Goddammit, Dennis.
Robert Ham
Robert Ham is the Mercury's former Copy Chief. He writes regularly about music, film, arts, sports, and tech. He lives semi-consciously in far SE Portland with his wife, child, and four ornery cats.
Posted inBooks
Book Event For American Dirt Author Jeanine Cummins at Powell’s Canceled
Jeanine Cummins Joe Kennedy Jeanine Cummins, the author of the new novel American Dirt, will not be appearing at Powell’s Books this Friday as planned. Earlier today, her publisher, Flatiron Books, announced that it was canceling her entire book tour, citing concerns for Cummins’ safety. In a statement sent out by Flatiron’s publisher and president […]
Posted inMusic
Press Play: Music News for the Week of January 27
Stephen Malkmus, Chris Funk, and Matt Sweeney Samuel Gehrke & Chris Shonting It’s Monday. It’s the afternoon. You’re in that warm, post-lunch glow and need a little something to help get you through the rest of the day. That’s where we come in, with a heapin’ helpin’ of news from in and around the Portland […]
Posted inMusic
Sound Artist Crystal Quartez Shares “Helix” From New Album Causal Loop
Crystal Quartez Clamber Crystal Quartez, the musical moniker of multi-disciplinary artist Crystal Cortez, revealed today that she is dropping her new album Causal Loop on Friday January 31 via local label Beacon Sound. And to help amplify our anticipation for it, she’s sharing “Helix,” a centerpiece track from this new collection. The six-song release, which […]
Posted inMovies & TV
Our Picks for the Can’t Miss Flicks at the Northwest Film Center’s Reel Music Festival
Amazing Grace NEON / BARRY FEINSTEIN The 37th installment of Reel Music, the Northwest Film Center’s annual roundup of new and noteworthy music-related movies, is a tidy affair: just 14 films scattered over three weeks. Even with this smaller-than-usual scope, the mini-fest remains as well-balanced as ever, with a full range of documentaries and concert […]
Posted inMusic
Poppy’s Brand Has Reached a Genre Fluid, Cult-like Fervor
Poppy Jesse Draxler If you seek to understand even a sliver of what the internet has wrought on youth culture, pop music, and celebrity, you’re going to need to spend some time with Poppy. The online world created and nurtured Poppy, helping turn her from a curiosity into a sensation whose YouTube videos have logged […]
Posted inMovies & TV
The Northwest Film Center’s Reel Music Fest Is As Well-Balanced (and Loud) As Ever
Warning: This article mentions the Baha Men.
Posted inMusic
Critic’s Pick: Poppy’s Brand Has Reached a Genre Fluid, Cult-like Fervor
The YouTube curiosity-turned-sensation is touring in support of her forthcoming album I Disagree.
Posted inSports
Hail Mary: Women’s Tackle Football Is On the Rise In Portland
The Oregon Ravens and Portland Fighting Shockwave welcome women to the gridiron.
Posted inMusic
Don’t Get Lost In Swirlings, the New Album from Local Synth Artist Pulse Emitter
Pulse Emitter Alien Crag Independent artists, especially those who scrabble away in genre burrows like noise and ambient, tend to go wherever the wind takes them. If any label out there is crazy enough to want to support a 22-minute feedback epic or an hour-long guided meditation cassette, there’s no logical reason to turn down […]
Posted inMusic
Press Play: Music News for the Week of January 10
St. Vincent and Carrie Brownstein Happy Friday to you, dear readers and fellow music lovers. We’ve reached the end of the first full work week of the new year. How are you feeling? Are you getting back into the groove of things after the double holiday whammy? We’re not quite there yet. But as is […]