Written by Megan Lorich & Photographed by Max Rosenberg

WOW Hall is known throughout central Oregon as the hot spot for the freshest face in local music. A safe haven for house show fanatics, indie freaks, music dorks, and college kids, it makes more than perfect sense that WOW Hall would host a sweetheart dance. To those who were never asked to the prom or the lonely hearts on Valentine’s Day, WOW’s Sweetheart Dance this past February 16th marked the second year of a tradition that is already gaining love and traction. The show was attended by countless people in their best prom wear, with a killer lineup of classic Eugene college bands and up-and-coming Portland acts. 

The dance floor featured a photo booth with pictures taken by Butterfly Wings Photography with a variety of heart-shaped props for guests to use. Merch tables were manned by members of each act, with tapes, shirts, tote bags, and other goodies galore for concertgoers to snag. Amidst all the chaos, the KWVA news team, dressed smartly like 1970’s news anchors, bravely asked guests their thoughts on romance, dating, and Valentine’s Day. Filming and recording “News On the Street'' style segments — they will soon announce their findings to the world. On top of these short interviews, the news team went behind the scenes and interviewed multiple bands on the Sweetheart Dance’s billing. But who enthralled audiences that chilly February night? Well…

Mothra

Mothra is composed of lead guitarist Krista Kroiss, rhythm guitarist and songwriter JP McCarthy, drummer Rena Frampton, and bassist and lead singer Belle Neininger. The four-piece indie punk rockers kicked off the Sweetheart Dance with a short but punchy set that made the audience mosh despite their tulle dresses and three-piece suits. Neininger’s raw vocals contrasted against her flapper outfit as her piercing voice sang hit songs like “Dead Moth,” “100 Years Late”, and “Bring Me Alone.” Headbanging continued with a fully energized audience, prepared for acts to continue on and on. Their last two songs, “Don’t Touch Me” and “Halloween,” left the crowd in an uproar as they moshed. In particular, “Don’t Touch Me” was a hit, as Neininger’s vocal delivery was reminiscent of riot grrrl icons like Kathleen Hanna. The band perfectly enhanced the messaging of the short and punchy track. McCarthy and Kroiss’ enthusiastic shredding paired with Frampton’s precise and raucous drumming made the song a stand out. They may have opened the show, but Mothra’s energetic performance was the spark that lit the energy for the rest of the night’s performances.

Bowl Peace

Being a college student in central Oregon during 2024 means going to Bowl Peace shows. Well known in both Corvallis and Eugene, four-piece indie band Bowl Peace are known for their on-stage shenanigans. From literally smashing pumpkins while singing the Smashing Pumpkins classic “1979” at a Halloween show to their wide variety of wacky covers — the band loves to entertain. Their performance at the Sweetheart Dance was no exception. Though they played originals such as “Jokes” and the title track off their upcoming EP, “Smoking in Bed,” the band, backed by their army of Squishmallows, provided a quick interlude during their set for the couples in the audience with two romantic covers. 

Lead vocalist Elise Benton requested that the audience make a “waltz pit,” perfect for couples to slow dance to. Once the crowd obliged, two violinists made their way to the stage. These performers were Jo Marby and Ben Jahn, who would provide backing strings for the next four songs on the set. These vocal arrangements were cleverly created by bassist Owen Akiyama, who, at this point in the show, switched from his electric bass to a classic upright. The reason for this change became apparent as Benton began to sing the introduction to The Cranberries classic “Linger” in her sweet lilt. The audience instantly sang along, couples and friends alike slow dancing together. The slow dancing continued into their next cover, Beabadoobe’s “Glue Song.” Holden Hunt’s guitar work and Elizabeth Bailey’s drumming and background vocals served as the glue throughout the set, adding a clear ambiance to the performance, especially during the next song, “New Clothes.” However, Benton’s introduction to the last song of Bowl Peace’s set made the crowd go absolutely wild. “Someone call an ambulance!” Benton said. “I think there’s been a murder on the dance floor…” 

With her exclamation, Bowl Peace broke into an energetic cover of Sophie Ellis Baxter’s “Murder on the Dancefloor,'' making the audience scream and dance with glee. It was the perfect way to end such a love-filled set by one of Eugene’s most well-loved bands.

Jakki and the Pink Smudge

Based in Portland, Jakki and the Pink Smudge made the trek down to Eugene’s WOW Hall for the third time in their career. Lovingly referred to by fans in the know as “Smudge”, the band is named after lead singer Jakki and the pink smudge of her lipstick that inevitably occurs onstage mid-performance. Though Smudge used to have a rotating door of backing instrumentalists, the current lineup has been fairly permanent, consisting of Calleb Ballard on guitar, Oliver Lester on bass, and Charlie Oakes on drums. 

