Back Beat

The road to recovery — and prom: Eugene saxophonist and origami artist Tomo Tsurumi is slowly recovering after a bicycle accident in early May that caused severe injuries to his face, mouth and hands.

“It seems like my facial bone is healing a few weeks faster than the doctor expected,” Tsurumi says. “I have nine plates and 36 screws in my face right now.” Tsurumi, who sees doctors and an acupuncturist weekly, lost eight of his teeth and will undergo several oral surgeries over the next two years, but he is expected to make a full recovery. The most painful, he says, is the nerve damage to his hands.

“My neurosurgeon said my spine is bruised,” he says. “My hands are very sensitive.” He says that he’s still unable to play the saxophone but does manage to play a little piano.

After the accident, Tsurumi’s parents came to Eugene for the first time from Japan to help. “It was amazing,” he says.

Cowfish co-owner Shawn Mediaclast and several of Tsurumi’s friends are hosting a “Summer Solstice Sparkle Prom” fundraiser for his medical costs, with music by Eleven Eyes and dinner, 7:30 to 9:30 pm Friday, June 20; entry is $5 and a dance party with local DJs will follow. Mulligans in South Eugene will host a fundraiser for Tsurumi the same night.

“They don’t have proms in Japan,” says Liliana Darwin López, Tsurumi’s partner. “We never imagined we’d go to prom together … Talk about a silver lining.”

López says the love and prayers from the community have helped Tsurumi recover faster, adding, “Love and light sent towards his hands and mouth and then, of course, come and donate!”

Famed Louisiana band Dwight “Black Cat” Carrier & The Zydeco Ro Doggs is making a special stop in Eugene during their West Coast tour 7 to 10 pm Thursday, June 19, at the New Day Bakery; $10. Expect a dance party in the courtyard.

Local singer-songwriter Robert Meade is releasing three singles with the Nashville Trio before heading out on a national tour this summer sending them to Los Angeles, Chicago, Memphis and Nashville. Hear the new tunes when they kick off the tour June 25 at Sam Bond’s.