Eugene this weekend on the success of its pop gem “Scene Boy.”
The lyrics of Aerodrone’s catchy new song read: “All the scene girls will know my name/ ‘Cuz I will show them that I’ve got pink belts and Seven jeans.”
Vox superstar Gary Zon said it’s a very visual song and also very sarcastic.
Aerodrone is back in Oregon to film the song’s eyeliner-clad music video.
The band asked Portland fans to dress in their scene boy best and hold up lyrics in the video.
“It feels great to be back home,” Zon said.
Since the band has been in Los Angeles, fans have been begging for another Eugene concert.
“We want to do something for those kids and give them something to be excited about,” he said.
The band’s fond memories of the WOW Hall, coupled with the venue’s all-ages policy, makes it the perfect place for a reunion.
Zon said Los Angeles and Eugene have drastically different atmospheres.
“Eugene just has a comfortable vibe. Kids are there for us, not because of a competition for fans,” he said.
In Los Angeles, the band’s biggest challenge is trying to break through and gain exposure.
“L.A. is more impersonal and it’s harder to get people out to shows. It’s over-saturated with bands, so if you’re trying to break through, it’s impossible,” he said.
In order to stand out, the band wanted to follow current trends in the market.
As a result, its latest EP has a different sound than any of Aerodrone’s previous releases.
Zon said “Spin,” released in 2006, was much more rock-oriented.
“We really feel like ‘Scene Boy’ is more commercially viable and ‘Spin’ appeals more to the indie crowd,” he said.
He’s definitely right about the EP’s commercial sound. The record is slick and filled with danceable beats.
Fans can choose to interpret the band’s “commercially viable” behavior as selling out, but perhaps they shouldn’t be too quick to judge the homegrown rock stars.
The record also has more thoughtful songs like “Alone.” The song’s mature lyrics have a more profound effect than “My sister’s pants really worked out / The bracelets on my wrist look glam.”
Aerodrone wanted “Scene Boy” to be accessible and have a broad appeal, but the song is not definitive of the band’s sound.
“The market is saturated with scene kids, and people really like something that’s gimmicky,” he said.
“We’re trying to create this gimmick for the scene and at the same time, we’re trying to show people we’re a more progressive band.”
A former student at the University, Zon said he hopes people will come to the WOW Hall to see what has influenced him.
He feels like a lot of the songs he has written reflect his time in Eugene.
“When I’m playing in Eugene, there’s a part of me that’s expressing the experiences I felt there,” he said.
“And it will be good to see some old friends.”
Recently picked up by Diesel Management Group, Aerodrone will hit the road on its first national tour, accompanied by the Annex.

“We’re definitely excited to do new things,” Zon said.
If you’re lucky, maybe you can meet Zon and the rest of Aerodrone after the show “in the parking lot next to the Super 8.”
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