At the end of this week there's gonna be a whole buncha DINO-SAWRZZ! And that'll hopefully be pretty fun. But on the way to all the explosions and terrible lizards, there's a whole lot of other really fun stuff to do in the city, like learning some Brown Calculus, getting a visit from Reptaliens, basking in She | Divinity, and if you're a fan of classic film, you might as well bring a sleeping bag to the Academy Theater. It's a ton of stuff on the menu this week, hit the links below and load your plate accordingly.
Jump to: Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday
Monday, Jun 18
Sunflower Bean, The Paranoyds, Dr. Danny
Brooklynâs Sunflower Bean released their sophomore album, Twentytwo in Blue, earlier this year, expanding on their already nebulous rock ânâ roll. The scrappy trio skews grimy power-pop and witchy psychedelia into a new stew on tunes, like opening track âBurn It,â in which frontwoman Julia Cumming conjures specters of everyone from Joan Jett to Lita Ford. The band shapeshifts to deliver more easy-listening compositions like âI Was a Fool,â a jangly downer ballad that volleys vocals between Cumming and lead guitarist Nick Kivlen, giving wings to the bandâs multifaceted nature. Twentytwo in Blue ought to be one of those records that accompanies both your highs and lows this year and beyond, and tonight is your opportunity to check in on one of the more buzz-worthy bands of the late â10s. RYAN J. PRADO
7 pm, Lola's Room, $12-15, all ages
Paul Ortiz
The associate professor of history and the director of the Samuel Proctor Oral History Program at the University of Florida reads from An African American and Latinx History of the United States, an intersectional history chronicling the shared struggle for African American and Latinx civil rights.
7:30 pm, Powell's City of Books, free
The Muppets Take Manhattan
Of all the big-screen Muppet adventures, 1984's The Muppets Take Manhattan is the most uneven. But while the story (Kermit and company want to stage a Broadway musical) never quite takes off, even mediocre Muppetry is still a good time, and Manhattan boasts two legitimately great sequences: The wedding of Kermit and Miss Piggy (spoilers!) and the first-ever appearance of the Muppet Babies, whose adorability couldn't be contained in a single film and went on to become a beloved, award-winning Saturday morning cartoon. Also starring Dabney Coleman, who is first-rate.
4:40 pm, Academy Theater, $3-4
Community Service Project
Lend a hand by offering your labor to support building material recycling efforts at the ReBuilding Center. Whether youâre pulling nails from the depths of haggard 2x4s or sorting salvaged products, anything helps! Wear close-toed shoes and bring an appetite as youâll be rewarded with pizza and beverages afterwards. EMILLY PRADO
5:30 pm, Rebuilding Center
Vikesh Kapoor, Matt Dorrien
Though separated from genre-definers by a generation or two, Vikesh Kapoor carries the torch of working-class American folk music very well. MARJORIE SKINNER
9 pm, The Fixin' To, $5
Tuesday, Jun 19
Brown Calculus, Bryson Cone, Jean Nada
Cosmic soul duo Brown Calculus is one of Portlandâs most captivating acts. âSelf-Care,â the lead single off their Live at the Map Room EP is fantastic, and their shows are known for providing intimate, improvisational vibes, and guaranteeing a cathartic night out. Falling on Juneteenth, this wonderfully air-conditioned show will also celebrate both band membersâ June birthdays. JENNI MOORE
9 pm, Doug Fir, $8-10
Reptaliens, Okey Dokey, Shy Boys, Minden
Inspired by the transhumanist philosopher of the same name, Cole and Bambi Browningâs psychedelic 2017 debut as Reptaliens, FM-2030, is an album of disarmingly pleasant sunbeam-pop melodies that disguise the darker themes lurking underneath its caramelly guitar riffs and shimmering synth. Even the recordâs bubbliest moments feel a little offâlove songs like â29 Palmsâ verge on obsession, while standout track â666Busâ finds Bambi contemplating the potential that âMaybe Iâll get hit by a bus/While I was dreaming of falling in love/Or maybe Iâll fall in love and die of a broken heart.â FM-2030 feels like a purgatory between woozy daydream and nightmare, with constant references to Satan, mortality, and apocalyptic sci-fi, but thatâs what elevates its songs to creepy pop perfection. CIARA DOLAN
9 pm, Mississippi Studios, $10-12
Portland Pickles vs. Gresham GreyWolves
Our once-great nation can be a tricky place to be these days, mostly because itâs basically a pile of vomit thatâs been set on fire. HOWEVER! All Americans can agree our nation has created two perfect things: baseball and Jurassic Park. This week, these dual apexes merge with Portlandâs beloved collegiate baseball team, the Portland Pickles, facing off against the Gresham GreyWolves⊠on a night the Pickles promise will also celebrate â25 years of Jurassic Park.â WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?? Youâll have to turn up to find out, but Iâm guessing thereâll be a blaring Jurassic Park theme, some people in those inflatable T-Rex costumes, and maybe a swarm of real-life genetically resurrected pterodactyls that will swoop in and brutally massacre everyone. ERIK HENRIKSEN
7:05 pm, Walker Stadium, $7-13, all ages
Dirty Projectors, Still Woozy
David Longstreth and his shapeshifting indie rock act out of Brooklyn make their way back to Portland for an all-ages show supporting their forthcoming eighth studio album, Lamp Lit Prose.
