Global political events not withstanding, (yes, that's a pretty big exception, roll with it) it sorta feels like the year is still struggling to wake up a little and rub the sleep out of its eyes, and this week's slate of entertainment options is doing its best to get 2020 hopping. Hit the links below and load your plate accordingly
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Monday, Jan 6
Chuck Palahniuk
The bestselling Portland author returns with Consider This, a new memoir offering stories and insight on what makes writing and fiction such a powerful force. Please note: This event is a book signing only. A purchase of Consider This is required to join the signing line. (Mon Jan 6, noon, Powell's City of Books)
2001: A Space Odyssey (in 70mm)
The Hollywood Theatre regularly sells out its 70mm screeningsâespecially when those 70mm screenings are of Stanley Kubrickâs brain-twisting, eye-widening 2001: A Space Odyssey. By raising over $25,000 and working with Warner Bros., the Hollywood recently bought their very own, brand-new print of the 1968 science-fiction classicâand now that itâs arrived, theyâre showing it off in all its pristine glory. So go! This might be the greatest movie ever made? Yeah, pretty sure itâs the greatest movie ever made. (Mon Jan 6, 7 pm, Hollywood Theatre) ERIK HENRIKSEN
Matt Olin, John Thompson, Marcus Robinson
A solid night of psychedelic sounds that don't lose the hook in all that swirling madness, with support from John Thompson and Marcus Robinson. (Mon Jan 6, 8 pm, Turn! Turn! Turn!, $5)
DJ Anjali & the Incredible Kid
Setting the dance floor on fire with sustained, bassy Bhangra explosions. (Mon Jan 6, 9 pm, Dig a Pony, free)
Tuesday, Jan 7
Hedwig and the Angry Inch
The Off-Broadway musical that became a hit independent film that became a massive Broadway smash returns to Portland in its original recipe form, transforming the Ellyn Bye Studio into a dingy, cozy, troubled-yet-welcoming womb by which the dynamo that is Hedwig will be born and the Origin of Love will be delivered. (Tues Jan 7-Thurs Jan 9, 7:30 pm, Ellyn Bye Studio at the Armory, $25 & Up)
The Social Stomach, Body Shame, Elrond
No Fun hosts a split tape release and tour kickoff show for a pair of Portland experiment outfits: The Social Stomach and Body Shame. Elrond, the collaboration of Ian Gorman Weiland (Antecessor) and Vern Avola (Avola, EMS, Prizehog) round out the proceedings. (Tues Jan 7, 9 pm, No Fun, $5-10)
Fiddler on the Roof
It's a Broadway classic for a good reason, and it's visiting the Keller for the first time in about 10 years, directed by Tony Award-winning Bartlett Sher, and choregraphed by Hofesh Shechter, using Jerome Robbins' steps as inspiration for all that roof-related magic and wonder coming to life on the stage. Good luck not humming literally every melody you heard in the Keller for the next month straight, by the way. (Tues Jan 7-Thurs Jan 9, 7:30 pm, Keller Auditorium)
Drink Better
The Hoxton's basement bar 2NW5 welcomes Bar Manager Brett Adams down to head up the latest in the monthly deep dive into booze. This latest installment focuses on whiskey: what it is, how it's made, and what makes each type different. Admission grants you access to the class, as well as whiskey tasting and snacks. (Tues Jan 7, 7:30 pm, The Hoxton, $55)
Wednesday, Jan 8
Bryson Cone, Dim Wit, Raincult
âWhoâs driving gas cars and eating shitty food?/Whoâs staring at a screen, with a shitty attitude?/I am, I am, I am, I am,â sings Dim Wit vocalist Jeff Tuyay on âWee the People,â a power-pop-punk track that feels like it was yanked right out of the â90sâand I mean that in the best possible way. Itâs both brutally realistic and infectiously catchy, like most of Dim Witâs catalog. Theyâll be joined tonight by moody synth-pop musician Bryson Cone and groovy art-rock group Raincult. (Wed Jan 8, 9 pm, Mississippi Studios, $5) BLAIR STENVICK
Shea Serrano
Shea Serranoâs pop culture and sports writing for The Ringer is unpretentious, generous, and unpredictableâand judging by the reviews, his new book Movies (And Other Things) hits those same notes. I mean, itâs got an entire essay devoted to Diane Keatonâs charming performance in Somethingâs Gotta Giveâhow can that not make for a delightful read? Put on your best tasteful all-white outfit and get your copy of Movies signed at this book reading. (Wed Jan 8, 7:30 pm, Powell's City of Books, free) BLAIR STENVICK
