WEDNESDAY 12/20

CHEER THE FUCK UP: AN OK CHORALE HOLIDAY POP SONGS SING-ALONG
(Mississippi Studios, 3939 N Mississippi) The OK Chorale started from a need to mourn. David Bowie had just died, and a couple local creative types realized that what Portland really needed was to get down to OMSI and sing some Bowie. Together. Now they bring their “drop-in community pop chorus” all around town. Tonight, you’re headed to Mississippi to have some drinks and belt out pop holiday tunes with your newest pals. DIRK VANDERHART

WEEED, AAN, NIGHT HERON
(Bunk Bar, 1028 SE Water) Weeed’s latest record, Meta, is a collection of transcendental noise collages that range from abrasive to plaintive, but always conjure some of the stoniest vibes this side of an ayahuasca retreat. This month the Bainbridge Island psych-freaks hit the road on a West Coast tour after announcing their forthcoming album, This, which is set to release early next year on Massachusetts-based Important Records. Weeed will have vinyl copies of 2014’s Feng Shui Capital of the World on hand at their Portland show; it’s the ideal soundtrack for both psychotropic meltdowns and zen-as-fuck zone-outs. Local openers Aan and Night Heron will round-out this midweek respite for your yuletide-weary bones. RYAN J. PRADO


THURSDAY 12/21

NICK DELFFS Thurs 12/21 Mississippi Studios INGRID RENAN

MAMA BIRD’S WINTER WASSAIL: NICK DELFFS, HALEY HEYNDERICKX, MATT DORRIEN
(Mississippi Studios, 3939 N Mississippi) One of the benefits of having a number of great record labels based in Portland is that they sometimes feel compelled to throw parties that are open to the public. The holiday season is a good time to do just that, and tonight Mama Bird Recording Co. will celebrate its reason for the season: exceptional songcraft. The bill includes former Shaky Hands/Death Songs frontman Nick Delffs, whose solo album of unhurried folk-rock songs, Redesign, came out on Mama Bird earlier this year. Joining him will be local folk ’n’ soul singer/songwriter Haley Heyndrickx, who recently unveiled a song called “Oom Sha La La” from her forthcoming album on Mama Bird, and Snowblind Traveler’s Matt Dorrien, who will release an album under his own name for the label next year. BEN SALMON


FRIDAY 12/22

1939 ENSEMBLE Fri 12/22 Mississippi Studios BANANA STAND MEDIA

BANANA STAND’S 10TH ANNIVERSARY: 1939 ENSEMBLE, PSYCHOMAGIC, KULULULU
(Mississippi Studios, 3939 N Mississippi) A decade can fly by pretty fast—it’s hard to believe that’s how long it’s been since the inception of Banana Stand Media. The Portland-based production company hosts house shows and records live albums and music videos (they also work with the Mercury and Mississippi Studios on video recaps of their monthly Sound + Vision concert series). It makes sense that the company would seek some of the city’s liveliest acts to help celebrate its 10-year anniversary, like 1939 Ensemble, whose vibraphone, trumpet, and drum instrumentals never fail to captivate audiences. Psychomagic is good at riling up a crowd with trippy garage sounds, and the masked musicians of Kulululu have yet to perform a bad set. Here’s to 10 years of Banana Stand, and hopefully, 10 more. CERVANTE POPE

JEFFREY MARTIN Fri 12/22 White Eagle Chad Lanning

FLUFF AND GRAVY RECORDS HOLIDAY PARTY: ANNA TIVEL, JEFFREY MARTIN, EVAN WAY, VACILANDO
(White Eagle, 836 N Russell) For years, Anna Tivel and Jeffrey Martin have been musical partners, playing on each others’ songs and touring together. They also released two of the very best albums to come out of Portland in 2017: Tivel’s Small Believer is a collection of beautiful and airy folk songs about everyday life. Her tunes are immaculately crafted, and her voice and melodies recall the less amplified moments of the great Canadian singer/songwriter Kathleen Edwards. Martin’s One Go Around highlights his rugged voice and incredible skill for storytelling; listen to the album’s chilling opening track, “Poor Man,” as soon as you can. These two are a powerhouse duo for the local Fluff and Gravy Records, and tonight they’ll be joined by Parson Red Heads frontman Evan Way and the label’s house band, Vacilando. BS

