THURS FEB 14
Smokey Robinson and the Oregon Symphony
It’s Valentine’s Day, and the man behind some of the greatest love songs of all time is going to be within jogging distance of where you live. While Smokey Robinson’s unimpeachable credentials don’t need to be repeated here, let’s just quickly remind ourselves of some of the songs he’s given us: “You’ve Really Got a Hold on Me.” “I Second That Emotion.” “Tears of a Clown.” I mean, “Tracks of My Tears,” for crying out loud! There’s probably no other human in history who has so effectively used his craft to enhance our romantic experiences, and—again—he’s going to be here on Valentine’s Day, singing to you and your sweetie. If Smokey can’t help you seal the deal tonight, you should probably see a doctor. (Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, 1037 SW Broadway, 7:30 pm, $45-110, all ages) NED LANNAMANN
Chuck Inglish, Reva Devito, DJs Barisone, Lamar Leroy, Everyday Mixtapes This show is Reva DeVito’s Third Annual Valentine’s Day Jumper at Holocene, and it’s also one of the best Valentine’s Day events in town. In addition to her solo work, DeVito is one-half of Umii, her collaborative project with producer B. Bravo. In 2017, the duo put out a groovy album called This Time, with stellar singles like “Dangerous” and “Masquerade.” Though DeVito is playing this show on her own, it provides an opportunity to perform new material backed by a live band. Chuck Inglish of the Cool Kids will be playing a beat set, and supposedly will also perform a couple songs with Reva DeVito’s band. This is pretty much guaranteed to be a lovely evening, but what if the Last Artful, Dodgr showed up and performed her featured verse from Umii’s “Don’t Let Up (Remix)”? Whether you’re single or attached on February 14, this show is sure to leave you satisfied. (Holocene, 1001 SE Morrison, 8:30 pm, $10-12) JENNI MOORE
THURS FEB 14-SUN FEB 17
Make Portland Terrible Again!: Rllrbll, The Bugs, Awkward Energy, Michael Hurley, Sir Richard Bishop, Galen Ballinger, Jackie O Motherfucker, Pendejo, Camarillo Magic Factory, Sad Horse, Guillotine Boys, The Social Stomach, The Terminal Wasteband
Bar/venue/record shop Turn! Turn! Turn! has anchored the corner of North Williams and Killingsworth with an excellent live music calendar for half a decade now. And for their fifth anniversary, they’re hosting four nights’ worth of shows with some of the most adventurous music around, featuring performers like Jackie-O Motherfucker, Michael Hurley, Rllrbll, Sad Horse, Sir Richard Bishop, the Bugs, Guillotine Boys, and lots more. Come celebrate one of Portland’s most important venues and a local institution. (Turn! Turn! Turn!, 8 NE Killingsworth, 8 pm, $5-10/night, $20/four-night pass) NED LANNAMANN
FRI FEB 15
Ella Mai, Kiana Lede, Lucky Daye
The first time I learned of Ella Mai’s existence, she was captivating a Portland crowd while opening for R&B singer Kehlani back in 2017. I wasn’t familiar with her recordings, but I instantly loved the sound of her live vocals over hip-hop-infused production. Unsurprisingly, I was also drawn to her relaxed and sporty sense of style, expertly laid baby hairs, and overall adorable demeanor. Ella Mai’s low, sultry voice and catchy lyrics have garnered her widespread acclaim over the last year or so. If you’re a relatively new fan of the English singer, you’re probably familiar with her recent hits “Trip” and “Boo’d Up” (which won the Grammy for Best R&B Song of the Year). (Crystal Ballroom, 1332 W Burnside, 8:30 pm, sold out, all ages) JENNI MOORE
This Party Is Killing You: All Robyn All Night
Sweden! We don’t talk enough about Sweden. Well… actually, we probably do talk enough about Sweden. But we don’t talk enough about Sweden’s favorite daughter, Robyn, whose high-energy electropop has been some of the world’s finest since the late ’90s. (2005’s Robyn is still 10,000 percent perfect.) God bless Holocene, then, for hosting This Party Is Killing You: All Robyn All Night, which is exactly what it sounds like: All Robyn, all night. It will make all other dance nights sound like garbage. (Holocene, 1001 SE Morrison, 9 pm, $10-12) ERIK HENRIKSEN
