Man, Tyler‘s come a long way from “Kill people, burn shit, fuck school,” —okay, maybe not that far, but it’ll be a friendlier sort of maelstrom he conjures in Portland this weekend, and the rest of the city is swirling with equally amazing things to do; Pickathon kicks off its 20th year, the city’s best queer comics share their New Year’s Lezolutions, there are one-day festivals of the folk and coffee beer varieties, the return of a magical variety show that manages to be equally awesome for kids and their parents alike, and a chance to see the original King Kong on the big screen. There’s a veritable ton of things still on the menu that didn’t even get mentioned, too—hit the links below and load your plate accordingly.
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Friday, Jan 26
Pickathon 20th Year Kickoff Party
The Northwest’s best music festival celebrates two decades this year, and tonight Pickathon kicks off its 20th anniversary with a free party that will reveal the lineup for this summer’s installment, including surprise performances by some of this year’s featured acts. Be the first to know who’s playing Pickathon 2018, and you might win a prize, too! NED LANNAMANN
7 pm, Revolution Hall, free w/ rsvp
TYuS, 3am, Eso.xo.Supreme, Uglyfrank, R3X Wonders
A couple summers ago, Portland singer Tyus Strickland (stylized as TYuS) signed to Warner Bros and went from being a SoundCloud-famous star to owning the mainstream spotlight. His gritty R&B is along the lines of Bryson Tiller’s Trapsoul, as evidenced on his debut EP, Never Forget. Throughout its eight tracks, sultry-smooth, lightly Auto-Tuned vocals collide with bittersweet lyrics depicting modern romance and situationships. While he’s not exactly breaking new ground, TYuS’ sound is damn near irresistible. In November, he released another stunner—a six-track project called Phases that’s equally as enjoyable, along with a new song (and super-sexy visual) called “Cash Flow.” For those on the fence, I’ll just say that his set at Pickathon last summer only left me wanting more. JENNI MOORE
8 pm, Hawthorne Theatre, $15, all ages
First Aid Kit, Van William
The first time I heard the voices of Klara and Johanna Söderberg, I was a Fleet Foxes-crazed teenager feverishly searching for live videos of the Seattle folk band on YouTube. Somewhere in the depths of this wormhole I stumbled upon the Söderberg sisters’ viral cover of “Tiger Mountain Peasant Song” and was completely floored. In 2010 they signed to Wichita and released their debut LP as First Aid Kit, The Big Black and the Blue, an album of simple, twee folk songs that didn’t quite manage to recreate the magic of their YouTube breakthrough. But the Söderbergs hit their stride with 2012’s The Lion’s Roar, a country-folk record with more opportunities to let their voices soar over pedal steel guitar, fiddle, hand-clapped rhythms, and Johanna’s Autoharp. First Aid Kit just released their fourth album, Ruins, which they recorded right here in Portland with producer Tucker Martine at his studio, Flora Recording and Playback, backed by some notable guests: R.E.M.’s Peter Buck on guitar, and Wilco’s Glen Kotche and Midlake’s McKenzie Smith on percussion. Thank the YouTube gods the Söderbergs emerged from that Swedish forest—apparently, we needed to be shown how it’s done. CIARA DOLAN
8 pm, Roseland, Good luck w/ the resale sites
Lez Stand Up: New Year’s Lezolution
Lez Stand Up returns strong for 2018 with another showcase of quality queer comedy, including sets from regulars Laura Anne Whitley, Caitlin Weierhauser, and Kirsten Kuppenbender, with special guests Andy Iwancio, Erin Jean O’Regan, Corina Lucas, and Sami Alloy.
8 pm, Siren Theater, $10-12
Jen Cloher, Mia Dyson
Fresh off a tour opening for Courtney Barnett and Kurt Vile, Australian singer/songwriter Jen Cloher and her backing band swing back through town for an intimate headlining show supporting her acclaimed 2017 self-titled album. Read our story on Jen Cloher.
9:30 pm, Doug Fir, $12-14
Deathlist, Plastic Cactus, Mini Blinds
Deathlist is the solo recording project of Summer Cannibals bassist Jenny Logan, offering up frenzied punk rock that riffs wildly in a buzzy entanglement of guitar-driven chaos.
