Dearest music freaks and fans, 

This is Starly of the past coming to you live in the future. While I’m off gallavanting around the Midwest on my Dream Big Tour (I’m dreaming big), I cooked up some must-see recs that future (present) you have to know about! Keep Portland weird while I’m gone, and I’ll be sure to fill you in on all the hot tour goss when I return. Until then, please leave a message at the beep. I’ll be back before you know it!

Music recs coming right up. Get ’em while they’re hot!

Friday, September 18

Ali

For fans of Parliament-Funkadelic, Nusantara Beat, Charif Megarbane

A funky fusion of Middle Eastern sensibilities mixed with ’70s Indonesian psychedelic soul, Ali brings disco back in a wild new way. With origins in Jakarta, Indonesia, the trio has a knack for creating unique sonic soundscapes that are flush with texture and unabashed skill. This exceptional show is put on by local tastemakers Soul’d Out Productions and is an absolute must see if you like groovy beats, trance-inducing guitar, and all around good energy. This is music to get up and move your feet to! (Jack London Revue, 529 SW 4th, 8 pm, $28.30, more info, 21+) 

Happy Death Men, Peachole, Afraid of Women, Progidy

For fans of Chat Pile, Ogre, Snõõper

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w2to7n5Odnw&list=RDw2to7n5Odnw&start_radio=1I’ve heard talk of the magnetic noise that goes by the name of Happy Death Men, but it wasn’t until the fundraiser show for the No Quiet Hours documentary that I got to see them strut their stuff on the floor of Crystal Ballroom. Twisted, grimey, and raw, Happy Death Men live up to their oxymoronic name by being both intense and pleasantly sardonic. Pair that with Peachole’s fun, performative art punk, Afraid of Women’s thrashy lofi, and Progidy’s enigmatic electronics, and you’re sure to have a delightfully weird time at the Musicians Union Local 99.

I’ve heard talk of the magnetic noise that goes by the name of Happy Death Men, but it wasn’t until the fundraiser show for the No Quiet Hours documentary that I got to see them strut their stuff on the floor of Crystal Ballroom. Twisted, grimy, and raw, Happy Death Men live up to their oxymoronic name by being both intense and pleasantly sardonic. Pair that with Peachole’s fun, performative art punk, Afraid of Women’s thrashy lofi, and Progidy’s enigmatic electronics, and you’re sure to have a delightfully weird time. (Musicians Union 99, 325 NE 20th, 7 pm, $10, more info, all ages) 

Sunday, September 20

The Front Bottoms

For fans of Modern Baseball, Mom Jeans, McCafferty


Finish putting the fresh bedding on your Twin Size Mattress, drink one more Summer Shandy, and head on down to Revolution Hall to see Jersey neo-emo darling the Front Bottoms. They’ll be blasting through their beloved record, Back on Top, its B-sides (including that sweet, sweet “Joanie”), and a beefy, career-spanning encore to make every younger sadsack in Portland as happy as can be while listening to Brian Sella whine on stage (complimentary). They’ll also be playing the Roseland the night before this show, but… c’mon, you know you’d rather see this at the Rev! 

(Revolution Hall, 1300 SE Stark, 8 pm, $56.99, more info, all ages) HOLLY HAZELWOOD

Tuesday, September 22

Everything Everything w/ Psymon Spine

For fans of Foals, Metronomy, Django Django

Everyone has a friend who’s into the weird, undersung UK bands that never quite cracked the American code, and will breathlessly beg you to embrace The Joy Formidable or Super Furry Animals. Every once in a while, though, that friend is completely right. Make that friend happy and join them at the Aladdin, where the deliriously fun English art-rockers Everything Everything will be playing their incredible third record, Get to Heaven, front to back. If you can make it to “Spring / Sun / Winter / Dread” without joining the cult with the rest of us, you can eat my Yuppie Supper. (Aladdin Theater, 3017 SE Milwaukie, 8 pm, $52.35-$123.18, more info, all ages) HH