THURS FEB 13
Sango, Savon
Seattle-based DJ and producer Sango pulls from Brazilian funk, hip-hop, rap, and R&B to create sounds that get worked into your brain. His New Orleans bounce remix of Frank Ocean’s “Nights” keeps the melancholic mood of the original, but adds a beat you can throw your ass around to. It’s a masterwork. His “Thank You Weezy” track flips Lil Wayne’s “Cannon,” giving it a throbbing bassline and some soulful, pitched-up vocals. It has definitely saved my life at least a couple of times. Recently, Sango dropped a second album with R&B singer Xavier Omär, Moments Spent Loving You, and co-produced Grand Rapids rapper Waldo’s Grove. (Thurs Feb 13, 9 pm, 45 East, $17.50) JASMYNE KEIMIG
An American Quartet
Expand your idea of what the opera can be with this lineup of operatic one-acts, the plots of which sound like what you might encounter during an evening of flipping TV channels: A phone won’t stop ringing in The Telephone; intense feelings are shared over a game of cards in A Hand of Bridge; a spoof of a TV soap opera, complete with fake commercials, plays out in Gallantry; and a Julia Child recipe for the perfect chocolate cake is performed in Bon Appetit! (Thurs Feb 13, Thurs Feb 20, & Sat Feb 22, 7:30 pm, The Hampton Opera Center, sold out) BLAIR STENVICK
Eugene Chadbourne, Sun Foot
Eugene Chadbourne is the best kind of modern musician: fiercely talented and up for absolutely anything. That’s how the 66-year-old guitarist has amassed a discography comprised of somewhere around 1,000 releases that range from squalling free jazz to wobbly psych to spirited punk (one of his latest albums finds him playing Minutemen covers with New York rockers Sunwatchers) and beyond. That also means that Chadbourne is open to playing venues big and small, like the humble confines of Turn! Turn! Turn!, where he will be joined by equally daring local outfit Sun Foot for a night of blissful weirdness. (Thurs Feb 13, 9 pm, Turn! Turn! Turn!, $5) ROBERT HAM
FRI FEB 14-SUN FEB 16
Rx Fest
Benefitting some excellent and vital organizations—Outside In, the Q Center, P:ear, and Planned Parenthood—the second annual Rx Fest returns with a weekend full of promising shows at four easily walkable downtown venues: Dante’s, Kelly’s Olympian, Star Theater, and ye olde Mercury staff watering hole Valentine’s. And while good causes and good intentions count for a lot, this community-minded fest also brings the actual goods, with evening and late-night sets from a killer lineup that includes Bitch’n, Bridal Veil, Wet Fruit, Mr. Wrong, Fountaine, Tango Alpha Tango, and many more. (Fri Feb 14-Sun Feb 16, complete schedule at selfgroup.org, $10-35) ERIK HENRIKSEN
SAT FEB 15
Dylan LeBlanc, Sierra Ferrell
For years, Dylan LeBlanc has sort of been one of those secret singer-songwriter powerhouses that permeate the American South, even as bloggers burn pixels by the gallon to declare the death of rock. If there is any justice in the musical world, LeBlanc’s new album Renegade will push him further into the national consciousness. Produced by the current King Midas of country, Dave Cobb, and recorded in about 10 days, Renegade is a sturdy slab of buzzy Southern rock topped off with LeBlanc’s spectral tenor and a set of searing guitar leads. The end result is something like a swampier Neil Young, or Tom Petty steeped in soul music—good stuff that deserves attention from many ears. (Sat Feb 15, 9 pm, Doug Fir Lounge, $17-20) BEN SALMON
SUN FEB 16
Bob Desaulniers, Half Shadow, Saloli
When he’s not providing the liquid low end as bassist for post-punk lovelies Lithics, Bob Desaulniers explores the American Primitive landscape, guided by his fingerpicked acoustic guitar work. Tonight at Kenton record shop Speck’s, he will be performing live to celebrate the release of his latest solo effort Rose Water, which highlights his folk compositions that float with the pleasant calm found in Leo Kottke or Sarah Louise’s best work. Sharing the bill are two equally great local solo musicians—Half Shadow and Saloli—that provide a nice contrast to Desaulniers with their electric instrumentation and cosmic yearnings. (Sun Feb 16, 4 pm, Speck’s Records & Tapes, $5, all ages) ROBERT HAM
Tribute to Sade
It’s fitting that this tribute to legendary soul and smooth jazz singer Sade falls just two days after Valentine’s Day—even a quick listen to “By Your Side,” one of her most popular tracks, will fill you with a deep sense of sensual and emotional longing. Local singer LaRhonda Steele will join forces with Josephine Antoinette, Soul Cypher, and Deena B to pay tribute to Sade while putting their own bluesy spin on the music. This is a show that’ll be worth postponing your Valentine’s date a couple nights for—or for linking up with fellow romantically minded singles. (Tues Feb 16, 9 pm, Jack London Revue, $12-15) BLAIR STENVICK
