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Friday, Sept 20
Joe Mande
Comedian and writer Joe Mande made a name for himself trolling celebrities and corporations on Twitter, but now that heâs denounced the platform, youâll need to seek out his sharp tongue and relatable wit through other channels. His Netflix debut, Joe Mandeâs Award-Winning Comedy Special, is a great place to start, as is his work on the brilliant NBC fantasy sitcom The Good Place, but why not get acquainted in person tonight when he brings his "King of Content" Tour to the stage at Mississippi Studios. (Fri Sept 20, 8 pm, Misssissippi Studios, $16-20) CHIPP TERWILLIGER
Oaks Park Oktoberfest
No need to travel to Munich, weâve got our very own Oktoberfest here in Portland. Head to Oaks Park for a weekend celebration of German culture with authentic food and delicious Paulaner beer, polka bands, Bavarian dancing, games, a whole bunch of venders, and good family-friendly fun hosted by the German American Society of Portland. (Sept 20-22, Fri 4 pm, Sat-Sun 11 am, Oaks Amusement Park, $3-6, all ages)
Poison Idea, Long Knife, Magick Gardens, Toody Coole
Itâs 2019. Poison Idea has survived. They arenât on the Punk 101 syllabus with Black Flag and Dead Kennedys and other best-selling patches, but their work on Pick Your King definitely deserves a place there. In fact, Pick Your King and the records that followed might be some of the better gateway drugs for kids getting curious about the hardcore canon, because Poison Idea hasnât become iconic in a way that distorts their legacy. They donât have a logo that has been parodied to death or appear in every single documentary about anything even tangentially related to punk rock. They are not synonymous with a movement or style. They are simply Poison Idea, an incredible hardcore band, and thatâs all they ever had to be. Now, nearly 40 years after forming, theyâre calling it a career and playing one last Portland show. 2015âs stellar Confuse and Conquer offered convincing proof that they could probably do this forever, but theyâve done more than enough. RIP Poison Idea. Long live hardcore. (Fri Sept 20, 9 pm, Dante's, $20-25) CHRIS STAMM
Hot Chip, Holy Fuck
The renowned English electro-pop outfit heads up a sweaty Friday night dance party at the Roseland in support of their latest album, A Bath Full Of Ecstasy. (Fri Sept 20, 9 pm, Roseland, $29.50-35, all ages)
Big Desi Energy
Big Desi Energy finds NYC-via-Dallas comedian Akaash Singh (Wildân Out, Brown Nation) linking up with New Jersey's Danish Maqbool to serve up a double dose of stand-up at the Curious Comedy Theater. (Fri Sept 20, 9:30 pm, Curious Comedy Theater, $15)
Saved by the Bell: 30th Anniversary Celebration
Saved By the Bell is turning 30, and the Siren Theater is celebrating the occasion by transforming into the Peach Pit for the night and hosting an array of comedy, music, spoken word, and storytelling inspired by the beloved sitcom. (Fri Sept 20, 8 pm, Siren Theater, $10-15)
RISK!/The Mystery Box Show
One of the greatest podcasts of our time is Risk!, in which hilarious host Kevin Allison (formerly of The State) inspires his guest storytellers to share true, mortifying, and funny tales they were too scared to tell anywhere else. (Fri Sept 20, 9 pm, Revolution Hall, $20, all ages)
Acid King, Witch Mountain, Wizard Rifle, Warish
The long-running stoner metal band out of San Francisco swing through Portland to headline the second-night of NW Hesh Fest and celebrate the 20th anniversary of their 1999 album, Busse Woods, with Portland's own Witch Mountain, Wizard Rifle, and Warish on hand to round out the proceedings. (Fri Sept 20, 9 pm, Star Theater, $20)
Flogging Molly, Social Distortion, The Devil Makes Three, Le Butcherettes
California-based punk-rock veterans Flogging Molly and Social Distortion join forces for a co-headline tour that swings through the Memorial Coliseum along with support from Santa Cruz favorites The Devil Makes Three and Mexican garage punks Le Butcherettes. (Fri Sept 20, 6 pm, Rose Quarter Memorial Coliseum)
Little Shop of Horrors Picture Show
Many have tried to capture that Rocky Horror magic, but of all the contenders to that irreverent throne, Little Shop of Horrors might have the strongest claim, and the Alberta Rose hosts a blowout interactive sing-a-long and screening to help benefit Wildwood Farm Sanctuary. There will be props, cupcakes and cupcakes (vegan, too!), an opportunity to take a photo with man-eating plants, a raffle, and more! (Fri Sept 20, 7 pm, Alberta Rose Theatre, $25)
Jason Mewes
Snoochie boochies, Portland! The vocal half of "Jay and Silent Bob" is bringing his "A-Mewes-ing Stories" Tour to town to share his tales, anecdotes, and jokes as part of a two-night stand at Helium. (Fri-Sat Sept 20-21, 7:30 pm & 10 pm, Helium Comedy Club, $25-45)
Saturday, Sept 21
Portland Polish Festival