9:30 pm, Mississippi Studios, $8-10
I Am Cuba (Soy Cuba)
An anti-American, Cuban-Soviet-produced propaganda film from 1964, that suggests a fruitful, wondrous future under the caring, guiding hand of Fidel Castro. The politics of the film might not hold up after all these years, but director Mikhail Kalatozov’s audacious skills behind the camera certainly do.
7 pm, 9:30 pm, Fifth Avenue Cinema
Dirty Fences, Mean Jeans, Acid Wash
No one makes money selling records anymore, and touring for a living’s no walk in the park, either. These days, the way to cash in on your music is to sell it to a massive corporation, a mom-and-pop shop, the hip local government, or whoever’s got money, really. Enter local garage-pop heroes Mean Jeans, who are taking the antiquated concept of “selling out” to the next level with their new album Jingles Collection. Rather than wait for a company to reach out to them, the band has written and recorded 23 songs about brands like Coors Light, Applebee’s, Skoal, Hot Pockets, and Selsun Blue. Some of these songs are silly, some legitimately slay, and all radiate Mean Jeans’ killer sense of melody and humor. Brands: Get in touch with these dudes. Or show up at the Know tonight to watch ’em do their thing. Yeah, Dunk-a-Roos… we’re looking at you. BEN SALMON
9 pm, The Know, $10
Humours, Dryland, Cages, Law Boss
Bellingham’s Dryland and Seattle’s Cages bring their stoner rock, metal, and punk sounds to the High Water Mark stage for the Portland stop on a Pacific Northwest jaunt. Like-minded locals Humours and Law Boss round out the bill.
8:30 pm, High Water Mark, $8
Honey Bucket, Table Sugar, Mr. Wrong, Veri Vice
Honey Bucket’s 2016 album, Magical World—released by Portland label See My Friends—is a mid-fi wonder, packed with woozy DIY spirit and wily hooks. Across 13 tracks, Vince Skelly (bass/vocals), Matt Radosevich (guitar/vocals), and Jon Grothman (drums) are somehow disheveled and charming, urgent and easygoing. BEN SALMON
8 pm, Turn! Turn! Turn!, $5
Saturday, Jan 27
Greg Rucka, Steve Lieber
Nominated for multiple Eisner awards when first published in the late ’90s, Whiteout returns in a special compendium edition that combines the first series and its great sequel. This graphic novel crime thriller features a female Deputy US Marshal protagonist (swoon!) set at a research station in Antarctica (brrr!). It’s smart, exciting, AND sexy, and at this Powell’s event, you can meet author and artist Greg Rucka and Steve Lieber, and get your must-have edition signed. WM. STEVEN HUMPHREY
2 pm, Powell’s City of Books, free
Tyler the Creator, Vince Staples, Taco
If anybody in hip-hop’s current vanguard is blessed with the kind of eccentricity that pushes artistic boundaries, it’s Tyler, the Creator. His reputation began as the Johnny Knoxville of Odd Future’s Jackass-esque multimedia psycho-world, a neo-Nietzschean prankster producing damaged beats to match his conflicted internal issues. However, with each successive LP, Tyler has slowly matured into a misunderstood renaissance man armed with a surrealist TV show and an ultra-hip fashion line with the aesthetic of Adventure Time-themed streetwear. His industrious work ethic also vitalizes the success of peers like Frank Ocean, Earl Sweatshirt, and Vince Staples, who’ve all benefitted from being within the vicinity of Tyler’s infectiously twisted worldview. His newest offering, Flower Boy, teems with the contemplative urban psychedelia. CHRIS SUTTON
6:30 pm, Rose Quarter Memorial Coliseum, $30
The Flesh Eaters
Los Angeles-based musician and poet Chris Desjardins brings his pioneering punk and death-rock outfit the Flesh Eaters up the coast for a rare performance more than 40 years after getting their start in L.A.’s first-wave punk scene. For tonight’s performance, Desjardins will be flanked by John Doe and DJ Bonebreak of X, Dave Alvin and Bill Bateman of The Blasters, and Steve Berlin of Los Lobos.
9 pm, Dante’s, $20
Mic Crenshaw
The local legend celebrates the release of his latest LP, Earthbound.
