SUPER PICK

ANNA BURCH
(w/Speedy Ortiz, Roseblood; Tues June 12 at Doug Fir, 830 E Burnside) After spending years playing with folksy indie bands like Frontier Ruckus and Failed Flowers (and backing Fred Thomas on his 2017 record Changer), Detroit “bummer pop” singer/songwriter Anna Burch released her solo debut Quit the Curse in February via Polyvinyl Record Co. Starting with breezy opening track “2 Cool 2 Care,” Burch delivers both emotionally earnest lyrics and detached witticisms that, like the songwriting of her current tour-mate Speedy Ortiz, recalls the wordplay of Liz Phair. But most of the sunny, windswept pop melodies on Quit the Curse bely the moodiness lurking beneath the surface, even as Burch tells a love interest, “You scare me with your indifference/I like you best when you’re a mess.” (It sounds a lot like Alvvays, but without the sailing and matrimony.) Although they’re very pretty, some of the songs are so similar, they end up blending together. Standout track “Belle Isle” is a welcome energy shift that soundtracks potentially self-destructive summer romance with nostalgic swoops of pedal steel, strummy guitar riffs, and lines about being “lovesick and sunburned.” Another highlight is the dazed lullaby “In Your Dreams,” along with closing track “With You Every Day,” which appropriately begins with a sigh. With her debut LP, Burch demonstrates her knack for writing guitar-pop hooks and lyrics that aren’t just vulnerable—they’re self-reflective, coalescing around her resolve to Quit the Curse. CIARA DOLAN

WEDNESDAY 6/6

SLEEP, BELL WITCH
(Roseland, 8 NW 6th) Any band that uses Orange amps and worships at the altar of Sabbath (too many to count) is likely to earn the stoner rock tag. While the term’s origins are debatable, Sleep’s 2003 cannabis opus Dopesmoker gave the trio a lock on the genre. It just so happens it was the last recorded output from Sleep until 2018 (guitarist/vocalist Matt Pike spends most of his time shirtless onstage with his other band High on Fire). Sleep sneakily (or maybe not-so-sneakily) released The Sciences on 4/20, picking up as if no time had passed. It’s a killer trip, and feels just as vital as Dopesmoker did 15 years ago in a completely different musical landscape. With songs like “Marijuanaut’s Theme” and “Giza Butler,” it’s definitely still safe to call Sleep stoner rock. But they’re so much more. MARK LORE

JULIA JACKLIN Thurs 6/7 Revolution Hall Nick McKinlay

THURSDAY 6/7

THE THESIS: FRITZWA, ESO.XO.SUPREME, YNN PERALTA, VERBZ
(Kelly’s Olympian, 426 SW Washington) A new month means it’s time for another deep-dive into the exploding Portland hip-hop scene with the Thesis! This monthly show is crazy-popular and for good reason: the lineup is consistently top-notch, and this go-round is no different. Expect the jazzy-cool stylings of Fritzwa (who hails from NYC and is killing it here), the mellow auto-tuned bangers of Eso.XO.Supreme, chill vibes from singer/dancer YNN Peralta, and as always, dependable spins from the Thesis house DJ, Verbz. Miss at your own peril. WM. STEVEN HUMPHREY

HOLOCENE’S 15TH BIRTHDAY: MANATEE COMMUNE, TRIBE MARS, DJ CHANTI DARLING, DJ BOBBY D
(Holocene, 1001 SE Morrison) Located in a converted auto-parts warehouse, Holocene has become vital to the local music scene—but the Southeast stalwart is also known for its themed dance nights, and regularly booking rising stars from across the country and beyond. Tonight Holocene celebrates 15 years in the business with a night of free and local live music. Electronic producer Manatee Commune headlines, with support from celestial funk outfit Tribe Mars and a DJ set from Chanti Darling. Get there early, order one of their boozy slushies, and enjoy yet another expertly curated lineup. JENNI MOORE

TORY LANEZ Thurs 6/7 Roseland Mid Jordan

TORY LANEZ, FLIPP DINERO, DAVO
(Roseland, 8 NW 6th) Ever since dropping his hit single “Say It,” Canadian rapper/singer Tory Lanez has become something of a sensation. In 2017, his dancehall track “Luv” even garnered him a Grammy nod (and seriously, check out the remix featuring Sean Paul). Lanez released his second studio album Memories Don’t Die earlier this year, a follow-up to 2016’s excellent I Told You. If you gravitate toward genre-fluid artists, or love the euphonious intersections of hip-hop, R&B, and dancehall, you’re pretty much guaranteed to find a few gems in these 18 new tracks. JM

