As the cliché goes, “When in Rome, do as the Romans do.” Well, April has been a soggy mess all month long. Might as well close out its final weekend by splashing around the city and drinking in all the entertainment it has to offer, like the booze-fueled return of Red Fang to the Tonic stage, a LaCroix-drenched night of Lez Stand Up, a sludgy, song-filled, sloppy soiree courtesy of the Toxic Avenger, a chance to float on a Porcelain Raft, a tall glass of Diet Cig, a goblet filled to the brim with the best of Oregon’s finest wines, and a chance to enjoy some Bod while taking in a Beach Party. There’s a lot more fun stuff to dive into in the links below—hit ’em up and fill your cup accordingly.
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Friday, Apr 28
Secret Drum Band, Marisa Anderson & Sam Coomes, Mike Gamble, Sage Fisher & John Niekrasz
Presented by the Creative Music Guild and Portland’s chapter of the Native Plant Society of Oregon, the inspiration of this concert is twee as heck. Plants! This is a concert for plants. Local musicians like master guitarist Marisa Anderson and experimental indie-rocker Sam Coomes will perform original odes to our state’s native flora while images are projected behind them. CIARA DOLAN
7 pm, Leaven Community Center, $5-15
Beach Party, Bod, Sweeping Exits, Mala Fides
Three months into his presidency, you’re probably still sitting dumbfounded in your bedroom, compulsively Googling “How long has Trump been in office?” Music will help, trust me: Try the second edition of the benefit show series “Not Without a Fight,” which hits the Know this weekend to raise money for local organizations Outside In, a crucial nonprofit serving homeless youths, and Portland People’s Outreach Project, a charity providing clean injection and overdose prevention supplies to the Portland area. The grungy, experimental weirdoes of Seattle’s Bod return to town just after releasing their new EP, True Cinnamon. The excellent title track’s angular opening riff softens as the four-piece molds the tempo to fit their bizarrely catchy purposes. Local glam-punk heartthrobs Sweeping Exits will also grace the new Know stage with densely packed and theatrically realized tales of queer empowerment. NATHAN TUCKER
8 pm, The Know
Joseph
I’m Alone, No You’re Not is the latest from Portland sister-trio Joseph. Its 11 tracks are bound by folksy pop melodies and the synchrony of the sisters’ eerily similar harmonies. Joseph’s music resounds with the interconnected power of family, and it’s stunning. CIARA DOLAN
8 pm, Crystal Ballroom, $26-28, all ages
Lez Stand Up: La Croix Edition
One of the most popular comedy nights in Portland, Lez Stand Up, returns for another standing room only show! That was a not-so-subtle hint to get your tickets early for this beloved gig in tribute to your favorite brand of lightly flavored sparkling water. Along with Lez regulars Kirsten Kuppenbender and Caitlin Weierhauser will be special guests Laura Anne Whitley, Bob Wolf, Jen Tam, Stephanie Patricio, and Carlos the Rollerblader (?) who are all intent on busting your gut (with laughter). WM. STEVEN HUMPHREY
8 pm, Siren Theater, $10
Kansas
Stop what you’re doing and look up a video on YouTube called “Kansas – Live from Canada Jam: Carry on Wayward Son.” This 1978 live performance of the prog-rockers’ FM-radio staple is nothing short of a masterpiece, the kind of artifact we should be blasting into space so civilizations on other planets can judge us by our finest achievements. In this complicated piece of carefully orchestrated butt-rock, lead singer Steve Walsh performs wearing running shorts, socks, and nothing else, then whips out a wicked bongo solo mid-song. Violinist and backing vocalist Robby Steinhardt shakes the bushiest hairdo you’ve ever seen, with tresses clear down to his waist. Lead guitarist and songwriter Kerry Livgren tears riff after riff out of his guitar like a demon, while rhythm guitarist Rich Williams stands motionless in the background, donning an absurd ’70s-style tuxedo. This is all before Walsh starts doing handstands on his organ. It is ridiculous and sublime and achingly, stupidly beautiful. Unfortunately, most of those members of Kansas will not be present at tonight’s performance—only Williams and drummer Phil Ehart remain from the original lineup. Sic transit Gloria. NED LANNAMANN
8:30 pm, Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, $35-95, all ages
The Toxic Avenger Musical
Stumptown Stages presents this adaptation of schlockmeister Lloyd Kaufman’s Troma classic, now with singing, and dancing, and sweet, sweet sludge
7:30 pm, Brunish Hall, $25-40
Hustle and Drone, Small Skies, Wave Collector
When you get a chance to hear Portland electro-pop trio Hustle & Drone show off their latest adventures in dance, you should probably take it.
