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Many life-giving shows have transpired since the last Mercury Music Picks two weeks ago: NxWorries at Crystal, Cosmic Tones Research Trio album release at Hollywood, The Barbaras album release at Showdown, my DJ set at Dream House (plug), Grandaddy at Rev. Hall, Sun Blood Stories at Bunk Bar, 45th Parallel Universe performing Philip Glass’ Quartets. But one stood out not only for the performance, but also for a message that was delivered:
Pelle Almqvist of The Hives: “Do you love rock & roll?”
Crowd at Revolution Hall: “YES!”
PA: “Do you love The Hives?”
Crowd: “YES!”
PA: “And this show is sold out, right?”
Crowd: “YES!”
PA: “Then start acting like it!”
What Almqvist was trying to get at is the fact that Portland shows have a reputation of being hard crowds to work. It sometimes takes a bit to get into something, even when we’ve paid money to be somewhere, sure. But because of this, I would like to pose a challenge: Allow yourself to let go when you’re at a show or on a dance floor. No one cares about how you look or what your dance moves are, and you will likely never see the people around you again. And if they do care, fuck ‘em—they’re losers. It’s your party, do what you want! Take up space, enjoy yourself, let go, DANCE.
Wednesday, October 1
Collate / Big Top / Time Thief / Strangers
For fans of Casual Hex, Gang of Four, Tacocat
My Vinyl Underground—a stone’s throw from the former Mercury HQ—has been quietly hosting loud shows in their basement locale for a minute now. Portland needs more of this energy! Speaking of… if you look up energy in the dictionary, you’ll find a picture of Portland’s Collate, and “danceable deadpan post-punk” will be the definition. Recent Bay Area transplants Big Top do us a favor by playing their kooky-good 2024 EP Peanut Pitch, with Time Thief and Strangers doing their thing in the opening slot. (My Vinyl Underground, 7 pm, more info here, all ages)
Friday, October 3
Karma Rivera / Jacque Hammond
For fans of Rosalía, Leikeli47, Brown Calculus
Portland hip-hop high priestess Karma Rivera is finally sharing her debut full length with us and we should be thankful. It’s not everyday a future (and current TBH) legend drops a debut. After her life-giving performance at the Mercury’s 25th anniversary party back in July, she’s been on heavy rotation. Serving her signature flows down, Rivera’s unfiltered queerness coupled with her chiller beats isn’t a mood/vibe/energy to miss. Jacque Hammond—member of Be Present Art Group—brings a serenity and peace to Portland’s music communities that has possibly never existed in this area code. (Alberta Abbey, 8 pm, more info here, all ages)
Saturday, October 4
Bijoux Cone / J. Graves / Keeks
For fans of Kim Gordon, Hercules & Love Affair, Mykki Blanco
Spinning “Don’t” off Bijoux Cone’s benzo-pop breakup letter, Love Is Trash, is an excellent way to get upstairs at Dream House poppin’. Bijoux—Miss Cone if you’re nasty—is one of the busiest musicians in Portland. This year she’s played keyboards for Gossip on tour, played solo shows in Brazil, toured with of Montreal, and reunited her project The Mommys. A little birdie also told me she just shot a new music video and is working on fresh sounds. Rounding out this gay ass all-Portland bill is the dancy post-punk of J. Graves and in the opening spot…? It’s that Keeks with her femme queens not given’ a fuck. (Mississippi Studios, 9 pm, more info here, 21+)
Minus the Bear / Kennebec
For fans of American Football, Maps & Atlases, Giraffes? Giraffes!
Read our album review of Minus the Bear’s Menos el Oso. It’s the album’s 20th anniversary, and the catalyst for their reformation and tour. (Roseland Theater, 8 pm, more info here, all ages)
Sunday, October 5
Dead Moon Night
For fans of Fred Cole, Toody Cole, Andrew Loomis
Almost one month to the day before Fred Cole’s death in 2017, the City of Portland officially sanctioned and celebrated October 5 as Dead Moon Night. Overstating the impact Fred and Toody Cole continue to have on Portland’s music topography is hard to do. The couple, married 50 years when Fred passed, have fronted numerous punk and garage bands together and separately: Dead Moon, King Bee, The Lollipop Shoppe, Pierced Arrows, The Range Rats, The Rats, The Weeds, Zipper, and more. That’s nuts in-and-of-itself, but the real kicker is they did it all themselves. Dozens of records, dozens of tours, hundreds of interviews, one (thus far) documentary, millions of lives changed. This year’s celebration will look a lot like Michael Hurley’s memorial this year: A concert in Cherry Sprout Park with musicians and fans gathering to play exactly one song from the band’s catalog before scooting off stage to make way for the next performers. Toody’s in the mix for this DMN, as well as Mississippi Records across the street, and Red Fox is spinning Dead Moon all night. (Cherry Sprout Park, 5 pm, FREE, more info here, all ages)
Related: Read our 50th anniversary review of Zipper’s only album.
Monday, October 6
Memorials / Maria BC / Whisper Hiss
For fans of Melody’s Echo Chamber, Broadcast, Grouper
Y’all remember the bands Electrelane and Wire don’t you? Members of those bands—Electrelane’s Verity Susman and Matthew Simms of Wire—have formed Memorials, rounding up the best bits of their previous bands in one place. Angular post-punk guitars, frenetically sputtering electronics, and Susman’s voice. It’s like Stereolab but, get this, noisier and dancier. Signed to the lauded Sacred Bones label, Maria BC’s music is like dirt: Dark and mysterious, from what life springs. The mutant post-punk of Portland’s Whisper Hiss gets the party started. (Swan Dive, 8 pm, more info here, 21+)
Also very worth it…
Swervedriver / Frankie Rose / Vuvu at Mississippi Studios – Oct 1, more info here
Pictureplane / Xenith / Rally / Lu at Process – Oct 2, more info here
Shecock / Uncanny Valley Girls / Trans Panic at Shanghai Tunnel – Oct 4, more info here
Perimeters / Strzyga / Nightsister at The Six – Oct 4, more info here
Lambrini Girls / Edging at Revolution Hall – Oct 4, more info here
Pulse Emitter / Saloli / Analogue Dream Research at Speck’s Records – Oct 5, more info here
Methods Body at Decibel Sound – Oct 5, more info here
Portland Music News:
It feels like Pickathon was yesterday, but we’re already talking about next year’s festival. Passes for Pickathon 2026 have gone on sale and are the cheapest you’ll find. The presale won’t last forever, more details here.
The homies behind Homie Fest are making up for lost time and will be hosting a smaller winter edition of the festival at Swan Dive. Bands have yet to be announced, we’ll keep you posted.
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Nolan Parker
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