8:30 pm, Wonder Ballroom, $25, all ages
Back to the Future Part II
Once upon the 1980s, a young Republican in a life-vest, with the help of his science friend, traveled back in time, where he had to prevent his motherâs sexual advances and instead steer her towards Crispin Gloverâs dick. He succeeded, but accidentally transformed the future into Planet Las Vegas, which sounds cool, but was actually kinda shitty. Even shittier? When this movie was written, the dystopian future on display was considered a satirical, way over-the-top farce featuring a disgusting, burnt-out America embodied by a caricature of Donald Trump that went too easy on the man by at least half. Back to the Future Part II was always the most mean-spirited film in the trilogy, sometimes aiming for fun but landing in teeth-on-tinfoil territory. Watching it in 2018? If it wasnât for the whole time-travel thing, you would swear this shit was a documentary. BOBBY ROBERTS
9:45 pm, Academy Theater, $3-4
Brown Hope Official Non-Profit Kickoff Party
After Brown Hope made global waves when they hosted the Reparations Happy Hour last month, theyâre amply equipped for their official launch. Join in on this community event open to all by listening to speakers and learning about their plans for community programs such as the Brown Hope Prize and the Peopleâs Assembly. Local businesses are showing their support with free food and beverages. EMILLY PRADO
6 pm, Unite Oregon
Sallie Tisdale
Pushcart Prize-winning author and essayist Sallie Tisdale returns with Advice for Future Corpses (and Those Who Love Them), offering her candid and humorous guidance on a delicate subject.
7:30 pm, Powell's City of Books, free
Plastic Weather, Star Club, Dan Dan, PennyMart
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.
8:30 pm, The Liquor Store, $5-10
Black Liberation Ride 2018
Cyclists of color are invited to partake in Pedalpalooza by celebrating Juneteenth at the annual Black Liberation bike ride hosted by JenĂ© Etheridge. Route is âshort and sweetâ with a few pit stops before ending at the lauded, Black-owned burger joint, Stoopid Burger EMILLY PRADO
6 pm, Irving Park, free
Les Misérables
Man there were a lot of sad people with beautiful singing voices in 19th-century France. Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönbergâs Tony Award-winning musical makes its way back to Portland for a full slate of shows at the Keller Auditorium.
7:30 pm, Keller Auditorium, $40-115
Wednesday, Jun 20
She | Divine: Summer Edition
Having just launched in March, Girl Festâs seasonal showcase She | Divine is off to a strong start. This monthâs summer edition spotlights three stellar (and seriously underrated) hip-hop and R&B artists. Hosted by Sarah G of WE 96.3, New York-bred singer/rapper/DJ Fritzwa headlines, while super-dope vocalist Scooty and emcee Raquel Divar beef-up the bill. Come behold these talented and beautiful women artists in the Doug Firâs ultra-comfortable basement. JENNI MOORE
9 pm, Doug Fir, $10
Mourn, Pray, Love, and Take Action
A vigil at Terry Schrunk Plaza as part of World Refugee Day, in honor and remembrance of the people being oppressed and victimized by our country's immigration laws.