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SAT FEB 16
The Last Artful, Dodgr, Karma Rivera, Maarquii, White Lotus
Save for a couple of singles and collabs, Portland artist the Last Artful, Dodgr has been fairly quiet music- and performance-wise as of late, but that’s pretty typical of someone working on their next big project. Last year Dodgy released “Win Is Enough,” one of the best songs to come out of Portland in 2018; was featured on “Casual,” the lead single from Chanti Darling’s RNB Vol. 1 project; and even graced Anderson .Paak’s Oxnard album by laying down vocals for “Anywhere” alongside Snoop Dogg. She hasn’t been playing around town much lately, so tonight these back-to-back shows are the place to be. And since the bill includes high femme rapper/singer Maarquii and fellow MC Karma Rivera, the level of lit-dom is gonna be off the charts. (Doug Fir, 830 E Burnside, all ages at 5 pm, 21+ at 9 pm, $12-15) JENNI MOORE
MON FEB 18
Miya Folick, Barrie
Music critics love making a lot of hay out of the fact Miya Folick was raised as a Jdo Shinsh Buddhist—a practice which obviously informs her thoughtful, meditative lyrics. But not enough is written about her sass! Her music—especially the songs from her latest release, Premonitions—thrum and soar thanks to her energetic soprano and bouncy, inventive pop orchestration. But a closer listen and read of her lyrics also shows how exceedingly clever and funny she is. In “Stop Talking,” which documents our universal need to go on and on about men who aren’t worth anyone’s time, Folick writes, “I generally don’t like to talk about the idiosyncrasies of an obvious fool/It’s clear to me he’s not worth your energy.” So yes, Folick is self-aware, but she also uses this awareness like a scalpel, cutting through the bullshit humans hold on to, and doing so with friendly, intelligent radio pop that’s full of empathy and fun. (Mississippi Studios, 3939 N Mississippi, 9 pm, $12-14) WM. STEVEN HUMPHREY
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MON FEB 18
CRITIC’S PICK: Kacey Musgraves, Soccer Mommy
To say Kacey Musgraves had a stellar 2018 would be an understatement. Her new record Golden Hour debuted at number four on the Billboard 200 chart, was included on countless music critics’ year-end lists, won Album of the Year at the Country Music Awards and the Grammys. Former boy band heartthrob Harry Styles—who recruited Musgraves to open for his 2018 solo tour—said, “It’s impossible to listen to her too much.” The world tends to agree. Last year Musgraves played shows from Sweden to Japan, putting her in an elite class of Nashville artists to break out of the South. It’s no wonder; Golden Hour is an impeccably paced album with infectious melodies and a refreshing lack of yee-haws. Opening track “Slow Burn” commands attention with simple but alluring layers of strings and vocals. “Happy & Sad” articulates that indescribable emotion of two opposite feelings at once, and “Lonely Weekend” addresses the need to balance a social life with proper self-care. While Musgraves’ twangy flair isn’t entirely lost on electro-pop tracks like “Velvet Elvis” and “High Horse,” she draws many different musical elements into her irresistible take on country. This will likely be the last time to see Musgraves before she starts headlining arenas, so catch her galloping across the US if you can—she’s already sold out nearly every show on her “Oh, What a World” tour, including her Portland stop at the Schnitz. (Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, 1037 SW Broadway, Mon Feb 18, 8 pm, $35-55, all ages) ANNA KAPLAN
WED FEB 20
The Chieftains
The Chieftains aren’t just any old Irish folk band. Formed in Dublin in 1963, their wistful instrumentals—built mainly around the harp and uilleann pipes, which are basically Irish armpit bagpipes—have helped Ireland’s traditional music reach a worldwide audience. The Chieftains have won six Grammys, worked on the Academy Award-winning soundtrack to Stanley Kubrick’s 1975 film Barry Lyndon, and have transcended genre by collaborating with a truly staggering number of popular musicians, from Sinéad O’Connor to Elvis Costello to Roger Daltrey to Madonna to Van Morrison (Irish Heartbeat!) to the Rolling Stones to Willie Nelson to Portland’s own Decemberists. The list goes on! Everybody wants to jam with the Chieftains because, as I’ve said before but will say again: The Chieftains are total hotshots. (Newmark Theatre, 1111 SW Broadway, 7:30 pm, $55-75, all ages) CIARA DOLAN