The Frogs
Formed by brothers Jimmy and Dennis Flemion, the Frogs began self-releasing cassettes filled with nasty avant-folk songs in the ’80s, earning them a cult fanbase that included members of Smashing Pumpkins and Pearl Jam. Over the next 20 years, the Frogs’ music evolved into glam-adjacent racket that skirts the edges of good taste (see: “Pull a Kurt,” “Nipple Clamps,” or the simply titled “Fuck Off”). While Dennis died in 2012, Jimmy is keeping the Frogs alive with a reissue of their 1989 album It’s Only Right and Natural, and this tour which features fan and Lemonheads leader Evan Dando on drums. (Sun Feb 16, 8 pm, Mississippi Studios, $25-30) ROBERT HAM
Natasha Kmeto, Pleasure Curses
Electronic producer/vocalist Natasha Kmeto’s powerful, edgy voice commands a whole room. Her 2016 single “Pour Down” kind of reminds me of electro-pop from the early ’90s, and her newer, saxophone-laced single “Versus” (from her 2019 EP Verse/Versus) is retro-tinged as well, giving off some fabulous Annie Lennox vibes. Whether she’s performing her own catalog solo, or adding vocals and keys behind R&B outfit Chanti Darling, or DJing under the Nasty Tasha moniker, her live sets are always dope. Tonight provides a rare opportunity to catch her mesmerizing live act for free while cozying up with one of Rontoms’ excellent grilled cheese sandwiches. (Sun Feb 16, 9:15 pm, Rontoms, FREE) JENNI MOORE
Dr. Dog, Michael Nau
The indie rock boys of Dr. Dog say their latest album was the result of a collective existential crisis. Fortunately, that doesn’t mean that 2018’s Critical Equation turns the Philadelphia group’s joyful, contagious sound on its head. Instead, Dr. Dog’s 10th album weaves new lyrics about the pain of growth and change into a familiar flavor of orchestral, interstellar melodies—akin to the ones that brought the psych-folk group such fame in the last decade. The quartet will be joined by Michael Nau, lead singer/songwriter of indie folk group Cotton Jones, who recently released the solo LP Less Ready to Go. (Sun Feb 16, 8 pm, Roseland Theater, sold out, all ages) ALEX ZIELINSKI
MON FEB 17
Those Willows, Schaus, Blue Tomorrows
Portland singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Sarah Nienaber made a significant imprint on the local music scene in the last decade thanks to her roles in the shoegaze-rock and dream pop trio Candace and the psych-folk outfit Web of Sunsets. Her newly-minted solo project, Blue Tomorrows, continues this hot streak on the excellent debut, Without Color. The album’s hazy psych-pop packs plenty of atmosphere, with warm synths, strummed guitars, and steady percussion pulling the listener along for the ride. It’s a bit reminiscent of Painful-era Yo La Tengo, and it’s bound to sound extra special tonight. (Mon Feb 17, 8 pm, Doug Fir Lounge, $10-12) CHIPP TERWILLIGER
WED FEB 19
Dashboard Confessional
I passed many of my pre-teen hours lying on the floor of my room and gloomily yearning for the feelings that Chris Carrabba sang about. I probably also yearned for Chris Carrabba. The beautiful emo whines of Dashboard Confessional’s frontman infused my remarkably bland teenage romances with boys in skinny jeans with theatrical, heart-wrenching songs like “Hands Down” and “Screaming Infidelities.” (In retrospect, it’s concerning that lyrics written by a 30-year-old man from Connecticut resonated so deeply with a 15-year-old girl, BUT I DIGRESS.) To celebrate the 20-year anniversary of Dashboard’s debut album, Carrabba is coming to Portland to perform his top tracks and reopen the wounds of our collective teenage angst. (Wed Feb 19 POSTPONED TO MAY 22 , 8:30 pm, Crystal Ballroom, $35-38, all ages) ALEX ZIELINSKI
THURS FEB 20
Die Robot
The closest I’ve ever been to a real Daft Punk show was OMSI’s Kendall Planetarium, where Laser Daft Punk (and, to be fair, a good amount of cannabis) kept my dumb, dumb brain enthralled for the better part of an hour. Portland’s Die Robot share some DNA with Daft Punk—the thudding bass, the electronic labyrinths—but they’re rockier, shoutier, and a lot more industrial. For OMSI’s Kendall Concerts: Music Under the Dome series, Die Robot will be performing in the planetarium, where OMSI vows attendees will be overwhelmed with “stunning visuals in riots of color, shape, and movement.” (SOLD.) There’s just enough cyberpunky futurism in Die Robot’s discography (I’m partial to “Virtual Life” and “10.000 Years” from their latest, 2018’s Technopunk) to make good on the sci-fi promise of a planetarium concert, but Die Robot’s also willing to throw a wrench into the gears every once in a while; not many electro-industrial outfits would be brave enough to attempt a cover of CCR’s “Fortunate Son,” as the band did for Riveting Music’s 2019 compilation A Riveting Protest: A Tribute to the Music That Made America Pay Attention. (Thurs Feb 20, 8 pm, OMSI’s Kendall Planetarium, $15) ERIK HENRIKSEN
