Sam Bond’s Anniversary Bash

Sam Bond’s Garage has been a Whiteaker fixture for seventeen years, too old to count in bar time. Consistently voted by EW readers as Eugene’s favorite watering hole, the Sam Bond’s Anniversary Variety Showbrings together a heap of local performers who’ve graced the venue’s wooden stage over the past years.

Tom Heinl and Scott Kof Monday night bingo notoriety will act as masters of ceremony, rambling, joking, drinking and calling bingo between music sets throughout the night. “There will definitely be a blackout round,” Heinl says. Whether he meant this with regard to the cash-prize bingo game or the state of inebriation is unclear.

One thing to look forward to is the three-piece one-off ZZ Top cover band composed of guitarist Jake Pavlak(Ferns), bassist Dave Snider(Test Face) and drummer Rob Smith, that will put some hair on your chin. “It’s all early ‘70s stuff, Pavlak says. “It’s been fun learning these new tunes.”

And if that beard of yours, pints-deep in the evening, needs a lift out of the ol’ Mason jar, the lovely ladies of the Red Raven Folliesalso perform.

Hey, as if that isn’t enough, the rambunctious bluegrass of the Alder Street All-Starswill have you stomping, swinging and pushing tables out of the way to dance. But wait, there’s even more. Vaudevillian folk/jazz, provided by Hot Milk, should wear in your dancing boots for the evening, and the mellow jazz compositions of Geoffrey Mays should help with the cool down process.Of course, the evening wouldn’t be complete without an early, pre-funk set by The Stagger and Sway, guitaring up the night from the outset.

Saturated in strong beer, this showcase of local talent will no doubt bring about a good start to the next year of Sam Bond’s entertainment.

Sam Bond’s Anniversary Show “Too Old To Count” starts 9 pm Saturday, July 28, at Sam Bond’s; $5.

— Patrick Newson