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Monday, July 15
The Sun Ra Arkestra
We were blessed with an incredibly rare visit from the Sun Ra Arkestra in January, and the blessings have multiplied; they’re returning for a three-night engagement at the Hollywood. The Arkestra performs the music of its namesake, legendary jazz pioneer Sun Ra, who brought together big band, avant-garde, free jazz, and cosmic exploration, leaving behind a unique artistic legacy now being kept alive by 95-year-old Arkestra bandleader Marshall Allen. If you slept on those sold-out January shows, don’t miss these. (Mon-Tues July 15-16, 8:30 pm, Hollywood Theatre, $40) NED LANNAMANN
Whitmer Thomas, Patti Harrison
An evening of stand-up with the Los Angeles-based comedian and actor who has appeared in The Good Place, The Walking Dead, Glow, and You’re The Worst, was featured as a New Face at Just For Laughs in Montreal, and is currently putting the finishing touches on The Golden One, his Bo Burnham-produced hour special/documentary. Patti Harrison, star of Big Mouth and Shrill (she’s the wildly inappropriate front desk manager) is also down to deliver a set of quality stand-up for the night. (Mon July 15, 8 pm, Mississippi Studios, $15)
Yardsss ∅∀‡, U SCO, The Social Stomach
Local musician Krist Krueger and his backing band bring an experimental mix of ambient drone and post-rock down to the Doug Fir Lounge. Like-minded locals U SCO and The Social Stomach round out the rest of an all-Portland bill. (Mon July 15, 9 pm, Doug Fir, $10)
North by Northwest
A 35mm screening of what might be Hitchcock’s best movie? It’s 100 percent for sure his most fun movie. Cary Grant and that airplane! Eva Marie Saint on Mount Rushmore! MICROFILM!!! (Mon July 15, 6:55 pm, Academy Theater, $3-4) ERIK HENRIKSEN
Avi Kaplan
The former vocal bass for a cappella supergroup Pentatonix brings his solo stuff to the Aladdin Theater stage when “The Otherside” Tour stops off in Portland. (Mon July 15, 8 pm, Aladdin Theater, $18.50-22)
Tuesday, July 16
Tal National
Tal National is one of the biggest bands in Africa, with an ever-rising profile outside its home continent, too. The rollicking collective has released critically acclaimed albums, toured all over the world, and made inroads in the United States. But even with all their success, Tal National has kept its artistic roots in its hometown of Niamey, Niger, where the band recorded its most recent album—the muscular and exuberant Tantabara—in a spartan recording studio using dilapidated instruments. The reason? To ensure all members of the band could participate in the recording and bring their distinctive backgrounds and skills to the album. The result is music that truly represents all of Niger by incorporating Afrobeat, highlife, desert blues, griot tradition, and Western rock ’n’ roll into its sound. (Tues July 16, 9 pm, Jack London Revue, $12-15) BEN SALMON
The Adventure Zone Graphic Novel Live!
I saw a Taako cosplayer on the bus the other day. “Hey,” I said, as nonchalantly as possible, “are you Taako, from TV?” The Taako did not play along. If there’s one podcast more treasured than My Brother, My Brother and Me—the hilarious, universally-beloved “advice” podcast from the three McElroy brothers—it just might be The Adventure Zone wherein the aforementioned bros play D&D with their dad, Clint. The Adventure Zone’s power has grown to such a degree that there’s now a graphic novel series in progress, illustrated by Carey Pietsch. This show involves the new comic, based on the show’s “Murder on the Rockport Limited” story arc. Travis McElroy and Clint McElroy will yuk it up in costumes. The show is sold out, but I might hang out outside just to see all the Taakos. (Tues July 16, 7 pm, Revolution Hall, $45) SUZETTE SMITH
Chuck Wendig
The New York Times bestselling author of Star Wars: Aftermath and the Miriam Black thrillers returns with Wanderers, a sprawling novel about a rock star, a religious radio host, disgraced scientist, and a teenage girl working to save America from a widespread sleepwalking epidemic that is bringing terror and violence to the nation. (Tues July 16, 7 pm, Powell’s Books at Cedar Hills Crossing, free)
Rodrigo Y Gabriela
The renowned Mexican classical guitar duo comprised of Rodrigo Sanchez and Gabriela Quintero bring their flamenco-, rock-, and metal-inspired sounds back to town to head up a picturesque performance on the Edgefield lawn. (Tues July 16, 6:30 pm, Edgefield, $47-72)
Greyhounds, Star Crusher
The Austin-hailing duo headed up by keyboardist Anthony Farrell and guitarist Andrew Trube has been making music and touring for 15 years. Catch up with them tonight when they bring their blend of Memphis soul and classic funk through Mississippi Studios for a headlining show. (Tues July 16, 8 pm, Mississippi Studios, $12-15)
Bob Schneider, Carolina Story
The former Ugly Americans frontman and prolific Austin-based singer/songwriter returns to Portland to serve up another healthy dose of rootsy, folk-tinged pop and gritty rock ‘n’ roll. (Tues July 16, 8 pm, Doug Fir, $20-22)
Miles McKenna
