Back Beat

Music news & notes from down in the Willamette valley.

Wetsock
Wetsock

Eugene-Springfield experienced a brutal domestic abuse tragedy last month with the loss of 26-year old Casey Lynn Wright, a devoted equestrian, at the hands of her ex-boyfriend Robert Cromwell. Domestic abuse remains a grave but silent problem; Womenspace reports that one in four women in the U.S. will be a victim of intimate partner violence. In honor of Wright, Womenspace is hosting a benefit, “Sing Through The Blues,” featuring Savanna Coen, Bajuana Blues, Deb Cleveland as well as a silent auction 6 to 9 pm Thursday, Dec. 19, at Cozmic; $10-$15 suggested donation.

Double the holiday fun: Halie Loren is at home for the holidays at The Jazz Station 7 and 9 pm Friday, Dec. 20; $10-$15. Joined by her band, including Matt Treder on piano, Mark Schneider on bass and Brian West on drums, Loren revisits holiday favorites as well as multilingual holiday ditties, all with a jazzy spin.

Don’t miss: an Electropop Christmas with Albany’s Little Rascalz and Eugene’s Pluto the Planet 7 pm Dec. 20 at WOW Hall; the “tipsy American gypsy blues” of Hot Damn Scandal (who, according to their website, have been reviewed by Jesus and Ronald Reagan) 8:30 pm Dec. 22 at Axe & Fiddle.

Local rock-ska band Wetsock is releasing a new album, Puddle Gazer, Saturday, Dec. 21, at Luckey’s, joined by other local bands The Soothesayers and Bad Luck Blackouts (see Music); $5. Eugene needs more horn-heavy music, and Wetsock has the perfect trombone-trumpet remedy. Can’t catch them on the solstice? See them at the band’s service industry appreciation show Sunday Dec. 22 at Black Forest.