Jenny Don’t & the Spurs, Sean Mager
Jenny Don’t and the Spurs play vintage country and western straight out of the lonesomest corners of mid-20th century America, Don’t and her cohorts sound nothing like a museum piece; rather, there’s grit, sadness, and an edge of danger to these rumbling-boxcar country songs. NED LANNAMANN
May 12, 9:30 pm, LaurelThirst Public House, $7
Turtlenecked
Though he emerged as Turtlenecked just last fall, Portland’s Harrison Smith has already amassed a substantial catalog. From his early bedroom recordings to the singles from his forthcoming album Vulture, Smith’s music exists at a crossroads between 1990s alternative emo and brutish art-punk. For his first show of the year, he’ll share a bill with the “anti-instrumentalists” of Truck and Good Cheer Records labelmates Surfer Rosie, who don’t yet have any recordings online. Those intrigued by the mystery will just have to check out the show for themselves. CERVANTE POPE
May 14, 8 pm, The Know, $6
Divers, Paper Thin Youth, Longclaw, Puppy Breath
The skate shop and all ages venue hosts a benefit show for Undocumented Families, with Portland punk rock stalwarts Divers playing their first local show of the year.
May 12, 7 pm, Smart Collective, $5, all ages
Gritty Birds Two Year Anniversary
In celebration of the podcast making it to 2 years, The Gritty Birds holds court live on the Kelly’s stage, with performances from Skull Diver, Coco Columbia, host/comedian Kellie Irwin, and a special headlining performance from one of the show’s former guests.
May 12, 9 pm, Kelly’s Olympian, $5
Mere Mention, Drunken Palms, Hot Tub Fantasies
The Lombard Pub plays host to three of Portland’s best indie bands, all sharing the stage to raise money for PDX Pop Now!
May 12, 9 pm, The Lombard Pub, $5
St. Johns Bizarre
Spring was obnoxiously late this year. Gray skies silently mocked us, and blooming flowers stood idly like awkward party guests who showed up way too early. But now it’s time to enjoy the thaw, and luckily, this Saturday there’s the perfect place to celebrate—the 11th annual St. Johns Bizarre, which returns to the North Portland neighborhood’s main drag for an all-day party that’s free and open to all ages. There’ll be a parade, bountiful food and beer, crafts, a street fair with over 100 vendors, and a killer music lineup: Portland indie-rock stalwarts the Thermals, the Chicana folk of Y La Bamba, St. Johns rapper Illmac, Seattle pop-punk trio Dude York, and more. CIARA DOLAN
May 13, 10 am, St. Johns Plaza, free, all ages
Parade Day Blowout
This lineup looks completely illogical on paper: You’ve got classic country outfit Jenny Don’t and the Spurs, dance-punk super-group Bitch’n, and venerated local emcee Mic Capes, who dropped 2016’s game-changing album Concrete Dreams. Add that all up and toss in greasy, Southern-inspired comfort food, and you’ve got more than enough reasons to spend the day in St. John’s for The Fixin’ To’s annual Parade Day Blowout. The seven-year-old bar only converted to a live music venue last year, but it’s already established a reputation as North Portland’s best hub for local music, and today’s motley bill is a prime example of why. Coinciding with the St. John’s Bizarre, you can either come and go from the festivities or post up at The Fixin’ To and get your all-day-drink on. SANTI ELIJAH HOLLEY
May 13, 7 pm, The Fixin’ To, free
Summer Cannibals, The Velvet Teen, Iska Dhaaf
Most of the last vestiges of the Velvet Teen’s early modesty were blown out of the water by 2015’s manic All Is Illusory. For the past several years, the Santa Rosa, California, group has followed the propulsive drive of drummer Casey Deitz’s wildly inventive backbeat into new avenues of sound. Lead by the liquid vocals of Judah Nagler, the Velvet Teen’s textured compositions can spark both tender introspection and abrasiveness, depending on how raucous they want to push their technical capacities. On “Eclipses,” the band stretches their legs on high-energy melodicism, rooted in prog-y art noise, and bringing in sonically trippy elements like phaser sounds and tastefully layered synth. Experimental edges are revealed on standouts “Manifest” and “Pecos.” There appear to be few musical barriers that the Velvet Teen can’t obliterate, and yet they’re still one of the best live bands you’re liable to catch in the world. RYAN J. PRADO
May 14, 8 pm, Rontoms, free
Melt, Tender Age, Autopilot is for Lovers
A free, all ages matinee featuring an eclectic array of some of Portland’s finest up-and-coming acts, with students from Young Audiences of Oregon & SW Washington running the stage and sound boards.
May 14, 1 pm, Mississippi Studios, free, all ages
Cory Doctorow, Andy Baio
Predicting the future is a mug’s game, but there are a few writers, journalists, and tech nerds who’re better at it than most. At the top of that list is Cory Doctorow—internet pioneer, activist, sci-fi author, and probably the smartest person in any room he happens to be in. Tonight, he visits Portland to talk about his new novel, Walkaway—an “optimistic disaster novel” that delves into the looming threats of climate change and class warfare. Doctorow will be in conversation with Portlander and XOXO Festival co-founder Andy Baio—expect a fascinating, and possibly prophetic, evening. ERIK HENRIKSEN
May 14, 7:30 pm, Powell’s City of Books, free
Don’t forget to check out our Things To Do calendar for even more things to do!