Super Pick
ST. VINCENT
(Keller Auditorium, 222 SW Clay) For more than a decade, Annie ClarkâAKA 23rd century guitar goddess St. Vincentâhas stood at the forefront of avant-pop and -rock, her profile rising steadily all the while. Clarkâs first five records (including her 2012 collaboration with likeminded oddball David Byrne) synthesize serrated guitars, fuzzy electronics, right-angled rhythms, and her unique sense for melody and drama in songs that are both busily arranged and tightly wound. No one makes wiry, animatronic funk-pop feel more approachable than Clark, and if you need proof, see her 2014 self-titled album, which landed her on the season finale of Saturday Night Live and earned her a Grammy for Best Alternative Album. Itâs no surprise, of course, that the latest St. Vincent record, 2017âs Masseduction, strides confidently in a new direction: still herky-jerky and ultramodern, but now with brighter synths, bigger drum machines, more personal lyrics, and more pop-star ambition that sounds perfect for some other, cooler universe. Itâs Prince and the Revolution pounding Nine Inch Nails into a wall of glass. Itâs neon pink, power dynamics, leather boots, sleeping pills, and animal prints. Masseduction is every bit as strange as Clarkâs previous work, but catchier and less guardedâand thatâs a good thing. Most importantly, itâs reflective of an artist with outsized skills, incredible vision, and restless creativity. BEN SALMON
WEDNESDAY 1/17
SUZANNE SANTO, MAPACHE
(Doug Fir, 830 E Burnside) Clay Finch and Sam Blasucci are two non-biological brothers from Los Angeles who are doing big things under the moniker Mapache. Sonically, the duoâs 2017 self-titled debut is built out of acoustic guitars, vocal harmonies, and the occasional pedal-steel swoop or basic percussion part. Finch and Blasucci synthesize the music of their hometown, touching on traditional country, â70s folk, sunbaked Laurel Canyon twang, psychedelic soul, and Bakersfield country. The end result is a collection of songs that sound gorgeous and feel timeless. Mapacheâs Bandcamp profile touts them thusly: âImagine the Everly Brothers wearing tie-dyed Nudie suits.â Thatâs a very high bar, but when you press play on the album, suddenly that bar seems within reach. BS
THURSDAY 1/18
FRANKIE SIMONE, DOUBLEPLUSGOOD, TENTS
(Holocene, 1001 SE Morrison) Start your weekend early with Frankie Simone, the Portland singer/songwriter making glittery, danceable indie pop with empowering lyrics, like her 2017 anthem âQueer.â Simoneâs releasing her debut LP early this year, but tide yourself over with this Holocene show featuring local openers Doubleplusgood and Tents. CIARA DOLAN
HALEY HEYNDERICKX, SURFER ROSIE
(Parkway North at PSU, 1825 SW Broadway) See All-Ages Action!
ESHAM, KRAZY K, KNOCTURNAL, DAY DREAMER, GRINCH MOBB
(Hawthorne Theatre Lounge, 1507 SE CĂ©sar E. ChĂĄvez) Detroit hasnât gotten the respect it deserves for its contributions to hip-hop, likely because the cityâs most famous exports have been Eminem, Kid Rock, and Insane Clown Posse, whose influence isnât exactly something to brag about. Though the city has also given birth to such remarkable talent as Slum Village, Black Milk, Dej Loaf, and, of course, the late, great J Dilla, when the story of Detroit hip-hop is finally told, it should begin with Esham. His classic debut LP, Boominâ Words from Hellâreleased in 1989 when he was just 16âlaid a foundation that would be built upon for years to come. Along with his group Natas, Esham coined the term âacid rap,â noted for its ultraviolent and graphic lyrics, which Eminem and ICP would later appropriate. Though Esham hasnât received the fame or money of his white compatriots, heâs never let it impede his productivity; his forthcoming release, Dead of Winter, is his 17th solo album. Like the city he came up in, Esham has seen better and worse days, but his commitment to the culture is unswerving, and his place in history is indisputable. SANTI ELIJAH HOLLEY
CARPE DIEM STRING QUARTET
(Winningstad Theatre, 1111 SW Broadway) The cyclical effects of this planet orbiting around our star have always captivated humans. Tonight, music lovers have a chance to catch a pair of creations separated by centuries, yet equally inspired by seasonal joys. Based in Ohio, the Carpe Diem String Quartet is touching down in Portland to perform not only Antonio Vivaldiâs timelessly crisp Four Seasons, but also Astor Piazzollaâs utterly unique take on the matter. The Argentine composerâs Four Seasons of Buenos Aires is a beguiling work that fuses elements of tango and jazz, cooked in a classical batter that carries rich flavors of syncopation, rhythm, and surprise. With an internationally acclaimed virtuosic quartet at the ready, witnessing Piazzollaâs idiosyncratic work alongside Vivaldiâs masterpiece within the intimate confines of the Winningstad Theatre will be, quite simply, a guaranteed delight. BRIAN HORAY
FRIDAY 1/19
SCHOOL OF ROCK AND PROWUS PRESENT BEST OF PORTLAND 6: MOOREA MASA, LITHICS, SKULL DIVER, MĂSCARAS, GAYTHIEST, URAL THOMAS AND THE PAIN, JESSICA BOURDREAUX, HALEY HEYNDERICKX, NASALROD, KELLI SCHAEFER
(Wonder Ballroom, 128 NE Russell) Once a year, local grownup musicians join local kid musicians onstage for an incredible, heartwarming night that celebrates the best of the Portland music scene. Tonight, School of Rock students will be joined by musicians from acts like Gaytheist, MĂĄscaras, Lithics, Ural Thomas and the Pain, and many others, for a unique show to benefit PROWUS. Itâs an incredible amount of fun, and not to be missed if you give a damn about local music and education. NED LANNAMANN Also see All-Ages Action!
