If the imminent closure of one of Portland's best small rooms—Lollipop Shoppe—and the rumored shuttering of Turn! Turn! Turn! isn't enough to spur us on to check out one or two more concerts a week, I don't know what will!
Seriously though, everything is so fragile right now: Arts and culture funding continues draining, healthcare is a shambles, social services are being razed, along with everything else that's bonkers. The one thing that's not fragile? Community. The communities we build around ourselves are what will help us survive. Start a union at work, in your building, at school. Talk to people at shows and protests. Start a soup night, it's November! There're a lot of ways to get through Portland's (and America's) Big Dark, you just gotta chose your own adventure....
Tuesday, November 18
The Temptations / The Four Tops
For fans of The Supremes, The Drifters, The Four Seasons
If you like pop music—which is most music besides, like, classical, black metal, and noise music—then the music you like has been profoundly influenced by both The Temptations and The Four Tops. Both originally formed in Detroit in the ’50s, both vocal groups establishing themselves as blueprints poured over by artists hailed as belonging to the “Detroit sound,” artists including Detroit house and techno DJs, MC5, Kiss, The White Stripes, Insane Clown Posse (not even joking), and more. Collectively, the two vocal groups have put out some of the biggest hits of all time: the snap-a-long love letter “My Girl” and the irresistible groovy of “I Can’t Get Next To You” of The Temptations, while The Four Tops deliver the dizzying bop “I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch)” and the incomparable “Ain’t No Woman (Like The One I’ve Got)." And boy, if four tops isn’t every bottom’s dream, I don’t know what is. (Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, 8 pm, more info here, all ages)
Sun Ra: Do The Impossible
For fans of Space Is The Place, A Joyful Noise, Points on a Space Age
Titling a Sun Ra documentary Do The Impossible is impossibly nuanced. Sun Ra’s discography is—as was the man himself—impossible to define. Broad strokes like Afrofuturism and spiritual jazz are the easiest routes taken when describing the prophet to the uninitiated, but his music and pathways are so expansive that a mere few words aren’t nearly enough. Do The Impossible will serve well to give deeper understanding to the now mythological musician. Timed perfectly, the documentary screens ahead of the Sun Ra Arkestra’s scheduled shows at the Hollywood in February. (Hollywood Theatre, 7 pm, more info here, all ages)
Wednesday, November 19
Folk Bitch Trio / Alex Amen
For fans of Mountain Man, The Roches, Michael Hurley
With their debut album Now Would Be A Good Time, Australia’s Folk Bitch Trio carry on the tradition of outsider folk spackled with wit and humor. Folk—often a somber music heavy with death, sorrow, and hardship—gets fresh life breathed into it on tracks like album-opener “God’s A Different Sword,” during which the relatable “Can’t deny it, my body keeps the score / But if you tell that you need it, I can get up off my floor” is softly placed in the hearts of anyone who’s ever left a lover, only to return at their request (horny or otherwise). Texas-born, West Coast vagrant Alex Amen strums the night to life ahead of the Bitches. (Show Bar, 8 pm, more info here, 21+)
Thursday, November 20
Loathe / Trauma Ray / Spy
For fans of Turnstile, Gouge Away, World Peace
There has been a massive crossover movement the last few years of hardcore and shoegaze bands blurring the lines between their respective genres, and both Loathe and Trauma Ray are some of the best doing it right now. The Liverpudlians in Loathe also incorporate a touch of screamo and nu metal in their songwriting to devastating effect, mosh pits have never looked so beautiful. Trauma Ray have been on the come up since their 2018 self-titled debut EP, releasing their full length debut last year. The absolute Texas road dogs in Spy stomp across stage, into the opening spot to destroy lames. (Roseland Theater, 8 pm, more info here, all ages)