CALEXICO, JULIA JACKLIN
(Revolution Hall, 1300 SE Stark) On her charming 2016 debut Don’t Let the Kids Win, Australian alt-country singer/songwriter Julia Jacklin reflects on getting older and gaining an appreciation for the sacrifices of parents. Across 11 tracks Jacklin invokes Angel Olsen’s powerful, smoky vibrato for inspiration, but with playful, sometimes goofy lyrics that are distinctly her own. I caught her at Pickathon last year and was totally sold after her lovely set at the Lucky Barn. The slow build of twangy standout “Leadlight” is proof that Jacklin’s capable of great things, and definitely worth watching in the years to come. CD

CHUCK WESTMORELAND, ROSELIT BONE, AN AMERICAN FORREST
(Mississippi Studios, 3939 N Mississippi) On the cover of Chuck Westmoreland’s new record Long Winter Rodeo, the Louisiana-born, Portland-based country singer stands alone with a microphone in the middle of a darkened gravel road, illuminated by headlights. “A lot of the songs on the record are about someone being stuck in a place they don’t want to be or having to leave a place they love,” Westmoreland recently told The Bluegrass Situation. “There are a lot of moments on the record where someone is either one step away from total disaster or they’ve just crossed the line into that disaster.” Standouts include “Mama Be Eternal” and the catchy opening track “Sharp Rocks,” which find Westmoreland excelling at his role of wistful storyteller. He’ll celebrate the release of his sophomore album tonight at Mississippi Studios with likeminded local bands Roselit Bone and An American Forrest. CD

(SANDY) ALEX G Fri 6/8 Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall Tonje Thilesen

FRIDAY 6/8

YOB
(Music Millennium, 3158 E Burnside) Read our story on Yob.

DR. DOG, (SANDY) ALEX G
(Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, 1037 SW Broadway) The cavernous Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall might be an odd place to see experimental guitar pop master (Sandy) Alex G when he opens for Dr. Dog tonight, given the Philadelphia musician’s origins uploading DIY bedroom recordings to Bandcamp. But it also could be the perfect venue for the sprawling, rootsy songs from his last record, 2017’s Rocket, which feature recurring characters with multi-album story arcs and unexpected instruments like violin and saxophone. Time will tell, but I sincerely hope he performs the album’s strange, pummeling hardcore track “Brick” on that big fancy stage. CD

TREEPEOPLE, THE PRIDS, THE LONELY CHILDREN
(Mississippi Studios, 3939 N Mississippi) On June 20, 1991, Portland’s Melody Ballroom hosted a pretty significant show, with newly minted major-label weirdos Dinosaur Jr. in the headlining slot, up-and-coming “grunge” band Nirvana as main support, and Seattle punks Treepeople opening the night. Shortly thereafter, Treepeople guitarist Doug Martsch left to form his own Boise-based group, Built to Spill, with whom he still slays in an indie guitar-pop-jams sort of way. Shortly after Martsch left, Treepeople closed up shop, seemingly for good. But a few years ago, Martsch and his old mates got back together to play Treepeople songs at Treefort Music Fest in Boise, and they were motivated to practice and play some “real” shows, per Martsch. Two of those shows happen in Portland this weekend. Expect noisy, jumbled, fuzzed-out, punky alt-rock threaded with Martsch’s distinctive sense of melody. See you there, old Northwest heads. BEN SALMON

NATASHA KMETO Sat 6/9 Doug Fir Rebekah Long

SATURDAY 6/9

TREEPEOPLE, THE PRIDS, THE DELUSIONS
(Mississippi Studios, 3939 N Mississippi) See Friday’s preview.

