What follows is one of the many articles in the Mercury‘s 2026 Music Issue. Find a print copy here, subscribe to get a copy mailed to you here, and if you’re feeling generous and want to keep these types of articles coming, support us here.—eds.
Portland music, and Portland in general, is currently experiencing a renaissance, and all that goes along with periods of accelerated growth and creativity. On one hand, so many artists are incredibly active right now, putting out albums, hosting shows in both DIY and traditional venues, making music videos again, planning tours, and giving a shit about scenes outside of direct personal involvement. On the other hand, venues are closing up shop, festivals are shutting down, ticketing fees continue to make live music inaccessible, and the monstrosity being built in Industrial SE looms large, promising to be a wrecking ball for Portland’s already delicate music venue ecosystem.
Our governments continue to fail us. Our bosses continue to exploit us. All while this one planet we have hurdles toward human-facilitated destruction. What can be done? Music isn’t the answer to this hellish game of Monopoly, but it’s not not the answer either. For music as salve to governmental woes, see The Honey Drippers’ track “Impeach the President” and Amiri Baraka’s “Who Will Survive America.” A balm for shitty bosses is found in “Stress Builds Character” by Dystopia and Dolly’s “9 to 5.” Whenever you’re feeling down about the expedited end of planet Earth, listen to Hiroshi Yoshimura and breathe deep (while you still can).
At the risk of sounding like a broken record, now is always the time to lock in with the music around you. It’s everywhere in Portland, taking on so many different shapes and sounds. You want free late-night jazz? Try Keys Lounge. Looking to throw ass in community with queers? Check out Judy, Twirl, and Hickey Machine. The under 21 set is well covered with the recent openings of the Off Beat and High Limit Room. The Portland FM dial punches way above its weight with KMHD Jazz, XRAY FM, Freeform Portland, KBOO, and the rest. It’s an embarrassment of music riches on the banks of the mighty Willamette.
It wasn’t until the editing of the Music Issue was almost done that the issue’s unofficial theme revealed itself: “All genres, all generations, all genders.” The phrase, a signoff at the bottom of a recent Björk newsletter, was coupled with “support your local scene.” Two powerful statements gushing with the beauty of the now and the near future, as well as boiling over with justified anger spanning the length of human history. It’s up to you—right now—to build the frameworks of community and care that shape tomorrow. A better world is possible in our lifetimes, filled with music and love and food and kinship. Look outside yourself to create for yourself and those around you, let music accompany you on whatever journey lay before you.
I hope you enjoy this, the Mercury’s first Music Issue since pre-pandemic, just as much as I enjoyed pulling it together.
In love and solidarity,
Nolan Parker