FRI FEB 21
Atmosphere, The Lioness, Blimes and Gab, Nikki Jean, DJ Keezy
West Coast hip-hop duo Blimes and Gab, the joint project of Seattle’s Gifted Gab and Los Angeles rapper Blimes, last came to town as one of the stunning supporting acts for Dodgr’s headliner debut at the Roseland. Tonight they’re back again to open up for legendary underground hip-hop duo Atmosphere and perform tracks like the bass-driven “Un Deux Trois” (which they recently dropped a super dope music video for). As always, they’ll succinctly demonstrate why they’re some of the leading voices in hip-hop’s resurgence of top-notch women MCs. (Fri Feb 21, 8 pm, Roseland Theater, sold out, all ages) JENNI MOORE
Carl Stone, Takako Minekawa
Two sonic groundbreakers arrive in Portland to celebrate the opening of new retail space Tone Poem and the work of PCC’s Music & Sonic Arts program. Carl Stone, a former student of synth pioneer Morton Subotnick, will offer up compositions that shatter and reconstruct samples of Afrobeat rhythms, Japanese traditional music, and maybe some familiar pop tunes. Takako Minekawa has dabbled in everything from jangly pop to immersive sound installations. Each will make full use of a quadraphonic speaker system that’ll surely make attendees feel like they’re inside a Tron-like universe of sparking transistors and potentially dangerous soundwaves. (Fri Feb 21, 7:30 pm, Leaven Community Center, $10, all ages) ROBERT HAM
The Lavender Flu
Portland-based band The Lavender Flu’s first two albums—Mow the Glass and Heavy Air—established the group as an expansive, spacey, and deliberative take on the classic garage-punk genre. Their new album Admiration for a Dancer (let’s take a moment to appreciate the poeticism of all three album titles here) comes highly recommended by Mercury Copy Chief and encyclopedic music writer Robert Ham. You can celebrate the release of that record—and eat a chili cheese dog—at Turn! Turn! Turn! (Fri Feb 21, 8 pm, Turn! Turn! Turn!, $5) BLAIR STENVICK
Terry Riley with Gyan Riley
Terry Riley’s first major work was 1964’s In C, a minimalist classic comprised of short musical phrases, the duration of each one depending on the whims of the players. It sounds like a recipe for chaos but the results are an enthralling swirl of polyrhythms and clashing tones. Riley has spent the past six decades searching for further sonic delights, including forays into jazz, ambient, and classical Indian music. Tonight, as part of the PDX Jazz Fest, he will be joined by his son, Gyan, for a performance of freeform wonder and joyful eccentricity. (Fri Feb 21, 10 pm, Winningstad Theatre, $39.50-49.50, all ages) ROBERT HAM
SAT FEB 22
Sudan Archives
Read our story on Sudan Archives (Sat Feb 22, 9 pm, Doug Fir Lounge, sold out)
Archie Shepp Quartet, Blue Cranes
Saxophonist Archie Shepp has played a role in every major development in jazz music during the ’60s and ’70s. He helped move bop into more modal territory; brought elements of Latin and African rhythms, as well as soul and gospel into the mix; added in a heated element of Afrocentrism; and took his compositions to the farthest extremes of free jazz. While his output and striving spirit has slowed over the past 40 years, the 82-year-old is still a strong player and a lucid improviser. His mere presence in Portland is exciting enough. Hearing this living legend perform feels nothing short of historic. (Sat Feb 22, 7 pm, Newmark Theatre, $39.50-69.50, all ages) ROBERT HAM
Bone Thugs-N-Harmony
Perhaps Cleveland, Ohio’s chief contribution to the history of hip-hop, the melodic rap stylings of Bone Thugs, now seem almost prophetic, with more rappers singing these days than actually rapping. The Eazy-E-signed quintet have undergone many changes and bumps along the way since their smash single “Crossroads,” releasing the album New Waves in 2017 with just Krayzie and Bizzy Bone. Expect to see the original lineup in full force, combining old-school lyricism and forward-thinking harmonies that will get any crowd going. (Sat Feb 22, 8 pm, Roseland Theater, $26.50-100) NICK ZURKO
MON FEB 24
Combo Chimbita, Sávila