MILLENNIAL FALCON, HELL ON WHEELS, WEEHAWK, LOVEJOY, SAVAGE NIGHTINGALE
(Black Water Bar, 835 NE Broadway) Millennial Falcon’s self-described “space pirate punk” combines the lighthearted elements of ska and the driving energy of punk rock. The Portland band’s latest release, Hikikomori, drips with angst, and songs like “Nazi Punchers” have enough gusto to power a small army. What really sets Millennial Falcon apart is the presence of comic book kitsch—it’s almost like they’re creating superhero soundtracks—but passionate rock ’n’ roll ingenuity prevents it from becoming another throwaway party punk band. DELANEY MOTTER


SATURDAY 12/23

CANDI POP DANCE PARTY: ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS EDITION
(Holocene, 1001 SE Morrison) If you believe in the power of girl power, and pray to the gods of bubblegum pop, then apply a thick coat of Dr. Pepper lip balm, and head out to Candi Pop: All I Want for Christmas Edition. This dance night is well known for heating up the floor with pop bangers from your fave women artists, but this special holiday edition will include radio heroes of your youth including Mariah Carey, Britney Spears, Spice Girls, *NSYNC, Madonna, Destiny’s Child, and (SQUEEEEEEE!) S Club 7! Bring your insulin, because this is one sweet dance night. WM. STEVEN HUMPHREY

BROWN CALCULUS, INDIRA VALEY, FOREST VEIL
(Mississippi Studios, 3939 N Mississippi) Rising local duo Brown Calculus just released its debut EP, Live at the Map Room, an interstellar collision of jazz, hip-hop, and poetic lyrics. They’re performing at Mississippi Studios with two other fantastic Portland acts: the powerful, orchestral Indira Valey and doom-folksinger/producer Forest Veil. CIARA DOLAN

KARMA RIVERA, WYNNE, BLOSSOM
(Doug Fir, 830 E Burnside) Portland’s hip-hop scene has been blowing up, but it’s important to recognize the non-male artists contributing to the genre. Thankfully, local R&B songstress Blossom is hosting an all-female showcase with an expectation-defying bill. Karma Rivera’s fiery rhymes will cut you to pieces while still making you want to turn up and party. With Lake Oswego blonde birdie Wynne gracing the bill, this showcase proves that Portland’s rap wave isn’t just a man’s game. CP


SUNDAY 12/24

DAN SHERON, BLIND J. WATKINS
(Al’s Den, 303 SW 12th) Balto frontman Dan Sheron’s week-long residency at Al’s Den promises to perk up the final week of 2017. Sheron’s rootsy musical leanings stem from his troubadour days in Siberia and Moscow, and he recently returned from a 16-stop tour through Russia by train. His wanderlust has yielded several releases under the Balto parasol, beginning with 2011’s October’s Road, followed by 2012’s Monuments, and later 2015’s 7-inch Call It by Its Name. Balto’s most recent record, Strangers, dropped in early 2017 via Total Reality Meltdown, and bursts with feel-good rockers like the addictive opening track “Lost on the Young” and the Paul Simon-esque “Restless Generation.” Wind down the year with comforting suds and one of the better songwriters in Portland. RJP


MONDAY 12/25

COOL BREEZE
(Spare Room, 4830 NE 42nd) Need to get out of the house tonight? Leave behind the family arguments and piles of torn wrapping paper, and get down with Cool Breeze, who know all your favoritest, funkiest jams. Fronted by Malcolm Noble of the pioneering ’70s/’80s Portland funk outfit Shock, Cool Breeze’s repertoire of classic soul, R&B, and boogie-ready hits are best Yuletide comedown imaginable. NED LANNAMANN

MO TROPER Mon 12/25 Al’s Den Molly Matalon

DAN SHERON, MO TROPER
(Al’s Den, 303 SW 12th) See Sunday’s preview.


TUESDAY 12/26

DAN SHERON, KELE GOODWIN
(Al’s Den, 303 SW 12th) See Sunday’s preview.