Pierogies! A polka contest! A lesson in Polish history! No, this isnât just another weekend at my grandmotherâs houseâitâs Portlandâs annual Polish Festival! This yearâs festival is promise to be as delightful as the past 25 (itâs the longest-running Polish Fest in the US), offering Polish beers, plates of traditional cuisine, and performances by traditional folk dancers and musicians. (Sept 21-22, Sat 11 am, Sun noon, Polish Hall, free, all ages) ALEX ZIELINSKI
The Undisputable Geniuses of Comedy
In this cold, cruel world, who takes care you? THE MERCURY DOES. Behold the evidence: Every year, the Mercuryâs beloved Undisputable Geniuses of Comedy showcase wrangles up the funniest, smartest comedians working in Portlandâand then puts them on one stage for your convenience and entertainment! Itâs always the most hilarious night of the year, and this oneâboasting 11 up-and-coming comedians and host Nariko Ottâlooks to be the best yet, with appearances from Corina Lucas, Shrista Tyree, Ben Harkins, Wendy Weiss, and more! Youâre welcome! (Sat Sept 21, 8 pm, Revolution Hall, $17) ERIK HENRIKSEN
Shigeto
Musician/producer Zach Saginaw, AKA Shigeto, has used jazz as the foundation and inspiration for much of his solo output, sampling favorite records and using a similar whorled aesthetic to complement his electronic dance compositions. In recent years, the Michigan-bred artist has been letting his roots show more through collaborations with trumpeter Dave Douglas, and his latest EP Versions, which finds him behind a drum kit and vibing with a crack ensemble of players that grab on to existing formulas before instantly finding ways to fuck with them. Itâs jazz siphoned through a dub remix mentality. (Sat Sept 21, 8:15 pm, Jack London Revue, $25) ROBERT HAM
Portland Thorns vs. Houston Dash
Tonightâs match against Houston marks the Thornsâ penultimate home game of the regular season. With a home playoff fixture and the NWSL Shield within sight, forwards Hayley Raso and Midge Purce will be eager to keep the North End dancing all night like they did when Portland dropped five goals on the Dash back in July. (Sat Sept 21, 7:30 pm, Providence Park, all ages) CHIPP TERWILLIGER
Stephen King Road Rage Double Feature: Maximum Overdrive & Christine
You could contribute to It: Chapter Twoâs box-office domination tonight, or you could revisit a simpler time, a time when Stephen King was but a young man brand, whose devaluation and resurrection was still in the future. This devaluing was hastened by Kingâs own Ed Wood impression with 1985âs Maximum Overdrive, a movie so fucking inept that Kingâs cinematographer literally lost one of his eyes while making it. But Overdrive is a great lesson in how difficult it is to be a good director, especially when juxtaposed against 1983âs Christine, the story of a toxic nerd and his demon-possessed car. King put his coked-out all into Overdrive, and it led to King movies being shorthand for âshitshowâ for the next decade-plus. John Carpenter didnât even like Christine, and he took the job for no other reason than he had bills to pay and smokes to buy, and he still delivered a darkly comic cult classic that works just as well now as it did in â83. (Sat Sept 21, 7 pm, Hollywood Theatre, $7-9) BOBBY ROBERTS
tobi lou, Lil Trxptendo, Femdot
Fresh off the release of his debut album, Live on Ice, Holocene hosts an early all-ages show with the Nigeria-born and Chicago-raised singer/songwriter and rapper known for his playful blend of hip-hop and soul. (Sat Sept 21, 5:30 pm, Holocene, $16-18, all ages)
Terpfest NW
Cider Riot hosts what appears to be the first ever terpene-focused festival, crossing over with the worlds of both beer and cider, with offerings from Grixen Brewing, Xylem Cider, Rev Nat's, Cider Riot, Coalition, Base Camp, and West Coast Grocery. (Sat Sept 21, noon, Cider Riot, $15-25)
Occidental's Oktoberfest
The beloved St. Johns brewery opens its doors for its biggest Oktoberfest celebration yet. Indulge in beers from all around the world, along with delicious food from Urban German Grill, all while enjoying live music and an outdoor beer garden. Admission is free. You'll need a stein for beer, which can purchased at the gate $10, or you can bring one from previous years. (Sat Sept 21, noon, Occidental Brewing Co, free, all ages)
Guster, Oregon Symphony
The long-running band out of Boston bring their pop-infused alt-rock back to town to link up with the Oregon Symphony for a special career-spanning performance featuring fan favorites and cuts from their latest album, Look Alive. (Sat Sept 21, 7:30 pm, Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, $25 & Up)
Fat Tony, Necrot, Lord Dying, Eagle Claw, Zig Zags
The 2019 installment of Northwest Hesh Fest rolls on, bringing sets from acclaimed Houston rapper Fat Tony, Oakland-hailing death metal outfit Necrot, local sludge kings Lord Dying, Austin-based instrumental metal rippers Eagle Claw, Los Angeles sci-fi psych punks Zig Zags to the stage at Dante's (Sat Sept 21, 8 pm, Dante's, $20)
The Siren Theater Improv Giants with Chelsea Cain
