Eugene weekly., June 12, 2003, Page 17, Image 17

If you follow Eugene dance, you’ll know that few companies have received the praise accorded Van
Ummersen Dance Company by critic Janet Descutner. “Van Ummersen is in a contemporary groove:
risky movement, sparse, stark, then indulging in soft muscularity that is seductive,” Descutner wrote.
Led by Margo Van Ummersen, the company dances for two nights at Agate Hall, performing five pieces:
Los Suenos, Umbels and Grasses, New Shoes, Half Moon and Slip. The VUDC and Eugene are lucky to
have such athletic and expressive dancers: Kari Davidson, Sarah Ebert, Pollyanna Lind, Melanie
Simmons, Kristen Warnick and Sarah Macrorie. See Friday and Saturday Calendar.
It’s been three years since Jeffery “Free” Luers
was sentenced to 22 years in prison for starting a
fire at Eugene’s Romania dealership. No one was
physically injured in Luers’s crime. Take a look at
most prison sentences, for, say, child abuse and
rape. Then ask yourself if Luers’s sentence seems
just. If you feel it isn’t, the International Free
“Free” Day at Scobert Park may be for you. The
event features speeches, a march, music, sign-making
and more to protest the lengthy imprisonment of
Jeffery Luers. See www.freefreenow.org/appeal.html
and Saturday Calendar.
OR-A-TRIX is a troupe of loud-mouthed, punk-rock, female spoken-word artists who spew words,
ideas and downright rants. Katinka Kraft, Gigi Grinstad, Amy Mahoney, Tara Hardy, Alexandria Red,
Brenda Brown and Kristin Aurora have been featured at numerous venues around the Pacific
Northwest. Alix Olson says, “OR-A-TRIX is a poetic queerchoir of womyn disapproving, disproving,
distilling truth(s) down to their lowest common denominator(s).” Then on Friday check out the
Black Cat Review, an evening of poetry, open mic, wine and chocolate at Foolscap Books to benefit
Mother Kali’s. It’s tough for a small enterprise to stay afloat amidst the national bookstore chains.
Don’t forget to support the locals. See Sunday and Friday calendar.
Writer Jimmy McDonough spent more years talking to people about Neil Young than you can count
on one hand. From some 300 interviews, McDonough has fashioned a fascinating biography of a
rock icon whose career spans generations, from the early days of the Buffalo Springfield — “Well,
hello Mr. Soul, I dropped by to pick up a reason” — to his celebrated comeback hit, “Harvest Moon.”
Shakey (Random House) tracks Young’s influence on American music and his ability to remain his
own self through personal and professional calamities. McDonough tells where the bodies are
buried at Taylor’s Bar & Grill. See Tuesday calendar. — LW
Moody Blues’ “orchestral rock” has
been capturing audiences for more
than 30 years. Opening a summer
of music at the Cuthbert
Amphitheater, band members
John Lodge, Ray Thomas, Graeme
Edge and Justin Hayward flip
through some of their greatest
hits, including memorable tunes
such as “Go Now,” “Isn’t Life
Strange,” “The Story in Your
Eyes” and “Your Wildest
Dreams.” See Thursday,
June 12 Calendar.
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