Double the Fun

On Jan. 3, Double Entendre, a combination rap battle and comedy show, returns to Fathoms Bar near the University of Oregon campus. Eugene comedian Lexis Shardé hosts the show, where audiences shout out three words, the further “out there” the better. As a DJ supplies the beat, each comedian then improvises a rap based on those words, before performing their set. Shardé uses a decibel reader to gauge the audience’s response to each rap. Then, “the contestant with the highest score goes against the returning champion, and they do another head-on-head battle,” Shardé says. This time, Eugene comedian Rudy Tyburczy, the two-time champ, defends his crown against Eugene standup Jamie Colson, Portland comics Aunt Jamey and Adrien Valencia, and 2025 Seattle International Comedy Competition semifinalist Cody Chasteen. Shardé says the concept for the show is hers, inspired in part by Nick Cannon’s 2005 MTV sketch comedy and improv battle rap game, Wild ‘n Out. Fathoms Bar is beneath Pegasus Pizza’s campus location, and for about an hour before the show, A DJ Name Fred plays a hip-hop set. “We encourage people to come early and hang out, get pizza and listen to music,” Shardé says. And does Tyburczy have a message for the next slate of competitors? “Come correct!” Tyburczy says. “Mostly though, just have fun with it.”

Double Entendre is 8 pm Saturday, Jan. 3, at Fathoms Bar, 790 East 14th Avenue. Tickets are $18 and are available at LexysComedyClub.com. The event is 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!