HUUN HUUR TU
Alberta Rose Theatre, 3000 NE Alberta) Huun Huur Tu put on one of the most breathtaking performances of last summerâs PickathonâI remember standing on tiptoes outside the packed Lucky Barn trying (and failing) to catch a glimpse of them, but Iâll never forget the sound. The group hails from the Russian republic of Tuva, which borders Mongolia, and theyâve been introducing the regionâs indigenous folk to the rest of the world for more than two decades. Huun Huur Tuâs style of throat singing uses circular breathing to produce two or three droning notes at once. Itâs gorgeous, hypnotic music thatâll make you reconsider the capabilities of the human voice. CD
BĂRNS, CHARLOTTE CARDIN, MIKKI EKKO
(Roseland, 8 NW 6th) Singer/songwriter BĂžrns (AKA Garrett Clark Borns) has one of those beautiful, androgynous voices that are nearly impossible to imitate. In addition to his exquisite vocals, the 26-year-old is known for his vibrant personal style that challenges traditional gender norms. He reminds me of Bowie and other glam rock iconsâheâs got long, flowing hair, wears glittery makeup in his music videos, and his masculinity isnât so fragile that he wonât rock a floral print or bare a midriff onstage. If youâve heard anything from the psychedelic- and synth-pop rocker, itâs probably âElectric Loveâ or â10,000 Emerald Poolsâ from Dopamine, his 2015 debut. BĂžrns recently released his highly anticipated follow-up, Blue Madonna, through Interscope Records. Based on his trippy music videos and shimmering new singles like âSweet Dreams,â âI Donât Want U Back,â and âGod Save Our Young Bloodâ (featuring Lana Del Rey), I canât wait to see what his live show has in store. JENNI MOORE
SATURDAY 1/20
J20 PARTY: SĂVILA, FUCK U PAY US, GUAYABA, BLOSSOM, DJ LUCHA, DJ MAMI MIAMI
(PICA, 15 NE Hancock) NXT LVL PDX and She Shreds magazine are hosting an all-day blowout to raise money and supplies for local organizations like Brown Girl Rise, Queer Rock Camp Portland, and Portland Menstrual Society. At noon thereâs an all-ages J20 rally with speakers, a WOC marketplace, workshops, and a raffle. The eveningâs party features a phenomenal lineup of all-WOC musicians and DJs: Los Angeles punk band Fuck U Pay Us, Seattle rapper Guayaba (check out her 2016 debut EP Black Trash/White House, itâs amazing), Portlandâs own SĂĄvila and Blossom, plus DJs Lucha and Mami Miama (Mercury writer Emilly Prado). CD Also read our story on NXT LVLâs J20 Party.
ST. VINCENT
(Keller Auditorium, 222 SW Clay) Read our St. Vincent super pick.
SPONTANEOUS COMBUSTION FESTIVAL: DELGANI STRING QUARTET
(The Old Church, 1422 SW 11th) Read our story on Spontaneous Combustion Festival.
