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Mercury Music Picks
Posted inMercury Music Picks

Mercury Music Picks: Sierra Ferrell For Real, Quasi Score Japanese Silent Film, and Michelle Zauner Cries in Tomorrow

Plus Portland Music News and New Music Portland!
Avatar photo by Nolan Parker

Last week was a real Portland doozy, so much so I had to split to Central Washington to chill out for a minute. The tough decision to post up at a generator show in lieu of catching Midwest emo daddies American Football was made, and happily. Two of Portland’s tuffest punk outfits, Carny Cumm and […]

Posted inMercury Music Picks

Mercury Music Picks: Boot Scoot Your Boogie at Friends in Low Places

Plus, crush a Capri Sun with Juicebox, and get primitive with Marisa Anderson.
Avatar photo by Nolan Parker

This past week was kooky-busy with extraordinary shows, showcasing but a fraction of what Portland, and the world, are on musically. The Mercury’s Music Issue launch party was a great success; the bands—KEEKS, La Isla Electronica, Isabeau Waia’u Walker, and the Barbaras—all crushed their sets. When, not if, you have the chance, check out all […]

Posted inMercury Music Picks

Mercury Music Picks: The Portland Mercury Music Issue Launch Party!

Plus Echo & the Bunnymen are mad cute, Andy Stott is mad moody, and Carlos Niño ain’t mad at all.
Avatar photo by Nolan Parker

Happy Mercury Music Issue to all those who observe! Today marks the release of the Mercury’s first Music Issue since pre-pandemic. Edited by yours truly, the issue is stuffed silly with heaps good music features, including a Portland music map, album reviews, a summer festival roundup, Justin Townes Earle’s Portland years, a Turn! Turn! Turn! […]

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Mercury Music Picks: Cabaret Voltaire’s Portland Debut, Yuvees Back in Town, and Texas Is—in Fact—the Reason

Plus, Ashanti plays the Portland Fire’s franchise opener, and Portland Music News.
Avatar photo by Nolan Parker

You miss Mercury Music Picks the last few weeks? Well, I missed you too! But the absence was for a good reason—next week sees the launch of the Mercury’s first Music Issue since pre-pandemic. Editing a print issue takes an incredible amount of time and effort by a huge crew of hard working people—and we’re […]

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Mercury Music Picks: Hip-Hop Royalty the Pharcyde and Emo Heartthrobs AFI Are in Town

Plus, the first-ever Regional Woodwind Conference and Portland Panorama are happening!
Avatar photo by Nolan Parker

A beautifully potent message from Iceland’s biggest export, Björk, that Mercury Music Picks would like to echo and amplify: Wednesday, April 15  Oklou / Vickie Cherie  For fans of  QT, PC Music, Hannah Diamond French vocalist, producer, and composer Marylou Mayniel, aka Oklou, burst onto the experimental pop scene in 2020 with her debut mixtape […]

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Mercury Music Picks: Mix Master Mike Chops It Up and Forty Feet Tall Get Higher at High Limit Room

Plus Portland Music News and New Music Portland!
Avatar photo by Nolan Parker

Last weekend was kooky-beautiful outside. Or at least it looked that way while convalescing in my sickbed… That means that Darkswoon, FKA twigs, Only Fire, Six Sex, and more were missed by this lowly music editor. The absolute pits! But I suppose sickness can be framed as a reminder to be proactive about seeking joy.  […]

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Mercury Music Picks: Homos Rejoice—Cobrah, Only Fire, Darkswoon, FKA twigs, Six Sex, and HIRS Collective Are All in Town!

Plus Portland Music News and New Music Portland!
Avatar photo by Nolan Parker

This week is big time for the homosexuals… and it’s not even June! If you a gay and like dancing, Cobrah, Only Fire, and Six Sex are your best bets. If you gay but a more alternative gay, Darkswoon’s album release and FKA twigs will scratch all your itches. If you gay but really not […]

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Mercury Music Picks: Hardcore Shortiez Destroy HLR, Larry Brings His Flask to Showdown, and It’s Spring Break in Kenton

Plus, Portland Music News and New Music Portland!
Avatar photo Nolan Parker

Okay, so who saw Sessa last night at Showdown? Was Sessa’s charming stage presence, irresistible Portuguese vocals, and the whole band’s groovy sunshine energy to blame for the entire room falling in love with the musicians from São Paulo? Yes. The originals Gal Costa and Marcos Valle would be proud knowing of the work Sessa […]

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Mercury Music Picks: Bijoux Cone’s Homecoming, and Canadian Piss and Brazil’s Sessa Are in Town

Plus Portland Music News and New Music Portland! 
Avatar photo Nolan Parker

Wow y’all, who was at Mavis Staples over the weekend? The diva—at 86 years young—is still a firecracker on stage, doing little dances and hitting her notes better than any imitators could ever dream. A heartfelt congratulations to the Portland Jazz Festival for holding it all the way down again in 2026. Looking forward to […]

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