Thursday, 15
Curtis Monette & Widmer Brewing Tasting, Bombs Away Café, 2527 NW Monroe Ave. Tasting starts at 6:00 p.m., music starts at 8:30 p.m. Both are Free.
Curtis Monette is a talented musician who spins funk inspired smooth jams using loops and his nasty guitar skills. Listening to a recording of him, it’s hard to believe it’s only one guy. But it is, and he’ll be plying his trade at Bombs yet again. This is one of those acts that’s better to be seen live. Listening to a live recording doesn’t do it justice. It’s also the type of music that goes great with a booze tasting, so this is really a nice a combo.
https://myspace.com/curtismonette
Rough Jazz, Calapooia Brewing Company, 140 NE Hill St. Albany. 7 p.m. Free
They’re rough, they’re jazz. The players are fantastic. Their performances are killer—I highly recommend enjoying a couple. If you dig the kind of jazz you can really just sink into, you’ll thank me later. This is the real deal, folks!
https://www.facebook.com/events/845195645522308/?ref=23
http://www.reverbnation.com/roughjazz
Friday, 16
The Hunks & the Hottie, Bombs Away Café, 2527 NW Monroe Ave. 9:00 pm, Free
This 4-piece putfit specializes in Americana, which is appropriate because their name evokes the most American of imagery. Guitar, mandolin, cello and bass+ mix together beautifully, delivering folk, bluegrass and other excellent sittin’ & sippin’ music. TH&TH don’t deal in the hard stuff, so prepare to relax and enjoy something complemented ideally by whiskey.
https://www.facebook.com/thehunksandthehottie
Flashback Fridays, Jack Okole’s Bar & Grill, 140 NW 3rd St. 9:00 p.m. Free
DJ Rob Vino is on the wheels of steel for this throwback dance party. 80s, 90s and new wave are on the menu, as well as a modicum of rump shaking. I like to show up to this event dressed like Ryan Gosling in Drive, but I usually leave looking like Ryan Gosling in Only God Forgives. Get it? Because I dance so hard a Thai policeman beats me senseless and then hacks off one of my arms…
https://www.facebook.com/jackokoles
Saturday, 17
The Weather Machine, Bombs Away Café, 2527 NW Monroe Ave. 9:00 p.m. Free
This Portland based alt-rock group is as Northwest as a beard and a vest. Go ahead and use that lyric if you’d like fellas, it’s on me. With power and electricity behind some folk and Americana based rock, this is one of the more talented up-and-comer groups to stop through Corvallis. Their first full length was released last year, but is still fresh and timely as they tour around the Oregon and Washington.
http://weathermachinemusic.com/
Arcweld with Ghostfuzz, Cloud & Kelly’s Public House, 126 SW First St, 10:00 p.m.
Let’s just be honest; you’ve seen bands with more stage charisma than these guys. But this town is stacked to the gills with folk and Americana, occasionally you have a hankering for the hard stuff. You could do a lot worse than Arcweld. Stick a couple messy beards in there and maybe lose a shirt or two, and this is a bona fide hard rock bonanza.
http://rateyourmusic.com/artist/arcweld
Sunday, 18
Blues Jam at Calapooia Brewery, Calapooia Brewing Company, 140 Northeast Hill Street, Albany, 4:00 p.m. Free
Some things were just meant to be consumed in the jam format. Boysenberries are a good example; the blues is another. Late afternoon on a Sunday, as the sun is setting is a pretty perfect time to catch a cold one and some soulful jamming at one of the best spots in the area for live music. Please don’t request The Crossroads, though, it makes you look like a noob.
https://www.facebook.com/calapooiabrewing
Hoolyeh Folk Dancers, First Congregational UCC, 4515 SW West Hills Rd 7:00 p.m. $2 for First Congregational members, $3 for non-members
This dancetravaganza goes down at First Congregational on the first and third Sunday of every month. This group has amazingly been around in one form or another since the 60s as the Hoolyehs, so trust in their dance expertise. The first edition of each month is focused on Balkan and dancing, and the other (this one) is Israeli dancing. This is a great first date idea. Seriously, you can thank me later.
Monday, 19
33rd Annual Peace Breakfast, Memorial Union Ballroom, 2501 SW Jefferson Way, 9:00 AM – 10:30 AM, $6 for students, $10 for non-students, children 5 & under get in free
Sponsored by the OSU Office of Equity & Inclusion, the Office of the President and the OSU Foundation, this popular annual event is one of the most important of the year. Especially in light of our recent troubles as a nation. Aside from the breakfast there will be presentation of the Phyllis S. Lee and Frances Dancy Hooks awards, and a keynote address from the Hon. Darleen Ortega, Judge of the Oregon Court of Appeals.
