WEDNESDAY 8/23

IDINA MENZEL
(Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, 1037 SW Broadway) Legendary vocalist Idina Menzel unfortunately isn’t performing in Broadway musicals right now, but at least she’s still singing! And whether you’re a fan of that viral song “Let it Go” from Disney’s Frozen, enjoyed her studio album idina, want to hear her slay tracks from RENT, or bless the Schnitz with her untouchable rendition of Wicked’s “Defying Gravity,” you’re going to get (at least some) of your wishes this Wednesday. Prepare for goosebumps and misty eyes. JENNI MOORE

DIRTY REVIVAL
(Music on Main, 706 SW Main) Sarah Clarke’s got one of the most commanding voices in Portland, especially when she’s fronting Dirty Revival. The seven-piece plays soul music with plenty of heart and its own dirty twist. This free show is outdoors, so you can hear Clarke’s powerhouse vocals bounce off all the buildings downtown. CIARA DOLAN

GABI, BITTER BUDDHA, CHAIN, BOREEN
(The Know, 3728 NE Sandy) Gabi hails from Phoenix, Arizona, and plays what they call “sensitive rock.” That’s a pretty accurate description—it’s delicate but surprisingly powerful, not unlike the music of Frankie Cosmos and Portland’s own Boreen, who’ll open tonight’s show. The group is headed by songwriter Gabi Manning, whose Bandcamp collections of lo-fi tracks make tenderness seem like a superpower, especially with their 2016 debut, Sea Glass. On standouts like “Olympian Heartbreaker” and “House on Stilts,” fuzzy TV samples and field recordings of wind chimes add texture to the gentle melodies. Just this month Manning released a short concept album of five sweet love songs inspired by Crushes. Fans of up-and-coming indie, this bill’s for you. CIARA DOLAN


THURSDAY 8/24

SECRET DRUM BAND, NOTEL
(White Owl Social Club, 1305 SE 8th) Read our story on Secret Drum Band.

Y La Bamba Thu 8/24 Ingrid Renan

Y LA BAMBA, RUN ON SENTENCE, RYAN OXFORD
(Mississippi Studios, 3939 N Mississippi) Y La Bamba’s always been undeniably good, or at least difficult to dislike. But to me the band always seemed like the friendly, ready-for-radio front for the raw, emotionally complex songs of bandleader Luz Elena Mendoza (anyone who’s seen Mendoza’s solo shows can confirm their potency). My tune changed when Y La Bamba played the St. Johns Bizarre in May. With the sound system cutting in and out and the rain pouring down, they put on the best show I’ve seen this year. Featuring new songs and a fresh lineup, the band was tight enough to mesmerize and loose enough to allow the material to feel as alive and complex as the songs Mendoza writes. Y La Bamba is one of Portland’s best live bands. Don’t sleep on this, or claim you’ve seen them before. You haven’t—not like this. JOSHUA JAMES AMBERSON


FRIDAY 8/25

JIDENNA, ANIK KHAN, MANNYWELLZ
(Star Theater, 13 NW 6th) Two years ago, Janelle Monáe brought her entire Wondaland Records roster to Portland for a free show and a Black Lives Matter rally. If you were there, you probably remember how exciting Jidenna is as a performer, and how original he is as an artist. I’ve always appreciated the feminist lyric in his breakout single, “Classic Man”: “The ladies on my elbow ain’t for the show/Every madame on my team is a top general.” After releasing hits like “Yoga,” earlier this year the fashion-forward rapper/singer finally released his debut LP, The Chief. It’s solid, with standout tracks “Safari,” “Trampoline,” and “Chief Don’t Run.” You might’ve also seen and heard Jidenna and his new music on HBO’s Insecure. His Portland show will be guaranteed good vibes. JENNI MOORE

SHELLEY SHORT, DARREN HANLON
(Polaris Hall, 635 N Killingsworth Ct) Read our review of Shelley Short’s new record, Pacific City.

LOS TIGRES DEL NORTE
(Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, 1037 SW Broadway) Los idoles del pueblo, los jefes del jefes—with roots in Sinaloa, Mexico, and San Jose, California, Los Tigres Del Norte need no introduction if you grew up in a Spanish-speaking household. The norteño band of brothers, who rose to fame in 1974 with a cover of early narcocorrido “Contrabando y Traicion,” define what it means to be Mexican for fans on both sides of the border. They pack stadiums worldwide while staying true to their status as a voice of the people. Los Tigres don’t shy away from controversy: In 2010 they made headlines by joining an international boycott against Arizona in response to SB 1070 (the “show your papers” bill requiring law enforcement to determine an individual’s immigration status upon “reasonable suspicion”). They were also recognized by GLAAD for their 2015 song “Era Diferente,” a corrido about a young lesbian, standing for acceptance in a genre known for its machismo. DANIELA SERNA