Dunkirk (in 70mm)
Because of its faithfulness to historical fact, some may complain that Dunkirk isnât dramatically satisfying, at least in a traditional sense. At well under two hours, the deliberately lean story loses its legibility at times; certain sequences donât quite make sense, while others never find the towline of narrative to pull viewers out of the confusion of events. And yet even these shortcomings feel rightâDunkirk reminds us of the experiential power of film, especially when screened in 70mm. (Wed Jan 8, 7 pm, Hollywood Theatre) NED LANNAMANN
The Space Lady
Always with her winged Viking helmet and Casio keyboard in tow, the Space Lady plays echoing, synth-forward covers of classic rock hits like Golden Earringâs âRadar Loveâ and Steppenwolfâs âBorn to Be Wild,â along with a few of her own spellbinding originals. (Wed Jan 8, 9 pm, Doug Fir, $12-14)
Merkules, Endr Won, Knockturnal
Fresh off a tour supporting Gucci Mane and the viral success of his "Old Town Road Remixâ video on YouTube, the rising Canadian hip-hop artist out of Surrey, British Columbia makes his way to Portland for an all-ages show at the Hawthorne Theatre. (Wed Jan 8, 8 pm, Hawthorne Theatre, $20-25, all ages)
Sea Moss, Shake the Baby Til the Love Comes Out, Mouthbreather, Basso Profondo, Ants In My Eyes
High Water Mark hosts the fourth installment of the annual-turned-bi-annual two-piece Tuesday showcase, which actually takes place on a Wednesday this time around. But that doesn't really matter, what's important is this kick-ass line-up of duos that rock, including NYC's Shake the Baby Til the Love Comes Out and Oregon's own Sea Moss, Mouthbreather, Basso Profondo, and Ants In My Eyes. (Wed Jan 8, 8:30 pm, High Water Mark, $8)
Acoustic Minds, Flyover States
An adventurous night of local music headlined by the soulful electronica-via-live instrumentation alchemy of Acoustic Minds. (Wed Jan 8, 9 pm, Bunk Bar, $10-12)
Thursday, Jan 9
The Thesis
Portlandâs premier monthly hip-hop & R&B eventâwhich, full disclosure, I help out withâis coming off a stellar five-year anniversary show and has no plans of slowing down. The showcase kicks off a new year (and decade!) tonight with a headlining performance by R&B singer Zyah Belle, and support from the soulful artist known as Motaz and surprise special guests to give us even more reason to come out for a night of 21+ live music, imbibing, vibing, networking, and tots. (Thurs Jan 9, 9 pm, Kelly's Olympian, $10) JENNI MOORE
Sea Caves, Motrik, Kileo
If youâre on the hunt for overlooked albums of the past year, Sea Cavesâ excellent November release, Across the Water, is the perfect place to begin your search. The album finds the long-running Portland band expanded to a quintet, with newly added member Sydney Rohrs adding a voice that effortlessly ebbs and flows over the bandâs twinkling indie pop sound. Itâs impossible not to become mesmerized by stand-out tracks like âHieroglyphsâ and âDart,â where Rohrsâ fluttering and heartfelt presence calls to mind Sheena Ozzella (of the veteran Buffalo-based indie rockers Lemuria). Elsewhere on the bill, which doubles as a benefit for the youth services of Outside In, youâll be treated to the Krautrock-influenced post-punk of Møtrik, whose entrancing live set has established them as one of the cityâs must-see acts. (Thurs Jan 9, 8:30 pm, Holocene, $8) CHIPP TERWILLIGER
Well-Read Black Girl Book Club
The American Booksellers Association is teaming up with Well-Read Black Girl founder Glory Edim to bring book club meetings to independent bookstores around the country in an effort to spotlight writers of color and amplify diverse voices. The December installment of the event will focus on Swing Time by Zadie Smith. (Thurs Jan 9, 7 pm, Powell's City of Books, free)
Brad Sherwood
Helium invites you to spend an evening hearing quality stand-up from a former Whose Line is it Anyway? standout. (Thurs Jan 9, 8 pm, Helium Comedy Club, $21-29)
Don't forget to check out our Things To Do calendar for even more things to do!