Combo Chimbita takes great pride in their Latinx roots, as heard in the cumbia and merengue rhythms they build many of their songs around. On “Testigo” and “Te Ví,” from their latest album Ahomale, the core elements are the swishing sound of a guacharaca, a traditional Colombian percussion instrument, and drummer Dilemastronauta’s clambering playing, but everything surrounding it pulls from much different sources. The guitars are pure acid rock, and the synthesizer are borrowed from ’70s-era Cluster records. Elsewhere, the band pulls on strands of reggae and reveals the influence of heavy metal. Polish up your third eye and get ready to go on one hell of a journey. (Mon Feb 24, 9 pm, Doug Fir Lounge, $16-18) ROBERT HAM
Andy Shauf
Only Andy Shauf could find a flaw in his widely-acclaimed 2016 record The Party, which, in addition to collecting 10 gorgeous, Harry Nilsson-esque songs, explored multiple characters’ perspectives from the same gathering. In a Paste interview, Shauf explains the album was difficult to take on tour: “They were songs that I made in the studio, so trying to take them down to just a guitar and a voice seemed impossible.” With his new, somehow even more extraordinary The Neon Skyline, Shauf crafted simple, profoundly powerful folk tunes to do just that. Each song stands on its own, but together they describe an ordinary evening turned bittersweet when an old love resurfaces. By the end of the record you’re so intimately acquainted with memories of “Judy” that when she actually shows up in “The Moon,” you totally understand his weighted confusion. This record is like a Raymond Carver book. It puts you there. (Mon Feb 24, 8 pm, Revolution Hall, $20-25, all ages) SUZETTE SMITH
TUES FEB 25
Tituss Burgess
Read why this show is a critic’s pick! (Tues Feb 25, 7:30 pm, Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, $32–$112, all ages)
WED FEB 26
Siren and the Sea, Blossom, Snugsworth
Portland-based singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist Siren and the Sea (AKA Cristina Cano) makes a rich and progressive blend of art pop and swim wave that, yes, feels like a shimmering and overgrown underwater world of electronic drums, layered synths, pedal steel, and bass guitar. Talk about creating a sonic landscape! This is escapism at its finest. Her most recent full-length This Time with Feeling is a perfect example, and the chorus to her one-off 2017 single “The Wait” is ultra-relatable: “What do I do/What do I say?/Why do I hold my arms this way?” Tonight audiences can take a full plunge into her aquatic universe at this intimate headliner set at Mississippi Studios; neo-soul singer Blossom and production maestro Snugsworth offer weighty support to the bill. (Wed Feb 26, 9 pm, Mississippi Studios, $5) JENNI MOORE
John Cameron Mitchell
For a long time I thought that John Cameron Mitchell wrote Hedwig and the Angry Inch’s incredible show tunes. But when I asked him about it, he sighed, “That’s what Stephen Trask doesn’t like.” So now I notice Trask’s name high on any Hedwig playbill with appreciation for the songwriter that crafted this cache of catchy classics that get stuck in your head and just don’t quit. All that said, I still prefer Mitchell singing them to anyone else—did you see him singing “Moonage Daydream” in Shrill season two? What an ANGEL—and I obviously hang on his stories so this incredible two-for-one show is not to be missed! Origin of Love: The Songs and Stories of Hedwig is a little pricey, but it’s the damn 20th anniversary this year and Hedwig is the ’00s cultural equivalent of Huckleberry Finn! WHAT? COME AT ME. (Wed Feb 26, 8pm, Revolution Hall, $50) SUZETTE SMITH
Terrace Martin, Max Ribner, Saeeda Wright
Producer and musician Terrace Martin is a wildly talented hip-hop/jazz fusionist who’s likely helped make some of your favorite projects. (He heavily contributed to Kendrick Lamar’s To Pimp a Butterfly, for example.) A producer, singer, rapper, and multi-instrumentalist (playing sax, guitar, keys, bass, guitar, and percussion), it seems like Martin literally does it all. His Grammy-nominated sixth studio album Velvet Portraits is a gorgeous (if not underrated) venture that’s fully entrenched in R&B, jazz, and G-funk traditions: from the instantly grabby title track to the upbeat groove of “Push,” to the tender love song “With You,” which packs classic West Coast synths and near-perfect use of a vocoder. This album is *chef’s-kiss* terrific and the multi-talented Martin is poised to put on an even more impressive live set. Do not sleep on this man. (Wed Feb 26, 8 pm, Star Theater, $30-35) JENNI MOORE