9 pm, Bunk Bar, $5
Asphyx, Skeletal Remains, Hellshock, Sempiternal Dusk
Death metal giants Asphyx are aptly named—formed three decades ago, the revered Dutch band combines machine-gun drum beats, Martin van Drunen’s dying-gasp growl, and beefy guitar riffs that sound like they’re looking for a city to flatten. Asphyx regularly takes its foot off the gas and lets some doomy grooves creep in, but for the most part, this is brutal death metal that feels sonically suffocating, like the walls are closing in fast. The band is touring behind 2016’s Incoming Death, its first full-length since 2012’s beloved Deathhammer. BEN SALMON
9 pm, Tonic Lounge, $14.50
Crab Seafood and Wine Fest
For the 35th straight year, Astoria and Warrenton come together as one in the joyous celebration of turning old grapes into stuff that’ll getcha drunk, and taking other stuff out of the ocean and making it delicious. Visit astoriacrabfest.com for more information.
4 pm, Clatsop County Fair & Expo Center, $5-10
Kulululu, Blesst Chest, Stöller
Blesst Chest makes bizarro, acid-washed, fuzzed-out, groovy tunes that sound like Ratatat’s cool prog-rock parent, lacking the sophisticated production of today’s young ‘uns but wailing hard like it’s 1977. CIARA DOLAN
9 pm, The Fixin’ To
Woolen Men, Pelican Ossman, Conditioner
Prolific local trio the Woolen Men bring their jangle punk and pop sounds to the Turn! Turn! Turn! stage.
8 pm, Turn! Turn! Turn!
City Club Friday Forum
This installment of the regular discussion series features talks about how international relations and trade agreements (and/or disputes, considering the fucking dipshit in control of the country at the moment) affect our state’s economic development.
12:15 pm, Sentinel Hotel, $15-30
Porcelain Raft, Philip Grass
I’ve never been scuba diving, but Mauro Remiddi—AKA Porcelain Raft—makes what is clearly the best sort of music for an underwater dive. It’s floaty, gauzy, moderately damp electro-pop. It’s music that makes you want to look at seaweed. It’ll be great at Mississippi Studios, too. DIRK VANDERHART
9 pm, Mississippi Studios, $12-14
Saturday, Apr 29
The Helio Sequence, Jackson Boone, Orangutang
Portland’s favorite homegrown indie-rock band, The Helio Sequence, is playing at the Doug Fir. The Beaverton locals will be doing a show in Seattle (ew) the night before, so make sure to show them some hometown love. CLAIRE HOLLEY
9 pm, Doug Fir, $25
Portland Thorns vs. Chicago Red Stars
The Thorns more than managed to shake off any opening day rust in front of 16,145 fans at Providence Park, with goals from forwards Nadia Nadim and Christine Sinclair, and a superb performance from midfield cornerstone Allie Long providing enough to topple a tough Orlando Pride squad. The team will attempt to build on their promising start when they host a Chicago Red Stars side looking to even the score after being shutout by Portland in preseason play. CHIPP TERWILLIGER
1 pm, Providence Park, $14-55, all ages
Rock ‘n’ Roll Suicides, Gentle Bender, Cockeye
La Puente-hailing trio Rock ‘n’ Roll Suicides play a blend of punk, garage, and power pop. Tonight they make their way up the coast for a free show at the Kenton Club supporting their 2016 EP, Leave It All Behind.
