MUSIC—Formerly the star trombonist for New Orleans’ famed Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Big Sam Williams struck out on his own to form Big Sam’s Funky Nation—a freaking POWERHOUSE of horn-driven funk who owe as much to Parliament-Funkadelic as they do to classic Orleans jazz. Don’t come near unless you’re ready to shake it and sweat […]
Alison Hallett
Alison Hallett served nobly as the Mercury's arts editor from 2008-2014. Her proud legacy lives on.
Posted inMovies & TV
There’s Totally an Apple
The Giver Puts the Why in YA (Get It?!)
Lois Lowry’s The Giver gets turned into yet another moody YA love triangle.
Posted inEvents
It’s Happening Tonight!
MUSIC—Last time I saw Tom Petty he was about half-an-inch tall… because I was so far away from the stage. But Petty and his Heartbreakers sounded fan-fucking-tastic. I suspect he’s still going to look teensy-tiny at the Moda Center, and he’ll probably still sound as good as ever. Hell, the man’s a living legend. And […]
Posted inBooks
Tonight at Powell’s: Emily Gould
If you’re not familiar with Emily Books founder/former Gawker co-editor Emily Gould… Good job? You obviously don’t waste much time reading online literary gossip? To catch up quick, just read this weird Elle profile, which is somehow simultaneously horrible (feet?) and quite smart on how the world can never quite decide what to make of […]
Posted inEvents
It’s Happening Tonight!
BURGER WEEK—Following last year’s smashing success, the Portland Mercury (along with Nicky USA, Widmer Brothers Brewing, and Jim Beam) hosts the return of your tummy’s favorite seven days of the year: Portland Burger Week! This year, a whopping 20 awesome restaurants will be serving specialty, one-of-a-kind, delicious hamburgers for only FIVE MEASLEY BUCKS. WSHVarious locations, […]
Posted inEvents
It’s Happening Tonight!
MUSIC—If this lineup—Panther, Copy, E*Rock—makes you feel nostalgic, congratulations. You’ve scored another point in the “I’m so Portland…” game. On the other hand, these are some of the acts that built the reputation this city thrives on today, so come party like it’s 2004… in a good way. MSBunk Bar, 1028 SE Water, 9:30 pm, […]
Posted inEvents
It’s Happening Tonight!
HIKING—Paul Gerald’s welcoming, knowledgeable guidebook 60 Hikes within 60 Miles: Portland is your best bet for enjoying the summer away from the city—and tonight, he’s appearing at Powell’s Books on Hawthorne to celebrate the book’s latest edition. Here’s your chance to pry open his brain for secret tips and overlooked trails. EHPowell’s Books on Hawthorne, […]
Posted inMovies & TV
Racism = Bad. Food = Good.
Food Heals All in The Hundred-Foot Journey
Sorry, Hundred-Foot Journey! Food can’t actually solve racism!
Posted inComic Books
First Thursday at Floating World: The Wrenchies Release Party
In the paper this week, I wrote about The Wrenchies a new graphic novel from Portland cartoonist Farel Dalrymple. Long story short: I loved it, you’re probably going to be hearing about it for a while, and you should swing by the release party at Floating World tomorrow to pick up a copy. For fans […]
Posted inEvents
It’s Happening Tonight!
BOOKS—Acclaimed author Amy Bloom’s long-awaited new novel, Lucky Us, is set in the 1940s and features two ambitious young sisters struggling to find themselves amid scandal and heartbreak. (Plus: lesbian orgies!) AHPowell’s City of Books, 1005 W Burnside, 7:30 pm, FREE FILM—With Guardians of the Galaxy, Marvel veers away from their Avengers-themed movies—instead offering up […]
Posted inMusic
I Guess I Love a Band Called “Diarrhea Planet” Now
Here is a video of them performing their hit song “Ghost with a Boner”: I saw these guys at the Woods stage at Pickathon over the weekend and it was hands down one of the best shows I’ve seen in ages—lots of happy jumping. Watch the video! Doesn’t it remind you of how fun shows […]
Posted inEvents
It’s Happening Tonight!
MUSIC—Echo & the Bunnymen have split up and reconfigured with various quantities of Bunnymen over the years, but Ian McCulloch and Will Sergeant are holding steady as a two-man band with their latest, Meteorites. The two have produced four full-lengths in the 21st century, but I still think they know better than to skip over […]