The 2018 calendar is still sorta waking up a li’l bit after what 2017 did to us all, so it’s not necessarily the fullest looking thing just yet. But quality, not quantity, as they say, and it’s hard to argue against the week’s lineup of amazingness, including Girl Fest 2018, Daddy Fat Saxx himself Big Boi, the return of Fin De Cinema, and Destroyer. There’s more excellence awaiting in the links below; load your plate accordingly.
Jump to: Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday
Monday, Jan 8
Big Boi, The Cool Kids
Legendary funkadelic hip-hop duo Outkast have been on hiatus for over a decade now, but that hasn’t stopped Big Boi’s solo career from making waves. In 2017 the Atlanta rapper released the feature-filled Boomiverse, and even garnered a Grammy nomination for “Chase Me,” a single with Run the Jewels for the Baby Driver soundtrack. In truth, we should all be grateful Portland is even included on this 14-city “Daddy Fat Saxxx” tour. And buckle up Outkast fans, as there’s bound to be some monumental deep cuts on this setlist. JENNI MOORE 9 pm, Wonder Ballroom, $30, all ages
Blade Runner: The Final Cut and Blade Runner 2049
Is it possible that making a day out of soaking in the wet, smoky, dystopian future of Blade Runner might cause a mild existential funk? Sure. Is it possible this neo-noir double-feature will temporarily ruin you for other, more plainly photographed films? Could be. Is it possible watching Denis Villeneuve’s sequel right after catching Ridley Scott’s preferred cut of the original will make it crystal clear that 2049 is actually a more compelling, more thematically-resonant, better made film? Absolutely. BOBBY ROBERTS
Academy Theater, see Movie Times for showtimes
Bowie Birthday Ride
The annual celebration of David Bowie (and bicycles!) returns, starting at the Bowie bike lane by the Schnitz, and proceeding through the city with short stops to sing along to his music and of course, dance a little too.
8 pm, Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall
XRAY DJs at Doug Fir
Every Monday night in January a different XRAY DJ sets up shop upstairs at the Doug Fir from 6pm-10pm while the bar serves up drink specials benefiting PDX Pop Now! and XRAY.fm.
6 pm, Doug Fir, free
The Moth StorySLAM
A spinoff of the nationwide storytelling success, in which potential soul-barers put their names in a hat, and once called, have five minutes to tell their tale.
8 pm, The Secret Society, $10
It’s Gonna Be Okay!
Barbara Holm’s It’s Gonna Be Okay is the only local showcase I’ve seen tout its lack of meanness as a selling point, which is next-level in a city KNOWN for its safe-space shows. It’s the cheerful slumber party of Portland stand-up, which is exactly what’s needed to reclaim comedy for those of us who aren’t obnoxious ancient white dudes. MEGAN BURBANK
7:30 pm, EastBurn, free
Tuesday, Jan 9
Pete Souza
Things weren’t always this awful. There’s no better reminder of this than the photographs of Pete Souza, who, as the White House’s chief official photographer, took nearly two million candid photos of former president Barack Obama. As anyone who’s gotten sucked into Souza’s Instagram can attest, his images are remarkable: He has a keen eye for beautiful composition, but more importantly, a fantastic talent for finding the small, heartening, affecting moments that now make Obama’s presidency look so fucking good in comparison. Souza’s in Portland to discuss Obama: An Intimate Portrait, his book collecting many of those photographs. Go, and remember that things weren’t always this awful. And they won’t always be. ERIK HENRIKSEN
7:30 pm, Revolution Hall, $75
Phantom Family, Dark Black, Lowglow
Phantom Family plays the kind of abrasive punk and hardcore that can change moods. The Portland band’s 2016 self-titled debut cassette begins with the explosive opening track “Barricade,” a roiling cauldron of heavy rock that’s big on forward propulsion and grating delivery. It’s angry-sounding stuff, and that tumultuous vibe continues throughout the tape’s four songs, cut only briefly by flourishes of subtle keys. The five-piece released a single earlier this year called “Widower,” which conjures apt comparisons to the likes of Unsane, the Murder City Devils, and yesteryear screechers like Vaux. Opening the night: Las Vegas crew Dark Black, who just released an EP and are currently zigzagging the West Coast. RYAN J. PRADO
8 pm, The Know
The Order of Elijah, We Were Giants, When the Broken Burn, Banners
The Revelation tour stops at the Twilight to gift the city with a one-two punch of very, very loud rock and roll.