With such a high-energy performance and quick command over the crowd, it’s no surprise that Jakki and the Pink Smudge came up alongside artists like The Aquadolls, Mavi, and Never Ending Fall. Jakki’s quick wit especially comes through with her lyrics, not just her transitional anecdotes between songs. When introducing their track “Round Cloud,” Jakki announced to the audience, “I wrote this when I was listening to way too much Radiohead.” The influence is clear in the track with instrumental similarities to “OK Computer.” Smudge’s interactions with the audience became more physical when Jakki surfed into the crowd during their song “Coming Out Right.” She would later sing while resting on the shoulders of Ballard, who continued to play his guitar with ease. They may not be local to the Eugene scene, but Jakki and the Pink Smudge certainly left a memorable impression at the Sweetheart Dance.

Growing Pains

A band like Growing Pains is only possible through the hard work and love of music educators, music-loving mentors, and the house show scene. Born in 2018 from the cradle of Portland’s School of Rock, the four members of Growing Pains met each other between the ages of 16 and 17. They became acquainted over covers and conversations, eventually coming up for years in Portland’s DIY scene. The band is made up of bassist and lead vocalist Kalia Storer, drummer Kyle Kraft, and guitarists Jack Havrilla and Carl Taylor. Their sound has become synonymous not just with Portland’s indie scene, but with Eugene’s. The band frequently performs in the Emerald City, with college students always swarming the stage. 

The Sweetheart Dance was no exception. The band manned the stage with projected footage flickering behind them throughout their set. Acting as a halo to their stage presence was Baz Luhrmann’s “Romeo + Juliet,” reminding the lovesick crowd that love can be as exciting as their performance, but also as painful as the film behind them. Their set was composed of traditional Growing Pains classics, beginning with “Orange Sunshine,” “What are the Odds?” and “In Effigy.” Harder and heavier rock songs in the band’s catalog will easily remind audiences of Growing Pains’ ‘80s and ‘90s influences. Other songs in the set included “Houseboat,” “Naive,” “Winter Broke,” “Staircase,” and “Sancho,” but the biggest standout track, and their closer for the night, was easily “Lemon Lime.” Growing Pains has long been compared to My Bloody Valentine and Mazzy Star, but “Lemon Lime” is where Storer’s vocals begin to sound more and more like Hope Sandoval’s. A shoegazey delight, it was a perfect way to close out Growing Pains’ set and introduce the next and final act of the night. 

GrrlBand

The Scream Queens of Eugene strike again! An incredible five-piece of rocker women, GrrlBand wears their influences the same way lovers wear a heart on their sleeve. Clearly inspired by movements like riot grrrl, vocalist Claudia Santino, guitarists Camy Corcoran and Kayla Krueger, bassist Codi Farmer, and drummer Louise Jones are making waves within central Oregon (and beyond) by reminding the music scene how hard women can rock. 

Opening their set with a cover of “Girls and Boys” by Blur, the band brought energy back into the crowd despite their late-night set. Like Bowl Peace and Mothra, GrrlBand took the dress code of the Sweetheart Dance to heart. All members rocked out in formal prom wear, moving on to play heavy hitters like their original “Hole in the Wall,” “Somebody to Love” by Jefferson Airplane, and “I Was Made for Lovin’ You” by KISS, without breaking a sweat. Though they brought back the couples for a slow dance to Mazzy Star’s “Fade Into You” and their rock adagio “PM,” GrrlBand has an energy and rocker attitude that cannot be tamed even when they take down the tempo. 

Growing Pains may have had “Romeo + Juliet” as their backdrop, but GrrlBand was shadowed by the Marilyn Monroe classic “Some Like It Hot.” The film acts as an amusing background to their song “Panties” as the film centers on two men who get a gig in a jazz band by cross-dressing. They continued with a few more covers, including “Crazy On You” by fellow girl-rockers Heart, “Ever Fallen in Love” by Buzzcocks, and “Give Me Back My Man” by the B-52s. But throughout these tracks, GrrlBand made sure that the Sweetheart Dance knew the power of their instruments and lyrics through their songs “Trying,” “Bones,” and closer “Resurrection.” An incredible end to a night jam-packed with music, GrrlBand rocked WOW Hall to the very end.

Are you sad you couldn’t make it? Don’t worry! You can always see each of these artists at another show or check them out on your streaming platform of choice. Each segment on each band has a link to their website, the perfect place and opportunity to give them your support.