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Visiting cities that don’t have as robust music scenes is so helpful in appreciating what we’ve got going on in Portland right now. I had a family wedding in San Diego over Labor Day weekend and the only things that sounded interesting were a DJ set by someone I can’t even remember, and a rooftop screening of When Harry Met Sally… woof. I couldn’t find a single Three One G or hip-hop show. None of the record store buds I talked to knew of anything either. What??
Meanwhile, tons of shows were popping off in Portland over the weekend. Good news for us, there’s more where that came from, and I know for a fact that most people working in Portland record stores can rattle off a dozen shows they’re excited about at the drop of a hat. #blessed
Tuesday, September 2
Earth / Stebmo
For fans of Om, Neurosis, Sunn O)))
One could spout off about how the legendary Seattle rockers Earth helped shape grunge alongside their friends in Nirvana and Melvins, or how they’ve continued crafting traditions forged deep in the minds of Ozzy Osbourne and Tony Iommi. Pontification aside, the duo of Dylan Carlson and Adrienne Davies has seen and done a lot since forming Earth in the late-’80s, and have a massive discography of sludgy doom-anthems to show for it. We haven’t received a new Earth studio album since their sprawling Full Upon Her Burning Lips release in 2019—Dylan, Adrienne, if you’re reading this: We’re ready for a new LP! Smooth operator Stebmo opens. (Mississippi Studios, 8 pm, more info here, 21+)
Wednesday, September 3
Crush On Everyone presents Slint’s Breadcrumb Trail Documentary
For fans of Shellac, Unwound, The Microphones
Yes, their 1989 debut album Tweez was recorded by Steve Albini, and yes, the image of their 1991 sophomore album Spiderland was taken by Will “Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy” Oldham. But what about the rest of the lore? Why did the band not use Albini for the second record? What’s signing to Chicago’s incomparable Touch and Go Records like? All these questions and more stand to be answered during this rare screening of Breadcrumb Trail, the 2014 Slint documentary. Screening to be proceeded by an all-vinyl DJ set featuring Slint and Slint-adject sounds. Big shouts to the Crush on Everyone crew making space for that real Midwest emo shit right here in Portland… FOR FREE. (Turn! Turn! Turn!, 7:30 pm, more info here, FREE, 21+)
Friday, September 5
Soriah / Solara Obscura
For fans of Arrington de Dionyso, Anohni, Om
Portland has a plethora of movie houses employing programmers with expansive understandings of what their stages can/should be used for. One of the best doing it right now are Aaron Colter & Co. at Clinton Street Theater. They’re hosting Soriah, perhaps Portland’s best known traditional throat singer, in a tidy example of what they have going on at the corner of SE Clinton & 26th. When Soriah opened for Bauhaus at the Schnitz in 2022, he proved the depth and breadth of his artistry with every note, every gesture. Seeing him in the intimate setting of Clinton Street Theater is a delicious treat not often on offer. Sci-fi darkwavers Solara Obscura tone-set the evening. (Clinton Street Theater, 8 pm, more info here, all ages)
Nasalrod / Help / Zookraught
For fans of Rabbits, These Arms Are Snakes, Flesh Produce
Did you see Chairman tearing it the fuck up during Nasalrod’s festival-opening slot at Project Pabst back in July? Unhinged as always, there were flying karate kicks, stage-rattling stomps, and spinning jumps not dissimilar to that of multi-Olympic gold medalist Simone Biles. If you thought that was the end of this show’s good news, you’re sorely mistaken—the night is being co-headlined by real-deal noise rockers, fresh back from their EU/UK tour with Whores, Help. Seattle’s dance-punk floor-fillers Zookraught pull up to get the crowd moving. (Polaris Hall, 8 pm, more info here, 21+)
Saturday, September 6
Jivebomb / Xiao / Dry Socket / Elephant Walk
For fans of Move, Cerce, Hirs
Okay, so if you haven’t noticed, Portland’s punk and hardcore scenes are exploding right now. New venues have been opening, so many bands are making the tuffest music, and there’s an incredible amount of crossover happening in both booking and sound. Earlier this year, Blackwater Bar moved from their longtime home on Broadway to their new, expanded digs on NE Sandy. It’s a massive come-up for the scene. Baltimore’s Jivebomb put out one of 2025’s loudest hardcore albums, as did Stockholm, Sweden’s Xiao. Two of Portland’s hardest hitting hardcore outfits—Dry Socket and Elephant Walk—open the pit (and our eyes) in the opening spots. (Blackwater, 8 pm, more info here, all ages)
Bleary Eyed / Thin Veil / Icecaps
For fans of Glixen, Urika’s Bedroom, Dream 99
Trends in fashion and music are inextricably linked, tending to pop up cyclically every 20 to 30 years, harking back to previous decades with a modern twist. JNCO’s are back in a big way, reboots control film and television at the moment, and shoegaze is making real moves again. One of the bands leaning into the ’90s subgenre is Philly’s Bleary Eyed—the tracks on their new album Easy could have easily been made by Kevin Shields or Rachel Goswell. Early indicators are showing that Easy is about to be one of the best albums of 2025. Olympia’s Thin Veil heads down to fill the middle spot, with Portland’s own Icecaps doing us the honor of opening. (Swan Dive, 8 pm, more info here, 21+)
Also very worth it…
Osees / DMBQ at Star Theater – Sept. 3, more info here
Omari Jazz / Natasha Kmeto / Nathan Detroit / Slurgeon at Process – Sept. 4, more info here
The Offspring / Jimmy Eat World / New Found Glory at Ridgefield – Sept. 4, more info here
Sea Moss / Fullbird / The Vardaman Ensemble / Library Studies at Turn! Turn! Turn! – Sept. 5, more info here
Gretta Seabird at Ronald Records – Sept. 5, more info here
Bonobo (DJ set) at Realm – Sept. 5, more info here
Jamoke / Grumble and His Ghost / Strange & the Familiars at Shanghai Tunnel – Sept. 6, more info here
Mark Grusane / C. Powers at Le Garage – Sept. 6, more info here
Portland Music News:
Champions of experimental composition and classical music, Third Angle New Music has announced their 40th season! Commissions, world premieres, Steve Reich’s 90th birthday, cults, youth choirs, and intimate sessions abound in 3A’s 25/26 season, more info here.
Portland’s Patricia Wolf is currently in Iceland with Oregonian filmmaker Edward Pack Davee screening Hrafnamynd—a film shot by Davee and scored by Wolf in Iceland—at Extreme Chill Festival. Ableton has now made a pack of Wolf’s field recordings and samples used on the soundtrack available to download for free. Download the pack here, read our interview with the film’s creators here.
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Nolan Parker
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