Tonight in Music: Dave Rawlings Machine, Sir Elton John, the Orwells & More

DAVE RAWLINGS MACHINE
(Crystal Ballroom, 1332 W Burnside) Best known as the other person onstage at all those Gillian Welch shows, Dave Rawlings steps out with his excellent Dave Rawlings Machine bluegrass outfit—with Welch in tow, and mandolin from Led Zep’s John Paul Jones! Their last Portland show was an absolute blast, a good-time, whiskey-soaked, rollicking party with harmony and twang for country miles. NED LANNAMANN

SIR ELTON JOHN, BRIGHT LIGHT BRIGHT LIGHT
(Moda Center, 1 Center Ct) Did you know that Elton John’s real name is Reginald Kenneth Dwight? Did you know that he is currently 67 and has sold more than 300 million records in his career? Did you know that Sean Lennon is one of his 10 godchildren? Did you know that he hates Madonna? Sorry, I fell into a Wikipedia hole. Anyway, I’m so-so on John’s discography—for every legit hit and moment of Disney genius, you’ve also got your “Bennie and the Jets” (AKA the worst song ever) (BENNIIIEEE) and your “Crocodile Rock” (second-worst song ever). True, he’s a seriously talented piano player, but I’m more in it for the personality—the gay rights and AIDS activism, the glasses, the gap tooth, the glitter, the crotchety celebrity bitch-slapping. Oh, and he once described Jesus as a “compassionate, super-intelligent gay man who understood human problems.” EMILY NOKES

THE ORWELLS, SKATERS, THE PICTUREBOOKS
(Star Theater, 13 NW 6th) The Orwells’ national imprint has mainly been relegated to an inspired performance on Late Show with David Letterman, in which vocalist Mario Cuomo’s manic onstage persona sent shivers up Dave’s aging spine, prompting calls for an encore. The Elmhurst, Illinois, quintet’s powerfully straightforward take on hard-hitting punk and pop is an infectious blend. The band’s superb 2013 EP, Other Voices, lassoed both the rock-ballad revival and a working-class abandon, specifically on the two versions of the title track, one of which was produced by Dave Sitek of TV on the Radio. Their latest, Disgraceland, is their first on the major-label circuit and it shaves the edge off their underground scuzz, but still cuts to the quick on singles like “Who Needs You?” and “Dirty Sheets.” RYAN J. PRADO

KOJI, ALLISON WEISS, LEE COREY OSWALD, RACHEL MILES
(Slabtown, 1033 NW 16th) Folk-punk pontificator Koji has always been a little hard to grade. His first proper release, the Some Small Way EP, was a consistently hummable, emo-tinged indie-pop affair that thoroughly stimulated the hook-addicted pleasure centers of my brain. Subsequently, Koji reverted into an almost entirely acoustic act, which wasn’t nearly as impressive. The “rock band” aesthetic on Some Small Way perfectly complimented the urgency inherent in Koji’s voice and seemed to balance out the songwriter’s more maudlin sensibilities. Which is not to say he’s at all an incapable tunesmith—on the contrary, “Spinning Silent,” on new record Crooked in My Mind, is one of his best compositions to date. But man, would that shit rule with half-stacks…. MORGAN TROPER