Dan Rather
The guy is 86 years old and is still on top of his game. The legendary former anchor of the CBS Evening News is coming to Powell’s to promote his new book What Unites Us: Reflections on Patriotism, a collection of essays about our national identity (which, you know, is kind of in flux right now). It’ll be a timely talk, for sure. A ticket (the same price as what the book costs) to either of the iconic newsman’s talks on Saturday gets you a copy of his book, too. 
3 pm, 7 pm, Powell’s City of Books, $22.95

Humbug Lager Fest
The problem with winter beer festivals is that after two sips of a piney, figgy, outrageously strong winter ale, you’re done for the night. Which is why North Portland’s Occidental Brewing’s annual Humbug Lager Fest celebrates lagers of all kinds. This year’s the biggest Humbug yet—with visiting brews from more than a dozen breweries, including the German monks at Andechs—and stretches across two exciting, lager-filled days. NED LANNAMANN
Dec 9-10, Fri 2 pm, Sat noon; Occidental Brewing Co., $10

Emily Haines & the Soft Skeleton
The Canadian singer/songwriter known for fronting the indie rock band Metric revisits her Soft Skeleton solo project for the first time in a decade. Catch Haines tonight when she swings through Revolution Hall for an all-ages show supporting her latest release, Choir of the Mind.
9 pm, Revolution Hall, $21-26, all ages

Lord Master, Rllrbll, Lucky Tigers
Times like these call for rock ’n’ roll. While some people look to protest songs as a way to cope, I look for something a little less serious or literal. Lord Master scratches that itch in a swarm of satirical barbs, tasty licks, and rock ’n’ roll riffs. The four-piece has emerged from Portland’s nether regions with a new record called Jello Day, which falls somewhere between Tenacious D and the country and metal sections at your favorite record shop. There’s the paint-peeling “Total Fucking Rock” and “Action Tonight,” but you also get the all-too-real political treatises “Asshat Versus Dumbass” and the prophetic “Year of the Vagina.” This unisex rock band is made up of smart cookies and musical ass-kickers, and Saturday’s record release show will require you to use your noodle while saturating it with alcohol and drugs. My kind of party. MARK LORE
8 pm, The Fixin’ To, $5

Grizzly Bear
Edward Droste, Daniel Rossen, Chris Taylor, and Christopher Bear bring their harmonious blend of psych pop and folk back to Portland for the first time in over half a decade in support of their long-awaited 5th studio album, Painted Ruins.
8 pm, Roseland, $35, all ages

Metz, Moaning, Deathlist
If you’re unfamiliar with the Toronto trio Metz, just take a look at some of the song titles on their new album, Strange Peace, and see if they give you a feeling. There’s “Mess of Wires,” “Mr. Plague,” “Common Trash,” and “Raw Materials,” so, yeah, it all feels kinda hard-edged and grimy and a little bit dangerous, like the trash compactor scene from the first Star Wars movie. In this case, you can judge a band by its titles! Over the past few years, Metz has become one of the best noise-rock bands on the planet, and Strange Peace is their strongest work yet. Here, the band retains all of its post-punk power and fury while injecting light and restraint into its songs. For evidence, seek out the serrated pop chorus of “Cellophane” or the gnarled and spectral melodies that shine through “Sink.” Metz still destroy, and if you go see ’em tonight, prepare to be bludgeoned in the very best way. BEN SALMON
9 pm, Doug Fir, $16.50-20

Ikiru
Akira Kurosawa doesn’t have just one masterpiece on his resume, he has something closer to like, eight or nine of ’em. And while Seven Samurai is the boisterous one, and Ran is the heaviest, Ikiru is the quiet, contemplative, and profound one. Loosely inspired by Tolstoy’s The Death of Ivan Illyich, Ikiru focuses on a career bureaucrat who sees his own end rushing to meet him, attempts to glean a measure of meaning from his existence before it ceases, and finds it in the creation of a neighborhood playground. The result is a film that is simultaneously uplifting, inspirational, clinical, and devastating. BOBBY ROBERTS
6:30 pm, NW Film Center’s Whitsell Auditorium

Cindy Wilson, Sarah Jaffe, Mini Blinds, Strange Babes DJs
As the coolly collected counterpart to Kate Pierson’s fiery pizzazz in the B-52’s twin frontwoman attack, Cindy Wilson shared equal sonic space within the duo’s ecstatically joyful harmonies and the clouds of my teenage “Love Shack” crushworld. Post-“Cosmic Thing,” however, Wilson has been relatively reserved from the spotlight, and only participates in the band’s activities intermittently. That’s why the release of her new album, Change, feels like drinking a delicious glass of cold water. Whether bursting through a psychedelic discotheque (“Mystic”) or nonchalantly delivering slices of sparkling melancholy (“Brother”), Wilson’s voice oozes with her eternal strength and patented grooviness, especially when it’s filtered through modernist production. Even her punky roots bloom on the infectiously energetic “Brother.” If you’ve ever freaked out to the chorus of “52 Girls” as much as I have, you should prioritize seeing this true musical heroine. CHRIS SUTTON
9 pm, Star Theater, $20-35

Rocketship, Kites at Night, Lida Husik
Chickfactor magazine is celebrating of 25 years of music, friendship, and community with parties all around the globe. The Portland installment includes a rare performance by beloved ’90s twee pop outfit Rocketship, the Portland debut of Vancouver B.C.’s Kites at Night (featuring Rose Melberg), and a set by Portland-via-Washington D.C. singer/songwriter Lida Husik.
8 pm, Bunk Bar, $12-15

Slant: Live Queer Storytelling
The original LGBTQ storytelling event returns to the Mississippi stage with true, live stories from Ami Patel, Laurence Jones, Eduardo Sotelo, Zachary Thornhill, and more.
7 pm, Mississippi Studios, $13

The Dandy Warhols, Federale
Get in the holiday spirit with a “Cowboy Christmas Rock Show” featuring alternative rock from Portland institution the Dandy Warhols and some Ennio Morricone-inspired spaghetti western courtesy of Federale.
8 pm, Crystal Ballroom, $20-25

Dolphin Midwives, Caspar Sonnet, Arrington de Dionyso, Floom
Portland-based musician Sage Fisher (AKA Dolphin Midwives) creates enchanting experimental music using layered harp and vocal arrangements.
8 pm, The Know, $8

PWRHAUS, Poppet, Mike Sherk Band
Portland soul-pop auteur Tonality Star has emerged as one of the city’s best but relatively unknown songwriters. His solo work is fleshed out live with a revolving cast of musicians, and the band’s sultry performances have become something of a treasured secret. RYAN J. PRADO
8 pm, Turn! Turn! Turn!, $5

Don’t forget to check out our Things To Do calendar for even more things to do!