Bestselling author Chelsea Cain brings her stories to the Siren Theater stage to provide material for some of Portland's finest improv comedy all-stars, including Shelley McLendon, Nicholas Kessler, Kirsten Schier, and Chris Williams. (Sat Sept 21, 8 pm, Siren Theater, $10-15)
Shells, Deadbeat Beat, Jessica Dennison & Jones, Bob Desaulniers
Known for her work in Detroit rock band Tyvek and the late-great Saturday Looks Good to Me, Shelly Salant is a fixture of Midwestern indie music. As Shells, she makes adventurous, guitar-driven instrumental albums that pair the collaged freedom of Mick Turner from Dirty Threeâs solo records with the best of â90s indie rock instrumentals (think Yo La Tengoâs âGreen Arrow,â Halo Bendersâ âRebels Got a Hole in It,â and Silver Jewsâ âNight Societyâ). Ostensibly free and easy collections of home recordings, when played as a whole her albums gather a sense of intention and purpose. They feel casually grand, transcendent, and somehow wise. (Sat Sept 21, 8 pm, Turn! Turn! Turn!, $7) JOSHUA JAMES AMBERSON
Sunday, Sept 22
Eric Andre
On his faux public-access talk show, The Eric Andre Show, comedian Eric Andre destroys things. He makes his guests uncomfortable, terrorizes people in public, and generally makes a mess. And yet somehow, despite its apparent mean-spiritedness, the show is oddly brilliant. Going a step further than the discomfort of Space Ghost Coast to Coast or the playfulness of Comedy Bang! Bang!, Andreâs show seems to question the entire concept of the late night talk show. Why this format? Why these conventions? He makes it all seem silly and antiquated by showing the structure at its absolute worst. How his particular brand of absurdism translates to a solo live show is anyoneâs guess. (Sun Sept 22, 5 pm & 8 pm, Revolution Hall, $38.50-40) JOSHUA JAMES AMBERSON
Nelly
The St. Louis-based rapper who got his start with Midwest hip-hop group St. Lunatics before breaking out in 2000 with his debut album, Country Grammar, brings his latest tour to the Roseland stage. (Sun Sept 22, 8 pm, Roseland, $45-55)
Pokey LaFarge, Jack Klatt
Born Andrew Heissler in the green pastures of Bloomington, Illinois, Heissler's adopted pseudonym, Pokey LaFarge, befits his ongoing commitment (now over a decade strong) to a bygone American way of life, as represented by ragtime jazz, country swing, barrelhouse blues, and ample amounts of hair pomade. No doubt, there are still a precious few clinging to their striped vests and herringbone tweed caps, and for them, Pokey LaFarge endures. (Sun Sept 22, 9 pm, Doug Fir, $20-25) SANTI ELIJAH HOLLEY
Wyclef Jean, Oregon Symphony
Grammy Award-winning producer, actor, author, and hip-hop artist Wyclef Jean links up with conductor Norman Huynh and the Oregon Symphony to blend classical and hip-hop and bring hits like âKilling Me Softly with His Songâ and âGone till Novemberâ to life at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall. (Sun Sept 22, 7:30 pm, Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, $30 & Up)
Depressed Cake Pop-Up Shop
The Portland chapter of Depressed Cake Shop hosts several pop-ups every year to raise awareness of mental health with baked goods. All treats are donated by local bakers and colored black and gray on the outside (and sometimes colorful on the inside) as a representation of mental health issues. The Portland pop-up benefit Baby Blues Connection, which serves mothers and families navigating perinatal mood disorders. (Sun Sept 22, 1 pm, Opal 28, free) EMILLY PRADO
Pink Turns Blue, Fangs On Fur, Over
The pioneering post-punk and darkwave band out of Berlin brings their North American tour to the Star Theater stage for a rare Portland performance. (Sun Sept 22, 8 pm, Star Theater, $18)
Kulululu, Liquid Light
Local art-punk rockers Kulululu bring their shapeshifting sounds to Rontoms to head up the latest installment of Sunday Sessions, with indie rock and power-pop outfit Liquid Light rounding out the bill. (Sun Sept 22, 8 pm, Rontoms, free)
Glitterfest
A two-stage all-day concert that is also an album release party for Glitterfox, that is also a wedding reception for Glitterfox members Solange Igoa and Andrea Walker, who are getting married before the festival. Performers include Acoustic Minds, Pacific Trio, Duke of Norfolk, Taylor Crawford, Bre Paletta, Flyover States, Kendall Core, Cassie Levy, SWA, and Eric Stalker. (Sun Sept 22, 4 pm, Green Anchors, $15)
Summer Spirits Fest
Sneaking in juuuust before Summer makes its last call (technically) is this Spirits Fest at the Saturday Market, showcasing some of the best local liquors to sip either straight or in finely crafted cocktails on-site. Tastings are free, but if you have the coin and the wherewithal, you can leave with more than a few bottles, too. Distilleries include Bull Run, Heritage, Rose City, Vinn, and Vivacity. (Sun Sept 22, 11 am, Portland Saturday Market, free)
Don't forget to check out our Things To Do calendar for even more things to do!
