Matt Braunger
With his standup career skyrocketing, former Portlander Matt Braunger (he helped start the Bridgetown Comedy Fest!) has left this bullshit shithole of a town in the dust. From his Netflix special Big Dumb Animal to showing up on Bojack Horseman, the smart, hilarious Braunger’s all over the place—but thankfully, he’s back in Portland for a few shows at Helium. Quick, get the electrified nets ready! If we catch him, we can make him stay! ERIK HENRIKSEN
Dec 29-31, Fri-Sat 7:30 pm & 10 pm, Sun 8 pm & 10:30 pm, Helium Comedy Club, $23-64
J Names Improv
The kindergarten conceit of J Names Improv—troupe members’ names are all brought to you by the letter J!—is way funnier than it has any right to be, with some of Portland’s most skilled comedy veterans inventing odd delights right before your eyes. This time around, they’ll be joined by the Merc’s own Editor in Chief Wm. Steven Humphrey—OR SHALL I SAY Jm. Jeven Jumphrey! MEGAN BURBANK
9:30 pm, Curious Comedy Theater, $10-12
Down Gown, Trappist-1, Shrill Tones
Portland’s Down Gown play with wiry poise, exuding unhinged, manic ferocity one minute, then shifting to melodies so mired in dissonant structures they almost seem surreal. Ryan J. Prado
9 pm, The Lombard Pub, free
Ash Street’s Farewell to Punk Rock
A slew of Ash Street Saloon regulars spend six nights saying farewell to the longtime Portland venue. Tonight’s installment passes the torch to some of the punk acts that have unleashed on the stage over the years, with sets from Green Jelly, Dead Friends, Cliterati, God Bless America, 48 Thrills, Knox Harrington, and a special interlude by Headless Pez.
9 pm, Ash Street Saloon, $10
Helvetia, Deathlist, Floating Room
Local experimental rock band Helvetia are closing out a busy year by paying respects to frontman Jason Albertini’s previous band, Duster, who released a pair of slowcore classics on Up Records before calling it quits in the early 2000s. With Duster co-founder Dove Amber along for the ride, tonight’s tribute is two-thirds of the way to reunion status, making this rare opportunity to witness a beloved catalogue of songs performed live an unmissable event for Duster devotees and curious indie rock aficionados alike. CHIPP TERWILLIGER
9 pm, Mississippi Studios, $5
Hungry Hungry Hip-Hop
The monthly showcase spotlighting the many flavors and styles in Portland’s hip-hop community returns to the Atlantis Lounge. The last show of 2017 features performances from Slickwitted founder Charis, FUTRO founder Neo G Yo, and MG Productions’ Moblin, all followed up by a dance party featuring VNPRT and Eric Fury behind the decks.
9 pm, Mississippi Pizza Pub & Atlantis Lounge, $5
Sage Francis, Juicy Karkass, Dalton
You might find the music of Paul “Sage” Francis at the intersection of a poetry slam and a hiphop show. Though his sound is sometimes frenzied and his beats aren’t the most resonant, his words are poetry, creating rich visuals and evocative messages. His verses veer between intensely personal and political, wrapped in a dramatic delivery, transforming hiphop into his own personal genre. ROSE FINN
9 pm, Star Theater, $20
Beats Antique, CloZee
The renowned production trio bring their experimental blend of world fusion and electric dance music back to Portland for an end-of-year performance at the Crystal Ballroom.
8 pm, Crystal Ballroom, $30-35, all ages
Don’t forget to check out our Things To Do calendar for even more things to do!