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Monday, March 18
Low
The wintry slowcore pioneered by Low on their first few albums is pristine and singular, and although no sounds are inviolate, the Minnesota trio’s turn-of-the-century reveries are so fragile that one feels the need to whisper in their presence. But the band itself hasn’t been at all precious about its trademark sound. Since 2001’s Things We Lost in the Fire, Low’s meditative practice has also been a regenerative process, a sometimes noisy and disorienting journey that frustrates expectations and builds to new revelations. 2018’s fractured Double Negative is a career-capping deconstruction that sounds like a goodbye, but Low will keep coming back, bolder and better. (9 pm, Star Theater, Good luck on the ticket resale sites) CHRIS STAMM
The Portland Mercury's Highball
It’s that time of year again, and not a minute too soon! The Portland Mercury’s beloved annual event Highball is back, offering seven days of $5 cocktails at some of your favorite bars and restaurants! Thanks to our pals at Beam Suntory, we’ve got specially crafted (and cheap!) cocktails at over 40 locations, from Bar Maven to Dots Cafe, from the Doug Fir to the Low Brow Lounge, and from the Oaks Bottom Public House to Valentines! Oh, and a bunch of other places, too! PREPARE THY LIVER! (Mon March 18-Sun March 24, various locations, click here for the full cocktail list and participating venues, $5)
Baroness, Deafheaven, Zeal & Ardor
On 2012’s Yellow & Green, Savannah, Georgia, heavy metal band Baroness toned down the sludge of their previous records and explored their sharp instinct for melody. A year later, Bay Area howlers Deafheaven scored big with their album Sunbather, a beautiful collision of black metal and shoegaze. And in 2016, it was Zeal and Ardor’s turn to attract fans with their fusion of blues, soul, metal, and Black spirituals. All three bands have made good records since their breakthroughs, and now they’re on tour together. Cynics might call this “hipster metal,” but you can call it one of the best heavy tours to hit Portland this year. (7:30 pm, Roseland, $27.50-30, all ages) BEN SALMON
TeeHees & TaTas
A cabaret-styled evening of entertainment that leans hard into the funnier side of classic burlesque, with Jay Flewelling helping with the ha-has while Judy Patootie, Rob Fullenwider, Holly Dai, Lily Le Fauve, and Vanity Thorn handle the physical magic. (7:30 pm, Harvey's Comedy Club, $10)
The Show Must Go On
An all-star benefit concert to raise money for the HIV Day Center and Women of Wisdom at Quest Center, featuring performances from some of Portland theater's best vocalists, including Jillian Snow Harris, Tamra Gallucci, Rebeccca Raccanelli, Andy Mangels, Sherrie Van Hine, Landon Shimek, Phallus Johnson, and more. (7 pm, Artists Repertory Theatre, $20-25)
Willy Vlautin, Jonathan Evison
A joint reading from two highly acclaimed authors, both celebrating the paperback releases of their latest novels; Vlautin's Don't Skip Out on Me and Evison's Lawn Boy. (7 pm, Annie Bloom's Books, free)
Dogma
This is the one with a shit-demon in it. Or a "Golgothan," if you wanna be anal about it. Ha! Get it? Shit-demon? Anal? HAHA! If you're smiling right now you are this film's target audience. Congratulations. (7 pm, Clinton Street Theater, $5)
Tuesday, March 19
Michelle Obama
Everyone look your best! American treasure and cultural icon Michelle Obama comes to the Moda Center to discuss her new book Becoming. She’ll be giving “honest reflections on the experiences and events, both public and private, that have shaped her,” from career to motherhood, and of course discussing lessons from becoming the first Black woman to serve as First Lady of the United States. Not sure how “intimate” this “conversation” can get in the Rose Quarter arena, but I also don’t doubt Michelle’s ability to surpass all expectations. You won’t find tickets for less than $200 (check StubHub), but at least us broke folk can hope to catch a glimpse of Mrs. Obama’s Secret Service cavalcade this weekend. (7 pm, Moda Center) JENNI MOORE
