Sometimes (most times, really) people say "Keep Portland Weird" and what they really mean isn't "weird," it's "eclectic." This week is definitely a great example of that, as an amazing collection of diverse talents hits the city's stages, like at PSU's Amp Fest, or introducing vital filmmaking at the Portland EcoFilm Fest, or raising money for charity through laughter at Revolution Comedy, or taking the stars of Chicago's hip-hop community and plunking 'em down in the Rose City for a night. There's also a panel to hold Portland Police accountable, a panel where Congressman Earl Blumenauer converses about cannabis, and Jake "The Snake" Roberts turns Dante's into a storytelling venue! It's a busy (and weird) weekâhit the links below and load your plate accordingly.
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Revolution Comedy
Every second and fourth Wednesday, local stand-up comic Andie Main hosts a benefit showcase designed to assist progressive causes through the power of comedy. The lineup changes from show to show, but big laughs for a great cause are always guaranteed. Tonight's show is a benefit for the Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization, with an opening music set from James Pierce before the stand-up sets by Neeraj Srinivasan, Anthony Lopez, David Mascorro, Hunter Donaldson, and Mohanad Elsheiky.
7 pm, Curious Comedy Theater, $15
Fashion in Film: Marie Antoinette
Eden Dawn and former Mercury fashion maven Marjorie Skinner present a candy-coated slice of awkward from Sofia Coppola, Marie Antoinette, probably the best dressed romantic comedy of the last 20 years, which helps distract from the fact the film isnât much more than a bunch of hollow, repugnant assholes bumping into each other for two hours.
7:30 pm, Hollywood Theatre, $9
Debussy's La Mer
The Oregon Symphony delivers its most seaworthy program of the season, kicking off the show with The Hebrides from Felix Mendelssohn and wrapping things up with Claude Debussyâs beautifully impressionistic La Merâperhaps one of the most transporting orchestral pieces ever created. The setlist also features Circulating Ocean, a darkly mysterious 2005 composition from Toshio Hosokawa that plumbs the currents of imagination and showcases sounds you simply wonât hear anywhere else. As if all this wasnât already worth the price of admission, Rip Cityâs sickest unplugged band will be joined by virtuosic Dutch fiddler Simone Lamsma to perform Benjamin Brittenâs one and only violin concerto. Written in response to the dread of 20th-century war, Brittenâs sonic wonder is a technical and emotional challenge for the soloist, and a relentlessly intriguing work for the listener. BRIAN HORAY
7:30 pm, Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, $23-105, all ages
Spiral Stairs, Blesst Chest
From 1989 to 1999, Scott âSpiral Stairsâ Kannberg played a couple of key roles in Pavement. He was the legendary indie rock bandâs punk rock backbone, famously no-showing on an early interview with Rolling Stone. He was undeniably the second songwriter, usually contributing a modest tune or two per album to contrast Stephen Malkmusâ distinctive sound. Kannbergâs post-Pavement career has been sporadically productive, but heâs back now with his second solo record, Doris and the Daggers, and itâs a charming reminder that Kannbergâs Pavement songs were usually highlights of those albums. The guy just has a natural knack for writing low-key earworms built on deceptively addictive guitar parts. Guests on the album include Kelley Stoltz, Broken Social Sceneâs Justin Peroff and Kevin Drew, and the Nationalâs Matt Berningerâa testament to Kannbergâs massive influence on an entire generation of indie-rockers. BEN SALMON
9 pm, Mississippi Studios, $12
Toke Talks
It's like a TED talk. But about cannabis. Get it? It's got Congressman Earl Blumenauer as the keynote speaker, as well as presentations from cannabis entrepreneurs such as Jesse Peters of Eco Firma, Jennifer Clifton of Clifton Cannabis Law, Oscar Nelson of Sweet Relief, Sara Batterby of HiFi Farms, and many more.
5 pm, Aladdin Theater, $10
Daft Rubbish
A new stand-up showcase featuring sets from locals Caitlin Weierhauser, Alex Rios, Wendy Weiss, and Carlos the Rollerblader. Hosted by Jeremy Eli and Neeraj Srinivasan.
