The Mercury turns 25 this year and we’re throwing a big birthday bash at Polaris Hall on July 31! Pulling up to the function are Pure Bathing Culture, Nonbinary Girlfriend, and Karma Rivera, and you are invited! Sadly (but also happily), the show sold out in less than 48 hours and I didn’t even get to shout it here. But fret not my lovelies, if you didn’t snag tickets, just pull up to the door and we’ll see what we can do—no promises though! If you’re not wanting to chance it, come to our afterparty! The earth angels at Dream House will be hosting a post-show after from 11 pm into the wee hours with our man Champagne Jam behind the decks. It’s gonna be a ripper, see you there!
Wednesday, July 16
Gyedu-Blay Ambolley / Roman Norfleet & Be Present Art Group
For fans of Ebo Taylor, Sahel Sounds, Ethnic Heritage Ensemble
Listening closely to Gyedu-Blay Ambolley’s incredibly infectious 1982 single “Highlife,” you’ll clock Ambolley embracing funk, disco, calypso, and reggae as offshoots, contributors, and styles of highlife—a subgenre of African music cultivated in Ghana. And he’s right, highlife is an expansive music style first taking shape in the late 19th century that has continued evolving to this very day. Wow, how refreshing that baked right into a genre of music is acceptance of change and new voices! Ambolley’s been doing it since the early ’70s, incorporating this wild vocal inflection that can only be described as a purr, but with an ‘h’ instead of a ‘p.’ The man’s 78, do not miss this show. Roman Norfleet & Be Present Art Group bring their Black joy and love to the opening slot. (Mississippi Studios, 9 pm, more info here, 21+)
Matmos / Arch Cape
For fans of Four Tet, Holly Herndon, The Space Lady
Metallic Life Review, Matmos’ fifteenth studio album released in June, feels like the third in an unofficial triptych the duo have been creating with this and their previous two albums, Regards/Ukłony dla Bogusław Schaeffer and Return to Archive. On Regards the pair built the album by sampling the Polish composer Bogusław Schaeffer; while on Return to Archive they sourced non-music material from the Smithsonian Folkways archive. Now on Metallic Life Review, the band has chosen to sample metal objects to construct the new album—deconstructing preconceived notions about what music is, what can be used as instruments, and how the listener interacts with metal music. Portland’s Arch Cape tone-sets for the evening with their simple production and ethereal vocals. (Holocene, 8 pm, more info here, 21+)
Related: Matmos will also be appearing July 17 at Synth Library Portland for an artist talk. Tickets and info here.
Friday, July 18
Jackson & the Janks / Emily Love & the Highliners / Zach Bryson
For fans of Austin Leonard Jones, Loretta Lynn, Dean Johnson
Have you been looking for a good ol’ country record to spin this summer on all of your adventures? Look no further than the new one by Jackson & the Janks, Write It Down. There’s a certain amount of whimsy that goes along with modern bands intentionally leaning into more traditional sounds that often doesn’t click—i.e. the production sounds too modern, the instrumentation is too maximalist, the vocals are too clean, etc. None of this is a problem on Write It Down—the sound is tinny yet warm, they have a bass saxophone player, and Jackson’s croons are somewhere between southern gospel and twangy honky tonk, heartbreak and world-weary hope. Emily Love & the Highliners and Zach Bryson open this hoedown. Best of all, it’s at Spare Room! (Spare Room, 8 pm, more info here, 21+)
Sunday, July 20
Moment presents Ana Roxanne, Golden Retriever, Akila Fields, Pete Swanson
For fans of Flora Yin-Wong, Lichens, Aqueduct
The decentralized music event Moment has done it again by hosting their next event at Leach Botanical Garden featuring live performances by Ana Roxanne, Golden Retriever, Akila Fields, and a DJ set by Pete Swanson of Yellow Swans. Never mind that Ana Roxanne is an incredible synth minimalist whose star has only continued to rise since the release of her serene 2019 debut EP, but Golden Retriever is playing live (a true rarity these days) and Pete Swanson is playing a DJ set? IN A LUSH SUN-DAPPLED GARDEN?? Let us not forget the cherry on top of this experimental ambient sundae Akila Fields—AKA Palm Dat—offering a lackadaisical take on soul and R&B wholly Fields' own. (Leach Botanical Garden, 4:30 pm, more info here, all ages)
Monday, July 21
Deltron 3030 / Lealani
For fans of MF DOOM, Dr. Octagon, Madlib
I’m betting a lot of us were introduced to Del the Funk Homosapien either by his feature on the meteoric 2001 “Clint Eastwood” Gorillaz single or because his “If You Must” track was included on the canonical Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 OST. Either way, we’re glad he’s here and thrilled at the reformation of his group Deltron 3030 with Kid Koala and Dan the Automator. They’re touring behind the 25 year anniversary of their seminal self-titled album—a future-oriented high concept album, that's lyric and flow focused, that changed hip-hop forever. The July 21 show at Rev. Hall sold out in like thirty seconds, and I try to reserve MMP write-ups for shows that still have tickets available, but check this: If you missed Portland tickets, head to Bend for the Deltron show at Midtown Ballroom the day before on July 20. I’ll be there (in Bend), stoned, with some of my best friends in the world, come say hi! (Revolution Hall, 8 pm, SOLD OUT, all ages)
Also very worth it…
Bijoux Cone / Keeks / Theo Charbel at Swan Dive - July 15, more info here
Jolie Holland Celebrates the Songs of Michael Hurley at Polaris Hall - July 17, more info here
Toody Cole & Her Band / Marisa Anderson / Thrones at Enchanted Forest - July 18, SOLD OUT
Curly Family Reunion at Camp Wilkerson - July 18-20, SOLD OUT
Brother vs. Robot: On Performing Live Visuals at Synth Library Portland - July 19, more info here
Scowl / Glixen / Twistur at Hawthorne Theatre - July 20, more info here
Fancy Hagood / She Returns From War at Showdown Saloon - July 20, more info here
Mei Semones / Lionmilk at Polaris Hall - July 21, more info here
Portland Music News:
This summer it feels like everyone is upping their respective games: Twirl being hosted at Green Anchors, the lineup for Project Pabst, the Mercury offices moving house, etc. One such come-up is “The Backyard” at Cascades Amphitheater. It’s a new chill-zone featuring DJs, karaoke, curated food, and sounds like the best spot to pre- and post-game Creed, Wiz Khalifa, Lil Wayne, this summer.
