By Kathryn Martinez
On Friday, Nov. 18, Musicians Against Sexual Violence (MASV) is hosting a benefit concert at Luckey’s Club for Lane County Sexual Assault Support Services. Local bands Pancho + The Factory, Holler House, VCR and Surfs Drugs will perform at the event.
MASV, formerly known as Eugene Musicians Against Sexual Violence, was formed in early September of this year in response to a Portland musician who publicly confessed on Facebook that he sexually assaulted a woman.
For Jennifer Cheddar, founder of MASV and guitarist for Pancho + The Factory, being a part of the fight against sexual assault has been a life changing journey.
“It’s been one of the most difficult things I’ve ever done, but it’s also been one of the most therapeutic things for me,” Cheddar said.
The group has been working closely with local bars, including Hi-Fi Music Lounge, providing bar staff education and promoting advocacy for sexual assault victims.
Last Saturday, the Register-Guard reported that two men were arrested at Hi-Fi on charges of first-degree rape early Friday morning, following a concert featuring Manic Focus and Thrift Works on Thursday, Nov. 10.
“What happened at Hi-Fi was very extreme,” Cheddar said. “But it is something that has happened everywhere.”
Cheddar says Hi-Fi Music Hall has been active in cooperating with MASV and was the only venue to attend MASV’s public meeting in October.
“We are working to address the fact that sexual assault is rampant in the community, and it’s something we feel we need to take responsibility for as the purveyors of nightlife,” Cheddar said.
MASV’s Sexual Assault Support Services benefit show at Luckey’s this Friday will focus on emphasizing the role musicians play in ensuring that the Eugene music scene is a safe space for all patrons.
“I feel that musicians have become synonymous with activists,” said Nick Gamer, a founding member of MASV and guitarist for local outfit Le Rev. “Their lyrics can be applied to the current climate, and there is a lot of fire going on in the community.”
Genevieve Schaack, a veteran of the local music scene and recent addition to the MASV team said, “It’s going to be a night of really great bands that you can dance to, you can have fun to. You can have some drinks, and you can know that while you’re in the bar there are going to be people keeping an eye out for you, and caring about you, even if they don’t know you.”
The show will begin at 9 p.m. at Luckey’s Club (933 Olive St.). Entry costs $5. All proceeds will benefit Sexual Assault Support Services of Lane County.
Watch an Emerald video of Pancho + the Factory below: