PIGSquad: Global Game Jam 2020 Showcase
The Portland Indie Game Squad’s latest showcase shines the spotlight on games made by local developers during this year’s Global Game Jam, a 48-hour game-making challenge with sites all around the world, including right here in Portland. Come out and sample the fruits of their labor and get to know the makers and creators contributing to this vibrant local scene at this free and all-ages event. (Sat Feb 22, 7 pm, Vacasa, free, all ages)
Siren and the Sea, Blossom, Snugsworth
Portland-based singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist Siren and the Sea (AKA Cristina Cano) makes a rich and progressive blend of art pop and swim wave that, yes, feels like a shimmering and overgrown underwater world of electronic drums, layered synths, pedal steel and bass guitar. Talk about creating a sonic landscape! This is escapism at its finest. Her most recent full-length This Time with Feeling is a perfect example, and the chorus to her one-off 2017 single “The Wait” is ultra-relatable: “What do I do/What do I say?/Why do I hold my arms this way?” Tonight audiences can take a full plunge into her aquatic universe at this intimate headliner set at Mississippi Studios; neo-soul singer Blossom and production maestro Snugsworth offer weighty support to the bill. (Wed Feb 26, 9 pm, Mississippi Studios, $5) JENNI MOORE
The Lavender Flu
Portland-based band The Lavender Flu’s first two albums—Mow the Glass and Heavy Air—established the group as an expansive, spacey, and deliberative take on the classic garage-punk genre. Their new album Admiration for a Dancer (let’s take a moment to appreciate the poeticism of all three album titles here) comes highly recommended by Mercury Copy Chief and encyclopedic music writer Robert Ham. You can celebrate the release of that record—and eat a chili cheese dog—at Turn! Turn! Turn! (Fri Feb 21, 8 pm, Turn! Turn! Turn!, $5) JENNI MOORE
Carl Stone, Takako Minekawa, Francisco Botello, Visible Cloaks
Two sonic groundbreakers arrive in Portland to celebrate the opening of new retail space Tone Poem and the work of PCC’s Music & Sonic Arts program. Carl Stone, a former student of synth pioneer Morton Subotnick, will offer up compositions that shatter and reconstruct samples of Afrobeat rhythms, Japanese traditional music, and maybe some familiar pop tunes. Takako Minekawa has dabbled in everything from jangly pop to immersive sound installations. Each will make full use of a quadraphonic speaker system that’ll surely make attendees feel like they’re inside a Tron-like universe of sparking transistors and potentially dangerous soundwaves. (Fri Feb 21, 7:30 pm, Leaven Community Center, $10, all ages) ROBERT HAM
Moon Shy, Shutups
Fresh off the release of their debut album Ethereal Whispers In The Void, rising local garage rock outfit Moon Shy bring their fuzzed-out sounds to the latest installment of Sunday Sessions at Rontoms. Like-minded Bay Area band Shutups round out the proceedings. (Sun Feb 23, 8 pm, Rontoms, free)
Mane of the Cur, Octopus Tree, The Whirlies, Big Ruiner
The Kenton Club invites you out for a cheerful, lighthearted night of doom metal and garage rock, with amped-up sets from Portland’s own Mane of the Cur, the Whirlies, and Big Ruiner, along with Denver’s Octopus Tree. (Fri Feb 21, 9 pm, The World Famous Kenton Club, $5)
Dead Comics Society
Man, the Dead Comics sure do get around, huh? For the most recent installment of the stand-up showcase, host Chase Brockett brings the laughs to Rogue Hall for the first time, featuring sets from Mateen Stewart, Jake Silberman, Shain Brenden, Milan Patel, and Patti Mansbach. (Fri Feb 21, 8 pm, Rogue Hall, free)
Megan Diana, MAITA, Eric Earley
Portland singer/songwriter and pianist Megan Diana splits a Friday-night bill at the Fixin’ To with rising local indie-rock act MAITA and Blitzen Trapper’s Eric Earley. (Fri Feb 21, 9 pm, The Fixin’ To, $8)
Octobrists, Monochrome, Scurvy Kids, El Sobrante, Gravity Blanket
One-man industrial punk band Octobrists links up with Los Angeles-based punk rock quartet Scurvy Kids to bring their co-headline West Coast tour to the Twilight Bar. Monochrome, El Sobrante, and Gravity Blanket lend support. (Fri Feb 21, 8:30 pm, Twilight Cafe & Bar, $8)
