Whose idea was it to book Autechre, Nourished By Time, Lucinda Williams, and Fleshwater all on the same night? And then, the very next night, Turnstile, Amyl & The Sniffers, Speed, and Jane Remover?? At least those last four are on the same bill....

Having a friend visiting you from a city you used to live in and are intimately familiar with is a powerful aphrodisiac. It simultaneously creates longing for the scenes and the cities you used to live within, while also manifesting the realization of how deeply open and sexy and connective and cool and supportive your current city's music scene is—at least if you call Portland home.  

This week we've got the blush-inducing sexy of Nourished by Time, Japanese noise à la Patrick Shiroishi, und Der Welt von Hans Zimmer blowing through town, while local loud asses Nonbinary Girlfriend and Hound hold it down playing A FREE SHOW. Not to mention the Portland-based Duster side project Two Boys Alright—yes, thee Duster—are headlining a fundraiser show for Gaza Soup Kitchen. This is all on top of the sold out Turnstile/Amyl, Autechre, Fleshwater, TV on the Radio, and Ty Segall shows. And a mother fuckin' experimental improvisational music summit?? IDGAF, Portland's music scene is rock hard right now. 

Tuesday, October 7

Nourished by Time / Zsela

For fans of D’Angelo, serpentwithfeet, Solange

Seeing Nourished by Time open for Vagabon at Mississippi Studios in 2023 was revelatory. Vagabon rightly informed the sparse crowd they were lucky to be seeing Nourished by Time in such an intimate setting, and that he was about to blow up. She wasn’t wrong. For his second LP, The Passionate Ones—for which he is currently touring behind—Nourished by Time signed to lauded British label XL Recordings. His music is subtly very sexual, mixing bedroom production sensibilities with club beats and an R&B lip bite. It’s music for 2025, let it engulf you. (Mississippi Studios, 8 pm, more info here, 21+)


Thursday, October 9

Patrick Shiroishi / M. Sage

For fans of Ann Annie, Derek Hunter Wilson, Amulets

Most known for the lush minimalism of his many records, Patrick Shiroishi has taken a turn toward the abrasive on his most recent record, Forgetting Is Violent. The album is by turns wall-of-sound noisescapes and whisper-quiet drones and chanting. A framework within a framework with the capacity to help us remember. The album features several noise composers of note: Vashon Island’s Aaron Turner, founder of Hydra Head and SIGE Records, and member of Sumac, Isis, and Old Man Gloom; Turner’s wife Faith Coloccia of Mamiffer and House of Low Culture, and co-founder of SIGE; and Chinese experimentalist Otay:onii. M. Sage opens, touring behind his recently released Tender / Wading album, out on RVNG Intl. (Show Bar, 9 pm, more info here, 21+)

The World of Hans Zimmer 

For fans of deeply moody orchestral soundtracks 

Prolific to say the very least, West German composer Hans Zimmer has scored dozens of films since getting his start in the early ’80s: Driving Miss Daisy, Thelma & Louise, A League of Their Own, Cool Runnings, The Lion King (both 1994 and 2019), Gladiator, The Ring, 12 Years a Slave, Blade Runner 2049, and so many more. What he’s likely most famous for in 2025 is his soundtracking of Denis Villeneuve’s Dune parts one and two—part three coming in 2026. And while The World of Hans Zimmer won’t have the composer himself conducting, the program is curated by Zimmer, featuring works from across his catalog. Buckle up, you might just find yourself weeping openly during “...To Die For,” before being blown back in your seat with “Armada.” (Moda Center, 7:30 pm, more info here, all ages)

Friday, October 10

Nonbinary Girlfriend / Hound / Suzie True

For fans of (early) Fiona Apple, Gulch, Peach Kelli Pop

We were already obsessed with Nonbinary Girlfriend before their leader James jumped into the crowd at the Mercury’s 25th anniversary party in July, now we ride for NBGF even harder. The band is currently writing and recording a new record that, if the lead singles the band has been playing recently are anything to go by, will rip extremely hard. Portland beatdown hardcore boys Hound are pulling up, as are LA’s indie brat-punks Suzie True. And just in case you didn’t clock it, this show is FREE AT FIRKIN, it’ll be a pit to behold. (Firkin Tavern, 8 pm, more info here, 21+)

Two Boys Alright / Change Life / Dirt Twins / Phone Voice

For fans of Canaan Amber, Valium Aggelein, Helvetia 

Did you know that members of lauded slowcore band Duster live in Portland? Neither did I! They’ve got a Duster side project on the go called Two Boys Alright, who are headlining a fundraiser for Gaza Soup Kitchen at everyone’s favorite bookstore, Mother Foucault's. As you might expect of a well established band’s side piece, TBA share sonic and thematic similarities with the band that birthed them. Portland indie heroes Change Life—FKA The Woolen Men—lead the opening band change along with the Dirt Twin garage rockers, and the shy indie of Phone Voice. (Mother Foucault’s, 7 pm, more info here, all ages)

October 13 – October 29

Improvisation Summit of Portland 

For fans of irreplicable music performances

Champions of Portland’s vast experimental music scenes, the nonprofit Creative Music Guild has curated a bonkers lineup for those into jazz, noise, and avant-garde electronic music. Acts performing this decentralized summit include Lori Goldston, Cosmos Dark, Mike Gamble, Trigger Object, elijah jamal asani, Quivering Lip, Ilyas Ahmed, and dozens more. I will be the first to admit that I’m not the most versed in this lineup, so if you’re keen, check out the Improvisation Summit’s website and hit some of the shows. (Multiple venues, more info here) 

Related: Read our interview with elijah jamal asani.

Also very worth it…

Autechre / Mark Broom / Cygnus at The Den - Oct 7, more info here 

Lucinda Williams at Roseland Ballroom - Oct 7, more info here

Fleshwater / Angel Du$t / Ingrown at Aladdin Theater - Oct 7, more info here

Turnstile / Amyl & The Sniffers / Speed / Jane Remover at Edgefield - Oct 8, more info here

Naked Roommate / Dirt Twins / Piggy Bank at The Six - Oct 9, more info here

End It / No Right / Clique / End of Dayz / Medevac at High Limit Room - Oct 9, more info here

Acid Mothers Temple / The Macks at Mississippi Studios - Oct 9, more info here

TV on the Radio at Revolution Hall - Oct 9, more info here

Altar Girl / Pussy Velour / Latter Day Skanks / Rum River Cult at Wyrd Hut - Oct 10, more info here

Smerz / Pink Must at Holocene - Oct 12, more info here

Ty Segall at Wonder Ballroom - Oct 13, more info here

Portland Music News: 

And just like that… Homie Fest has announced their winter edition lineup! And of course it's stacked: Sea Moss, Club Deluxe, Talking Contest, Psycho Tropika, Rred Candyy, Cosmos Dark, and Josefina will be taking over the upstairs at favorite Central Eastside haunt Swan Dive. Tickets and more info here. 

I’ve got a friend in town visiting from Berlin at the moment and she asked how reflective Portlandia is of real Portland. Naturally I said that Portlandia was terrible for Portland and that we’re just getting over it now. Our population has decreased the last several years, and it really seems to be that the Portlandia hangers-on who don’t contribute anything positive to the city, not even their tech dollars, are FINALLY leaving. I say this as Sleater-Kinney and Fred Armisen just announced a pretty cool show: The Moans are playing Bunk Bar October 30th and 31st, with support from The Fabulous Bloodstains. The Moans are a Ramones cover band consisting of the aforementioned comedy and music heavyweights. Both nights are sold out, so don’t stress about it—just thought you should know.