9 pm, Jack London Revue, $7
Cash’d Out, Road Noise
There are times that call for boldness, for pushing the boundaries of your personal knowledge to discover new things and cultivate new and fiery passions. Then again, there are times to circle the wagons, immerse yourself in the familiar, and go see a man do a good impression of a folksy hellion with a rich singing voice. The San Diego-based Johnny Cash tribute band Cash’d Out is in town tonight, so the choice has been made for you. DIRK VANDERHART
8 pm, Mississippi Studios, $16.50-20
The Book of Mormon
Take it from someone who hates musicals: The Book of Mormon is fucking great. Trey Parker and Matt Stone’s Broadway hit returns to Portland for a week, starting tonight—and if you couldn’t score tickets last time around, here’s your chance to try again. It’ll be worth it. ERIK HENRIKSEN
7:30 pm, Keller Auditorium, $40-175
Bert Kreischer
Bert is one of the most naturally funny people working today, and if you’re up for a night of pure entertainment I’d definitely check him out at Helium (and bring a few bucks in case he does a raffle for the waitstaff). I saw him there when he came by last year, and he’s a blast. If you don’t know him, watch his “The Machine” bit that went viral last year on Facebook and YouTube to get a sense of what he’s like (often shirtless, always funny). If you’ve got more time, listen to any podcast he does with comics Tom Segura, Ari Shaffir, or Joe Rogan. DOUG BROWN
7:30 pm, 10 pm, Helium Comedy Club, $30-35
30th Annual Winterfolk: Tracy Grammer, Jim Page, Billy Oskay, Anna Tivel, Kate Power, Steve Einhorn, Tom May, Donny Wright, Matt Snook, Sky in the Road, Peter Yeates, Rich Gillette, Mike West
A slew of talented folk and bluegrass singer/songwriters hit the Alberta Rose stage to raise money for Sisters of the Road.
7 pm, Alberta Rose Theatre, $30-32
NW Coffee Beer Invitational
The two libations the Northwest is best known for, combined in one foamy, delicious drink, and celebrated by 20 brewers using local ingredients. For the fifth anniversary of this festival, there will be special collaboration brews made available to attendees, as well as live music and good food.
noon, Goose Hollow Inn, $20
Protest the Muslim & Refugee Ban
One year after the Orange administration introduced the Muslim travel ban, refugee admissions to the U.S. are the lowest since 2002 (in the wake of September 11th.) US Today reports that while 94,837 refugees were admitted in 2016, only 29,022 refugees were admitted in 2017. Stand up against xenophobia and islamophobia by showing up to this peaceful airport protest. EMILLY PRADO
1 pm, Portland International Airport
Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe, The Dip
Hot on the heels of The Rolling Stones’ “No Filter” tour, the prolific funk and jazz saxophonist, flutist, and vocalist brings his own project back to Portland for a headlining show at Revolution Hall.
9 pm, Revolution Hall, $25
Lil Xan, $teve Cannon
The California-hailing rapper known for his breakout single “Betrayed” makes his way up the coast for a sold out show at the Hawthorne Theatre supporting his forthcoming debut, Total Xanarchy.
8 pm, Hawthorne Theatre, Good luck on the resale sites!
ARCO-PDX: ARCO Goes Darkwave
I’m feeling quite grateful to live in a city that has its very own amplified repertory chamber orchestra. Tonight the Arco-PDX returns home and plugs in to offer an immense ocean of darkwave at one of the most kickass venues in town. Talking, drinking, and pouting will be encouraged throughout a setlist centered on the music of Depeche Mode and injected with straight-ahead works from folks like Soviet-era powerhouse Dmitri Shostakovich, contemporary Estonian composer Arvo Pärt, and early 18th century Italian Baroque master Tomaso Giovanni Albinoni. If you got better things going on than an evening of synthesizers, haunting vocals, and classically trained riffs on a catalog of darkwave masterpieces, then my hat is certainly off to you. BRIAN HORAY
8 pm, Holocene, $10-15
Eldridge Gravy & The Court Supreme, Brass Monkey
Seattle sends the Fixin’ To one of its best homegrown funk engines, with support from local Beasties tribute Brass Monkey.
9 pm, The Fixin’ To, $10
Becky with the Good Jokes
Becky Braunstein’s all-star comedy extravaganza returns to the Funhouse stage fresh for the new year with stand-up sets from special friends Katie Nguyen, Shain Brenden, Philip Schallberger, and Luke Severeid. Music by the Portland Gay Men’s Chorus.