6 pm, Twilight Cafe & Bar, $10
Lady Bird
Watching Lady Bird is kind of like reopening your high school yearbook for the first time in years, wincing and smiling in equal measure. Greta Gerwig’s directorial debut is sweet, tragic, and sentimental, which is exactly how a coming-of-age movie should be. CIARA DOLAN
Various Theaters, see Movie Times for showtimes and locations.
Wednesday, Jan 10
Destroyer, Mega Bog
Ever since seeing the dreamy, whale-focused video for Dan Bejar’s “Kaputt,” as perfect a song as there ever was, I’ve had a dumb little crush on the croony, hyperliterate singer/songwriter behind Destroyer, inexplicable saxophone interludes and all. His latest, ken, is a pleasantly gloomy album made for aimless walking beneath overcast skies. It will make you feel equally revelrous and introspective, in the nicest way. MEGAN BURBANK
9 pm, Wonder Ballroom, $20-22
Girl Fest 2018
The month of January is traditionally pretty quiet as far as town happenings are concerned. That’s why I’ve been grateful to at least look forward to GirlFest NW the last four years: an all-female, all-ages showcase that’s spotlighted Pacific Northwest acts like Blossom, Dodgr, Coco Columbia and Karma Rivera. Until recently the event has gone down at Lola’s Room in the Crystal Ballroom, but this year it’s been moved to Holocene. As usual, the lineup is pretty is hip-hop focused. Seattle rapper Gifted Gab tops the bill, while Fritzwa (R&B poet/DJ) and young emcee Wynne (AKA Queen Hunny Pot) are also big draws. It’ll also be tight to see Paris Alexa, a dope singer-songwriter from Seattle who was a semifinalist in the Emerald City’s 2016 Sound Off! competition (you should seriously check out “Cashitus” on YouTube). There will also be krautrock from Dreckig and trip-hop from local band Sheers. So, something for everyone! Now go drop $10 in support of local, talented, hardworking women in music! JENNI MOORE
7 pm, Holocene, $10, all ages
The Whiskey Wednesday All-Stars
Every Wednesday night Ian Miller, Kevin Major, and Jim Acott (and sometimes a special guest or two) bring their honky-tonk country sounds to the Landmark Saloon for a whiskey-fueled evening of live music and dancing.
9 pm, Landmark Saloon
Bryson Cone, Night Heron, Haste
Local singer/songwriter Bryson Cone (Fog Father, Reptaliens, Cat Hoch Band) brings his electro-soul and experimental pop project to Mississippi Studios to play songs off his forthcoming debut full-length.
9 pm, Mississippi Studios, $8
Nichole Graf, Liz Crain
Nichole Graf and Liz Crain read from Grow Your Own, which walks readers through the process of setting up, caring for, and harvesting from their own cannabis grow space.
7:30 pm, Powell’s City of Books, free
Loose Cannons
Portland comedians Tim Ledwith and Alex Rios present the latest installment of “Loose Cannons,” a showcase of outside-the-box and experimental stand-up from some of the Portland comedy scene’s true misfits and wildcards. Featuring sets by Kate Murphy, Jay Shingle, Ben Harkins, and Pedro Andrade, along with Jason Traeger’s “The Traeger Method.”