THURS FEB 21
Sharon Van Etten, Nilüfer Yanya
Sharon Van Etten just unveiled her first album of new material in five years, and it’s a peculiar masterpiece. Remind Me Tomorrow is uncomfortable and intense, with screeching synths and anxious rhythms, but there’s rough beauty in this chaos. It contains Van Etten’s best songwriting to date, from opening track “I Told You Everything” to closer “Stay” (where she admits, “I don’t know how it ends”). (Crystal Ballroom, 1332 W Burnside, 9 pm, $25-30, all ages) CIARA DOLAN
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FRI FEB 22
Poppy, Aviva
If the internet were able to have a child, it would be Poppy. A wispy platinum blonde with perfect Barbie features, Poppy is (in some circles) an internet sensation thanks to her sometimes baffling but always fun critiques of obsessive online culture. This is especially evident in her music, which features bouncy electro-pop beats set to lyrics in which she questions her gender, her eyelash length, and whether she’s human or machine. Let me put it this way: Poppy is a wildly successful walking parody of the cult of Kim Kardashian who never breaks character and performs danceable performance art… umm… that’s funny? Jeez! I’m sorry! I can’t explain it any better than that! (Wonder Ballroom, 128 NE Russell, 7:30 pm, $20-25, all ages) WM. STEVEN HUMPHREY
Anthony Sanchez Birthday and Benefit Show: The Chicharones, Vursatyl, Bad Habitat, Raise the Bridges, Trujillo, King Ghidora, Randal Wyatt, Eminent, Laryssa Birdseye, DJ Zone, DJ LadyX
Last month, Anthony Sanchez—founder of Runaway Productions and longtime supporter of the local hip-hop scene—was hospitalized after suffering a stroke and has been battling related health issues ever since. With a bill featuring some of Portland’s musical pillars, like hip-hop duo the Chicharones, rapper Vursatyl (of Lifesavas and, recently, Blackalicious), and Chicano rock band Trujillo, this show triples as a celebration of the 18th anniversary of Runaway Productions, Sanchez’s birthday party, and a fundraiser to help cover the cost of his medical expenses. (Star Theater, 13 NW 6th, 8 pm, $10) CIARA DOLAN
Mike Krol, Vertical Scratchers
“Sometimes I want the palm trees to lean so far that they break and crush me,” Mike Krol sings on “Blue and Pink,” echoing every sad sack who’s had to drag a lovesick head through an obnoxiously perfect LA day. The 10 other songs Krol’s fourth album, Power Chords, are similarly bright and stricken, as the garage-pop auteur uses his titular tools to dig into abandonment and heartbreak. Krol’s always cut the fizzy thrills of his succinct compositions with disarming earnestness, but he seems especially intent on skipping the formalities here—he’s hurting too much to hide his wounds. (Mississippi Studios, 3939 N Mississippi, 9 pm, $10-12) CHRIS STAMM
Pedro the Lion, Tomberlin
It’s only February, but there’s already a big favorite for 2019’s indie rock comeback of the year: Pedro the Lion, the full-band vehicle of renowned songwriter David Bazan. From 1998 to 2004, Pedro recorded four excellent albums of emo-tinged folk-pop songs about faith, politics, confusion, and self-doubt before Bazan shelved the name to record and tour as a solo act. But with the January release of Phoenix—the first Pedro the Lion album in 15 years—the beloved band is officially back. Phoenix finds Bazan as self-reflective as ever, wielding sturdier song arrangements and backed by a band that knows how to rock. (Revolution Hall, 1300 SE Stark, 9 pm, $25-30, all ages) BEN SALMON
SAT FEB 23
Teenage Fanclub, The Love Language