Friday, November 21
The Parson Red Heads / Sharya Summers / Sam Fowles
For fans of Y La Bamba, Female Species, Big Star
There’s been heaps of talk about “Old Portland” lately—glory days in which musicians, artists, and outsiders were able to create what they wanted to create. Though we’ll never see 2011 rent prices again, there has been a deluge of Portland bands coming out of hibernation no one knew were still quietly making music. The Parson Red Heads, quiet since the 2020 release of their Lifetime of Comedy album, are prepping a new set of EPs, for which this show might be considered a taste test. Twee and jangle pop, the psych-lite of ’70s Laurel Canyon, and the earnestness of songwriters like Karl Blau and Brian Protheroe abound in the Parsons' music, acting as nice big stretch after the band's extended nap. If you’ve been hungry for those golden days, don’t sleep on this rare Parsons appearance. Sharya Summers’ mom-rock rocks in the middle between the headliner, and the opener, Parsons founding member Sam Fowles. (White Eagle, 8 pm, more info here, 21+)
Sunday, November 23
Olivia Block + Pete Swanson + Seth Nehil: Configurations & Reworkings
For fans of Puce Mary, Jason Urick, Grouper
Speaking of “Old Portland,” Pete Swanson—DJ and one half of Yellow Swans—moved back to town earlier this year. “It’ll be my first show in Portland playing music since the last time I played Holocene in 2013,” Swanson tells the Mercury. “What started as a proposal for Seth and I to back up Olivia Block on some compositions has turned into more of a round-robin style concert that will involve all of us together and solo.” The few times I’ve seen Gaberial Soloman (the other half of Yellow Swans) live were pivotal, though I never got to see Yellow Swans live. This will scratch that harsh-ambient-noise itch nicely until the boys get back together and play a couple Portland shows. (Holocene, 8 pm, more info here, 21+)
L'Inferno live scored by Lori Goldston and Corey J. Brewer
For fans of Marisa Anderson, Nico Muhly, Harlan Silverman
Cellist Lori Goldston—lauded for her work with PNW bands Earth, Mirah, and Nirvana, along with her session collaborations with David Byrne, Parenthetical Girls, and Ô Paon—just made a handful of gripping appearances at Improvisational Summit of Portland in October. This performance will see Goldston’s atmospheric river of drones merge, swirling with the cinematic subtleties of fellow Seattlite Corey J. Brewer. The duo will live-score the 1911 Italian silent film L’Inferno, in which the audience is taken on a harrowing journey through the nine circles of Hell. Heavy hangs the heads of those who miss this sonic delight. (Tomorrow Theater, 7 pm, more info here, all ages)
Also very worth it…
Thunderpussy / Hippie Death Cult at Polaris Hall - Nov 18, more info here
Agriculture / Rhododendron / Victory Over The Sun at Mississippi Studios - Nov 19, more info here
Eno at Cinema 21 - Nov 19, more info here
wornoutjoy / -ether / Girls of Las Vegas / Dwelling Unit at Swan Dive - Nov 20, more info here
Fronjentress / Cynthia Nelson Band at LaVerne’s - Nov 20, more info here
Ganavya at Mississippi Studios - Nov 20, more info here
Dean Johnson / Theo Lawrence at Revolution Hall - Nov 20, more info here
The Mars Volta / Kiani Medina / Feliz Y Dada at Revolution Hall - Nov 21, more info here
Dream Bill Fest at Swan Dive - Nov 21 & 22, more info here
Portland Music News:
Devastating news for Portland's music scenes, Lollipop Shoppe is closing its doors later this month. Read about the development here, as well as how you can support and help make the sendoff shows something special.
The History of Portland Concert Posters opened at Mint Gallery Records over the weekend, and features over 40 concert posters from the Portland area ranging from the 1960s to 2024. Many of the exhibited posters (all originals) are for sale.
We sent Mercury writer Carl Sundberg to check out the Northern Ireland band Chalk at Holocene earlier this month. You think the duo lives up to all the hype they've been receiving lately? We sure do. Check out the show review here.