8 pm, (The World Famous) Kenton Club, free
This is Your Theater: Mulholland Drive
Time to revisit David Lynch’s 2001 film, yeah? Lynch’s films get richer and more nuanced the more times they’re viewed. (Face it, you didn’t like whiskey the first time you tried it, either—and now look at you.) COURTNEY FERGUSON
7:30 pm, Hollywood Theatre
Diet Cig, Lisa Prank, Mini Blinds
The New Paltz-hailing twee pop and punk duo comprised of guitarist/vocalist Alex Luciano and drummer Noah Bowman return to Portland in support of their recently released full-length debut, Swear I’m Good At This. Failed figure skater-turned- pop punk singer/songwriter Lisa Prank provides support, with Portland dream pop outfit Mini Blinds getting things underway.
9 pm, Mississippi Studios, $10-12
Gift of Gab, Speaker Minds
An evening with the aptly named emcee best known for being one half of the legendary hip-hop duo Blackalicious, as well as a founding member of Quannum Projects, the Bay Area collective rounded out by the likes of DJ Shadow, Chief Xcel, and Lyrics Born.
9 pm, Star Theater, $15
PNCA Library Art + Feminism Wikipedia Edit-a-Thon
Only 10 percent of Wikipedia contributors identified as women in a 2011 survey. Add and edit entries from a feminist perspective around the topics of art, activism, LGBTQ issues, and more at this event tackling the lack of equal representation in Wikipedia head on. A few laptops will be provided, but bring your own if you are able. EMILLY PRADO
11 am, PNCA, free
Vice Device, Escort, Bobby Peru, Cockeye
An eclectic array of Portland punk, rock, and post-punk takes to the Know stage as part of a series of benefit shows supporting Portland People’s Outreach Project and Outside In.
8 pm, The Know
Patti Austin’s Homage to Ella Fitzgerald
Grammy Award-winning vocalist Patti Austin and conductor Jeff Tyzik lead the Oregon Symphony through a tribute to the First Lady of Song, performing hits like “How High the Moon,” “The Man I Love,” “Too Close for Comfort,” and many more.
7:30 pm, Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, $23-105, all ages
The Liberators + Arkley & McLendon
Jed Arkley joins the Liberators for an evening of improv magic, as Shelley McLendon bounces between the two troupes, one continuing their years-long streak of being the best improv in Portland, the other bringing to life the (completely crazy) stories behind your favorite retro rock groups.
8 pm, Siren Theater, $10
Bacon Ball XII
Somehow, the mad geniuses at Savory Events have figured out how to throw a party that combines the best of bacon and booze with nostalgia for 8-bit gaming, with live music, interactive art, and more.
9 pm, The North Warehouse, $12-22
Satanic Temple Benefit
Satan could use a couple extra bones thrown his way too. At least that’s what Chronoclops, Gorgon Stare, Bewitcher, Blackwitch Pudding, and Aseitas believe, and that’s why they’re on the Twilight stage unleashing hellish metal for the masses.
