Rock Divas: A Drag Tribute to Hedwig
Local drag legend Carla Rossi presents this tribute to Hedwig and the Angry Inch, the cult-classic musical about gender, lost love, and rock ânâ roll. Rossi is joined onstage by some of her fellow Portland drag favorites: Pepper Pepper, Vera Mysteria, Clare Apparently, Rita Lynn, Kimber Shade, Liberace and Liza, and more. Admission is only five bucksâbut keep in mind that tipping is highly encouraged. (Sun Jan 26, 7:30 pm, Ellyn Bye Studio at the Armory, $5) BLAIR STENVICK
Winter Soup Fest
Soup is amazing. Portland Mercado is amazing. Combining the two for a weekend's worth of pozole, sancocho, ajiaco, caldo gallego, sopa de hongos, sopa de tortilla, and much, much more is a no-brainer. (Fri-Sat Jan 24-25, noon & 5 pm, Portland Mercado, free, all ages)
HARD MAN, soft boy
Two of Portlandâs most interesting comediansâJake Silberman and Hunter Donaldsonâteam up for this sketch/stand-up show, making us guess what is âhardâ and what is âsoftâ about their respective stage personas. Adjective hype aside, these two have more commonalities than differences: Theyâre both creative ramblers with interesting twists and turns in their material, and they rarely perform the same way twice. Get fucking OUT THERE with these half men/half boys; then laugh hard. (Sat Jan 25, 9 pm, Kickstand Comedy Space, $10) SUZETTE SMITH
Black Belt Eagle Scout
Katherine Paul AKA Black Belt Eagle Scout has spent the past several years blessing Portland with her powerful-yet-soft melodies about community, loss, and indigeonous identity. This month, as part of Multnomah County Libraryâs âEverybody Readsâ series, you can sit in on a special performance by Black Belt Eagle Scout, followed by a conversation between Paul and her mother, Patricia. (Wed Jan 29, 7 pm, PSU Native American Student & Community Center, free) ALEX ZIELINSKI
Blue Tomorrows, Barna Howard, Moon Shy
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 albumâs 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 itâs bound to sound extra special tonight when Nienaber links up with her Candace bandmate Sarah Rose and Michaela Gradstein of Plastic Cactus to bring the songs to life at Turn! Turn! Turn! (Fri Jan 24, 8:30 pm, Turn! Turn! Turn!, $5) CHIPP TERWILLIGER
A//tar, Mane of the Cur, Of Lioness
Portland's A//tar brings their atmospheric post-metal sounds to the Kenton for a hometown show, with help from fellow bonecrushers Mane of the Cur and Of Lioness lending their support. (Fri Jan 24, 9 pm, The World Famous Kenton Club, $7)
Static Shadows, Hideous Monster, Atomic Candles
The Hideaway serves up a hit of indie rock, horror rock, and goth-tinged new wave for you to kick-start the weekend with, headlined by the grit 'n' soul of Static Shadows. (Fri Jan 24, 9 pm, Hawthorne Hideaway, $5)
Zach's Shack 16th Birthday Party
One of Portlands still-standing cultural treasures, Zach's Shack celebrates its 16th birthday by throwing a big ol' (free!) party, featuring live music from Each Both, Like Years, and D.Pel, as well as an opportunity to try new hot dog culinary triumphs. (Sat Jan 25, 6 pm, Zach's Shack, free, all ages)
ANDAZ Bhangra Bollywood Dance Party
For more than 15 years, DJ Anjali and the Incredible Kid have been an inimitable force in the Portland dance scene. Since 2002 the power duo has hosted Andazâtheir monthly bhangra, Bollywood, and desi bass dance party (the longest-running on the West Coast)âand let me tell you, it is WILD. There were flashing lights and Bollywood movies playing on TVs. The air was thick with moisture, so thick that I'm pretty sure it was condensing on the ceiling. Surrounded by energetic dancers, DJ Anjali and the Incredible Kid inundated late-night revelers with rhythms from South Asia and beyond. (Sat Jan 25, 9 pm, The Liquor Store, $5, $10 after 10 pm) CIARA DOLAN
Shady Bug, Brave Hands, All Hits
St. Louis quartet Shady Bug brings their jangly indie rock sounds to My Vinyl Underground to share songs off their infectious 2019 album, Lemon Lime. Like-minded locals Brave Hands and All Hits round out the all-ages bill. (Sat Jan 25, 8 pm, My Vinyl Underground, $7, all ages)
Bart Budwig & the Hackles
The Enterprise, Oregon-based musician brings his blend of outlaw country and Americana through Bunk to celebrate the release of his latest LP. (Sat Jan 25, 9 pm, Bunk Bar, $10)
