If you're looking to learn a little while you laugh a lot, this last full week of January has you covered: The Book of Mormon returns to Portland, Revolution Comedy helps take the fight for equality into 2018, and political podcast du jour Lovett or Leave It hits town in grumpy, sardonic style. If you prefer your humor more on the dumb-as-a-post-but-larfs-a-plenty-anyway side of things, Adam Sandler (and friends) and Bert Kreischer are both in town too. And that's not even getting into all the quality music hitting local stages. It's a busy week below; hit the links and load your plate accordingly.
Jump to: Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday
Monday, Jan 22
Ladysmith Black Mambazo
Even if youâve never heard the name Ladysmith Black Mambazo, you may well have heard them sing. The South African vocal ensembleâs place on Paul Simonâs seminal 1986 album Graceland launched a globe-trotting career thatâs included four Grammies. This breakthrough also embroiled the group in the controversy surrounding Graceland, given that Simon had broken the cultural boycott imposed on the apartheid regime by the rest of the world. This seems a bit overwrought in hindsightâafter all, championing black artists performing traditional mbube vocal music isnât exactly tacit support for South Africaâs segregationist government, and Ladysmith Black Mambazo have since become among the countryâs preeminent cultural ambassadors. Besides, whatâs more egregious is Gracelandâs absurdly exaggerated â80s production, which Ladysmithâs performances are presumably free of these days. NATHAN TUCKER
7:30 pm, Aladdin Theater, $35
Carmen Maria Machado, Elissa Wald
Carmen Maria Machado followed an unusual trajectory to reach me: I casually opened her collection Her Body and Other Parties, and it lit me on fire. Iâve experienced this with only a handful of writers whose creativity and language are so fearless and whose images are so specific and unusual that they carry heavier metaphorical resonance than something more homogenized. Machado makes the reader break out into fits of laughter and say to their friends, âCome on. Listen to this part.â Your friends will not want to. They should anyway. SUZETTE SMITH
7:30 pm, Powell's City of Books, free
Revolution Comedy
If you need a reason for a good time, donât miss Revolution Comedyâs monthly stand up showcase that promotes a very worthy cause. This month the show (hosted by Andie Main) will benefit Race Talksâwhich supports interracial and cross-cultural discussionâand feature an outstanding roster of laff-makers including David Mascorro, Thomas Lundy, Kate Murphy, and Portlandâs funniest person Caitlin Weierhauser! Itâs a perfect opportunity to do something good, and get a lot of fun out of it. WM. STEVEN HUMPHREY
7 pm, Curious Comedy, $5-15
Hemingway, Cool American, Wayside Ghost, Pulsing Death
A pair of Portland's premiere punk and indie rock outfits lead the charge on an all-ages bill at Black Water Bar that's guaranteed to wash away even the worst case of the Mondays.
7 pm, Black Water Bar
Walidah Imarisha
The author, scholar, and community organizer delivers a talk on Afrofuturism and Oregon's role in helping build a racially just future.
7 pm, PSU's Smith Memorial Student Union, free
Excision, Dion Timmer, Liquid Stranger, Monxx
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. BEN SALMON
8 pm, Crystal Ballroom, $50-60
Supercop
Meet the cop... that can't be stopped!
9:40 pm, Laurelhurst Theater, $3-4
Tuesday, Jan 23
Adam Sandler
Do you think he'll do the song about Hanukkah? Oh, oh, maybe he'll tell the story about looking at his own anus in the bathroom mirror! OH, do you think he'll do the bit about the talking goat who gets beat up by a drunken farmer? So many classics!
8 pm, Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, $75-250
The Book of Mormon
Take it from someone who hates musicals: The Book of Mormon is fucking great. Trey Parker and Matt Stone's Broadway hit returns to Portland for a week, starting tonightâand if you couldn't score tickets last time around, here's your chance to try again. It'll be worth it. ERIK HENRIKSEN
7:30pm, Keller Auditorium, $40-75
Ralph Carney: Carneyval
An array of artists pay their respects to the late composer and multi-instrumentalist Ralph Carney, known for his collaborations with Tom Waits, the B-52's, Elvis Costello, Galaxie 500, Jonathan Richman, and countless others, along with his own solo output. Recently, Ralph collaborated with his nephew Patrick Carney (The Black Keys) on the theme music to the acclaimed Netflix series, BoJack Horseman, and had been performing locally in a range of musical projects.
