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MUSIC The Weather Machine plays Bear Creek Park The Portland rock band performs in the park's amphitheater Comment MailTribune.com Writer Posted Jul. 14, 2015 at 9:00 AM Posted Jul. 14, 2015 at 9:00 AM » Social News Portland band The Weather Machine routinely gets labeled as a folk or folk-rock band — owing to guitar player and singer Slater Smith's early, mostly acoustic music under the Weather Machine moniker — but with the band's new album, "Peach," Smith has thoroughly Dylanized his folksinger roots, according to The Portland Mercury. He and his band have gone for something bigger, louder and more dynamic than their 2013 self-titled debut album, and they've never sounded better. "Peach" is a catchy, well-crafted rock record, with songs more suitable for dance parties than campfires. The Weather Machine will perform its amped-up, original acoustic music at 7 p.m. Wednesday, July 15, in the Bear Creek Park Amphitheater, 1520 Siskiyou Blvd., Medford. The show is one in the series of Medford Parks' free summer concerts. See www.ci.medford.or.us or call 541-774-2400 for information. The band's sophomore full-length album was recorded over the course of two years and showcases the group's transition from folk-born storytelling to the realm of power ballads and effects pedals. Common threads of levity and intrigue tie the album together as the project experiments with musical identity to cover a breadth of sonic and lyrical ground. It’s not quite tongue-in-cheek, but "Peach" makes the listener wonder, pitting a faux-country anthem called “Wannabe Cowboys” right up against the electronic slow-jam title track, then moving into “Breakup Song” — a tune worthy of high-kicking chorus lines. Recorded in Pacific City and Portland, "Peach" was produced by the band’s guitarist, Colin Robson, at Kiwanda Sound Recordings. The Weather Machine began when Smith and Robson met in 2012 at an open-mic in Pacific City. The two teamed up to record Smith’s songs at Robson’s then brand-new studio. Cellist Matthew Cartmill and drummer Tanner Smith (Slater's brother) signed on shortly after. Drummer Luke Hoffman and bassist Nick Hamel joined the band in 2014 to make up the latest lineup. Past members also have included bassist Jack Martin and drummer Corey Kintzi. The Weather Machine released its first eponymous album after a blustery winter of recording on the Oregon Coast. With strong ties to the region, the five-piece found its roots in the Pacific Northwest’s unique folk aesthetic, but has since developed a hard-hitting, theatrical rock performance, drawing comparisons to such acts as The Kinks, Hey Marseilles and Josh Ritter. After emerging on the Northwest music scene in April 2013, The Weather Machine has been featured on Buzzfeed and OPB’s "Think Out Loud," in The Oregonian, The Portland Mercury, Willamette Week and many other media outlets. The band worked collaboratively with Oregon State Parks and Oregon Film to release its first music video, which debuted on acclaimed actor Rain Wilson’s ( Dwight Schrute, "The Office") video blog SoulPancake and was later rereleased online through GoPro Cameras. MailTribune.com Writer Posted Jul. 14, 2015 at 9:00 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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