FRIDAY, APRIL 29
Kyle Craft, Máscaras, Animal Eyes
Tonight’s show celebrates the release of Portland newcomer Kyle Craft’s solo debut, Dolls of Highland, which sounds like Freddie Mercury took LSD and got lost at the Pendleton Round-Up. Craft’s similarly elastic croon soars over tipsy, old-timey saloon piano with the reckless abandon of a lonesome desperado howling at the moon. CIARA DOLAN
w/Máscaras, Animal Eyes; Doug Fir, 830 E Burnside, 9 pm, $10-12
Todd Snider
Alt-country singer/songwriter/storyteller and Beaverton native Todd Snider returns to the Aladdin. Tonight, the second of a three-night stand, he’ll be playing songs from four mid-career albums including his 2004 album, East Nashville Skyline, with the great “Conservative Christian, Right-Wing Republican, Straight White American Males.” DOUG BROWN
w/Rorey Carroll; Aladdin Theater, 3017 SE Milwaukie, Thurs-Sat, 8 pm, $30, all ages
SATURDAY, APRIL 30
Risk! Live
One of the greatest podcasts of our time is Risk!, in which hilarious host Kevin Allison (formerly of The State) inspires his guest storytellers to share true, mortifying, and funny tales they were too scared to tell anywhere else. Tonight’s special theme is “Despair”—a juicy topic in which most Portlanders are very well versed. WM. STEVEN HUMPHREY
Revolution Hall, 1300 SE Stark, 9 pm, $20, all ages (parental guidance suggested)
Comedian Jen Kirkman turned 40, and she still didn’t have life figured out, so she wrote a book about it. If that sounds too Sunday funnies-ish, don’t fret. Kirkman’s a pro, and biting with the jokes. Her book release at the Hollywood will have the Drunk History standout reading from I Know What I’m Doing—And Other Lies I Tell Myself, but also just being really goddamn hilarious. DIRK VANDERHART
Hollywood Theatre, 4122 NE Sandy, 7 pm, $20
SUNDAY, MAY 1
Beach Slang, Potty Mouth, Dyke Drama, Puppy Breath
If you were to elect a poster boy for heart-on-sleeve rock music, Beach Slang frontman James Alex would be the perfect candidate. Armed with a hefty Epiphone Dot guitar and raspy voice, he expertly blends wide-eyed romantic pop with defiance-fueled punk to tell the cathartic story of a life saved by rock ‘n’ roll. CHIPP TERWILLIGER
w/Potty Mouth, Dyke Drama, Puppy Breath; Analog Café, 720 SE Hawthorne, 7 pm, $12-14, all-ages
GothTV, Post Moves, No Aloha
Celebrate May Day with the latest installment of our Ear Candy music series at Mississippi Studios! Tonight features the dreamy, electrified pop-rock of GothTV, plus the sharply wriggling songs of Post Moves and the catchy vintage pop of No Aloha. Three great local bands for free! NED LANNAMANN
Mississippi Studios, 3939 N Mississippi, 9 pm, FREE