8 pm, Helium Comedy Club, $5
I, Tonya
In a sport that worshipped a retrograde notion of femininity, Tonya Harding was considered a freak, even though she was arguably the most technically skilled skater of her time. In the wake of the infamous 1994 attack on Nancy Kerrigan (which she may or may not have had a hand in), Harding was further ostracized, transformed by the nascent 24-hour news cycle into a white-trash demoness—so it’s important that any fictional depiction of her life acknowledge that she was also a real person who suffered. I, Tonya, is a solid attempt, largely thanks to Margot Robbie’s portrayal of a very human, very sympathetic Tonya. Without sugarcoating Harding’s personality or her life, I, Tonya tells a familiar story of a woman whose life was ruined by hapless, cruel men and sexist gatekeeping. In a moment of heightened awareness around sexual abuse and workplace harassment, Harding’s story couldn’t be more timely. She wasn’t a perfect victim, but her suffering was real. And due to associations with awful men who undermined her career, she lost the one constant in her chaotic life: figure skating. MEGAN BURBANK
Various Theaters, See Movie Times for showtimes and locations
Thursday, Jan 11
Fin De Cinema: Jean Cocteau’s Beauty and the Beast
Fin de Cinema shows at PICA’s TBA Festival this year were so fun. Now you can check them out at Holocene. Head to the Southeast Portland venue to watch director Jean Cocteau’s classic 1946 film version of the 18th century fairy tale. It’s in black and white. It’s in French. It’s legendary. A bunch of awesome and experimental Portland musicians—Like a Villain, Noah Bernstein, Jonathan Sielaff, Amenta Abioto, Patricia Wolf, and C.M. Wolfe—will be performing a surreal original live score for it. Two good things at the same time. DOUG BROWN
8:30 pm, Holocene, $10
The Post and Phantom Thread
Because Portland is a fetid backwater of philistines and morons, Hollywood didn’t bother bringing some of last year’s most anticipated and acclaimed movies to town… until now. This week, both Paul Thomas Anderson’s Phantom Thread (featuring Daniel Day-Lewis’ final performance) and Steven Spielberg’s The Post (starring Meryl Streep and Tom Hanks, just in case you were unclear about how much prestige is going on here) will finally open in Portland. Because you’re a self-respecting cinephile, and neither a philistine nor a moron, you’ll want to see both of them—and you’ll want to see them on the big screen. ERIK HENRIKSEN
Various Theaters, see Movie Times for showtimes and locations
Monarch, Color, Pushy, Gardener
Portland power unit Pushy likes to riff, choogle, and blow the roofs off places. It’s no-nonsense rock ‘n’ roll, which is the way rock ‘n’ roll should be. MARK LORE
8 pm, The Know
#TogetherForAbortion
A party celebrating the 45th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, providing an opportunity to look at the art created for the Shout Your Abortion social media campaign and storytelling series, while also enjoying drag karaoke, and performances by Patrick Buckmaster and guests.
8 pm, Valentines
The Ghost Ease, Máscaras
The Ghost Ease’s self-described “shreddy daydream” rock ‘n’ roll takes as many unexpected turns as a hazy reverie, delivering unwavering, electric power while exuding smoky mysteriousness. CIARA DOLAN
9:30 pm, Bunk Bar, $10
Idle Giant, Autonomics
Portland’s Idle Giant bring their Britpop-leaning indie rock back down to the Doug Fir Lounge to kick-start 2018 with a night of infectious tunes.
9 pm, Doug Fir, $8-10
Lacy J. Davis, Jim Kettner
Author Lacy J. Davis and illustrator Jim Kettner read and discuss Ink in Water, their new graphic memoir chronicling Davis’ Portland roots, her struggles with self-destructive behaviors, and her eventual emergence as a writer and artist.
7:30 pm, Powell’s City of Books, free
Brendan Schaub
A night with former UFC heavyweight Brendan “Big Brown” Schaub, co-host of The Fighter & The Kid podcast along with comedian Bryan Callen, and a fledgling stand-up in his own right.
8 pm, Helium Comedy Club, $22-27
Don’t forget to check out our Things To Do calendar for even more things to do!