Saturday Night On the Town
Saturday night and where’s the party? It’s a rainy, dark night and so is my mood. I want music to take my mind off the mental clutter of the work week. Rough and loud will do the job nicely. There are some hidden gems to be found around town, so let’s get started.
Goodfellas is offering up a ladies night party featuring FUNGI. If I hadn’t been clubbing in Springfield last night, I wouldn’t have known about this show at all. Goodfellas has a great stage, sound system and roomy dance floor. Along with excellent, friendly service, this joint is somewhat of a surprise and an excellent place to hear local talent. I was under the mistaken opinion that FUNGI is more a cover band, but they have original hard rock material that erases memory. I’m looking forward to a live performance that can clear out all the cobwebs is my brain and let me start fresh next week. “Lack There Of” with the line “What do you want from me?” seems especially apropos for me. (Read more about FUNGI in NOTT June 25) Most of my friends would guffaw loudly at the idea of me and the word lady in the same sentence, but I still qualify for Ladies Night; the show starts at 9:00.
Not everyone will be in as dark a place as I am, so for those seeking a little tamer scene, Mike Denny Trio is a great choice. Some folks might remember Mike Denny performing with his All Stars group (more a blues band) at past Eugene Celebrations. Denny is a jazz guitarist, performing and teaching all over the northwest, including guitar instruction at LCC and the U of O. Tonight, he’s at Ax Billy Grill with his trio billed as a rock show. He has a solo CD “Looking In” and a quartet recording “Now-Here-This” under the Origin label, so I predict some original material along with quality cover material. Show starts at 8:00 but it’s a small place with no cover charge-might want to get there early for a good seat.
In counterpoint to Mike Denny and reverting back to my need to blow it all out and start fresh, consider Wetsock. They have a little tune, “War on the Streets”, with the line “I feel so f****ing low” blasting through on a ripping guitar riff contrasted with a muted horn. Rough and loud, a little complex, just the way I need it. This punk band snarls out in your face lyrics, oh yeah, and their energetic rhythms totally rip out all suicidal thoughts while I contemplate the value of using anger to get what I want. “Bruce Campbell” is a story in song form, thus the ska genre peeks through. I love the horn supporting the lyrics in this one.
Wetsock comes on at 9:00 at Sam Bond’s; $5 cover.
No excuses, just results. That’s what Night on the Town is about this rainy November weekend. Let’s get going.
Original Music
Mike Denny Trio: Rock – Ax Billy Grill – 8:00
The Tip, Jam Stain: Rock – Downtown Lounge – 9:00
Triggered: NuMetal – O’Donnells – 9:00
Mudpuppy: Rock – Cornucopia – 10:00
The Underlings, Boomchik!, Long Tall & Ugly: Punk, rock – Black Forest – 10:00
Deadsetlife, audiophobia: Metal – Quackers – 11:00
$3 Joneser: Grunge rock – Maize Lounge - 10:00
$5 Wetsock: Ska, rock – Sam Bond’s – 9:00
Cover & Tribute Bands
Joybox: Rock – Yukon Jack’s – 9:00
$9 Riffle: Rock - Eugene Eagles – 8:00 (non-members ok)
Blues, Jazz & Country
Molly Nord: Piano improv – Hidden Valley – 6:00
Eric Richardson’s Invisible Arts Ensemble: Jazz - Papa’s Soul Food – 7:00
$5 Bob Wehrman Group: Jazz vocal quartet – Jazz Station – 8:00
$5 Chris Chandler & Paul Benoit: Americana, comedy – Axe & Fiddle – 9:00
$5 Jonathon Harris: Country – Whiskey River Ranch – 9:00
$6 Vicki Stevens Band: Blues - Mac’s - 9:00
Dance, DJ, Hip Hop, Other
Grrrlz Rock – Eager Beavers, Troupe Carnivalesque, Buffer, Fiddlin’ Big Sue Band – Americana - Oak Street Speakeasy - 9:00
Ladies Night – Conway’s - 9:00
“Sup!” w/Sassy Mouff, Michael Human & Guests: Top 40, electro – Cowfish – 9:30
DJ Will: Dance mix – Doc’s Pad – 8:00
DJ Foodstamp: All 45′s – Granary - 10:00
DJ Crown: Hip hop, dance – Taylor’s - 10:00
Thurlow, DJ zaptra, Bustin’ Jieber: Dance - Wandering Goat - 9:00 (Donation)
$1-5 Chris Chandler & Paul Benoit: Acoustic, spoken word – Sam Bond’s - 6:00
$5 G.L.A.M.: DJs, performances: John Henry’s – 9:30
$5 Sassparilla, Stereotyped: Reggae - Cozmic Pizza – 9:00
$5 Sol Seed, Alder St. All Stars: Reggae, bluegrass – Luckey’s - 10:00
$10 Dru Down with Hero Fame & DJ Joogs: Rap, R&B – The Rok -9:00
– LA Thompson, EDN
