Events

MUSIC—Patti Smith is a goddamned national treasure. Not only is she a kickass musician, she’s also an artist, poet, and a celebrated memoirist of her friendship with artist Robert Mapplethorpe in Just Kids, a book that won her the National Book Award. She’s also a style icon for the ages. Don’t miss her—she’s a real-life […]

WORDS—Who knows, right? After years of frustrating latency, maybe spelling skills were only waiting for a night in depressing January to issue forth from you like a verbose Niagara, like a bespectacled rainbow phoenix. There are no bragging rights like spelling bee bragging rights, so head down to Dig a Pony for the monthly Amazing […]

MUSIC—The dark, quiet winter nights don’t need to be lonely when you can gather ’round the glow of Big Haunt’s gently macabre folk repertoire when they release their new EP tonight. Alongside them will be Old Wave, who’re also releasing a new record, their debut of carefully balanced, storytelling arrangements. Warm your hands! MARJORIE SKINNERw/Luz […]

NEO-NOIR—In 1973, Robert Altman took a crack at Raymond Chandler and made one of the greatest films of the ’70s: The Long Goodbye, starring Elliott Gould. The NW Film Center is screening it tonight—and in a nice coincidence, the very Long Goodbye-ish Inherent Vice, directed by Altman’s protégé Paul Thomas Anderson, is also screening in […]

MUSIC—Tennis’ songs are like a glassy/soft/rhythmic time machine that floats you back to all the best and sweetest make-out sessions you ever had. Maybe it’s because Tennis is a husband-and-wife duo who met in college and started playing music after a sailing trip. Maybe you shouldn’t think about it too much and just enjoy the […]

THEATER—One of last spring’s most clever shows returns for a fun second season. It’s Sidekicks—Action/Adventure Theatre’s twisted take on the superhero genre (with the Merc‘s own Noah Dunham). In an alternate-universe Portland, a group of not-so-superpowered sidekicks do all the grunt work for their not-so-heroic bosses. (Sound familiar?) The show is serialized, running for four […]

COMEDY—She blasted onto the national consciousness with a set about being diagnosed with breast cancer, and had to cancel her sold-out show in November because of a ruptured cyst. But comedian Tig Notaro isn’t going to let a little sickness stop her at this rescheduled show. Her sets are as healthy as a horse with […]

FILM—Back in the early ’80s, Shogun Assassin flickered on the tattered screens of America’s grindhouse theaters. These days, Shogun Assassin‘s perfect blend of bloody violence and heartwarming sentiment has earned it a reputation as one of the great samurai cinema classics—and tonight, the Hollywood Theatre’s got it on 35mm. ERIK HENRIKSENHollywood Theatre, 4122 NE Sandy, […]

MUSIC—Oh dear, has it really been 10 years since the Know first opened up and starting slinging drinks and shattering eardrums? It has! Show your gratitude with a 10-day festival of loud and excellent lineups, such as tonight’s, with Red Fang, Gaytheist, and Drunk Dad! MARJORIE SKINNERThe Know, 2026 NE Alberta, 7 pm, $8 VARIETY […]

EAR CANDY—Once again, your friends at the Mercury and Mississippi Studios team up to bring you the best in local music—for free. Tonight, bask in the cinematic beauty of noise-rockers the Fourth Wall, who made sky-arcing melodies on their excellent recent album Lovely Violence, plus great sets from Small Skies and Neighbor Wave. NED LANNAMANNMississippi […]

TALK SHOW—Very funny Merc contributors Alex Falcone and Bri Pruett have another slam-bang edition of Late Night Action lined up for you! This month the live talk show features Oh Joy Sex Toy‘s Erika Moen, the Funemployment Radio gang, comedy from Caitlin Weierhauser, and musical entertainment from Portland’s preeminent rapper Cool Nutz! WM. STEVEN HUMPHREYMississippi […]

MUSIC—The legendary, defunct EJ’s hosted a ton of great shows from 1995 to 2000. This weekend, Mike Thrasher—who got his start booking at EJ’s—celebrates the NE Sandy strip club-turned-rawk bar’s 20th anniversary by resurrecting all those good times, with two nights of bands that performed regularly at EJ’s, with cheap covers and $2 Pabsts! NED […]