9 pm, Twilight Cafe & Bar, $5
Sunday, Apr 30
Bass & Flow II: Gangsigns, Karma Rivera, Rasheed Jamal, Chris Bower, Bottle Kidz
After headlining GirlFest in January, Karma Rivera’s kept her head down, seemingly readying herself for a busy summer of shows. Tonight Rivera unleashes what she’s been working on: switching up her live set and being newly backed by a band, The Heavy Hustle. It’ll be cool to see how that affects her super-chill releases like “Easy,” and “Everything I Love.” In addition to checking out Rivera’s more fleshed-out sound, this is a chance to see and hear the most underrated rapper in town, Rasheed Jamal. JENNI MOORE
7 pm, Lola’s Room, $10
Red Fang, The Pynnacles, Maxiumum Mad
Local heavy-rock stalwarts Red Fang routinely fill Portland’s biggest rooms, but tonight they take over the newly rejuvenated Tonic Lounge for a deafeningly intimate blast of Sunday-night rawk. With garage-rock party-starters the Pynnacles (featuring Crackerbash’s Sean Croghan) and noise rockers Maximum Mad kicking things off, this is a night that you may rue on Monday morning but shall live in infamy thereafter. NED LANNAMANN
9 pm, Tonic Lounge, $12
Tim Kasher, Allison Weiss
Unlike the majority of songwriters operating within the “sad guy plus guitar” paradigm, Tim Kasher is more willing antagonist than perpetual victim. It’s probably why he’s never had the same mass appeal as his adorable counterpart, Conor Oberst—why waste sympathy on a solipsist? Kasher’s willingness to magnify his innumerable faults is equal parts alluring and repellant. (Think: train wreck.) Nowhere is this more apparent than on Kasher’s defining artistic statement, his band Cursive’s emo masterpiece Domestica—a concept album about a crumbling marriage that hurts so good. (Robert Christgau’s review of Domestica is one of the funniest things he’s ever written: “Guitar rageboy marries too young, gets concept album out of it.”) Cursive’s follow-up, The Ugly Organ, which is also a concept album about art or something, is an early ’00s bro-intellectual essential. But Kasher is at his best when he’s tackling his enduring obsession with dysfunctional domesticity, a theme he’s revisited often with his side project the Good Life, and most notably, on his underrated 2010 solo debut, The Game of Monogamy. MORGAN TROPER
9 pm, Mississippi Studios, $13-15
Goodfellas
So many questions with Goodfellas. Is it Scorsese’s best movie? Is it better than The Godfather? Is it the best mafia movie ever? It’s definitely Ray Liotta’s best movie, right? Can you even cut garlic so thin with a razor blade that it just liquefies in the pan? How is that possible? How many times do you think you’ll shout “Oh shit it’s that one dude from The Sopranos!” before whoever you’re watching with punches your shoulder and tells you to shut the fuck up already? Is there anything funnier than Morrie’s wig falling off his melon-head while Robert De Niro chokes him with a phone cord? That last one has an answer. That answer is no. BOBBY ROBERTS
9:10 pm, Laurelhurst Theater
Pour Oregon
Cellar 503 hosts this wine festival focused on spotlighting over 40 smaller, boutique, and artisanal wine producers across the state. Admission includes a wine glass and four tasting tickets, and proceeds benefit Make-a-Wish Oregon.
2 pm, Castaway, $35-40
Ghostlight Community Conversation: Transgender Equality
A discussion moderated by representatives of Q Center, sharing transgender stories, speaking up for transgender rights, and discussing how anti-trans legislation affects the Portland community.
5 pm, Portland Center Stage
Grinferno
Portland comedian Jimmy Newstetter presents another installment of Grinferno, Dante’s recurring stand up comedy showcase, featuring sets from Adam Pasi, David Mascarro, Riley Fox, Coor Cohen, Justin Ammerman, Chase Paradise, and Jay Shingle.
8 pm, Dante’s, $10
Hungry Hungry Hip-Hop
The monthly showcase of the many flavors and styles in Portland’s hip-hop community, featuring performances from Mat Randol backed by the Luminaries, Core Demonstration, and Sacred G’s.
8:30 pm, Mississippi Pizza Pub & Atlantis Lounge, $5
Sondre Lerche
Coffee-shop playlists and first dances following matrimony share an equally strong adoration of Sondre Lerche. Why? He’s got this unassuming charm about the way he conducts himself—a nostalgic, boyish charm galvanized through simple-hearted lyrics that never approach maudlin, and an appreciation for the softer faces of folk and harmony. JONATHAN MAGDALENO
9:30 pm, Star Theater, $18
Do Right Sunday
A monthly showcase from two of Portland’s best DJs, making you shake your ass while also raising funds for the community.
9 pm, Dig a Pony, free
April Silent Reading Party
Mother Foucault’s invites you to share in the couple of silent hours they’ve sliced out the day just to curl up and enjoy a good book. Includes donated tea and cookies, and if you want some underscore, ambient music on vinyl can be provided.
3 pm, Mother Foucault’s
Don’t forget to check out our Things To Do calendar for even more things to do!