The popular YouTube content creator known for the comedic videos and vlog entries posted to his MilesChronicles channel brings the “Stuck in 2005” Tour to Portland. Experience an interactive performance, featuring lip sync battles, onstage challenges, and hear never before told stories. (Tues July 16, 8 pm, Lola’s Room, $30)
Wednesday, July 17
Portland Pickles vs. Bellingham Bells
Midweek West Coast League action continues at Walker Stadium, with the Pickles taking on the Bellingham Bells in the second game of a three-game series. Bring your doggo to the park and celebrate Woof Wednesday with Lagunitas Brewing. The first 500 fans will receive Lagunitas Dog Bandanas. Enjoying a mid-july day a the park w/ your furry friend made fashionable, some baseball fans, and flowing Lagunitas? Pickles truly are the most rewarding of all brined vegetable choices. (Wed July 17, 7:05 pm, Walker Stadium, $8 & Up, all ages)
Common
Chicago rapper/actor/philanthropist Common has a history of being labeled a “conscious rapper,” but as he’s said himself, he’s really just an MC—and a prolific one at that. In addition to his John Legend collaboration “Glory,” the Grammy-winning artist is also known for making love songs rooted in hip-hop, like “The Light,” “Come Close” featuring Mary J. Blige, and Erykah Badu’s “Love of My Life.” Just recently the rapper dropped “HER Love,” which features an unreleased J. Dilla beat and tells a story dedicated to his love of hip-hop. His latest “Let Love Tour” is named after his new memoir Let Love Have the Last Word, in which he discusses breaking destructive cycles, overcoming childhood sexual abuse, and wanting to find a life partner. (Wed July 17, 6:30 pm, Edgefield, $44.50 & Up) JENNI MOORE
Chris Cohen, Dear Nora, Ings
Los Angeles-based psych pop musician and former Deerhoof guitarist Chris Cohen joins up with singer/songwriter Katy Davidson and their much-beloved indie pop outfit Dear Nora to split a co-headlined show at Mississippi Studios. (Wed July 17, 8 pm, Mississippi Studios, $16-18)
Roselit Bone, Lavender Country
Released initially as a private press LP in 1973, Lavender Country was the first gay country album ever, beating out Peter Grudzien’s The Unicorn by a year. The messages in the music sadly still resonate to a modern audience, but they no longer have to be delivered from the shadows. (Wed July 17, 8 pm, Polaris Hall, $12-15) ROBERT HAM
Breweries for Books 2019
First Book Portland and Migration Brewing team up to bring you “Breweries for Books,” an annual fundraising event inviting readers of all ages to come out and meet authors. Featuring appearances from local children’s authors Brian W. Parker and Josie A. Parker, Trivia hosted ShanRock’s Triviology, and a 50/50 raffle with all funds going to benefit First Book Portland. (Wed July 17, 4 pm, Migration Brewing Co., free, all ages)
Ulli Lust
The award-winning author of Today Is the Last day of the Rest of Your Life celebrates the release of How I Tried to Be a Good Person, a new graphic memoir chronicling Lust’s time as a young and eager anarchist living in Vienna in the 1990s. (Wed July 17, 6 pm, Floating World Comics, free)
Thursday, July 18
Lizzo
If you missed out on Lizzo’s “Cuz I Love You” tour stop at Roseland in April, the beloved singer/rapper/flautist is bringing her live show back around the country as part of a recently announced second leg—dubbed the “Cuz I Love You Too” tour—and she’s kicking things off at the picturesque Edgefield lawn with what’s guaranteed to be the summer dance party of the year. (Thurs-Fri July 18-19, 6:30 pm, Edgefield, $50)
Korgy & Bass, Brown Calculus
A pair of local hip-hop and jazz outfits bring their experimental sounds to the OMSI planetarium to head up an intergalactic installment of the Music Under the Dome series. (Thurs July 18, 8 pm, OMSI, $15, all ages)
Cuco, Umi, Niña
Rising Los Angeles-based singer/songwriter and producer Omar Banos, better known by his stage name Cuco, brings his jazz- and hip-hop-infused dream pop to the Hawthorne Theatre for a two-night Portland stop on his first-ever headlining tour. (Thurs-Fri, July 18-19, 8 pm, Hawthorne Theatre, $20-25, all ages)
Rex Navarrete
Having headlined Portland’s beloved Minority Retort showcase early last year, Filipino comedian Rex Navarrete brings his stand-up back to town for a pair of performances at Helium. (Thurs July 18, 8 pm, Helium Comedy Club, $20-28)
Kirby’s Dream Band, The Runaway Four, Last Bastion
The Twilight serves up a night of live video game music courtesy of San Diego’s Kirby’s Dream Band and Vancouver’s the Runaway Four. Portland power metal outfit Last Bastion holds down the local support. (Thurs July 18, 8 pm, Twilight Cafe & Bar, $8)
We Were Promised Jetpacks, Catholic Action
The long-running Scottish band out of Edinburgh bring their shimmering indie rock and post-punk back to the Doug Fir Lounge to celebrate the 10th anniversary of their debut album, These Four Walls. (Thurs July 18, 9 pm, Doug Fir, $20)
Greaterkind, Seance Crasher, Kileo
Holocene serves up a night of neo-soul, R&B, pop, and jazz from local acts Greaterkind, Seance Crasher, Kileo (Amenta Abioto & Dan Talmadge). (Thurs July 18, 8:30 pm, Holocene, $8)
Don’t forget to check out our Things To Do calendar for even more things to do!