Stumptown Improv Presents!
Not only is Portland’s annual Stumptown Improv Festival essential summertime entertainment, the fest organizers are now bringing in sketch and improv groups throughout the year for one-off shows. This time around, Stumptown Improv Presents! brings funny folks The Magic Negro and Other Blackness and White Women to town, both of whom inject commentary on race into their performances. Portland’s Local Ensemble rounds out the bill for what should be a solid night of smart comedy. MEGAN BURBANK
8 pm, Siren Theater, $13
Little Star, Wave Action, Sweeping Exits
Sweeping Exits’ Glitter & Blood is unlike any album you’ve heard before. Frontwoman Mira Glitterhound is the mind behind the expansive, 16-track rock opera, narrating stories of murder, love, revenge, and queer vampires—imagine if Anne Rice wrote an erotic thriller about the Vampire Lestat’s goth band. Glitterhound playfully jumps from genre to genre, but each song is meticulously crafted, with traces of Bowie glam on “The Palace,” while “Lady Death” is more reminiscent of a wispy Carpenters song, and “The Queen’s Ball” sounds like doo-wop surf-rock. Glitter and Blood is an album made to be experienced live—fog machine, fake blood, glitter, and all. CAMERON CROWELL
9:30 pm, Bunk Bar, $10-12
Havania Whaal, Supermoon, Husky Boys
Supermoon’s Playland was one of my favorite albums of 2016; released via Mint Records, it’s full of indie pop songs as bright and colorful as the neon flashing lights of carnival rides, with subject matter that lurks in darker corners of the amusement park. The Vancouver, BC, band sings about living in a mansplained world, the power of having your own secrets, and navigating life’s grey areas in sugary vocals, with surf guitar riffs that recall other Pacific Northwest groups like Chastity Belt and Tacocat. Much like the lunar phenomenon that inspired their name, Supermoon’s free show at the Firkin Tavern is a rare opportunity to see something awesome for zero dollars. CIARA DOLAN
8 pm, Firkin Tavern, free
Flor, Co.yh, Handsome Ghost
For Portlanders, probably the most interesting thing about LA-based band Flor is that they’re originally from Hood River, that windy little burg about an hour east on I-84 that isn’t necessarily known for producing bands. The next most interesting thing about Flor is that they have a chance to be huge. On their debut album, Come Out. You’re Hiding, the band’s sound—dreamy pop-rock, addictive melodies, big beats, and electronic embellishments—recalls recent success stories like Fun., the 1975, and Years & Years. Its songs are sparkling and irresistibly catchy, and they sound terrific—a credit, no doubt, to band member Dylan Bauld, who produces on the side and has worked with pop star Halsey.
7 pm, Holocene, $15, all ages
Summer Cannibals, Kelli Schaefer, Roseblood
Local rock staples Summer Cannibals celebrate the release of their brand new cassingle at the inaugural installment of the Doug Fir’s new monthly showcase, 5 5 5 – B U R N, bringing you full sets from Portland’s best bands on the cheap.
9 pm, Doug Fir, $5-8
Distant Worlds: Music from Final Fantasy
Nobuo Uematsu’s score for 1987’s Final Fantasy revolutionized video game music. The game was the first to boast gorgeous, thematic compositions—not simply brief jingles or amorphous blips and bleeps—which transcended the technical limitations of the time and could be enjoyed as a separate, musical experience. Expect to hear selections from every installment in the series (of which, Uematsu scored the majority) as they were meant to be experienced, in a live orchestra setting. MORGAN TROPER
7:30 pm, Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, $25-95, all ages
Dunkirk (70mm)
It’s Oscar season. Christopher Nolan’s latest film got nominated for a bunch of awards, like Best Picture and Best Director (it’s not winning either of those), but most importantly, it got a nod for Best Cinematography. Hoyte van Hoytema’s camerawork deserves to be seen in 70mm, and to celebrate Dunkirk‘s nominations, the Hollywood is screening it as such. Senior Editor Ned Lannamann said “Dunkirk reminds us of the experiential power of film. So experience it correctly.
2 pm & 7:30 pm, Hollywood Theatre, $7-9
Lights
Born from the same era that produced mainstream electro-pop acts like Owl City and Hellogoodbye, Lights was once a hidden gem on the genre’s fringes. Since then, she’s released four full-length albums, the most recent being 2017’s Skin&Earth. It’s a testament to the Canadian musician’s ability to update her sound without abandoning her roots. The record incorporates distinct hallmarks of modern pop, like climactic anthems and soft ballads. Lights has transformed herself from a mid-2000s obscurity to an electro-pop powerhouse with ties to big names like Tegan and Sara, Chvrches, and Broods. DELANEY MOTTER
9 pm, Wonder Ballroom, $24-144
Resistance Ball
Celebrate a year of protests and activism propelled by the efforts of Portland’s Resistance by partying at p:ear. Highlights include a wonderful musical lineup, an activist awards ceremony, and an all-inclusive dress code. Get in for $5 when you bring winter clothing donations for houseless folks. EMILLY PRADO
8 pm, p:ear, $10-15 ($5 w/ winter clothes donation)
These Drums Kill Fascists, Center Pieces, Saloli
Two of the undercover operatives from the Secret Drum Band step out of the shadows to put a hurting on fascists with their unbeatable rhythms. Between sets from support Center Pieces and Saloli, artist Vanessa Renwick will screen two of her short films.
8 pm, Mothership Music, $5, all ages
Don’t forget to check out our Things To Do calendar for even more things to do!