Brian Hinderberger

"Songs like “Rain,” “Pride,” and the gospel-tinged “So Lovely” certainly show Down By A Billion to be more than unnecessary guitar noodling and forgettable musical ideas." - The Source Weekly

When Brian Hinderberger’s sister, Natasha Sapp, was diagnosed with breast cancer two years ago, it was a shock to everyone in her family.

“She was young,” Hinderberger said last week. “You’re not even supposed to think about that stuff, or at least you’re told not to.”

Sapp was 32 then, when doctors classified her cancer at stage four, the most advanced stage there is. She underwent treatment and surgeries and went into remission, but late last summer, the cancer returned. This time, it was in her bones.

Hinderberger — a local singer-songwriter formerly of the band Kousefly — said he felt “helpless” when he heard the news. So he turned to music.

Earlier this year, Hinderberger set up a campaign on the online fundraising site Kickstarter and set a goal of $2,000, intending to record music for his sister. Thanks in large part to one $1,000 investor, he exceeded that goal by $300.

“People just really stepped up,” he said. “The $1,000 donation really ... pushed it over the hump.”

He took the money and headed to Revolver Studios in Portland, where he recorded “Natasha’s Fight,” a five-song collection that features Hinderberger’s intimate folk-pop sound and a heartfelt title track.

“I wanted to make it as if I was playing around a campfire,” he said.

On Saturday, Hinderberger will hold a release party for the recording where the $5 cover not only gets you in, but also buys a card with directions on how to download the music. He hasn’t made CDs in an effort to keep costs down so there’s more money to send to his sister.

“One hundred percent of the money raised is going directly to her,” he said. Besides, Hinderberger said, “time is of the essence.”

Sapp, who lives in Queen Creek, Ariz., is undergoing treatment and isn’t feeling well enough to attend Saturday’s show, but that’s OK, because she’s already made the whole project worth it, Hinderberger said.

“If there’s only three or four people who like this music, it doesn’t matter,” he said, “because she already called me and told me she loves it. That’s what it’s about.”

Brian Hinderberger’s “Natasha’s Fight” release show, with Jason Schweitzer, Stan Roach and Kylan Johnson ; 8 p.m. Saturday; $5, includes MP3 download card; The Annex, 51 N.W. Greenwood Ave., Bend; www.brian hinderberger.com.

— Ben Salmon - The Bend Bulletin

After a detour through the wrong office, singer-songwriter Brian Hinderberger walks into Healthy Beginnings’ office, where he’s greeted by employees John Houchens, Randi Whitley and Laurel Case.

Hinderberger is at the west Bend nonprofit to sing them a song. “Brian in the Breakroom,” as he’s calling this ongoing series of office visits, is his one-man pursuit of musical greatness — one lunch hour at a time... - The Bend Bulletin

"The song (On our Way Home) kind of captures what these dudes are all about; it starts out floating through a sort of rubbery, psychedelic murk before opening up into a chorus teeming with (“Summerteeth” era) Wilco-esque backing vocals, while Evans sings road-wearily of life in a DIY band." - Frequency Blog: Bend Bulletin