At 10 years old, O.A.R. is in the prime of its life.

Byline: Serena Markstrom The Register-Guard

O.A.R., for Of a Revolution, burst onto the college radio scene about 10 years ago. But in some ways the band believes it properly came out in 2005 with "Stories of a Stranger."

It's probably a good thing for the band, then, that many of its fans have aged from the red keg-cup college years into a respectful adults who can use real glassware. Because O.A.R.'s sound is, according to the All Music Guide, firmly in the "adult alternative fold."

O.A.R. spent years touring and gaining an audience before signing with Lava Records and releasing albums in conjunction with the Atlantic group.

"Stories of a Stranger" is the latest studio project, but O.A.R. also released "Live From Madison Square Garden" this year.

Songwriter Marc Roberge is sure his band is at its strongest point now.

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"I feel more militant and pumped up than ever before," Roberge is quoted as saying in a bio. "I'm proud of O.A.R. (`Stories') is our coming-out party. We've reached the first step on the ladder of where we want to be."

Bedouin Soundclash, a reggae-influenced band from Canada, opens the show at 9 p.m. Monday at the McDonald Theatre, 1010 Willamette St. Tickets are $20.50 in advance and $23 the day of the show.

Travis Ward and Hillfolk Noir

Today, Axe & Fiddle

In the late '90s, Travis Ward had a band called the Junkyard Bandstand, but the rhythm section moved to Oregon in search of cheaper groceries, a bio says.

Ward, still based in Boise, had to regroup.

That regrouped Americana band is Hillfolk Noir, which a news release says plays the old songs, but the sound is "more reckless."

Travis Ward and Hillfolk Noir has played with James McMurtry, Built to Spill, Bonnie Prince Billy, Gerald Collier, Heroes and Villains, Train, Jesse Dayton and the Dusty 45's.

Today's show at the Axe & Fiddle, 647 Main St. in Cottage Grove, starts at 8:30 p.m.

The cover is $5.

Reeble Jar

Saturday, WOW Hall

For a while, it looked as if this would be a CD release show for a new live disc from Reeble Jar. Although that's not happening, it is the band's first headlining show since a sold-out McDonald Theatre gig on New Year's Eve.

Most recently, Reeble Jar opened for a nearly sold-out Cuthbert Amphitheater crowd during the Michael Franti and Spearhead show in May.

Voted Eugene's "favorite local band" in the most recent WOW Hall awards, Reeble Jar will be touring with openers Blue Turtle Seduction this summer. Both bands will play the High Sierra Music Festival.

Reeble Jar's new live CD was recorded in April, when the band briefly toured with J.J. Grey & Mofro, and will include several tracks recorded at the McDonald, a news release says. It's in the mastering stage.

Blue Turtle Seduction, of South Lake Tahoe, Calif., tours in a 40-foot motor coach outfitted to run on recycled vegetable oil.

Tickets are $10 in advance and $12 at the door. Showtime is 9 p.m., and the WOW Hall is at 291 W. Eighth Ave.

The Young Immortals

Saturday

Diablo's/Downtown Lounge

Portland band the Young Immortals joins a cast of some of Eugene's rockin' finest for a Saturday show.

In December 2006, the Young Immortals beat out nine others at a Battle of the Bands at McMenamin's Crystal Ballroom, a news release says. The prize was recording time at Kung Fu Bakery Studios in Portland, where the Decemberists and Pink Martini have laid down tracks.

Then the band's song, "The Fever," landed a spot on the Starbucks compilation "Off the Clock: Vol 1."

The compilation was available in more than 6,500 Star- bucks locations. It has in- creased the band's profile around the country and in Portland, the release says.

The Dead Americans headline the show, with the CoStars playing the second-to-last spot. The Young Immortals will play after Yakima Nation and With a Bullet have warmed up the stage starting at 9 p.m.

The cover is $6. Diablo's is at 959 Pearl St.

Jana Hunter

Tuesday, Wandering Goat Cafe

Occasional music venue the Wandering Goat Cafe will host "freak folk" artist Jana Hunter on Tuesday for an acoustic show featuring her brother John Hunter on second guitar.

On Hunter's second national tour this year, she's touring behind "There's No Home," her second formal, full-length release.

A news release from her record company, Gnomonsong, says the new record is the extrovert to her introverted first release, "Blank Unstaring Heirs of Doom."

Hunter is connected with the so-called freak folk movement partially because she has collaborated with Devendra Banhart and also because her music is, frankly, weird.

"Jana's songs are sparse, eerie and beautifully melodic," a critique in thetripwire.com reads.

"It's hard not to link her to the sound of the Devendras and the Vetivers of the world, but it is an easy way to describe her music. Put it this way: Jana does it better."

Wandering Goat is at 268 Madison St. The free show starts at 9 p.m.

The Koffin Kats

Wednesday, WOW Hall

Punkabilly band the Koffin Kats return to the WOW Hall to play a Wednesday show with the Sawyer Family and the Casketeers.

The Detroit-based Koffin Kats made their WOW Hall debut in March.

"With a horror movie backdrop, the Koffin Kats twist the sounds of Elvis Presley, Misfits and the Ramones into their very own specially blended cocktail," a news release says.

The otherwise traditional rockabilly instrumentation finds the lead singer, Vic Victor, playing upright bass.

Tickets are $10 in advance and $12 at the door. The show starts at 8 p.m.

Eek-a-Mouse

Thursday, Taboo

Maybe Eek-a-Mouse should go back to using his real name, Ripton Hilton. He'd probably get more hits on the Internet in light of our society's obsession with his faux sister, Paris.

As it stands now, Eek-a-Mouse is one of Jamaica's living reggae legends. (He named himself after a racehorse he always bet on, a bio says.)

Eek-a-Mouse's bio credits him with pioneering the reggae sub-genre of "singjaying." He will perform at Taboo with a full band.

The show starts at 9:30 p.m. at 23 W. Sixth Ave. Tickets are $15 in advance and $17 the day of the show.