Back Beat

Now that Eugene has recovered from our “was-he-or-wasn’t-he-really-here” Justin Bieber fever (Bieber-fieber, if you will), it’s time look ahead at the upcoming week in live music. But first some show announcements:

Portland indie rockers The Thermals play alongside rising Portland punk band Summer Cannibals 8 pm Saturday, May 14, at Hi-Fi Music Hall. And popular rapper G-Eazy plays Matthew Knight Arena April 8; Bob Dylan hits the Cuthbert Amphitheater June 7, followed by Weird Al Yankovic July 29; and, also at Matthew Knight Arena, James Taylor performs July 15 and Def Leppard is slated for Sept. 30. 

Speaking of summer shows, how stoked are we that the B-52s are coming to the Lane County Fair July 22?

As the summer lineups come out for Eugene’s bigger venues, EW is excited to see some new faces, but also embarrassed to see such a lack of diversity on our stages. So far, Cuthbert has only booked white dudes. Matthew Knight Arena is in the same boat with a an upcoming roster that includes … are you ready for it? More white dudes: G-Eazy, Def Leppard, James Taylor and TobyMac. Where are the women? Kudos to Eugene’s smaller venues, who are setting the pace for progress and innovative lineups that better reflect a 2016 reality.

Back to this week: L.A.’s Insects vs. Robots bring their “space gnome thrash folk” to Sam Bond’s Garage 9 pm Thursday, March 10; $8 advance, $10 door, 21-plus. Also performing at Sam Bond’s is well-known Portland songwriter Jerry Joseph 9:30 pm Friday, March 11; $10, 21-plus.

At 10 pm Saturday, March 1, Portland hard-rockers Ape Machine play alongside Eugene’s Ferns and Pseudoboss at Luckey’s Cigar Club. And on Friday, March 11, Luckey’s boasts an all-Eugene lineup when Chest Cavity, Mr. Tang, Melt and VCR play at 10 pm. Both show are $5 and 21-plus.

At 7 pm Sunday, March 13, Christian hip-hop artist TobyMac comes to Matthew Knight Arena; $15-$69.50, all ages. And neo-grunge rockers Breaking Benjamin perform alongside Starset at McDonald Theatre 8 pm Tuesday, March 15; $42.50 adv., $47.50 door, all ages.

Also at McDonald Theatre, Yonder Mountain String Band plays with Polecat 8:30 pm Saturday, March 19, $25 adv., $30 door, all ages.

Expect an evening of psych and indie rock when The Boyfriends, Mommy Long Legs, VCR and The Real Smoothies play Wandering Goat 8 pm Saturday, March 12; $5, 21-plus.

TAUK

At Hi-Fi Music Hall, TAUK joins Yak Attack for an evening of heavy instrumental fusion 8 pm Wednesday, March 16; $12 adv., $15 door, 21-plus. The next night at Hi-Fi, Portland’s The Quick and Easy Boys celebrate St. Patrick’s Day alongside Eugene’s Blue Lotus 9 pm Thursday, March 17; $12 adv., $15 door, 21-plus.

Popular blues musician Keb’ Mo’ returns to Eugene this week in support of his latest release — Keb’ Mo’ LIVE: That Hot Pink Blues Album — out April 15. Keb’ Mo’ plays 9:30 pm Tuesday, March 15, at The Shedd; $35-$59, all ages.