John Henry’s plans

for big final night
John Henry’s has announced the line-up for Friday, its final night of business.
One of Eugene’s oldest and most fabled bar-and-music clubs, John Henry’s will close its doors at their 136 E. 11th Ave. location to make room for affordable housing to be built on the site. Bar owners said the new John Henry’s could open as early as June at 77 W. Broadway.
Promoter Keith Martin said six bands will play the final night. The bands include: The Necrosluts, the Visible Men, the Courtesy Clerks, Jucifer, the Wristrockets and Pass Out Kings. Each band will get 40 minutes of stage time, 10 minutes to set their equipment up and 10 minutes to take it down.
“This is the final, final night of rock ‘n’ roll of John Henry’s before we open up the new place,” Martin said. “Ten years of rock down to one night and six bands.”
Martin said that the headlining Pass Out Kings has been working with a professional light technician to make sure the last show at John Henry’s is a memorable one. While the band’s show is still a secret, Martin said to expect lots of fog, lights and other strangeness.
“They always put on a good show, but this one will be mind boggling,” he said.
The John Henry’s staff is already stripping the building on 11th Avenue to bring it over to the new building. This will limit the damage patrons may create during the last night of business, Martin said.
“I expect there will be some mayhem and destruction at the end of the night,” he said. “Everybody will want to take home a little piece of John Henry’s.”

— John Liebhardt
 

The Coup to perform

in amphitheater
The ASUO Multicultural Center has some good news and some bad news for hip-hop fans.
The bad news first: Today’s Dead Prez show at the McDonald Theatre has been canceled due to a “family emergency” within the band, said Steve Morozumi, MCC programs adviser.
Now, the good news: The Coup, the original opening act for the Dead Prez show, will perform at 4:30 p.m. today at the EMU Amphitheater. The show is free.
The Coup, the Oakland-based hip-hop team of Boots Riley and DJ Pam, are touring on their latest release, “Party Music.”
Morozumi said poets Chareef Williams and Terry Riggins will open the show with Ziad on trumpet. Portland hip-hop artist Madgestiq will then take the stage.
After the show, MCC is sponsoring a question and answer session with Boots Riley at 8 p.m. in the EMU Fir Room.
“Boots is a controversial and interesting speaker,” Morozumi said.
Morozumi also said MCC is attempting to reschedule the Dead Prez show for a later date in May.

— John Liebhardt

Bloodmobile workers

to prick students today
The Lane Memorial Blood Bank Bloodmobile is coming to the University from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. today.
Anyone interested in donating blood can register in the EMU Main Lobby and proceed to the mobile parked outside the EMU Fishbowl on University Street. Donors need to bring a photo identification card if they have never given blood to the Lane Memorial Blood Bank. For returning donors, only a donor card is necessary, blood bank spokeswoman Chris Stockdale said.
She said the drive, which is sponsored by the University Alumni Association, is being held in response to the constant need for blood. After lots of donation usage last weekend, there is an especially high need for A-positive blood.
The bank also wants to make donating blood easier for students.
“We want to set up a regular schedule with the University and make it convenient for the students to donate,” she said.
Stockdale recommended donors eat a large, high-protein meal before donating. She said they must also be in good health with no long-term health problems, nor a current cold or flu. Minimum age is 17, and participants must weigh at least 110 pounds.
For today’s drive, no one with tattoos or body piercings received within the last year will be eligible to donate. But after May 8, their donations will be accepted as long as the work was done in a doctor’s office or Oregon-licensed business. The next drive is set for May 10.
For more information, call the Lane Memorial Blood Bank at 484-9111.

— Robin Weber