10 pm, Funhouse Lounge, $8-12
Sunday, Jan 28
Moorea Masa & the Mood, Blossom, Siren & the Sea
Moorea Masa has come a long way since her 2010 stint on American Idol. The sultry vocalist has been a longtime Portland staple, performing with the likes of Ural Thomas and the Pain, the Decemberists, k.d. lang, and with her current project, Moorea Masa and the Mood. She’s made a seamless transition into the lush sonic terrain of R&B, and landed appearances at last year’s Soul’d Out and Pickathon festivals. Masa’s velvety vocals cut like a knife on tunes like the recently released “I Can’t Tell” from her forthcoming debut LP. Tonight’s show will double as a video premiere for “I Can’t Tell,” but arrive early—the equally enchanting singers Blossom and Siren and the Sea will kick things off.
9 pm, Mississippi Studios, $10-12
King Kong (1933)
This past Tuesday, Kong: Skull Island was Academy Award-nominated for Best Visual Effects. It joins its predecessors (Peter Jackson’s 2005 film, the Dino DeLaurentiis-produced simian tearjerker from 1976) in being recognized for bringing malevolent monkeying around to visceral life. It’s also maybe one of the shittiest films to have been released in 2017, a complete failure as both basic storytelling and coherent action filmmaking. Say what you will about the racist, colonialist undertones of the 1933 original (which aren’t very “under” at all, really) but it at least managed to competently combine story, character, and action with its (still) mesmerizing effects. Méliès might have invented visual effects as we know them now, but Willis O’Brien literally sculpted and moved them into the future one historic frame after another with his work on Kong—work you absolutely need to see on a big screen to properly appreciate. BOBBY ROBERTS
2 pm, NW Film Center’s Whitsell Auditorium, $6-9
You Who: Blitzen Trapper, MarchFourth Marching Band, Red Yarn, Moshow the Cat Rapper, Ukeladies, DJ Anjali, Sneakin’ Out
It’s been way too long since the adult-friendly kids’ variety show You Who! took to a Portland stage. But the rollicking dance party/skit/storytelling performance is back at the Crystal Ballroom with Blitzen Trapper headlining a show that’s bound to be too cool for school. COURTNEY FERGUSON
3 pm, Crystal Ballroom, free, all ages
Lee Camp
The head writer and host of Redacted Tonight stops at the Siren for a special one-night-only pair of comedy shows.
8 pm, Siren Theater, $14.95-27.95
White Boy & The Average Rat B and, Time Rift, Soul Grinder
The reunited DIY hard rock and metal band out of Virginia bring their tour to Portland in support of a recent re-issue of their self-titled 1980 debut.
8:30 pm, Tonic Lounge, $10
Mochitsuki 2018
The 22nd annual celebration of the Japanese American new year, centered around a massive feast, supplemented by traditional art, live performances, and a plethora of hands-on cultural experiences from organizations including Portland Japanese Garden, Sakurakai, Obukan Kendo Club, Nichiren Buddhist Church, Japan America Society of Oregon, and many more.
11 am, PSU’s Smith Memorial Student Union, $4-12, all ages
Arctic Flowers
Honing in the dissonant goth-punk of Joy Division and mixing it with the dirty-jangle rock ‘n’ roll of bands like X and the Wipers, Arctic Flowers are veterans of the Portland punk scene that are anything but burnt out. CAMERON CROWELL
9 pm, The Fixin’ To, $7
IPAs for Eyes
By indulging in a tasty pint (or three) and noshing on pub fare at Ecliptic Brewing any time on Sunday, you can give back to OHSU’s Casey Eye Institute Community Outreach Program. Ten percent of all sales will benefit the group which is eradicating preventable blindness by providing no-cost glasses to folks in need. Be there by 5 pm to participate in the raffle for a chance to win a sweet prize. EMILLY PRADO
11 am, Ecliptic Brewing, free
Months, Long Hallways, Volcanic Pinnacles
An array of local indie rock, free jazz, and post-rock outfits bring their experimental sounds to the latest installment of Rontoms Sunday Sessions.
8 pm, Rontoms, free
You Don’t Know Me!
One of the city’s newest comedy showcases returns to the Goodfoot, with headlining sets from Kirsten Kuppenbender (co-host of Let Stand Up) and Shain Brenden (co-host of You’re Welcome), along with comedic musical guests Brahñana and Feminine Touch.
8 pm, Goodfoot, $5
Don’t forget to check out our Things To Do calendar for even more things to do!