Fun fact: As a student right here at South Eugene High School, Principal Kee Zublin discovered a passion for music performance. This led to the formation of the band Mood Area 52, for which Zublin became the saxophonist.
Zublin and a few others, including Michael Rodrick – a fan favorite language arts teacher at Spencer Butte Middle school – began playing sets together when they were both freshly out of high school. Zublin attended South Eugene and took part in school band classes where he got his kickstart into music performance.
Once Zublin came back from college, Rodrick had officially started a tango band and named it “Mood Area 52.” Zublin says this was a joke name and reference to numerology.
The band would go on from live performances to studio recordings.
“The first time we actually made a recording together was with this guy Henry Vestine. He [lived] his life in Eugene; but he was listed as one of the 100 greatest guitarists in Rolling Stone Magazine.”
From there, Mood Area 52 began playing at a number of wedding venues and festivals. They quickly gained popularity among Eugene locals, as well as across the West Coast, having also played a few venues in California and in the Jimmy Hendricks museum.
As they gained popularity, Mood Area 52 also melded their style with a a number of music genres, ranging from Americana to more Middle Eastern-inspired music. Zublin still occasionally plays with the band, marking nearly thirty years now that they have performed together.
On Oct. 30, Zublin and Mood Area 52 will be performing a live score to the silent Nosferatu movie playing at Art House Theater near campus.
Today, much of live music is done by DJs, but Zublin advocates for South students to continue seeking out live bands and emerging musicians.
“I would encourage South kids to listen to local music and get out there,” Zublin said. “I’m sure there’s still great local music.”
Article by Penny Deitz