Hear In Portland

Full disclosure that Habibi member Lenaya Lynch and the Mercurys arts and culture editor used to be roommates, but Jenni Moore didn’t know that when she wrote this column. Lynch was a good roommate and has a terrific sense of deadpan humor. Four stars. Courtesy of the artist We’re continuing the tradition of Black History […]

Maarquii Padraic O Meara February might very well be getting colder, but the music scene is heating up. We also might be going to war as a country… Good afternoon! Just locally speaking, there’s actually a lot to get excited about: Maarquii finally headlines The Thesis in March, we have two new noteworthy rap releases, […]

Dolphin Midwives (AKA Sage Fisher) plays the Holocene on Wednesday, Feb 23. Courtesy Marmoset Music With all the strangely sunny and dry February weather, getting out of the house to grab some dinner and see a show doesn’t sound all that bad. This week there’s more than a couple promising showcases (and from different ends […]

Indie artist MAITA performs at Mississippi Studios on Feb 19. Courtesy the artist These days, our own health and safety is being left up to us individuals and business owners. If you’re feeling the power of your booster and ready to brave the public, there’s at least one upcoming show that just might be worth […]

Zyah Belle returns to Portland. Zyah Belle/Instagram January went out with a bang with hometown rap hero Aminé rocking the Moda Center in front of an elaborate Portland-inspired set that included the Broadway Bridge, Alberta Market, Woodlawn Park, and a Rose Garden sign. Featuring openers like North Portland rapper Mic Capes, it was a pretty […]

Pandemic be damned, the Waterfront Blues Fest is planning to return this summer. Waterfront Blues Festival There’s always a lull in activity this time of year, but personally, the slow season of infrequent shows and fewer new releases helps me focus, so I can actually digest the good stuff that is popping up. This month […]

Karma Rivera headlines the next don’t-miss edition of The Thesis. Marmoset COVID or not, the Rose City is seldom quiet when it comes to music and creativity. This week we’re discussing a couple of must-watch videos and performances, a promising upcoming hip-hop show, and a forthcoming covers EP from Portland’s Spaghetti Western-inspired rock band, Federale. […]

A beautiful new video of a great single off Mic Capes’ In Spite Of…. Mic Capes Well folks, while it’s a weird time to be in the business of live local music—so many performances have been canceled or postponed as of late—we can at the very least enjoy some quality new material that’s being released. […]

Prince Hyph headlines the latest edition of The Thesis. Prince Hyph Lots of local shows have been getting canceled in recent weeks (in light of the wildly contagious Omicron variant, obvi), but if you’re boostered and braving the crowds, there’s at least one appealing local hip-hop show going down at Kelly’s Olympian tonight (Thurs, Jan […]

Jack White David James Swanson Since this will be the last Hear in Portland memo before the holidays, we’re giving you the scoop on a new local project that was released this fall, and a head’s up for two upcoming shows to look out for around the New Year. Also, you might want to scoop […]

Cover art for MAITA’s recent single, “You Sure Can Kill a Sunday, Part 1.” Tristan Paiige While December is a notoriously slow month for, well, everything, it’s a great time to let local artists shine, as well as looking forward to what new music projects and live music opportunities 2022 will bring. Read on to […]

Local rapper Karma Rivera dropped a saucy new music video and single on November 30 called “Got Me Hot.” While there might not be a ton of fresh music news for Portland this week, what we have here is quality over quantity. Read on to hear about the cool new single and music video from […]