1 Young Micah, KayelaJ, Sir Nai, DC Capital, CuddiE Whompus, Shrista Tyree
Hot on the heels of his latest album Collage, Portland-via-New Orleans rapper 1 Young Micah heads up a showcase of rising local hip-hop artists along with KayelaJ, Sir Nai, DC Capital, and CuddiE Whompus. Hosted by Shrista Tyree. (8 pm, Doug Fir, $10)
Foals, Bear Hands, Kiev
The Oxford, UK band bring their dancey and shape-shifting blend of indie rock back to Portland for an all-ages show supporting the first half of their new two-part album, Everything Not Saved Will Be Lost. (8 pm, Roseland, $38.50, all ages)
Mandelring Quartet
The Mandelring Quartet brings to life pieces by Shostakovich, Borodin, Tchaikovsky, Mendelssohn, and more. (7:30 pm, PSU Lincoln Performance Hall, $30-55)
Joe R. Lansdale
Edgar Award-winning author Joe R. Lansdale returns with The Elephant of Surprise, chronicling the latest adventures of mismatched P.I.s Hap and Leonard. (7 pm, Powell's Books at Cedar Hills Crossing, free)
Morgan James
The Boise-hailing soul and jazz singer and Broadway star returns to Mississippi Studios for the Portland stop on her "From White to Blue" Tour. (8 pm, Mississippi Studios, $25-55)
Sunwatchers, WL, Galaxy Research
Brooklyn-based psych punk quartet Sunwatchers head up a night of experimental music at Turn! Turn! Turn! when they swing through town in support of their new Trouble in Mind-issued album, Illegal Moves. Portland's own WL and Galaxy Research round out the bill. (8 pm, Turn! Turn! Turn!, $8)
Wednesday, March 20
Trail Blazers vs. Dallas Mavericks
With the season entering its final stretch, the Blazers will be looking to use this week's home stand to establish a solid foothold in the Western Conference standings. The Mavericks might not be a top-tier side in their current form, but any chance to witness the talents of Slovenian phenom and Rookie of the Year front runner Luka Dončić and NBA legend Dirk Nowitzki in a live setting should be embraced. (7 pm, Moda Center, all ages) CHIPP TERWILLIGER
Isaac Mizrahi
The renowned fashion designer and judge on Project Runway: All Stars brings his I & Me tour to the Revolution Hall stage for a night of storytelling, live music, and more. (7 pm, Revolution Hall, $55, all ages)
Amyl & The Sniffers, Mr. Wrong, B.R.U.C.E.
The latest great band to come out of Melbourne, Australia, is Amyl and the Sniffers, a quartet that brings a ton of ’70s swagger to its sound without coming off as a bad pastiche. The centerpiece is frontwoman Amy Taylor, who sing-shouts the ultra-catchy songs with a sharp, staccato style and a charming snarl. Her band rips, too, hovering somewhere between the chunky rock riffs of AC/DC and the buzzy punk of the Ramones. Amyl and the Sniffers don’t even have a full-length album out yet, but you absolutely have to see their live show. (9 pm, Mississippi Studios, $12-14) BEN SALMON
Cypress Hill, Xzibit, Hollywood Undead
The "West Coast High" Tour rolls in to Portland, bringing sets from Latino American hip-hop pioneers Cypress Hill, L.A. rap-rock crew Hollywood Undead, and rapper/actor Xzibit to the Crystal Ballroom Stage. (7:30 pm, Crystal Ballroom, $34.50-40)
Wyrd War Presents: Equinox
Wyrd War loves digging through cinematic detritus and sharing schlock treasures with fellow appreciators of vintage trash. In honor of 2019's vernal equinox, they're screening 1970's Equinox, one of the very first (if not the very first) "cabin in the woods" horror films, kitbashed together by Industrial Light and Magic legend Dennis Muren, using parts from one of his late-'60s student films, and starring Frank Bonner, better known to fans of plaid leisure suits as radio sales-god Herb Tarlek of WKRP in Cincinnati. So yeah: Herb Tarlek vs. Stop-Motion-Horrors from the Woods. If that sounds fun, Wyrd War's got you covered. (7:30 pm, Hollywood Theatre, $7-9) BOBBY ROBERTS
