It’s officially the end of an era. Beloved house show venue Monster House will be closing its doors following one last hurrah. The final show will be held on Monster House’s two-year anniversary, making for a bittersweet night to remember.
Titled “The Farewell,” this special show will go from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. with multiple bands rocking the house for the very last time. The lineup is as follows: Cosplay Jesus, Titans of Industry and Moonbear will play first, followed by Mothra, GrrlBand, 12 Gauge Trixie and, finally, Bowl Peace to close out the evening.
The show will also have a few stands for people in the crowd to visit, similar to a music festival. There will be a face and body painting stand as well as jewelry and clothing vendors.
The residents of Monster House, Jett Hulen, Kameron English and Logan Taylor, are excited for the show but sad to be closing out such a memorable time in their lives. According to them, running the house show spot has been amazing, and with their final show approaching quickly, it feels bittersweet.
Hulen, English and Taylor threw their first house show on May 25, 2023. According to Hulen, they began throwing house shows because the members of Bowl Peace, a local band, saw their backyard and suggested they start hosting shows there. Since then, it has been a whirlwind of weekend shows, with hundreds of people returning time and time again for electric performances and a welcoming vibe.
They decided to call the spot Monster House because of its uncanny resemblance to the ghostly house from the iconic Halloween movie “Monster House.” The name quickly stuck as word spread around campus about a new spot to see local bands perform.
Since then, Monster House has held many shows; however, some more special than others. For one of their shows, Bowl Peace performed original songs and covers atop the roof of their van. Another arguably fitting show for the spot was on Halloween, when people showed up in costume, and bands covered a variety of spooky classics.
“My favorite show was the most recent back-to-school one. A ton of people showed up because everyone was excited to be back in Eugene,” Hulen said. “We got up on the roof of the shed out here and just saw all the people that were here, like a sea of people. That was crazy.”
Hulen, English and Taylor emphasized how great the house show community has been to host, especially as their spot has gained notoriety. As time has gone on, people have learned to respect the rules and perpetuate a positive environment while still having a fun time.
English’s favorite parts of the shows are the mosh pits and crowd surfing. “It gets crazy out there, but that’s what we love about it,” he said. English also said that he will miss the energy and love the visitors have for Monster House.
That energy will surely be present at the farewell show coming up this weekend. Hulen and Taylor have friends and family coming into Eugene to celebrate the occasion and to say goodbye to the beloved spot.
Admission to the show is $7. Doors open at 4:45 p.m. For students hoping to celebrate and say goodbye to this classic house show spot, this farewell show is the perfect way to do it.
