Mercury Things to Do Staff

BANDS ‘N’ BEERS—Here’s a great way to get SUPER HAPPY DRUNK and not feel so BAD about it. It’s called the Malt Ball, and it’s a showcase for some of the city’s BEST local bands (Holy Grove, Blue Skies for Black Hearts, Pinehurst Kids) and some of the state’s BEST craft brewers (Fort George, Hopworks, […]

MUSIC—One of my best musical memories remains seeing Langhorne Slim in the woods at Pickathon back in 2010, a gig so earnest and rollicking that blood ended up splattering a banjo. Tonight, the Slim takes the stage solo for a whole bunch of sharp, earnest country; expect it to be just as intense and just […]

MUSIC—We’ve been missing the dreamy distortion of Genders for the past five months, but they’re finally playing a show, and since they’ve been working on new material with Jackpot!’s Larry Crane and the Helio Sequence’s Brandon Summers, perhaps they’ll grace us with some lovely new tunes. NED LANNAMANNw/Gothic Tropic, Lucy; Holocene, 1001 SE Morrison, 8:30 […]

FASHION—The semi-annual Fade to Light fashion show combines new work from some of the city’s most interesting apparel designers with the magic of moviemaking. Keep your eyes peeled for collections from showstoppers like Michelle Lesniak and WWJJD, plus collaborative short films that will help set each designer’s scene. MARJORIE SKINNERCrystal Ballroom, 1332 W Burnside, 8 […]

FOOD—Alton Brown’s good-natured food knowledge is a gift to unskilled cooks everywhere, and perhaps the only thing keeping those of us with abysmal veggie-chopping skills from having bloody stumps where our fingers used to be. Tonight’s appearance is a muddling of gently goofy food-related commentary, stand-up, and live music. MEGAN BURBANKArlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, 1037 […]

MUSIC—Al’s Den, the dim, many-hued nook below the Crystal Hotel, is as intimate and enjoyable a place to see live music as this city offers. The Den has a wide variety of acts that play its weekly residencies, and it’s got a real treat this week. Eugene’s fantastic, folksy trio the Harmed Brothers are gonna […]

MUSIC—Carrying high the tradition of New York City cool, Kevin Morby’s leather-clad tunes evoke Television, Sonic Youth, and the godheads themselves, the Velvet Underground. Morby’s two solo albums, Harlem River and Still Life, deserve shelf space alongside Ramones, Bookends, and The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan as part of any proper collection of New York classics. NED […]

WOMEN & DRUMS—Tom Tom magazine—the publication dedicated to females of the percussive variety—celebrates its fifth birthday tonight. Look for thunderous performances from the Last Regiment of Syncopated Drummers, HITS (featuring members of Explode into Colors), LKN, and more. It will be, and should be, a loud one. MARJORIE SKINNERBeacon Sound, 3636 N Mississippi, 8 pm, […]

MUSIC—First we got a Dead Moon reunion, now Pierced Arrows is back on the books. Fred and Toody Cole’s howling garage punk is downright inspirational, with Pacific Northwest rock ‘n’ roll history ingrained in every bar. People use the phrase “living legends” far too cavalierly, but Pierced Arrows are the real deal. NED LANNAMANNw/Mean Jeans, […]

COMEDY—His Fox sitcom might get cancelled soon, but don’t let that deter you from seeing the great John Mulaney. His work with SNL was exemplary (you can also catch him on Kroll Show), and his stand-up is a hilarious combo platter of adorableness and acerbic comedy. He’s one of those few comics who can be […]

MUSIC/FILM—Soul Train was one of the most joyous television shows ever produced, bringing glorious African American music (and dances) into living rooms everywhere. Tonight the Portland Black Film Festival spotlights the show’s greatest diva guests with Soul Train Express: The Sisters, including performances from Chaka Khan, Tina Turner, Aretha Franklin, and more! WM. STEVEN HUMPHREYHollywood […]

MUSIC—You can’t go wrong with either Sonny and the Sunsets—who’ve just dropped another charming, oddball collection of pop gems in Talent Night at the Ashram—or Colleen Green, whose new album, I Want to Grow Up, upholds her tradition of nasty-but-nice, bong-friendly dream-punk. Luckily, tonight they’re both playing in the same room, so no need to […]