Some of the most surprising forms of entertainment can be found at the Eureka Opera House and Saturday night’s Dirty Cello Concert did not disappoint. Approximately fifty audience members gathered to experience a high-energy, uniquely engaging performance fronted by a cellist and accompanied by guitar.
Dirty Cello just returned from a tour through Germany, the Czech Republic, and Prague before immediately hitting the road to continue their 2026 tour. Rebecca Roudman, Dirty Cello’s front woman, and her husband, Jason Eckl, flew back to the United States following a recent European tour. During the concert, Jason explained that his guitar and Rebecca’s cello and violin are made of carbon fiber, allowing them to withstand the harsh conditions associated with traveling. Unfortunately, these precautions did not help when they landed in California from Europe only to discover that Rebecca’s cello did not arrive with them. Fortunately, they were able to recover the instrument in time for their concert with the Renegade Orchestra in Davis, California, on Friday, Oct. 17.
Jason and Rebecca then traveled to Eureka, NV to perform at the historic Eureka Opera House, a venue they hand-picked not only for its historic significance, but also to experience the amazing acoustics usually found in historic theaters. They very graciously told the audience they were glad to have chosen such an amazing venue, describing the Opera House as one of the best renovated and maintained historic opera houses they have seen.
Dirty Cello is a San Fransico-based band that transforms familiar rock and country songs into high energy, bluesy numbers. The audience was not surprised when they opened the concert with “Orange Blossom Special,” and loved their unique rendition which showcased their signature bluegrass style. They masterfully performed songs like Led Zeppelin’s “Black Dog,” Jefferson Airplane’s “White Rabbit,” and Aerosmith’s “Dream On,” transforming well-known classics into a high-energy performance, instrumentally lead by Rebecca’s cello and powerful vocals.
Throughout the show, Jason shared stories from their travels, explaining how their experiences had inspired many of their original songs, which they performed between hits. One such song was written after they overheard a couple arguing in a Denny’s restaurant about onion rings, which they appropriately named “Onion Rings.”
Although Dirty Cello typically performs as a six-member band, Rebecca and Jason very masterfully performed as a duo. Their musicianship, energy, and stage presence filled the Opera House with the sound and excitement of a much larger ensemble.
Dirty Cello returned to California the day after their Eureka concert to perform in Nevada City. For those who missed the concert, or for those who would like to see them again, they will perform at Pigeon Head Brewery in Reno on Halloween, before heading to Australia for a week-long tour.
