Like much of the Willamette Valley, the month of January can be tough in Eugene. Most evenings, the wet-cold combo draws one to the comforts of home instead of out on the town to shows.
But buck up, Eugeneans — throw on your polar fleece, put on your Wellies and get thee to some live music. There are loads of great concerts coming up this week.
First off, at 9:30 pm Friday, Jan. 22, Car Seat Headrest hits Sam Bond’s Garage. The recently relocated Seattleites are touring in support of 2015’s Teens of Style — a record packed with staticky indie rock, compelling melodies, Beach Boys-style vocal harmony and just enough punk-rock angst to get you pogo-ing along. Eugene’s beloved indie-poppers Pluto the Planet support; $8 door, 21-plus.
Perhaps jam rock flavored with jazz, boogie blues and New Orleans-style piano is more your thing. If so, check out Andy Frasco the next night, 9:30 pm Saturday, Jan. 23, also at Sam Bond’s. Eugene’s groove-rock outfit Dubious opens; $8 door, 21-plus.
Downtown’s Hi-Fi Music Hall has a weekend ahead jammed with musical options to make your head spin. At 8 pm Saturday, Jan. 23, Hi-Fi welcomes the neo-classical Portland Cello Project, followed by an 11 pm Encore Lounge performance from Seattle’s Black Keys-esque indie-blues band Stubborn Son; $12 and FREE, respectively.
Not enough to do on Saturday night? Consider Kentucky’s hyper-quiet indie-folk artist Royal Holland appearing alongside Eugene’s Entresol 8 pm at Wandering Goat; $5, 21-plus.
Also downtown, instrumental jazz-rock band Sound Tribe Sector 9 appears 8 pm Friday, Jan. 22, at McDonald Theatre. Later in the week, The Bright Light Social Hour brings its groovy classic rock to WOW Hall along with James Supercave; 8 pm Wednesday, Jan. 27. All ages.
A short drive away, indie-folk singer-songwriter Samantha Crain appears 8:30 pm Thursday, Jan. 21, at Axe & Fiddle, Cottage Grove; FREE (unbelievably, so there’s really no excuse), 21-plus. Also at the Fiddle, indie rockers Golden Boy perform 8:30 pm Friday, Jan. 22; $5, 21-plus.
In the world of classical music, University of Oregon School of Music vocalists present “Singing Shakespeare” 6 pm Thursday, Jan. 28, at the downtown public library; FREE. — William Kennedy