Arts & EntertainmentFebruary 13, 2004

Andrea Heisinger

MOSCOW -- Portland's Groundscore will bring its smooth blend of funk-infused grooves here Saturday night.

The band will play two sets starting at 9 p.m. at John's Alley Tavern, 114 E. Sixth St.

Most of the members of Groundscore are transplants to the region, after moving from Chapel Hill, N.C., about a year ago. The band picked up a new bassist and drummer after the move.

Singer Courtney Sproule, 22, said in a telephone interview the move to Portland was a favorable one.

"It's nice to be in a city with more different scenes and more room to grow," she said. "Chapel Hill is pretty specific with its indie rock and avant garde scenes."

Guitarist Dwight Carlisle, 28, agreed.

"People here are more open to different types of music," he said. "In Chapel Hill, the audience is a little more standoffish. A good portion of the people who go to shows here are musicians."

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One thing that hasn't drastically changed about Groundscore is its music. While Sproule said the bass and drums parts had become tighter, Carlisle said the sound was more melodic, the vision remained the same and what the band has consistently produced is danceable music for all audiences.

During a Groundscore show, one can expect a lot of parts left open for band members' interpretations.

"Most of our songs leave room for some improvisation," Sproule said. "But we still have a tight arrangement, and we play off of a groove until it's exhausted and then move on."

Some goals for the band are to continue touring regionally, Sproule said, and to ultimately be a national touring act.

Both Carlisle and Sproule are looking toward recording Groundscore's first CD with the new line-up in March or April. The band already has recorded two CDs.

"This will be the first time we've really gone into a studio," Carlisle said. "Our first two albums were kind of independent, and we want this to be the best CD we've been involved with and not cut any corners."

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