Matthew Knight Arena may be a large venue with some star-studded lineups on occasion, but to catch the hottest live bands in Eugene, one must venture into the vast web that extends beyond the edges of the University campus. This list compiles the four essential stops for touring bands in Eugene, as well as four others that might appeal to those over 21 or those with tastes that fall outside the pop/rock spectrum.
WOW Hall — Named for the Historic Woodmen of the World, the fraternal organization occupied the building from 1932 to 1972. WOW Hall is now a vibrant venue that hosts artists across multiple genres, from metal to bluegrass to hip-hop. Though many extremely famous artists stop by WOW Hall (Wu-Tang Clan’s Ghostface Killah was there last year, and pop star Aaron Carter will be performing in November), it’s an extremely intimate venue with shows that play out more like parties with a band than meticulously-organized spectacles. Volunteering is as easy as seeking out a venue representative and young artists can even submit demo tapes to the venue to have a chance to open for some of the diverse acts that come through.
The McDonald Theatre — A former movie theater, the McDonald Theatre is now a fairly standard medium-sized venue under the patronage of the Kesey family. Though it occasionally hosts film screenings and stand-up comedians, the bulk of its calendar is devoted to bands and artists too big for WOW Hall, but not quite big enough to sell out arenas. Non-UO students and freshmen: Keep in mind that many shows at the McDonald are for people ages 18 and over.
The Cuthbert Amphitheater — One of two major arena-sized venues in Eugene (the other being Matthew Knight Arena), the Cuthbert is an outdoor venue with some surprisingly loose policies that allow patrons to bring limited amounts of outside food. The Cuthbert’s hippie reputation is supported by the acts it hosts, recently Furthur, pop reggae act Rebelution and hippie-folk ensemble Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros.
Cozmic Pizza — Cozmic hosts shows and events nearly every day, including open mic nights on most Wednesdays. Occasionally a reasonably well-known band will drop by for a gig. Shows are inexpensive and often take place in the middle of the day. Unlike many venues that serve food, Cozmic is nearly as renowned for its food as its concerts, offering a create-your-own pizza menu as well as a host of other fare.
OTHER VENUES:
Sam Bond’s Garage — Sam Bond’s has been voted one of America’s best bars by Esquire, but it is also known for its live music, booking artists that chiefly fall under the “roots and Americana” umbrella. However, as an alcohol-centric establishment, it does not allow patrons under 21 after 8:30 p.m.
The Hult Center — Though chiefly oriented toward classical music and ballet, the Hult occasionally features more pop and rock-centric acts. Performers range from electric-blues legend B.B. King to ’60s art-rockers The Moody Blues.
The Shedd Institute — Similar to Hult, the John G. Shedd Institute For The Arts (popularly known as the Shedd Institute) is a sit-down venue that features singer-songwriter types such as Steve Earle and Rufus Wainwright, as well as jazz artists such as Pat Metheny.
The Granary Pizza and Nightclub — It’s a similar venue to Cozmic in that it serves pizza and hosts inexpensive local-artist shows. However, the Granary is 21+ and focuses more on DJs than live bands.