8 pm, The Toffee Club, free
Eric Jerome Dickey
Bestselling author Eric Jerome Dickey reads from his latest, Finding Gideon, about a contract killer whose professional job suddenly turns personal in a revenge-fueled page-turner.
7:30 pm, Powell's City of Books, free
Brick
Possibly the best film noir since 1992âs Red Rock West. Degree of difficulty: It takes place in high school and nobody even remotely speaks (or looks) like an actual teenager. If you can get past the deliberate artifice, youâre in for some deliciously cold and calculated storytelling from Rian Johnson (this is his first film!), and a flat-out fascinating performance from Joseph Gordon-Levitt. BOBBY ROBERTS
9:30 pm, Laurelhurst Theater
Damon Krukowski, Larry Crane
Damon Krukowski, drummer and founding member of the influential '80s indie rock trio Galaxie 500, reads from his new book, The New Analog, a meditation and guide to help analog purists keep their heads when faced with an increasingly digital landscape. Krukowski will be joined in conversation by Larry Crane, founder and editor of Tape Op magazine and Jackpot! Recording Studio owner.
7:30 pm, Powell's Books on Hawthorne, free
Bastille
Iâve had my eye on British indie pop band Bastille ever since their SNL performances of the hit single âPompeiiâ in 2014, and the intimate âOblivion,â which sounds like it belongs on a particularly climactic episode of Greyâs Anatomy. Lead vocalist Dan Smith sings with palpable emotion, impressive control, and musical intelligence. Heâs also ka-yute! (And isnât it nice when British people sing with British accents?) Much of their new album Wild World is pretty enjoyable, too. But Iâve got a hunch theyâre probably best enjoyed live. JENNI MOORE
8 pm, Keller Auditorium, $39.75-45.75, all ages
Jake "The Snake" Roberts: Unspoken Word Tour
One of the hardest men to ever put in work for the WWE takes to the Dante's stage to share stories of his snake-bitten life, and how he's managed to come out the other side of all his trials and tribulations still intact.
9 pm, Dante's, $25-55
Fuzzy Logic
Fuzzy Logic is Portlandâs newest electronic music monthly concert series for fans of thoughtful, up-tempo eclecticism, with live video art backed by a DJ or live act. CHRISTINA BROUSSARD
9 pm, Holocene, $6
Brazil
There are two things Terry Gilliam is legitimately great at: Making provocative films, and provoking the people who give him the money to make them. In 1985, Gilliamâs masterpiece on both fronts, Brazil was (barely) releasedâa delirious fever dream of dystopian sci-fi that blends the best of Fritz Lang and Steven Spielberg into a funny, sad, and scary satire. The only thing more audacious than the film is the story of Gilliam dragging Universal Pictures into a very public street fight to save his film from the scissor-happy hands of the studioâand winning. Savor Gilliamâs victory on the big screen while you can. BOBBY ROBERTS
9:30 pm, Academy Theater
Taylor Bennett, Brian Fresco, Melo Makes Music
The Taylor Bennett Show is coming to Portland and you should check out the 21-year-old, Chicago-based socially conscious musician as he makes his way up the rap ranks. Hop on Spotify, listen to Bennettâs Broad Shoulders from 2015, and then this yearâs Restoration of an American Idol with the great song âGrown Up Fairy Talesâ featuring Chance the Rapper, who, ya know, also happens to be his older brother. DOUG BROWN
8 pm, Peter's Room at the Roseland, $15, all ages
Public Forum on Police Accountability
the AMA Coalition for Justice and Police Reform will sit down and speak with community members about the status of the settlement agreement with the US Department of Justice, and the implementations of suggested reforms.
6 pm, Maranatha Church
Psychomagic, Heavi Mello, Bryson Cone
Steven Fusco and his band let loose in the Liquor Store basement with a barrage of fuzzed-out surf-pop and psychedelic garage-rock.
9 pm, The Liquor Store, $3
Ella at 100
Ella Fitzgerald is paid homage by Rebecca Kilgore and her band as they move through the woman's legendary discography on her 100th birthday.