LITHICS, ABRONIA, THE WOOLEN MEN, MR. WRONG
(Skyline Tavern, 8031 NW Skyline) This cityâs been feeling pretty crowded lately, but fret notâthe second installment of Get Outta Town is here to remind you that there are escape routes. The idea behind the concert series is to take local bands out of the metropolis to perform at a destination within an hour of central Portland. The first Get Outta Town was headlined by Divers at a farmhouse in Estacada, and this second excursion is at the rustic Skyline Tavern. Itâs technically within Portland city limits, but anyone whoâs bellied up to the roadhouse bar knows it feels like youâre out in the sticks. Enjoy its intimate confines with heavy hitters Mr. Wrong, Woolen Men, Abronia, and Lithics. RYAN J. PRADO
PLASTIC WEATHER, STAR CLUB, NICK NORMAL, LOST NERVES
(Black Water Bar, 835 NE Broadway) Portlandâs premiere âdeath discoâ band Plastic Weather is finally unveiling its self-titled debut EP, a four-song testament to the power of synth-pop. Add a dash of post-punk, a sprinkle of dark distortion, and a smidge of glam rock, and youâve got the â80s-inspired goth dance party of your dreamsâthe perfect spooky soundtrack for the afterlife, when weâre all ghosts partying together. Noelle Magia channels Kate Pierson of the B-52âs with her dissonant, reverb-heavy vocals against thick synth and thrashing drums. Plastic Weatherâs love of the bizarre is obvious, but itâs oddly inviting, carving out a space and sound for those of us on the fringes of traditional hyper-masculine punk. DELANEY MOTTER
SALLIE FORD, MIKE COYKENDALL, HARLOWE
(Mississippi Studios, 3939 N Mississippi) Last year, Portlandâs own Sallie Ford released her second solo album, Soul Sick, since parting ways with her band the Sound Outside in 2013. The retro-rock songwriterâs latest fuses all the elements that made her earlier work so popular: earnest lyrics about seasonal depression and loneliness, doo-wop harmonies, warm organ tones, and Fordâs powerful, Winehouse-esque voice. Soul Sick is a record I overlooked in 2017, but thankfully, songs like âFailureâ and âUnravelingâ go great with Januaryâs grey skies. Fordâs lived in Portland for more than 10 years now, but this hometown show at Mississippi is still a bright spot on this monthâs calendar. CD
SUNDAY 1/21
PSYCHOMAGIC, AAN, NUMB.ER
(Black Water Bar, 835 NE Broadway) See All-Ages Action!
CONVERGE, SUMAC, CULT LEADER
(Bossanova Ballroom, 722 E Burnside) Virtually every song in Convergeâs discography forces listeners to reckon with flesh and bone and the limits of both. Just try to get lost listening to one of the hardcore veteransâ recordsâitâs impossible. Instead, you become hyperaware of just how sluggish your own body feels next to the dexterous intensity of a Converge song. They are master craftsmen, among the most startlingly consistent bands in the canon of extreme music, but their work constitutes an awesome athletic achievement. How does vocalist Jacob Bannon continue to shred his throat like that? How does guitarist Kurt Ballou dance across the fretboard like that? How many goddamn arms does that drummer have, anyway? To listen is to bear witness to a spectacle that seems more like sport than art, and it is a joy. CHRIS STAMM
YUNG LEAN, THAIBOY DIGITAL
(Hawthorne Theatre, 1507 SE CĂ©sar E. ChĂĄvez) Swedish rapper Yung Leanâs oozy, warped beats and Auto-Tuned vocals evoke an anxious comfort, like getting sleep paralysis, freaking out for a second, and then resigning to ride the wave of a waking dream. On 2017âs Stranger, Lean proves heâs more than a sad boy meme. The production is accented with lush keyboards, and his lyrics imagine a world that, while dreary and filled with heartbreak, is also full of friends and beautiful vistas in the distance (âRed Bottom Skyâ and âAgonyâ). CAMERON CROWELL
MONDAY 1/22
SPONTANEOUS COMBUSTION FESTIVAL: ORLANDO CELA
(The Old Church, 1422 SW 11th) Read our story on Spontaneous Combustion Festival.
EXCISION, LIQUID STRANGER, DION TIMMER, MONXX
(Crystal Ballroom, 1332 W Burnside) If youâve ever questioned the appeal of going to a show and watching a guy stand in one spot and play electronic music, you need to check out Excision. The Canadian producer/DJ uses elaborate video effects and lighting to turn his stage into a glowing, psychedelic playground that moves and changes in coordination with his hyper-aggressive dubstep and drum and bass. Sometimes Excision performs from inside a robot kitten. Sometimes heâs in a forest filled with dinosaurs. Sometimes heâs in a futuristic, fiery red DJ stand hurtling through space. But no matter what heâs up to visually, rest assured: black-and-white words on a page cannot do Excisionâs live show justice. You need to see it for yourself. Expect rat-tat-tat beats, chest-caving bass, lots of laser sounds, and an all-around feast for the senses. BS
TUESDAY 1/23
SPONTANEOUS COMBUSTION FESTIVAL: HUB NEW MUSIC
(The Old Church, 1422 SW 11th) Read our story on Spontaneous Combustion Festival.
EXCISION, LIQUID STRANGER, DION TIMMER, MONXX
(Crystal Ballroom, 1332 W Burnside) See Mondayâs preview.