Popina Cruise Season Kickoff Party
It may be kind of a damp, greyish mess outside but it's never too early to start thinking ahead to sun and surf and swimwear opportunities, and that's what Popina is all about at this fashion show, featuring Popina, Mercantile, and Adorn goods as modeled by the Rose City Raindrops, as well as complementary beach hair makeovers by Teal Flamingo, and nostril waxing by Urban Waxxx. Raffle proceeds benefit Human Access Project. (Sat Jan 25, 6:30 pm, Popina Swimwear Portland, free)
Full Send: Beach Party
DJs Sappho, Roses, and Ballads (FKA Gangsigns) head up beach party-themed installment of this monthly festival style dance night, bringing a ocean waves worth of house music infused with electronic, hip hop, R&B, and funk to the Holocene dance floor. (Sat Jan 25, 9 pm, Holocene, $5-10)
Violetera, Frantarctica, Cass Yates
Local instrumental post-rock trio Violetera bring their experimental sounds to the Twilight for a hometown show, with Frantarctica and Cass Yates rounding out the bill. (Sun Jan 26, 8:30 pm, Twilight Cafe & Bar, $7)
Hurry Up, Cool Flowers, Talkin to Johnny
Hurry Up is the unholy trinity of Maggie Vail (bass), Kathy Foster (drums), and Westin Glass (guitar). Itâs also kind of a super-group: Vail fronted the now-defunct Bangs, she and Foster represent two-thirds of the Strange Babes DJs, and Foster and Glass played in the Thermals. On their debut self-titled EP, Hurry Up sounds fluent in the lo-fi punk tradition of Dead Moonâall three sing (and scream) over big, razor-edged guitar riffs and drum attacks more intimidating than a charging rhinoceros. (Sun Jan 26, 8 pm, Turn! Turn! Turn!, $7) CIARA DOLAN
Glitter Girls
The Calhoun Collective presents the latest installment of this drag variety show at Kelly's Olympian. (Mon Jan 27, 9 pm, Kelly's Olympian, $5)
Eric Nuzum, Chuck Klosterman
In Make Noise, podcast creator and strategist Eric Nuzum offers advice to aspiring podcasters on how they can stand out in the rapidly expanding medium. Nuzum will be joined in conversation by Chuck Klosterman, author of Raised in Captivity. (Tues Jan 28, 7:30 pm, Powell's City of Books, free)
Damino, Patrick McCulley
The local trio comprised of trumpet player and keyboardist Noah Simpson, guitarist Mike Gamble, and drummer Daniel Rossi links up with saxophonist Patrick McCulley to serve up an adventurous slate of jazz and experimental music at No Fun. (Tues Jan 28, 9 pm, No Fun, $5)
Pleasure Curses, White Knife Study, Shuteye
Shades of Style Council are wildly apparent in every sexy note of Pleasure Cursesâ disco-infused dance numbers, such as the crazy-fun "Mean Streets," where slick vocals thrum over a dirty bounce that defies you not to gyrate. The Portland duo, comprised of Jahn Alexander Teetsov and Evan Maxwell Grice, bring a strong synth-funk vibe to the party, along with a strong scent of sex, and a personality that lets you know theyâre prioritizing fun over art. If youâve come to dance and have a good time, Pleasure Curses are ready to provide exactly what you need. (Wed Jan 29, 9 pm, Bunk Bar, $8-10) WM. STEVEN HUMPHREY
Crissy Van Meter, Leni Zumas
Crissy Van Meter reads from her debut novel Creatures, which begins on the eve of a young woman named Evangelineâs wedding on Winter Island and flows back and forth through time as she grapples with her complicated upbringing in Southern California. Van Meter will be joined in conversation by Leni Zumas, author of Red Clocks. (Wed Jan 29, 7:30 pm, Powell's City of Books, free)
Greaterkind
The Goodfoot serves up a night of neo-soul and jazz from this local supergroup comprised of musicians known for their collaborations with Coco Columbia, Farnell Newton, Amine, and more. (Wed Jan 29, 10 pm, Goodfoot, $7)
Crystal Quartez, Dolphin Midwives, Omari Jazz, Avola
Portland musician and creative coder Crystal Quartez brings her ceremonial soundscapes to Holocene to celebrate the release of her debut album. Like-minded local artists Dolphin Midwives, Omari Jazz, and Avola round out the proceedings. (Thurs Jan 30, 8:30 pm, Holocene, $8-10)
There's even more to do in our Cheap, Free, & Fun calendar, and don't forget to check out our Things To Do calendar for even more things to do!