7 pm, Classic Pianos, $15
Via Rosa, Vinnie Dewayne, Karma Rivera, Brown Calculus
Co-curated by Holocene and Portland-raised rapper Vinnie Dewayne, this Chicago-centric showcase of hip-hop, R&B, and neo-soul includes performances by the St. Johns Scholar himself, Via Rosa, Karma Rivera, and Brown Calculus, the promising new âjazzy, intergalactic soulâ project of local artists Vaugh Kimmons and Andre Burgos. EMILLY PRADO
8:30 pm, Holocene, $8-10
Ashley Shadow, Sunbathe, Fronjentress
Vancouver, British Columbia-based singer/songwriter and music scene staple Ashley Webber brings her adventurous indie folk and rock project down the coast in support of her 2016 self-titled debut.
8 pm, Turn! Turn! Turn!
KYLE, Cusin Stizz
Up-and-coming Los Angeles-based rapper Kyle Harvey, better known by his stage name KYLE, comes to the Crystal Ballroom for the Portland stop on his "Super Tour."
8 pm, Crystal Ballroom, $15.50-27, all ages
Fringe Class, Gold Casio, Pleasure Curses
Exhibiting '80s excess, '90s Ace of Base pop, and the modern influences of Portland bands like Pure Bathing Culture, Fringe Class is dance-ready with sophisticated flair from frontwoman Madeline Goldstein's on-point vocals. JENI WREN STOTTRUP
7 pm, Lola's Room, $6
Califone, Tara Jane O'Neil, Rachel Blumberg
In 19-some years, Califone haven't really changed. Which is to say they've had no need for reinvention. Unlike surfers of the stylistic zeitgeist, Tim Rutili's rusty, warm, tactile, vagabond folk continues to crack with the utmost distinction. Like a hobo's fire, the Chicago group's vast catalog warms and warbles, flickering in haunted harmony. ANDREW R TONRY
8 pm, Mississippi Studios, $18-20
Killswitch Engage, Anthrax, The Devil Wears Prada
After years of floundering in the proverbial mosh pit of life, Anthrax are again firing on all cylinders. OG vocalist Joey Belladonna has returned to the fold, and the band's 2011 album Worship Music might be their crowning achievement. It surely slays anything Metallica or Megadeth have done over the past two decades. MARK LORE
7 pm, Roseland, $35-185
OMSI After Dark: Science Can Kill You
Ostensibly, this is an educational outing to Portland's amazing science museum, to learn about how to safely practice science without hurting yourself. But since it's OMSI After Dark, what you're going to be doing is drinking beer and wine and shooting off water rockets and blending things in beakers like a mad scientist.
6 pm, Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI), $15-20
The Mailboxes, Lucia Fasano, Dr. Something, Tashi Delay
An evening of whimsical singer-songwriter stuff, headlined by Jillian Ivey's piano-based pop project The Mailboxes.
7:30 pm, Alberta Street Pub, $5-8
Cosmic Rose, Redwood Son, Lariza Sisters, Laryssa Birdseye
The local American and roots singer-songwriter returns to the Doug Fir Lounge in support of his 2016 full-length, Saints and Renegades.
9 pm, Doug Fir, $13
Re-Run Theater: Cowboys in Space
Portland boasts one of the biggest concentration of Browncoats in the entire country. Browncoats are the fanatical fans of Joss Whedonâs canceled-too-soon-but-it-got-a-feature-film-anyway-so-why-are-you-still-complaining-almost-two-decades-later-Jesus-fucking-CHRIST television series Firefly. The Browncoats will be at this monthâs celebration of televisionâs gaudy, funky past, because along with an episode of the robot horsies cartoon Adventures of the Galaxy Rangers, the Hollywood is screening the Firefly episode âJaynestown,â where right-wing Twitter pustule Adam Baldwin finds himself the subject of a small townâs hero worship. There will also be cowboy-themed commercials, pizza, beer, and song. BOBBY ROBERTS
7:30 pm, Hollywood Theatre, $9
Portland EcoFilm Festival
Following last week's screenings of Chasing Coral and Look & See: A Portrait of Wendell Berry, the Portland EcoFilm Festival returnsâthis time to get a promising film completed. Filmmakers Lindsey Grayzel and Deia Schlosberg will be in attendance to discuss The Reluctant Radical, their profile of activist Ken Ward and the #ShutItDown protestors who fought against the importation of oil from the Canadian tar sands. While filming, Grayzel and Schlosberg were arrested and charged alongside those activists; tonight, they'll screen clips and discuss the troubling ramifications of their arrests. The conversation should be fascinatingâand all proceeds go to help finish The Reluctant Radical. ERIK HENRIKSEN
