Mercury EverOut Staff

MUSIC—Perhaps you’re the type of person who can’t express the love you’re feeling. If so, today’s the day to let the expert step in and do it for you, when the Oregon Symphony presents Valentine’s Day with Smokey Robinson. Listen to this classic soul singer croon his greatest hits (“You’ve Really Got a Hold on […]

FILM—Thanks to an overwhelming number of films, it’s easy to strike out at the Portland International Film Festival. To even your odds, pick the fest’s more interesting titles, like the two tonight: What We Do in the Shadows is a Kiwi vampire comedy from the guys behind Flight of the Conchords, while the Japanese R100 […]

MUSIC—Revolution Hall, the new venue in what was once Washington High School’s decrepit auditorium, is calling this its “preview weekend” before it officially roars to life this spring. It’s a goddamned beautiful sign of things to come. Dream-folk wizards Alialujah Choir are celebrating their new album with co-headliners Wild Ones, followed by Dan Savage on […]

MUSIC—You may or may not know Nicholas Gordon personally, but what happened to him—getting mugged and attacked with a hammer, leaving him with months of speech therapy to look forward to—could happen to anyone. A stellar lineup (including the Shivas, Us Lights, and Hustle and Drone) is lending a hand to raise money for him. […]

MUSIC—Slowly, surely, Ariel Pink has crept onto the radar of pop appreciators, but it’s been a bit of a slog. Whether you’re a longtime advocate, or you’ve been recently converted by nuggets like “Picture Me Gone” and the easygoing “Put Your Number in My Phone” off of last year’s Pom Pom, now’s the time to […]

BOOKS—Hope you like small, talking walruses! Because Arthur Bradford, who reads tonight from his new short-story collection, Turtleface and Beyond, has made a career out of such creatures. Bradford looks like a teen, writes what John Hodgman calls a “slightly cannabinoid strain of magical realism,” and is an inspiration to us all. MEGAN BURBANKPowell’s City […]

COMEDY—IAN KARMEL’S SHOW IS HELLA SOLD OUT, FAM. (See how I imitated Ian there??) However! True fans of this hilarious, formerly local comic (and current Merc columnist) should mug whomever they need to mug in order to get tickets to see these two sets that will be recorded for Ian’s upcoming comedy album on Kill […]

MUSIC—The Crystal Ballroom is throwing themselves a shindig of trippy proportions with the Sabertooth Micro Fest. They’re celebrating their psychedelic history with a host of awesome bands, like the stoner metal of Sleep on Friday, Kurt Vile and the Violators on Saturday, and Stardeath and White Dwarfs on Sunday. Wild, man. COURTNEY FERGUSONCrystal Ballroom, 1332 […]

THE DOMESTICS by the domesticsEAR CANDY—Every month, your besties at the Merc and Mississippi Studios bring you the best live local music for no money whatsoever. Because we wuv you! Tonight: the mind-zonking psych of Máscaras, the brain-pleasing songwriting of the Domestics, and the smile-making fuzz pop of the Century. Don’t miss it! NED LANNAMANNMississippi […]

MUSIC—Tonight you can see two legends of metal in their acoustic guises: Scott Kelly of Neurosis makes chillingly dark folk with his outfit the Road Home, while Yob’s Mike Scheidt marries the pastoral and geological in his elemental, classically informed solo work. This is hushed, intense, winter-weather music. NED LANNAMANNHawthorne Theatre Lounge, 1507 SE César […]

Steward by Nasalrod MUSIC—Kill Rock Stars picked the bands for tonight’s Red Bull Sound Select show, and it’s a doozy, with the dirty-denim rawk of the Shrine, the blacklight metal of Danava, and the frenzied operatic punk of Nasalrod. Be prepared for a righteous bangover tomorrow morning. NED LANNAMANNDoug Fir, 830 E Burnside, 9 pm, […]