Dear Mercury music heads,
Oh hey, it’s Starly again. I’m still off on tour, but I’ll never forget about you! Three cheers for Holly Hazelwood, one of our steadfast music contributors, who’s been scouring Portland for some of the most stellar sonic events this city has to offer. As always, I’m so grateful for this little music community we’ve got and I think it’s so important to support artists of all kinds. It’s pretty unique and rare to have such a genre expansive scene where you can catch anything from underground screamo to top notch jazz, symphonic masterpieces to massive touring acts from across the globe. I’m just genuinely so happy to be here with you (albeit, not literally at this moment) and I can’t wait to return and catch up. There’s a lot of AI slop soaking up our socials, so it’s vital for our hearts and minds to get out into the real world and remember what it’s all for: community!
Got some great picks for the week:
Friday, September 25
Orchestra Gold, Larry Yes
For fans of W.I.T.C.H., Tinariwen, Vieux Farka Touré
Okay, I’m missing so many great events while I’m on the road, and I must admit that this is one I’m truly bummed to miss. I implore you to take my place and venture over to Turn! Turn! Turn! this fine Friday to catch the stellar afro-psych beats of Orchestra Gold. The Oakland-based outfit has played the likes of Pickathon, Hardly Strictly Bluegrass, and Treefort, and will be making their way to our fine city to bust out their iconic blend of West African rhythms and droney psychedelia that’s steeped in ancestral and devotional tradition. Portlander Larry Yes joins with his blend of uplifting folk rock, accented with orchestral touches for extra power and depth. (Turn! Turn! Turn!, 8 NE Killingsworth, 8 pm, $17.32, more info, 21+) STARLY LOU RIGGS
Jakki and the Pink Smudge w/ OGRE & Jonny’s Day Out
For fans of Wednesday, Slow Pulp, Feeble Little Horse
Shows that are real love letters to Portland music often get relegated to much smaller venues than the Crystal Ballroom, which is why this triple-header feels extra special. Last year saw the release of Niacinamide, the 20-minute debut LP of local dream-poppers Jakki and the Pink Smudge, and Jakki Wise has decided to do the extra thing and throw a blowout at the Crystal to belatedly celebrate. Who better to fill out the bill than the weirdo crew that is Jonny’s Day Out (themselves fresh off a truly killer debut) and Portland noise-rockers OGRE (not to be confused with Ogre, the doom-metal act from the other Portland)? Both Jakki and Jonny should already be playing stages this big; this show is the scales finding a way to level out. (Crystal Ballroom, 1332 W Burnside, 8 pm, $21.25, more info, all ages) HOLLY HAZELWOOD
Monday, September 28
Tricky
For fans of Massive Attack, Portishead, Night Tapes
The former Massive Attack collaborator and current rapper is celebrating the release of his long-awaited new LP, Different When It’s Silent, at Wonder Ballroom. Looks like lots of other Portlanders have already seized the chance to get Tricky—tickets are already sold out. If you find some up for resale, jump on it. (Wonder Ballroom, 128 NE Russell, 8 pm, SOLD OUT, more info, all ages) HH
Tuesday, September 30
Alicia Witt
For fans of Ben Folds, Norah Jones, A Fine Frenzy
The sites I use to help put these selections together are often wrong, promising to sell you a ticket to see Slayyyter at Holocene (because of a dance night) or the late Glen Hansard of the Frames at Alberta Rose Theatre (because of a tribute night). That’s why we’re calling attention to musician (and Dune, Twin Peaks, and Longlegs actor) Alicia Witt, who really is taking on the micro Jack London Revue for an evening of songs from Between Heaven and Earth, her deeply personal, album-length tribute to the director who launched her career more than 40 years ago. If you’ve been looking for a good place to ugly-cry among strangers, you’ve just found it. (Jack London Revue, 529 SW 4th, $31.39-$237.39, more info, 21+) HH