7:30 pm, Hollywood Theatre, $7-9
Amp Fest
Portland State Universityâs student-run radio station KPSU has put together a seriously great Pacific Northwest-focused lineup for its all-day, all-ages Amp Fest. Seriously. Three killer Portland bands hold down the bottom of the bill: the experimental rock three-piece Chain, the gray-pop of Floating Room, and the âyolo-fiâ post-punk of Strange Ranger (FKA Sioux Falls). Then thereâs Seattleâs Lisa Prank, who plays glitter-bombed pop-punk that could definitely soundtrack an early â00s teen dramedy. Fellow Seattleite Whitney Ballen also graces this lineupâshe just released her latest album, Being Here Is Hard, on Portlandâs Good Cheer Records. Itâs folksy, acoustic dream-pop thatâs so charged and raw, ânightmare-popâ sounds more accurate. Ballenâs strikingly pretty voice carries the weight of her existential anxieties and makes hearing them out loud bearable. The same goes for headliner Mount Eerie, AKA Phil Elverum. The prolific Anacortes, Washington, songwriterâs new album, A Crow Looked at Me, catalogs the days, weeks, and months following the death of his wife with devastating detail. CIARA DOLAN.
3 pm, Parkway North at PSU's Smith Memorial Student Union, $15, all ages
Minden, Sisters, Pwrhaus
Since moving to Portland from Kansas City in 2012, Mindenâs ascent in the local scene has been powered by classic funk, soul, and millennial lethargy, all in the guise of psychedelic pop. The bandâs latest, Sweet, Simple Things, is a sexy brew that pairs well with copious intoxicants and the company of a romantic partner. RYAN J. PRADO
8:30 pm, Holocene, $7-8
Chris Pureka
An evening of heart-on-sleeve indie folk tunes from the Portland-based singer-songwriter who is currently playing shows in support of her new live CD / DVD release, which was recorded during the Back in the Ring release tour at Jammin Java in Vienna, VA.
9 pm, Mississippi Studios, $16-18
Laura Marling
Laura Marling is quite the compelling figure. She speaks in allusions and metaphors, using characters and mythology as vehicles to pick apart and expand on topics that are so painfully human: fear of death, the search for âhappiness,â alienation from other people and from oneself. The remarkable thing about Marling is how expertly she navigates these topics at such a young ageâher first album was recorded when she was just 17. Her grace and authenticity has withstood the pressure of being a young woman in the music industry, and over the years the boldness that was always present in her voice has become louder and sharper. FIONA GABRIELLE WOODMAN
9 pm, Wonder Ballroom, $20-23, all ages
Pond, Kirin J. Callinan
To Portlanders, Pond may always be the local trio of Charlie Campbell, Chris Brady and David Triebwasser, who recorded a couple of albums for Sub Pop in the '90s and were one of our town's true buzz bands back when most of the buzz was happening three hours up I-5. But it's not 1993, and a different band named Pond consists of a shaggy bunch of Australians who make psychedelic pop-rock that's as pure and pretty as fellow Perth exports Tame Impala, with whom Pond shares a few members. BEN SALMON
9 pm, Doug Fir, $14-16
Siren and the Sea, Sarah Parson, Amenta Abioto
Local singer/songwriter Cristina Cano brings her Siren and the Sea project to the Liquor Store basement to perform tunes off her 2017 full-length, This Time with Feeling. The Lower 48's Sarah Parson provides support, with the experimental folk, soul, and hip-hop of Amenta Abioto getting things underway.
9 pm, The Liquor Store
Verselandia
A poetry slam featuring students from 13 Portland schools vying for the title of best poet in the city.
7 pm, Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, $10-30
Tom Green
The first thing you probably thought of was Freddy Got Fingered, right? And then maybe that weird MTV show he had. Or the time he recorded the removal of his testicle. So it stands to reason that you'll probably be surprised by something this guy does during his set.
8 pm, Helium Comedy Club, $20-25
Don't forget to check out our Things To Do calendar for even more things to do!
