Back Beat

On New Year’s Eve, instead of singing the wrong lyrics of “Auld Lang Syne” to yourself, on the couch, in your sweatpants, with a flute of champagne propped on your newly rotund, post-holiday belly, venture into the night and spend the last few hours of 2016 with live, local music and entertainment. Here’s a roundup of events for Thursday, Dec. 31.

SpringFilm gets an early start with a 6:30 pm screening of everyone’s favorite campy musical starring Meatloaf, The Rocky Horror Picture Show, at the Wildish Community Center in Springfield, 630 Main St.: free.

Celebrate with Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach, Yoshi and more video game hooligans at a NYE party at Shoryuken League — the bar arcade at 881 Willamette St. Party starts at 8 pm; wear formal attire or a Shoryuken League shirt and get in free.

Mac’s at the Vet’s Club is hosting two concerts on two floors starting at 8 pm: Blues star Karen Lovely performs in Mac’s Restaurant and Nightclub ($15 adv., $18 door) and Kelly Thibodeaux & The Etoufee Band play their brand of blues and swamp rock in the Vet’s Ballroom ($12 adv., $15 door).

Ring in the New Year au natural: Local saxman Paul Biondi plays 8:30 pm at the Willamettans Family Nudist Resort’s Masquerade Ball, 37000 Parsons Creek Rd. in Springfield; free. Dress up and wear a mask … or don’t?

If you’re more into, ahem, black-tie attire, head to the annual Satin Love Orchestra 007 Diamonds Are Forever New Year’s Eve Ball at the Valley River Inn. The James Bond-themed ball, complete with red carpet, dance competition and a “Casino Royale” lounge kicks off at 8:30 pm, and Satin Love Orchestra hits the stage at 9:30 pm; $40.

Over in the Whit, Old Nick’s Pub (211 Washington St.) is hosting a 21-plus wild rumpus of a shindig at 9 pm with local bands The Sawyer Family, Gran Rojo and Snow White; $5. And Sam Bond’s Garage closes out 2016 with house music from Andrew Mataus and Dave Deluxx starting at 10 pm; $10. The force awakens with DJ Jon “Supa J” Smith at Blair Alley Vintage Arcade’s Star Wars-themed party; prizes for best costume.

Downtown Inclusion Zone: The Wayward Lamb hosts its first-ever New Year’s Eve party — “Hollyweird” — from 9 pm to close; $8 early bird special includes champagne and party favors. Nahko and Medicine for the People play McDonald Theatre (9 pm, $40), local reggae stalwarts Reeble Jar and Sol Seed play Hi-Fi Music Hall (9 pm, $12-$15) and Pink Floyd tribute band Pigs on the Wing performs at WOW Hall (9 pm, $14-$17).

Meanwhile, Luckey’s hosts a Beats & Burlesque night with local rap crew — The Architex — and other guests at 10 pm, with a champagne toast at midnight; $5. Black Forest hosts a night of local gypsy punk — The Koozies — and local psychedelic funk — Fortune’s Folly — at 10 pm.

Further afield, hip-hop artist Elena Leona hosts the Axe & Fiddle (Cottage Grove) NYE party at 9:30 pm; free.

Drive safe and dance responsibly.

A Note From the Publisher

Dear Readers,

The last two years have been some of the hardest in Eugene Weekly’s 43 years. There were moments when keeping the paper alive felt uncertain. And yet, here we are — still publishing, still investigating, still showing up every week.

That’s because of you!

Not just because of financial support (though that matters enormously), but because of the emails, notes, conversations, encouragement and ideas you shared along the way. You reminded us why this paper exists and who it’s for.

Listening to readers has always been at the heart of Eugene Weekly. This year, that meant launching our popular weekly Activist Alert column, after many of you told us there was no single, reliable place to find information about rallies, meetings and ways to get involved. You asked. We responded.

We’ve also continued to deepen the coverage that sets Eugene Weekly apart, including our in-depth reporting on local real estate development through Bricks & Mortar — digging into what’s being built, who’s behind it and how those decisions shape our community.

And, of course, we’ve continued to bring you the stories and features many of you depend on: investigations and local government reporting, arts and culture coverage, sudoku and crossword puzzles, Savage Love, and our extensive community events calendar. We feature award-winning stories by University of Oregon student reporters getting real world journalism experience. All free. In print and online.

None of this happens by accident. It happens because readers step up and say: this matters.

As we head into a new year, please consider supporting Eugene Weekly if you’re able. Every dollar helps keep us digging, questioning, celebrating — and yes, occasionally annoying exactly the right people. We consider that a public service.

Thank you for standing with us!