Selma, Carmike 12 Theater, 750 NE Circle Blvd. 1:15, 4:15, 7:15, 10:15 p.m. $10 adults, $7.50 students, $7.50 matinee. Film discussion, Memorial Union Horizon Room, 2501 SW Jefferson Way, 8:30 p.m. Free
Unfortunately most of us don’t spend MLK day really reflecting on the life and work of the man for whom the day is named. Here’s a rare opportunity to do so. Go check out the film that is a contender for the Oscars this year about the work of the quintissential American hero, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Then, if you’re so inclined, there’s a discussion of the film that is open to the public in the Horizon Room of the Memorial Union on OSU campus at 8:30 p.m.
Tuesday, 20
Community Movie Night with Ygal Kaufman, Darkside Cinema, 215 SW 4th St. 7 p.m. Free
The Little Shop of Horrors (1960) starring Jonathan Haze, Mel Welles, Jackie Joseph, Dick Miller and Jack Nicholson, directed by Roger Corman. This ultra-classic horror comedy from the father of the B-Movie, Roger Corman, is more than just a master class in low budget filmmaking; it’s also one of the funniest, most satirically brilliant and underrated gems of the 60s. As always, Community Movie Night is a free event open to the public, and donations (should you choose to provide any) go to the Darkside Cinema rennovations. The show is preceded by an intro from series curator and Advocate contributor, Ygal Kaufman, as well as newsreels, commercials and cartoons from the year of the film’s original release.
http://www.facebook.com/freemovienightcorvallis
Mango Django, Old World Deli, 341 Southwest 2nd Street. 7:30 p.m. Free
This is arguably Corvallis’ premier jazz band, which isn’t quite the same as being, say, New Orleans’ premier jazz band, but is still pretty good. If you like mellow but eclectic live music played by guys who know their instruments, give these fellas a shot. This weekly gig is really just their rehearsal, essentially, but that laidback atmosphere and openness with the crowd almost makes it more enjoyable than a buttoned down gig.
https://www.facebook.com/MangoDjangoJazz
Wednesday, 21
Mr. Bill’s Trivia Night, Murphy’s Restaurant & Lounge, 2740 SW 3rd St. 7 to 10 p.m. Free
This town isn’t exactly overflowing with entertaining eccentrics getting people to yell out things and have a good time. I mean, we’ve got plenty of eccentrics, but few of them are really fun to listen to. Enter Monsieur Bill. This would be called the best trivia night in town if it weren’t pretty much the only one, which makes it both the best and the worst. I challenge you all to be there and try to defeat me. Mr. Bill’s show has regular stops in Eugene and Newport as well as this awesome version at Murphy’s.
http://www.mrbillstrivia.com/cal.html
Jesse Johnson, Bombs Away Café, 2527 NW Monroe Ave. 7:30 p.m. Free
What can I tell you? I’m gonna be at Mr. Bill’s trivia night. But if you prefer music and/or are deucing your shorts in fear of how badly I’m going to destroy everyone at said trivia night, Jesse Johnson’s singer-songwriter stylings are quite pleasant. This is a great way to spend a night out that doesn’t involve me doing celebration dances every time I get an answer right and making it rain with monopoly money…
Thursday, 22
Oregon’s Racial History and King’s Vision of Justice, Majestic Theatre, 115 SW 2nd St. 7 p.m. Free
Author, journalist and performer Walida Imarisha will speak about “Oregon’s Racial History and King’s Vision of Justice” at an event to commemorate the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. If you missed a chance to experience something important on MLK Day proper, here’s a great opportunity to hear stirring words live from an amazing performer. Sponsored by the Corvallis King Legacy Advisory Board, this event is free, though a small canned food donation is greatly appreciated.
http://www.corvallisoregon.gov/index.aspx?page=90
Polecat, Bombs Away Café, 2527 NW Monroe Ave. 9:00 p.m. Free
This Bellingham, WA band infused their folksiness with enough energy to keep your feet stomping long after the show ends. Though the music calendar isn’t exactly short on roots music, this is one of the best and most exciting bands to come through town in January, and seeing them for free is just the gravy on top. Their most recent album, Fathoms, is a pleasure to behold.
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