Scottish power-pop heroes Teenage Fanclub are still proudly making gloriously catchy, slightly bummed-out fuzz-rock songs, and thank heaven for that. Last year saw the reissue of their early albums and the departure of founding member Gerard Love, but with this year’s tour the Fannies have lost none of their power, keeping one eye on their marvelous and ever-growing back catalog, and the other eye toward the future. (Wonder Ballroom, 128 NE Russell, 9 pm, $20-22) NED LANNAMANN
SAT FEB 23-MON FEB 25
Marc-André Hamelin, Oregon Symphony
In my world, John Adams is not a former president, but a brilliant composer alive and well and living in northern California. Lucky for us, our hometown orchestra consistently champions his works, performing them with the crackling, virtuosic intensity they deserve. Tonight through Monday, the band presents Adams’ Doctor Atomic Symphony—a gem that explores the personal remorse of physicists who developed nuclear weapons, the horrors that struck Japan in 1945, and the lingering anxiety of atomic warfare in our present age. This evening’s program also includes a Rachmaninoff piano concerto, as well as Death and Transfiguration from Richard Strauss. (Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, 1037 SW Broadway, 7:30 pm, $24-130, all ages) BRIAN HORAY
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SUN FEB 24
Men I Trust, Michael Seyer
Men I Trust was one of the only dream-pop acts on the 2018 lineup for Tyler, the Creator’s music festival Camp Flog Gnaw, and the band later spilled that the rapper personally asked them to perform. The Canadian trio has remained independent of any record label or PR company since forming in 2014, and they produce, mix, and master their jingly melodies, smooth rhythms, and subdued vocals themselves. While Men I Trust spent the majority of 2018 sporadically releasing singles, they’re putting out a third album, Oncle Jazz, later this month. (Mississippi Studios, 3939 N Mississippi, 8 pm, $12-15) ANNA KAPLAN
Kris Kristofferson and The Strangers
Over 82 action-packed years, Kris Kristofferson’s seen a lot—he’s been a Rhodes scholar at Oxford, a helicopter pilot in the Airborne Rangers, a Highwayman (alongside buds Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, and Johnny Cash), a vampire slayer (his heroic deeds chronicled in the three Blade documentaries), an award-winning movie star in 1976’s A Star Is Born (SUCK IT, BRADLEY COOPER), and… oh yeah, one of the greatest singer/songwriters country music has ever seen. An eternal badass, Kristofferson is back on tour with a voice like honey-drenched gravel and a catalog that ranges from “Sunday Mornin’ Comin’ Down” to “Me and Bobby McGee” to “Help Me Make It Through the Night.” Listen up—unless you’re a vampire, in which case, watch out! (Newmark Theatre, 1111 SW Broadway, 8 pm, $44.50-69.50, all ages) ERIK HENRIKSEN
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MON FEB 25
The Decibel Tour: Cannibal Corpse, Morbid Angel, Necrot, Blood Incantation
The Decibel Tour has returned with a bludgeoning death metal bill for the ages that’s stacked with bands of the old guard and some champions from the new guard. Floridan legends Cannibal Corpse and Morbid Angel need no introduction; both tenured death metal titans released stellar new material in 2017, and both know how to dip into their back catalog to appease their bloodthirsty fans in a live setting. (Hate Eternal’s Erik Rutan will replace Cannibal Corpse guitarist Pat O’Brien on this tour, since O’Brien was recently arrested for burglary and assault while his own house caught on fire.) However, the real treats on this lineup are Oakland’s Necrot and Denver’s Blood Incantation. Within the last couple of years, Necrot has swiftly pushed themselves to the forefront of American death metal, and their 2017 LP Blood Offerings has enough hooks from which to hang a thousand corpses. Meanwhile, Blood Incantation widened the minds of all death metal fans with 2016’s Starspawn. Their brand of doom, mind-bending dissonance, and cosmic chaos will slowly rot you from the inside out. (Roseland, 8 NW 6th, 7 pm, $27.50-32, all ages) ARIS HUNTER WALES
Waxahatchee, Bonny Doon