Jake Silberman
One of Portland’s finest stand-ups is spending a couple shows talking to his audience and recording what happens. It’s bound to be remarkable. (Sat Feb 22, 8 pm & 10 pm, Funhouse Lounge, $5-10)
ANDAZ Bhangra Bollywood Dance Party
Since 2002 this power duo has inundated late-night revelers with rhythms from South Asia and beyond. Catch them tonight when they link up with Seattle-based Dholi drummer Adam McCollom and the Gulabi Gang dancers for the latest installment of their monthly extravaganza. (Sat Feb 22, 9 pm, The Liquor Store, $5-10)
King Ghidora, Pink Tornado, Bad Tattoo
Originally from outer space but now living in McMinnville, King Ghidora are a masked quartet that make real-deal surf-rock that falls in line with that genre’s traditions: roiling drums, waves of reverberant electric guitar, occasional theremin appearances, and no vocals. They call it “sonic surf rock.” You might just call it fun, at least for a night. (Sat Feb 22, 9 pm, No Fun, $5) BEN SALMON
Runaway Nineteen: The Birthday of Anthony
Some of Portland’s musical pillars, including hip-hop duo the Chicharones, surf-rock shapeshifters King Ghidora, and Chicano rock band Trujillo come together to celebrate the birthday of Runaway Productions founder Anthony Sanchez and the 19th anniversary of his beloved rap-focused concert booking and promotion company. (Sat Feb 22, 8:30 pm, Star Theater, $10)
Action Movie Metal Night
Skelator, Solicitor, Ghostblood, and Toxic Reign head up a Chuck Norris installment of Action Movie Metal Night at the Twilight, featuring action classics like Invasion USA, Lonewolf McQuade, Delta Force 2, Octagon, and Missing in Action. (Sat Feb 22, 8:30 pm, Twilight Cafe & Bar, $10)
Ex-Kids, Way Worse, Meringue, Launderette
Portland punks Ex-Kids are heading to Hawaii for a run of shows in singer Hex Kid’s hometown of Honolulu and around the island of Oahu. Help send them on their way tonight with a tour kick-off at Dynasty, with like-minded locals Way Worse, Meringue, and Launderette rounding out the proceedings. (Sat Feb 22, 8 pm, Killingsworth Dynasty, $7)
New Here
An evening of earnest and witty indie-folk with this local outfit headed up by queer singer/songwriter Mackenzie Hilmes and a few friends. (Sun Feb 23, 8 pm, The Ranger Station, $5)
Mr. Elevator, Happy Dagger, Spoon Benders
Enjoy an evening of synth magic from Tomas Dolas (the Oh Sees) and his latest sonic project, with support from Happy Dagger and Spoon Benders. (Mon Feb 24, 8:30 pm, Bunk Bar, $8)
The Mysti Krewe of Nimbus, Too Loose Cajun/Zydeco Band
The Mysti Krewe of Nimbus oversees their annual Fat Tuesday shenanigans, lending Portland some of that Louisiana flair along with support from locals Too Loose and their Cajun and Zydeco dance hall sounds. (Tues Feb 25, 8 pm, Mississippi Studios, $5)
Orkis, DMN, Room
A trio of rising local synth and art-pop acts heat the up dance floor at the Liquor Store as part of a Tuesday-night bill. (Tues Feb 25, 9 pm, The Liquor Store, $7)
Dan Pfeiffer
The co-host of Pod Save America and former Senior Advisor to President Obama returns with Un-Trumping America, offering insight and strategy on how the Democrats can take down Trump and the right-wing antics dominating American politics. (Wed Feb 26, 7:30 pm, Powell’s City of Books, free)
A Conversation with Raphael Saadiq
You may remember his new jack swing from the ’80s pop giants Tony! Toni! Toné!, but now Saadiq’s style is a pure throwback to smooth-as-silk old school R&B. Catch up with him this afternoon when he swings through Mississippi Studios for free, all-ages conversation and Q&A session (if time permits) ahead of his headlining show at the Crystal Ballroom. (Wed Feb 26, 2 pm, Mississippi Studios, free)
John Sayles
Film director, screenwriter, and novelist John Sayles reads from Yellow Earth, a sprawling and cautionary story set on the Three Nations reservations on the oil-rich banks of the Missouri River in North Dakota. (Thurs Feb 27, 7:30 pm, Powell’s City of Books, free)
Havania Whaal, Mare, Pageant
Portland dream-pop and psych shapeshifters Havania Whaal head up a hometown show at No Fun along with support from like-minded locals Mare and Pageant. (Thurs Feb 27, 9:30 pm, No Fun, $5)
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!