SUGARLAND, BRANDY CLARK, CLARE BOWEN
(Moda Center, 1 N Center Court) The first big tour from country duo Sugarland is called “Still the Same.” That’s also the title of the first single from their forthcoming album Bigger. But it feels more like a reminder (or even a plea) for their fans: Jennifer Nettles and Kristian Bush may have put the project on ice in 2012 to work on solo endeavors and raise families, but now that they’ve reunited, nothing has changed. One spin of the tracks that Sugarland has released so far, including a duet with Taylor Swift, should put any worries to bed. Nettles and Bush still truck in the big choruses, heartfelt lyrics, and musical dramatics that pushed earlier singles like “Stuck Like Glue” and “It Happens” into heavy rotation on country radio. Sugarland’s journey back onto the charts looks like it might be a steep climb, but the path seems pretty clear. ROBERT HAM

DRAMA, NATASHA KMETO, CHANTI DARLING
(Doug Fir, 830 E Burnside) Na’el Shehade and Via Rosa definitely live up to the name Drama, but the Chicago duo creates it with subtlety. Shehade’s beats aren’t overbearing, and instead hang mystically behind Rosa’s supple vocals. The project’s mellow dramatics could score both late-night dance parties and solitary introspection. It’s Drama’s first time playing in Portland, and with the always excellent Natasha Kmeto and Chanti Darling rounding out the bill, Doug Fir is guaranteed to be a hotspot for some smooth and sensual vibes. CERVANTE POPE

SUNDAY 6/10

A HAWK AND A HACKSAW, LUZ ELENA MENDOZA
(Mississippi Studios, 3939 N Mississippi) Forest Bathing, the new album from Neutral Milk Hotel drummer Jeremy Barnes’ project A Hawk and a Hacksaw, explores American and Eastern European folk music and fuses both traditions with 10 instrumental tracks. Tonight’s your chance to experience these immersive sounds live, and it’s also an opportunity to see Y La Bamba frontwoman Luz Elena Mendoza perform solo. CD

MONDAY 6/11

JONATHAN RICHMAN
(Aladdin Theater, 3017 SE Milwaukie) With a conversational vocal style and a wide-eyed worldview, Jonathan Richman writes songs that are deceptively simple and utterly heartwarming. The former Modern Lover plays stripped-down acoustic sets backed solely by drummer Tommy Larkin, but don’t worry about him getting swallowed up in the large Aladdin Theater—Richman has a way of making even the biggest show sound wonderfully intimate. NL

KEN VANDERMARK AND NATE WOOLEY
(The Old Church, 1422 SW 11th) PDX Jazz has played it pretty safe over the past five years or so, sticking to tried-and-true jazz artists who color within the lines of bop, blues, and swing, with occasional flare-ups of more challenging fare. This year, however, has seen the organization stretching into the realm of the experimental with some daring bookings, like this upcoming show featuring trumpeter Nate Wooley and reed instrument master Ken Vandermark. The two men have been in each other’s orbits for decades, connecting most recently on 2015’s East by Northwest, a collection of live duets that finds the players syncing up for short stretches before taking off on circuitous flights of solo fancy. At moments, it can be sweet and tender, but just as quickly, their playing can become barbed and unbound. RH

ICEAGE, MARY LATTIMORE
(Mississippi Studios, 3939 N Mississippi) By all accounts, Beyondless—the new album from Denmark’s ambitious punk band Iceage—is an artistic triumph. And that’s probably true: Iceage is good. But don’t let the relative quietude of tonight’s opening act fool you into a chit-chat with friends near the back of the venue. Mary Lattimore is an in-demand harpist who’s played with big names like Kurt Vile and Sharon Van Etten, and she’s also a composer who experienced something of a breakthrough with her 2016 album At the Dam. But it’s her new one—Hundreds of Days—that captivates in current times. Inspired by her move from Philly to California and powered by an artistic residency on the Pacific Coast, Hundreds of Days finds Lattimore experimenting with vocals, keyboards, guitars, and theremin, building gorgeous and airy songs around her mastery of the 47-string harp. It’s a positively spellbinding listen, so go to the show ready to be entranced before you dance. BS

SPEEDY ORTIZ Tues 6/12 Doug Fir Shervin Lainez

TUESDAY 6/12

SPEEDY ORTIZ, ANNA BURCH, ROSEBLOOD
(Doug Fir, 830 E Burnside) With big, woozy guitar riffs and wry, Liz Phair-esque lyrics, Speedy Ortiz’s new album Twerp Verse delivers plenty more of what fans love. But the album’s rollercoaster melodies scramble the climactic indie-rock song formula for something that’s altogether more immersive, especially on tracks like “You Hate the Title.” CD Also read our Anna Burch super pick.