The walls of local bar Luckey’s were dotted with dart boards and neon Guinness signs glowing softly over the pool sharks. The quiet rumble of Thursday night conversation was suddenly overpowered by harmonizing guitars and bass as the Walton Complex started its jam-band, folk-rock inspired set.
This campus-birthed band has casually gigged around Eugene since forming in fall of 2003 in the University residence halls. After three years of working and reworking their sound, members of the Walton Complex will perform their matured, mixed-influence songs at least until they graduate.
“Artistically it stretches my brain more than school does,” guitarist Matthew Radich said.
College is a time for expanding horizons, but often, students get bogged down by academics and leave little time for a creative outlet. With four band members fully enrolled in the University, members of the Walton Complex started casually jamming when the time was available. Only in the past year has the band scheduled practice and melted ideas into cohesive songs.
“The feeling of locking up with people you’re on the same level with is real,” bassist Dan Duerfeldt said.
Locking up with people can challenge bands when members bring unique musical persuasions to practice. The Walton Complex’s creative struggle to unify its sound ended positively. The individual style of each musician meshed into a holistic sound.
“Daniel wanted to play stripped-down blues, and I was still influenced by the Portland music scene,” guitarist Nick Dorzweiler said.
After his extended absence from Eugene while going abroad, the band regrouped, mature and motivated.
“When we came back, we had more of a cohesive sound,” Dorzweiler said.
“The same vision,” added Rosove.
This newer vision includes intertwining guitar solos, changing rhythms and recently, the vocal styling of music major Julia Sarewitz. Her melancholy voice adds a graceful tone otherwise absent in the band’s sound.
The Eugene music scene has its ups and downs for aspiring artists like Sarewitz and the other band members.
“It’s very niche-oriented,” Dorzweiler said.
Word of new music travels fast, but choice of venues and collaboration with other musicians are limited by the size and seclusion of the city, the band said.
“Its hard to keep your finger on the pulse,” Rosove said.
The bars around town usually supply ample gig time but restrict audience size, and for better or worse, quiet “the scene” culture. Other venues like McDonald Theatre and The Hult Center rarely host upcoming local bands. The WOW Hall provides opportunities for all-ages shows featuring both well- and lesser-known artists. The Walton Complex is scheduled to play at WOW Hall before the school year ends.
“It’s hard,” Rosove said. “I wish we had more time.”
After graduation, Dorzweiler and Radich plan to attend graduate school and travel to Israel. Duerfeldt will pursue work as an electrician to support his young family. Sarewitz hopes to teach music.
“We’ll all keep playing music, for sure,” Dorzweiler said.
After the musicians leave the University and set out in new directions, they will surely remember their time playing music together in the Walton Complex and around Eugene.
“We’ve kept the name because we’ve been playing together since the first day we met in the dorms,” Rosove said. “So we don’t want to change that; it’s ours.”
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