As I’m writing this, I’m still buzzing after seeing Lambrini Girls at Mississippi Studios on Sunday. Their politics are abolitionist, their energy was off the charts, and they cajoled concert goers into building a human pyramid with ten people that the rest of the audience then started a circle pit around. It was one of those shows that makes us remember why we see live music, why we make art: It’s for community. We keep us safe, we keep us healthy and happy—not the tech oligarchs, not the fucks in office
 It's us. Lucky for Portland, Lambrini Girls are coming back in October to play Revolution Hall. There’re still tickets available, though I reckon they’ll be gone pretty soon after Sunday’s hootenanny.

Speaking of tech oligarchy, we relaunched our Spotify yesterday with three heater playlists, and many more to come! Immediately our inbox was flooded with concerns about using Spotify—but here’s the thing: We’re allowed to exist (and forcibly we have to participate) in systems of oppression (namely capitalism) while also seeking their abolition. Follow our Spotify! Support artists more directly! Go to shows! Buy merch! My inbox is open and I’m so down to learn about new/better streaming platforms and alternatives to Ticketmaster and Live Nation. 

Lastly, a massive happy birthday to Jenna Fletcher! She’s written for the Mercury in the remote past, and has recently taken up the pen for us again. Her birthday party was this last weekend and—per always—her fit and wit were on point all night. Many happy returns to Jenna and keep your eyes peeled in June for our Queer Guide print issue to get hot tips (and hopefully some hot takes) from gal about town, J. Fletch. 

Friday, May 23 

elijah jamal asani / Brown Calvin

For fans of Roman Norfleet, Angel Bat Dawid, Laraaji

elijah jamal asani teaches us not to shy away from the things we don’t understand. Instead, he asks us to embrace the mystery and beauty of the world, learning more about our Selfs in the process. Raised in Vancouver, WA, asani recently relocated back to Portland after growing spiritually and musically in Chicago and Milwaukie. He’s become part of Portland’s growing spiritual jazz scene—albeit on the more ambient side of the spectrum. He recently released a new album, the expansive ,,, as long as i long to memorise your sky ,,, and this gathering is the release party. Joining asani is Brown Calvin, the beatmaker and producer behind Brown Calculus, one of Portland’s best hip-hop outfits. (Megalith, 7 pm, all ages)

Related: Read our review of ,,, as long as i long to memorise your sky ,,, here. 

Larry Yes

For fans of Michael Hurley, (solo) King Khan, Devendra Banhart 

Friend to all and lover of life, Portland’s Larry Peace Love Yes has released a supple new record full of piano, acoustic guitar, and strings, imbued with big hippie-folk energy. Everyone on this Planet is Family has a fuller sound than what we’ve heard from Yes in recent years and it feels like a deep hug from an old friend. Yes has also built a multi-media installation at Division’s Purple Door Gallery featuring videos for the songs, larger-than-life folk art, clouds, and a station for deep listening. This being the setting of the intimate show is pure old Portland, one we don’t often experience anymore—you’re not going to want to miss this one. (The Purple Door, 7 pm, all ages)

Sound Metaphors / Batom / Palm Pilot

For fans of Hard Wax, Horse Meat Disco, Basmah 

An iconic record store on Reichenberger Straße, the heads at Sound Metaphors have some of the best, most eclectic music taste in all of Berlin, and that's really saying something. I used to live around the corner from the shop for years—popping in to casually dig through their records is akin to what we experience at Mississippi Records—it’s special and shouldn’t be taken for granted. The Schmutz crew (the print music magazine I co-founded in Berlin) pulled up to Sound Metaphors’ 2018 May Day celebration for one of the most euphoric days of dancing I’ve ever experienced. If their set is anything like what I’ve seen of them in Berlin, we’re in for a real treat. (Holocene, 9 pm, 21+)

Wednesday, May 28 

One Step Closer / Bleed / World of Pleasure / Footballhead 

For fans of Chlorine, Korn, the Used

I recently sent our advertising director a link to Bleed’s new self-titled album, his response was, “What is this, 1998 again?!” Sadly we’re stuck in the now, left to deal with the waking horrors of 2025. Thankfully, there are a grip of young bands looking to the euphonious past, and putting a 21st-century spin on it. Bleed and World of Pleasure are the bands on the bill who are really gonna set this show off but One Step Closer and Footballhead are no slouches in the pit—they all share sonic similarities to bands from the ’90s and early ’00s, but pull influence from all across the heavy music map, from nu-metal to hardcore, and screamo to emo. I mean this in the best way possible: these four bands would have been right at home playing Warped Tour 2005, np. (Mission Theater, 7 pm, all ages)

Also very worth it


Hardi Kurda / V. Vecker / Our Blue Heaven / Caspar Sonnet and Joel Nelson at Wyrd Hut - May 23, all ages

Rilo Kiley at Grand Lodge - May 23, SOLD OUT

Mealworm / Fernand Rudolph / Lucky Star at Turn! Turn! Turn! - May 24, 21+

Human Impact / Simple Forms / Ogre at Mississippi Studios - May 24, 21+ 

American Football / Sea Lemon at Revolution Hall - May 24 & 25, SOLD OUT

Portal to the God Damn Blood Dimension / Mnemonic Pulse / Frantarctica / Gazebo of Destruction at High Water Mark - May 26, 21+

KMHD presents Round Midnight at Clinton Street Theater - May 27, all ages 

Portland Music News:

Two new albums from Portland favorites Grails and Alien Boy both dropped in the last couple weeks and we celebrate that! What we don’t celebrate is those bands hosting their release parties on the same night at different venues. To help curb the FOMO, we sent photographers Nic Kielbasa and Jason DeSomer to snap some pics. Check those out here and have a gander at our album review for Alien Boy’s You Wanna Fade?

AminĂ©, though no longer based in Portland, shows big hometown love on his new record that was released last week. Check out 13 Months of Sunshine wherever you stream music (🙄) and relax in the embrace of Portland’s best rapper.