6 pm, Terry Schrunk Plaza
Joan Shelley, Marisa Anderson
Joan Shelleyâs voice and songs are the most powerful force in folk music today. That doesnât necessarily mean the Kentucky singer/songwriter sells more albums, fills more seats, or makes more headlines than any of her contemporaries. But she should, because Shelleyâalong with her longtime guitar-wizard sideman, Nathan Salsburgâis responsible for two of the very best albums (in any genre) of the past five years. 2017âs Joan Shelley and 2015âs Over and Even are warm, patient, and beautiful works, where songs unfurl at front-porch pace, revealing immaculate arrangements and deceptively memorable melodies delivered at barely more than a whisper. Together, Shelley and Salsburg take simple ingredients and turn out something spellbinding. Folksingers who cross over into mainstream success are few and far between, but itâs easy to imagine Shelley doing it. BEN SALMON
8 pm, Mississippi Studios, $15-17
Pee-wee's Big Adventure
Remember when Tim Burton made good movies? Okay, that's probably a little un-generous, so lets try this instead: Remember when Tim Burton made fun movies? And fun as in "Oh, that's so childlike and delightful," and not fun as in "Hey, Batman just shoved six sticks of dynamite into a clown's nutsack." 1987's Pee-wee's Big Adventure was Burton's feature debut, and partnered with Paul Reubens at his best, an exquisite red bike, and an expert deployment of "Tequila," it was a big, deserved win. In the 30-plus years since both men have traveled a very potholed road but this look in the rearview at their sunshiny success is still pure smile fuel. BOBBY ROBERTS
9:15 pm, Academy Theater, $3-4
Melissa Broder
The poet and writer known for her popular Twitter feed "So Sad Today" reads from The Pisces, a novel about a woman who falls head over heels for an attractive and mysterious merman.
7:30 pm, Powell's City of Books, free
Unnatural Selection: Animal Evolution at the Hand of Man
Author and illustrator Katrina van Grouw heads up the latest installment of Science on Tap with a discussion of her new book, Unnatural Selection, which celebrates the 150th anniversary of Charles Darwin's The Variation of Animals and Plants under Domestication by expanding on his groundbreaking work.
7 pm, Alberta Rose Theatre, $8-15
Thursday, Jun 21
Floating Room, Helvetia
Tonight, Floating Room celebrates the release of False Baptism, the follow-up to their excellent 2016 debut Sunless. The album finds the Portland noise-pop outfit headed up by Maya Stoner, and Kyle Bates operating at the height of their powers, so take home a copy of the record after the show, and let the immense layers of whirring noise and piercing emotion wash over you long after the ringing in your ears subsides. CHIPP TERWILLIGER
9:30 pm, Bunk Bar, $10
serpentwithfeet, Katie Gately
The last time Serpentwithfeet (AKA Josiah Wise) played Portland was to open for Perfume Genius last year, and his performance nearly brought me to tears. Wiseâs brand-new debut Soil is full of gorgeous, monolithic songs that draw from orchestral pop, experimental R&B, and an aching tenderness thatâll play jump rope with your heartstrings. CIARA DOLAN
9 pm, Holocene, $13-15
Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom
Various Theaters, see Movie Times for showtimes and locations.
A Beat Happening: New Injuries, Figaro, Cheyne Queezy, See the King, Yaknowah, K.R.
Another showcase for the city's best beatsmiths, creating grooves, breaking beats, looping the loops, and generally remixing the night itself for a couple hours.
6 pm, Future Shock, free
Farm to Glass: Cider Week Kick-Off Event
Finnriver Farm & Cidery kicks off Oregon Cider Week at the Backyard Social with an interactive cider flight and happy hour that offers a behind the scenes glimpse into how Finnriver ferments as a certified organic, salmon safe farm and B Corporation.
6 pm, Backyard Social, $20-25
Steve Toutonghi, Pauls Toutonghi
Steve Toutonghi reads from Side Life, a science fiction novel about a down and out tech worker who takes a house-sitting job in a ultra-modern Seattle mansion that houses a mysterious basement lab. Toutonghi will be joined in conversation by Pauls Toutonghi, author of Dog Gone.
7:30 pm, Powell's City of Books, free
Trashcan Sinatras
The long-running Scottish alternative rock and indie pop outfit hit the Alberta Rose stage for a special acoustic performance of their first two albums, 1990's Cake and 1993's I've Seen Everything.
8 pm, Alberta Rose Theatre, $24-28
Don't forget to check out our Things To Do calendar for even more things to do!