MARK LANEGAN BAND, DUKE GARWOOD, LYENN
(Wonder Ballroom, 128 NE Russell) Spanning four very distinct musical decades, Mark Lanegan has overcome grunge-rock pigeonholing and addiction, and achieved the autonomy his brand of poetic artistry probably deserves. His latest record under the Mark Lanegan Band parasol, Gargoyle, is swathed in electro-skuzz melodies and drizzled with his scruffy baritone. The album comes positively dripping in the grim disposition of Lanegan’s outsider lyrics, with songs like “Death’s Head Tattoo” and “Goodbye to Beauty” leading the charge. “Old Swan” might be the least dangerous-sounding song Lanegan’s ever penned, but cloud-clearings like this are in the minority. In addition to the new record, Lanegan recently celebrated the release of a book of his lyrics and writing called I Am the Wolf, which puts to page the chronological ascent of his craft, ending with lyrics from Gargoyle, as well as some one-off collaborative scribbles from the likes of Moby, Isobel Campbell, and Earth. RYAN J. PRADO


SATURDAY 8/26

Die Antwoord Sat 8/26 Project Pabst

MUSICFESTNW PRESENTS PROJECT PABST: IGGY POP, DIE ANTWOORD, FATHER JOHN MISTY, FIDLAR, LIZZO, PUP, FILTHY FRIENDS, WHITE REAPER, THE LAST ARTFUL, DODGR
(Tom McCall Waterfront Park, 1020 SW Naito) There are a lot of reasons you should go to MusicfestNW Presents: Project Pabst—music, beer, summer!—but the most important reason is Iggy Pop. He’s 70 years old and still one of the coolest people on the planet, he’s the proud daddy of a cockatoo named Biggy Pop, and he’s one of the most influential voices in punk music. Go forth, and bask in his permanently shirtless glory. CIARA DOLANRead our preview of MusicfestNW Presents: Project Pabst.

CRATE DIGGERS PDX RECORD FAIR AND AFTERPARTY: DEENA B, ACTION SLACKS, DJ VOID, DJ ROANE, SOUL CLAP, SUPREME LA ROCK, REV SHRINES
(White Owl Social Club, 1305 SE 8th) If you’re the sort of audiophile who considers absorbing music through earbuds an unforgivable sin, the Crate Diggers PDX Record Fair has probably been on your radar for months. Vinyl purists from near and far will descend onto the hallowed grounds of White Owl Social Club’s innards and patio for an afternoon of discerning finger-filing, with over 30 record vendors, as well as ice-cold jams spinning nonstop throughout the fair from the likes of DJ Roane, Deena B, DJ Void, DJ Action Slacks, and Christian Science. The afterparty brings Boston’s Soul Clap, Seattle’s Supreme La Rock, and Portland’s own Rev Shines, and the whole day is free as hell. Those with predispositions toward dropping significant percentages of their income on vinyl are advised to earmark roughly twice your normal spending, should you choose to attend this crate dig. And if anyone has any Mallet-Head records, please hold them for me. RJP


SUNDAY 8/27

BLOSSOM, WET DREAM
(Rontoms, 600 E Burnside) Portland-based neo-soul and R&B singer/songwriter Blossom—AKA Keisha Chiddick—has been busy making the rounds in support of her debut full-length, Tease. Her dialed-in live show has established her as a leading voice in the city’s music scene, and while Blossom is more than capable of captivating audiences within a club setting, her jazzy sound is guaranteed to become a catalyst for good vibes when it crosses paths with the cool summer breeze on Rontoms' patio at this week’s Sunday Session. CHIPP TERWILLIGER

MUSICFESTNW PRESENTS PROJECT PABST: BECK, NAS, SPOON, WHITNEY, NONAME, SAN FERMIN, FRANKIE COSMOS, RVIVR, LITHICS
(Tom McCall Waterfront Park, 1020 SW Naito.) Read our preview of MusicfestNW Presents: Project Pabst.


MONDAY 8/28

Shania Twain Press Room

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SHANIA TWAIN! Though the singles from her forthcoming comeback album Now don’t impress me much, Twain’s still the one country-pop artist I will relentlessly defend. CD


TUESDAY 8/29

AJJ
(Star Theater, 13 NW 6th) For many, AJJ (FKA Andrew Jackson Jihad) is one of folk-punk’s defining bands. Starting with 2007’s People Who Eat People are the Luckiest People in the World, their discography is a touchstone for our current musical moment. They’re on tour celebrating that album’s 10th anniversary, which is great news for fans craving the classics. AJJ’s most recent albums—2014’s Christmas Island and 2016’s The Bible 2—evidence their immense growth, and ability to succeed with less folk-focused sounds. DELANEY MOTTER