THE OREGON DONOR
"A Pageant's End"
Release Date: October 6th, 2009


Started in 2005, The Oregon Donor is a four-piece rock band from Anacortes, Washington, drawing influence from indie and post-rock bands such as Modest Mouse, Karate, Dismemberment Plan, and Mogwai.

Having earned a highly coveted spot as a contestant in the annual 21 and under band competition put on by Experience Music Project, Sound Off!, the band quickly began creating a buzz with their raucous and disjointed live set. As a result, music fans began blogging about the band, comparing them to the likes of Modest Mouse, Built to Spill, Guided by Voices, and even DC artists like Faraquet.

In 2008, the band unofficially released their 2nd full length record, "Somethings", distributing limited copies to NW radio stations and press. The response was instantaneous, they were quickly invited to play on 107.7 The End's local music program and as a result, were invited back to play a packed free show opening for UK buzz band, The Wombats. Now more primed than ever, they're currently working on their follow-up ("A Pageant's End") to be released October 6, 2009.



+ Contestant in 2006 EMP Sound Off! Competition
+ Performed at Seattle Folklife festival and Anacortes based What the Heck Fest, 2009
+ Performed with: The Thermals, The Wombats, Dirty Projectors, White Rabbits, Mt. Erie, Mr. Gnome, Cyrus Fell Down, Extra Life, Panther, Schoolyard Heroes, Kane Hodder, Tullycraft, Run Chico Run, Velella Velella, PWRFL Power, The Robot Ate Me, Speaker Speaker, The Americas, Tall Birds, Karl Blau, The Blow, Tender Forever, Spenking, Tennis Pro, The Lonely Forest, Mission Orange, The Globes



"With their musical imagination in full blossom, The Oregon Donor has scored an engaging rock album. A remarkable number of quality influences emerge on A Pageant?s End, and throughout its ten songs the band keeps moving and trying things, taking risks and finding a rich middle ground between pop, prog, and post-rock. You?ll hear a lot of Sunny Day Real Estate and Hot Hot Heat, with resounding echoes from Built to Spill and Broken Social Scene among others. The Oregon Donor moves skillfully through these influences, achieving a unique, transitory sound that winds, cuts, ambles, and pops."
- Adequacy.net

"A Pageant?s End is heavily indebted to that era?s kingpins, Built to Spill and Modest Mouse. Granted, front man/guitarist Christopher Rabbit isn't quite in the rarefied air of Messrs. Martsch and Brock, but tunes like the staccato stompin' 'I.C.B.y.B.F.' and ?What Good Hate Did? show an understanding an appreciation of NW indie, while adding to the same's legacy."
- Pop Matters

"Seattle-based band The Oregon Donor comes out swinging on their sophomore LP, A Pageant's End. With the fury of a popular hometown band on the rise, the band took what was interesting about their debut Somethings and ramped it up a notch. Even more technical, with well-balanced instrumentals and good baselines, it comes across as more tasteful and less noodley than their previous effort. Without having to sacrifice their musical gravitas, The Oregon Donor have made a more accessible record... Not only are they using prog-rock influences such as Don Caballero and early Dischord bands that they grew up on, but they seem to have thrown a little Radiohead and the like into the mix?it takes repeated listens to appreciate what The Oregon Donor have accomplished with A Pageant's End. As they move out of their awkward "nerdy" prog stage and into their more advanced adolescence, the sky is the limit, and it is hopefully a gateway to a more widespread audience."
- Redefine

"The Oregon Donor recalls several of the area's established favorites - say, an earlier-era Minus the Bear or a less thrashy Thermals. The foursome formulates textured and jam-heavy songs complete with jerky guitar riffs, frontman Christopher Edwards' rubbery vocals, and a plethora of extended proggy interludes. Tracks like "Morse Code" and "Hostages" highlight the Oregon Donor's friskier side, with picked-up, jittery tempos and echoing layers of vocal harmonies - which happen to be the band's sound at its best."
- Erin Thompson, Seattle Weekly

"The Oregon Donor's new record, A Pageant's End, starts with "Pageant," which spends the first minute or two tricking you into thinking it's a pretty ballad. But don't be fooled; the song evolves into a swirling and fun flurry of piano, fuzzy guitars, and harmonies. The following track, "Hostages," does the opposite?spending the first couple minutes paying homage to Built to Spill's infamous, frenzied jam sessions before chilling out into a romantic pop song. But just as most romances do, it gets sour at the end. In fact, that seems to be the Oregon Donor's MO?lure in the listener with sonic sweetness, and once the victim's in their sights, blast them back against the wall with an epic, distorted freak-out. Well played, Oregon Donor."
- Megan Seling, The Stranger (Seattle)

?The Oregon Donor?s literate, memorable songs, range from sweet indie pop to nearly raucous pop punk, gradually growing edgier as the band matures. Employing instruments as diverse as flute and drum machine, they create precious and catchy yet melancholic pop tunes."
- Elaine Walker, goskagit.com

"The Oregon Donor's new record, A Pageant's End immediately had me searching for comparisons in regard to the band's sound. There is the obvious influence of the DC, Discord/early Emo scene, ie Grey Matter, Fugazi etc. Quickly shaking off the temptation I came to realize the band is really most like themselves. They are very good. The Anacortes quartet shows passion, growth and intelligence with this release. Mixing grunge, emo, math rock and a host of other cool nuances, The Oregon Donor has some really cool songs on the record. The albums second song, "Hostages" really knocked the cover off of the ball with it's provocative intensity. The song exudes tightness as the group mixes it up with complex melodies and numerous parts to their numbers. This pattern continues throughout the whole record. "Mimicry" also really sticks out as a highlight for me with it's snappy beat and clever lyrics. The best song on the CD in my opinion though is "What Good Hate Did." Then again I am partial to angry, passion filled, loud stuff. The loud, explosive guitars are to die for and the vocals intoxicate. Buy this record."
- What's Up Magazine (Bellingham, WA)

"For those of you who have to tap into the Washington-based quartet, The Oregon Donor, you need to pick up this disc. With just the right mix of thrash and melody, wildly unpredictable, yet fluid chord-progressions, and groovy, Pageant's End will leave one's inner-Pacific-Northwesterner thirsting for more. The Oregon Donor is a band with something to lend-Ears? Hearts? A state of mind? Rating: 4.75/5"
- Sean Phelan, Wonkavision.com

"They're young, ferociously passionate, with a progressive sound both energetic and expansive... one of the very best live bands that I've encountered in the past few months." - Chris Estey, Threeimaginarygirls.com