Every Mouse Has Its Day

Nora Murphy Hughes of Portland band Hollow Sidewalks is eight months alcohol-free. She says this transformation in her life is reflected on her band’s new record, Year of the Fieldmouse.

“Last year, when we did our first album, I was pretty fucked up — drinking and drugs,” Hughes explains. “It’s definitely a brighter, happier record than the last one. Overall there’s a more optimistic tone.”

Hollow Sidewalks’ sophomore effort won’t be officially released on vinyl until this winter, though Hughes says the band will sell a limited release of handmade copies at their first-ever show in Eugene.

Listen to Fieldmouse’s leadoff single “Volcano” and you’ll hear a slightly fuzzy and insanely catchy update on ’80s-era three-chord post-punk and psychedelic music. A playfully romantic yet punk-rock-rooted guitar riff mixes with Hughes’ sultry, whiskey-and-smokes drawl like a bad decision you won’t regret making.

Hughes says her band is highly influenced by British pop music. “Definitely Echo and The Bunnymen, definitely the Mad-chester scene,” she says. “Love The Smiths.”

“I think we play rock ‘n’ roll in all of its varieties,” she adds. “But most often we’re post-punk psychedelic music.”

Hollow Sidewalks plays with Eugene’s The Critical Shakes and Steel Kitty 9 pm Wednesday, June 1, at Old Nick’s; FREE, 21-plus.

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!