8 pm, Mississippi Studios, free
Mingus Dynasty
An evening with the long-running 7-piece ensemble formed in 1979, just after the death of Charles Mingus, and whose namesake is taken from the jazz legend's 1959 album.
7:30 pm, Revolution Hall, $10-35
Kung Fu Theater: Shogun Assassin
This monthâs installment in Dan Halstedâs ongoing celebration of all things whoop-ass is a rare 35mm print of Shogun Assassin, a cinematic mixtape of the Lone Wolf and Cub seriesâ greatest hits, cut to minimize early â80s art-house vibes and maximize English-dubbed blood ânâ guts mayhem that viscerally impacted impressionable minds such as RZA and the GZA, who used the film as a loose framework to build the all-time classic Liquid Swords around. So even if you havenât seen this movie, youâve heard this movie. Bear witness as the ruckus gets brought on a long, bloody road to hell. BOBBY ROBERTS
7:30 pm, Hollywood Theatre, $7-9
Krizz Kaliko, Slo Pain, Izzy Dunfore
Kansas City hip-hop fixture and Strange Music-signee Krizz Kaliko headlines the Analog with his soulful and genre-bending sounds at the Portland stop on the "Talk Up On It" tour.
6 pm, The Analog Cafe & Little Theater, $17-25
Anna Tivel, Robinson & Rohe
One of Portland's best singer/songwriters brings her lyric-driven folk and Americana out to the Laurelthirst Pub for an intimate hometown show supporting her acclaimed 2017 album, Small Believer.
9 pm, LaurelThirst Public House, free
Wednesday, Jan 24
Portland Trail Blazers vs. Minnestota Timberwolves
The rising stars and veteran backbone of the Minnesota Timberwolves have the team well positioned to end the franchiseâs 13-year playoff drought, and in doing so, theyâve established themselves as one of the leagueâs elite teams. Tonight the Blazers will be eager to avenge a recent lopsided loss in Minneapolis and prove that they can go toe-to-toe with the best in the West. CHIPP TERWILLIGER
7 pm, Moda Center, $14-315, all ages
Luna
Singer and guitarist Dean Wareham brings his beloved post-Galaxie 500 group back out on the road in support of A Sentimental Education, the band's first new album since 2004's Rendezvous.
8:30 pm, Wonder Ballroom, $30-35
Josh Ritter & The Royal City Band, NIcki Bluhm
The Moscow, Idaho born and raised singer/songwriter brings his sweet and heartfelt blend of storytelling-driven Americana to the Crystal Ballroom stage for the Portland stop on a tour supporting his latest full-length, Gathering.
8 pm, Crystal Ballroom, $35-37.50, all ages
Circuit des Yeux, Lori Goldston
Chicago-based vocalist, composer, and producer Haley Fohr brings her acclaimed experimental folk project, Circuit des Yeux, back to Portland for a headlining show supporting her latest EP, Reaching For Indigo.
9 pm, Mississippi Studios, $12-14
Campfires, Scorch
The jangly, murky tunes of Campfires are the sound of waking up from a dream and humming a forgotten pop masterpiece that slips further away with every waking second. NED LANNAMANN
8 pm, White Owl Social Club, free
Wayfinder Brewers Dinner
A five course meal from Chef Ryan Day, in collaboration with brewmaster Kevin Davey, featuring perfectly paired beverages chosen for their ability to enhance the flavors of menu items like roasted pork knuckle, red trout schnitzel, borscht, and beer donuts.