Show up to the Aladdin tonight and you’ll have two opportunities to watch the guys from Bonny Doon play music. Later in the evening, they’ll be part of Waxahatchee, backing Alabama singer/songwriter Katie Crutchfield as she performs her endearing indie folk-rock songs. Before that, Bonny Doon will play an opening set of their own material, which sounds like a sleepy and countrified Pavement. (Or, to put it another way, like Silver Jews.) The Detroit quartet’s 2018 album Longwave is a collection of gorgeous tunes that are relaxed but confident, tastefully twangy and coolly melodic. They won’t charge their way into your brain, but they’ll hang out there longer than you expect. (Aladdin Theater, 3017 SE Milwaukie, 8 pm, $17-20, all ages) BEN SALMON
Partner, Dude York, Blushh
After taking a quick detour to release a holiday album in 2017, last month Dude York dropped a new EP called Happy in the Meantime, their first dose of new material in quite a while. The Seattle outfit has always been good at addressing tough subjects like money and mental illness under the guise of an excellent pop song, and this EP of riff-heavy anthems is no exception. Dude York are somewhat notorious for their live shows, which often include lead singer/guitarist Peter Richards running through the crowd, yelling, and shoving the microphone into people’s faces, eagerly asking them to do the same. (Holocene, 1001 SE Morrison, 8 pm, $13-15, all ages) ANNA KAPLAN
TUES FEB 26
H.C. McEntire, Jeffrey Martin
Mount Moriah frontwoman H.C. McEntire is a badass for many reasons: Her 2018 solo debut, LIONHEART, is a moving collection of ballads where Biblical imagery collides with pedal steel guitar and her punk ethos. McEntire collaborates with artists like Kathleen Hanna, Tift Merritt, and Angel Olsen. She’s also capable of completely transforming a song as iconic (and macho) as Led Zeppelin’s “Houses of the Holy” into something subtler and more restrained, but no less powerful. Released last month to accompany her essay “Witness” in Oxford American magazine, McEntire wrote that she “liked the supplemental context of having a queer feminist (me) as the narrator.” If you can’t catch her tonight, don’t worry—she’ll be back in August to play Pickathon. (Mississippi Studios, 3939 N Mississippi, 8 pm, $12-14) CIARA DOLAN
Sounds Like Portland: Amenta Abioto
I just can’t shut my trap when it comes to Amenta Abioto, whose work is a fluid combination of jazz, hip-hop, soul, and African music. Earlier this month the singer/songwriter released a gorgeous, mystical music video for her single “Plant It,” exploring themes of environmentalism, the connection between humans and nature, and manifesting your dreams. To see her perform live is a real treat—Abioto has been at the top of her game recently, having perfected her soul-stirring vocals, improvised song-construction, and spot-on comedic timing. Come see her play unreleased songs like “Kujichagulia,” “Wade,” and “Revolution,” and then start the countdown until her next show. (Portland Center Stage at the Armory, 128 NW 11th, FREE, 6:30 pm, all ages) JENNI MOORE
WED FEB 27
Sam Amidon, Sam Gendel
Folk musician Sam Amidon has too many talents to list: song collector, songwriter, interpreter, storyteller, multi-instrumentalist, surrealist comic, comics artist, and more. But perhaps Amidon’s greatest gift is his ability to synthesize all of these things into a sui generis mode of expression. He unearths ballads as old as dirt, then gives them modernist musical trappings; he contrasts reassuring, NPR-friendly melodies with throat-shredding sustained yawps; he carries the torch for the preservation of folk traditions while making his music as messy as possible with jazz, classical, avant-garde, and electronic elements. In other words, he’s one of a kind, and probably a genius, and a night spent with him is one that won’t be wasted. (Polaris Hall, 635 N Killingsworth Ct, 8 pm, $14-18) NED LANNAMANN
The Coathangers, Sadgirl
The Coathangers is what happens when you mix a garage punk mosh pit with a ’60s girl group. Dreamy! Get swept off your feet by this all-girl Atlanta band’s grungy vintage tunes and high-energy vibes. (Mississippi Studios, 3939 N Mississippi, 9 pm, $13-15) ALEX ZIELINSKI