Uncle Acid & the Deadbeats, Graveyard, Demob Happy
When Graveyard called it quits in 2016, it felt like the death knell of riff-heavy hard rock. Up until that point, the Swedish band had been the arbiters of blues-based metal à la early Black Sabbath and Soundgarden, with a loyal following throughout the US and Europe attending their blistering live shows. Luckily, the band regrouped and released their fantastic LP Peace in 2018. It’s likely their most nuanced collection of songs to date; Joakim Nilsson’s gravelly vocals tear and crack in all the right places, leaving ample room for a tsunami of fist-pumping rock. Prepare for a hellish bangover. (7 pm, Roseland, $25-30)
The Antlers
Peter Silberman and Michael Lerner bring their much-beloved indie rock and dream folk outfit back to Portland for an intimate acoustic show celebrating the 10th anniversary of their breakout album, Hospice. (8 pm, The Old Church, $25-30, all ages)
Thursday, March 21
Us
Jordan Peele blew our tops off with his debut directorial effort, Get Out, which is already a 21st-century masterpiece. Now Peele’s back with Us, starring Lupita Nyong’o and Winston Duke, and it looks creeeeeeepy as fuck. This one’s about a family going on vacation, where they discover another family that looks just like them. With Peele behind the camera, it’s likely to be another instant classic. (Various Theaters, see Movie Times for showtimes and locations) NED LANNAMANN
Maren Morris, Cassadee Pope
Fun fact about Maren Morris: The Nashville country star was selected to sing “The Middle”—her 2018 mega-hit with EDM producer Zedd—after more than a dozen other vocalists auditioned, including pop queens Carly Rae Jepsen and Demi Lovato. It’s one hell of a song, with Morris pleading for compromise over a tick-tockin’ beat until her she’s literally hoarse. I’ve listened to it about 500 times and will listen at least 500 times more. (PS: Her debut LP, 2016’s Hero, is definitely worth revisiting, too.) (8 pm, Crystal Ballroom, $39.50, all ages) CIARA DOLAN
A Beat Happening
Calling all beat-heads! For A Beat Happening’s 14th installment, they’re showcasing the endless talents of singer/songwriter Amenta Abioto, who’s known for her intimate, mesmerizing performances where she uses a loop machine to weave together her powerful voice with stories and African sounds. Many tracks, like her latest single “Plant It,” were created through improvisation. Buckle up for Abioto’s soul-powered performance of the aptly named “Revolution,” and expect beat sets from 17-year-old producer Kokio, Nashville transplant ThomasHenry, and hip-hop beatmaker McDimension, along with an appearance from DJ Tita of Noche Libre. (6 pm, Future Shock, free, all ages) JENNI MOORE
Todd Glass
Helium hosts the Los Angeles-based comedian and host of the excellent Todd Glass Show podcast, known and loved for his rapid-fire stand-up, unmatched wit, and engaging stream of consciousness ranting. (8 pm, Helium Comedy Club, $17-33)
Yves Tumor
The protean work of Yves Tumor soars over categories. It is an invisible city with porous borders and a million overlapping plateaus. On last year’s breathtaking Safe in the Hands of Love, the Tennessee-raised shapeshifter weaves through a transcendent dimension in which the club, the basement noise show, and the bedroom studio share a single heart. It is a world of bliss and catastrophe, machines and animals, words and whatever exists beyond words. It is our world but it is not our world, a place where familiar forms morph and melt into unreal shapes, and you need only drop the compass and get lost. (9 pm, Doug Fir, $20-23)
Jacquees
Decatur, Georgia-hailing singer/songwriter, rapper, and producer Jacquees brings his blend of R&B and hip-hop back to town in support of his debut album, 4275. (8 pm, Roseland, $31.50, all ages)
Don't forget to check out our Things To Do calendar for even more things to do!
