L.A. based band The Battlefield took the corner stage in Oberon’s tavern on Wednesday night and adapted to the small bar zaniness that the venue has become known for. “We love 
funky little bars,” said Jenny Weaver, in a pre-concert phone conversation. At the helm of vocals for the group, Jenny also plays tambourine and multiple other instruments for the trio.
Alongside her were Matthew Ducey and James Addison who played a broken down drums set, banjos and guitars for the colorful crowd at Oberon’s that ranged from caped dancers to beer wenches. Only a few nights before this small set, the band played a show in Salt Lake city at an 800 person seating venue. Having just released their debut album, large concerts and crowds are a big deal during their first west coast tour, but it was apparent how comfortable the group was in the smaller downtown watering hole.
Only an hour before their set, the band met “Doe” an employee of Oberon’s and tenacious flute player. After a couple rehearsal songs, The Battlefield invited Doe to play along with them. Also during the set, the musicians set up a break in between songs so that local band, St. Cinder, could take over while they got drinks and talked to the crowd.
At this time, string plucker Matthew Ducey, explained how much they were appreciating the atmosphere that Oberon’s offered. “ This is the way it used to be. It should be let the character come out of the night every single night,” he said. “L.A. has a culture of keepin’ it cool and people here are keepin it unique.”
And keep it unique The Battlefield did. By incorporating a ukelele and dual cowbells, the show was able to get everyone in the room tapping to the sweet beats coming from stage. The set eve
n inspired an impromptu body painting in which a patron had his entire chest colored like a medieval knight.
“It’s armor! Like I’m going to the battlefield,” he shouted to the band when they asked what his new expressive “clothing” represented.
While promoting their new album and continuing the west coast tour to cities like Seattle, Bellingham, and Portland, The Battlefield is sure to have a lot on their mind, but the uniqueness of Ashland will definitely leave an impression to stay with the members, long after they depart the Rogue Valley.