7 pm, Wayfinder Beer, $60
Thursday, Jan 25
Lovett or Leave It
Of all the dudes who work at Crooked Media, the millennial answer to Air America, Jon Lovettâwith his bad attitude, whiny jokes, and refreshingly realist perspectiveâis my favorite. Crooked Media has no shortage of employees named Jon, but trust me: Lovett is the best. His show, Lovett or Leave It, is like Jake Tapper's furrowed brow in podcast form, which is to say itâs beautiful and necessaryâand it's coming to Portland in all its cranky glory. MEGAN BURBANK
9 pm, Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, $25-55, all ages
Passion Pit
I remember when Passion Pit played Sasquatch in 2010, because none of my cool, music-festival-frequenting friends would stop talking about it afterward. After listening to hits like âSleepy Headâ and âLittle Secrets,â I quickly understood what all the fuss was about. Thatâs why I didnât hesitate to see the band at the Crystal Ballroom a couple years later, and I got to hear all the shimmering complexities and heart-pounding goodness of Passion Pitâs indietronica IRL. Consisting solely of Michael Angelakos, Passion Pit released its fourth studio album Tremendous Sea of Love in 2017. A backing band with heavy synth will join him live. JENNI MOORE
8 pm, Roseland, $35-45, all ages
John Maus, Holy Shit
Youâll either love or hate the music of John Maus. In his songs, Maus muses about teen witches, killing cops, and pet death, singing in a detached baritone that makes him sound like the reclusive overlord of some remote gothic castle. His latest album, 2017âs Screen Memories, expands his colossal, baroque synth-pop compositions. CIARA DOLAN
9 pm, Revolution Hall, $15
Bert Kreischer
Bert is one of the most naturally funny people working today, and if youâre up for a night of pure entertainment Iâd definitely check him out at Helium (and bring a few bucks in case he does a raffle for the waitstaff). I saw him there when he came by last year, and heâs a blast. If you donât know him, watch his âThe Machineâ bit that went viral last year on Facebook and YouTube to get a sense of what heâs like (often shirtless, always funny). If youâve got more time, listen to any podcast he does with comics Tom Segura, Ari Shaffir, or Joe Rogan. DOUG BROWN
8 pm, Helium Comedy Club, $30-35
Rex Burkholder
Rex Burkholder reads from the revised and updated edition of The Activist's Toolkit, sharing an array of shrewd advice gained from over four decades years of civic activism.
7:30 pm, Powell's Books on Hawthorne, free
Nashville
Perhaps the most quintessentially Altman-esque film that the director left behind, Nashville is a tremendously ambitious (and successful) film about normal people in America. The country music capital serves as an opportunity-filled stage for the two dozen or so main characters, all of whom are connected in some form to both the sequined and sentimental music scene and the political convention taking place at the Nashville Parthenon. Typical of Altmanâs ensemble films, the characters frequently know each other, or at least hang out at the same spots, even if those connections donât directly serve the narrative. This was part of Altmanâs genius; much like his overlapping dialogue technique, he strove to approximate reality more closely by allowing us to see familiar faces in the background of shots, or to simply let more than one person speak at the same time. His âthe more the merrierâ approach to directing was the perfect vehicle for his deeply humane and humorous outlook on life, which, like country songs and campaign speeches alike, feels both hopeful and phony at once. CHAS BOWIE
7:30 pm, Hollywood Theatre, $7-9
Surfer Blood, Terry Malts
Question for you to ponder while you jam out at Mississippi Studios tonight: Did Florida slacker-rock aficionados Surfer Blood adopt that name with the intent of menacing their home state's surfers? Or does the blood of surfers course through their veins?
9 pm, Mississippi Studios, $15-18
Anti Flag, Stray from the Path, The White Noise, Sharptooth
Anti Flag blends typical melodic guitar riffs with so much energy, it gives you palpitations just thinking about it. JULIANNE SHEPHERD
7 pm, Hawthorne Theatre, $18.50-22
Meshuggah, Code Orange, Toothgrinder
The long-running Swedish band bring their extreme blend of technical metal back across the pond for a North American tour supporting their latest full-length, The Violent Sleep of Reason.
7:30 pm, Crystal Ballroom, $32-35
Don't forget to check out our Things To Do calendar for even more things to do!
