Wet Hot Haunted Summer

For L.A.-based husband and wife duo Haunted Summer, a visit to Ninkasi in Eugene began a beautiful musical partnership. “What started as a brewery tour ended up being a brewery family that we adore and got accepted in,” band members Bridgette Moody and John Seasons write me via email.

With Ninkasi’s support, Haunted Summer recorded their latest release, last year’s languid and sultry Spirit Guides, at Rancho De La Luna, a storied studio located in Joshua Tree, California. Neal Williams of the Eugene post-rock band Gazelle(s) appears on the record, as well as Dave Catching of Eagles of Death Metal.

Haunted Summer says the desert influenced the album’s semi-psychedelic and moody vibe, lending its “eerie, beautiful, peaceful sky and land” to the texture of the music. While in the studio, they tried not to overthink or overwork the material.

“We wait for when a song is ready to be written,” they explain. “We usually record on the spot, too, because sometimes you can’t recreate those magical virgin moments of feeling.”

And when playing live, Haunted Summer says they become submerged in the music. “We definitely like to set the tone with lighting and fog when we can, but it’s always about telling the story and bringing the listener into our world,” they explain. “It honestly feels like we just become a vessel for the song.” — Will Kennedy

Haunted Summer plays with Eugene’s Snow White and Sacred Trees 9:30 pm Saturday, March 3, at Sam Bond’s Garage; $6, 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.

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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!