Dear readers, 

I’ve been keeping the picks short and sweet these weeks because admittedly, I bit off a bit more than I can chew! I just get so excited about new music that I want to write about it all! But alas, I am mortal and have a finite amount of time: I will soon be out and about traversing the Midwest on tour with my own band here, but I won’t leave you empty handed (the music picks abound!) So yes, picks will be in shorter supply until I return to full capacity at the start of October, but rest assured, friends, the shows are plentiful. Our team wants to make sure you get your eyes and ears on all that this Portland September has to offer. Here are some top picks for the week (with a little help from Mercury contributor Holly Hazelwood):

Thursday, September 10

Mount Eerie

For fans of Julie Doiron, The Microphones, Little Wings

No matter what name or form Anacortes, WA denizen Phil Elverum takes, be it Mount Eerie or the Microphones, it’s almost always a good excuse to see what he’s been cooking up. It’s been almost two years since Elverum put out Night Palace, which means his return to the Revolution Hall stage could sound like anything, a fact that will fill any devotee of Phil with a complicated feeling adjacent to delight. Worth noting: the night after this, he’ll be playing The Glow Pt. 2 in Seattle to honor its 25th anniversary. We won’t bet money on him doing anything similar at Rev Hall, but if you were hoping to hear “I’ll Not Contain You” or “I Felt Your Shape,” it’s probably more likely here than anywhere else. (Revolution Hall, 1300 SE Stark, 8 pm, $40.31, more info, all ages) HOLLY HAZELWOOD

Friday, September 11

Liz Phair, Sleater-Kinney, Snail Mail (solo)

For fans of Bikini Kill, PJ Harvey, Soccer Mommy

What’s better than one all-star legend gracing the Edgefield stage? How about a stacked bill with Snail Mail up first to light the match and rocking-since-the-’90s icons Sleater-Kinney and Liz Phair to light your heart completely on fire? If only I was in town for this one, I’d be sobbing in the crowd, calling back to my childhood self to say, “We finally made it, kiddo.” How often do you get to see a gig where you know all the words to all the songs for all the bands? This Flannel and the Fury tour is all about embracing rage and by proxy, the kindness that comes from showing up with honesty. Seriously, this is a once in a lifetime kind of lineup, so if you can make it out to Troutdale, you’ll be glad you did.

(McMenamins Edgefield, 2126 SW Halsey, Troutdale, OR, 6:30 pm, $47-$267.50, more info, all ages)

Friday-Saturday, September 11-12

AMP Fest

The Artist Mentorship Program (AMP) is a local nonprofit that uses the healing power of artistic expression (among many other things) to empower Portland youth experiencing houselessness. Their two-night fundraiser at Star Theater is a doozy, too: Pete Krebs! Jenny Don’t & the Spurs! The Mistons! Altar Girl! The big one, though, is Is This Real?, a Wipers tribute act helmed by legendary Soundgarden/Pearl Jam drummer Matt Cameron. Holy shit, right? A well-spent hundo buys you a ticket to both nights, a t-shirt, and a poster. You also get the peace of mind that comes from knowing the Benjamin you dropped (or less, depending on what you dropped on which night) is going to a truly dynamite cause. (Star Theater, 13 NW 6th, 8 pm, $25-$100, more info, all ages) HH

Tuesday, September 15

Patti Smith, An Evening of Songs & Stories

For fans of PJ Harvey, Lou Reed, Prewn

In other famed news, September is seeing the return of Patti Smith to Portland in the form of songs and stories. I read Just Kids in a pivotal point in my life and I can only imagine her latest memoir, Bread of Angels, will be a sweet new insight into the life and mind of avant-garde punk’s most treasured luminary. Whether you’ve seen her play before or this is a first, this is sure to be a gem of an event, featuring a live performance and talk about her most intimate memoir yet. 

(Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, 1037 SW Broadway, 7:30 pm, $30-$75, more info, all ages)

Wednesday, September 16

Lido Pimienta

For fans of Bomba Estéreo, Reyna Tropical, Buscabulla

I love Lido Pimienta immensely, and I’m not shy about saying it. The Colombian-Canadian singer/producer/composer simply doesn’t get enough love and adoration, which is a real shame, because this year’s Caribenya was a breath of fresh air. While 2025’s La Belleza was more baroque than pop, Caribenya re-embraces the Björkian beats and playful rhythms that made her 2020 masterwork Miss Colombia as addictive as it has remained. One day, the world at large is finally going to catch up and realize how singularly talented Pimienta is—if you want to join me in smugly telling people you knew it all along, buy the damn ticket to this show. (Wonder Ballroom, 128 NE Russell, 8 pm, $34, more info, all ages) HH

But wait, there’s more! Be sure to check these out:

Thursday, September 10

Collate, Added Dimensions, Byproxy

(Star Bar, 639 SE Morrison, 8 pm, $10, more info, 21+)

Black Uhuru with Trinity Sound

(Star Theater, 13 NW 6th, 8 pm, $10, more info, 21+)

Saturday, September 12

Kevin Atwater: Blush Red Tour

(Polaris Hall, 635 N Killingsworth, 8 pm, $26.21-$102.67, more info, all ages)

Tuesday, September 15

Mustard Service, Pity Party (Girls Club), Manworlves, Chicago Most

(High Limit Room, 720 SE Hawthorne, 7 pm, $29.02, more info, all ages)

Jazz Is Dead Welcomes Cortex

(Revolution Hall, 1300 SE Stark, 8 pm, $65.46, more info, all ages)

Wednesday, September 16

Sub Urban

(Polaris Hall, 635 N Killingsworth, 8 pm, FREE, more info, 21+)

KMHD Presents: Blue Train

(Aladdin Theater, 3017 SE Milwaukie, 7 pm, $28.22, more info, all ages)