Maya Hoover / The Mossy Log
Getting into the Portland music scene can be tricky; local shows range from incredibly well-advertised to word-of-mouth only, and can take place anywhere you can possibly imagine. Finding something to do on a random Thursday night is remarkably complex, despite living in a city of more than 600,000 people. To remedy this, your trusty Arts & Culture editor has painstakingly sifted through the piles of information across the web and have come to you with their humble recommendations for entertainment. These shows range in price from free to $50, but each and every one is worth the money. All of the events are 18+ or all-ages welcome.
Violent Abuse, Prager Youth, Impermanence, Verdant Force, and Simian at the High Limit Room
Friday, Oct. 16, $13.17
A combination of punk, hardcore and powerviolence, this show will be the perfect place to mosh and scream after a long week of studying. Violent Abuse has a punk tone with forceful and driving rhythmic guitar, while Impermanence leans toward the hardcore and powerviolence side of the scale. They both consistently layer bass and snare, which Impermanence blends with high-pitched speaker feedback. Verdant Force falls into an older punk style reminiscent of the Irish hardcore scene. All five bands developed in the Pacific Northwest, and Impermanence, Verdant Force and Simian are all Portland-based.
Femmes to the Frrront at The Off Beat
Saturday, Oct. 17, Free
This Saturday afternoon festival is focused on community benefits, with a lineup of femme-fronted artists and free admission. Partially funded by grants from the Portland Events and Film Office, donations are encouraged to help pay the performers and further benefit local organizations that support women. The lineup includes Karma Rivera, NONBINARY GIRLFRIEND, Bijoux Cone and a wide variety of other West Coast artists. The music of this festival has a largely electronic and dance feel, blending with softer pop and rock on occasion.
Bear Ghost at the Hawthorne Theatre
Wednesday, Oct. 21, $35.49+
An Adventure Rock band from Phoenix, Bear Ghost has been a favorite of mine since high school. Supporting acts Sarah and the Safeword and Spaceman Bob match this energy with cabaret rock and comedic rap, respectively. Their latest album, “Tiny Hitman,” is spooky and bouncy, making it perfect for the Halloween season. Sarah and the Safeword matches this energy with high-speed cabaret rock, while Spaceman Bob brings some variety to the show with his comedic rap. Ultimately this well-organized lineup creates a solid musical solution for any Wednesday-night boredom.
Jason Lenyer Buchanan & The Rosewood Three at The Riff at B Side Records
Thursday, Oct. 22, $10
If you are craving warm, folksy guitar and balanced harmonies, Jason Lenyer Buchanan & The Rosewood Three have you covered. Based in Portland, Buchanan has been actively releasing music on Spotify since June 2019. Reminiscent of James Taylor, each song carries a distinct story and is a lovely match for the cold weather that has begun to creep in. Supporting artist Nico Avery has a soft pop sound and easily balances the guitar and fiddle of Buchanan and the Rosewood Three with piano and clear melodies.
Akeem Ali at the Hawthorne Theatre
Saturday, Oct. 24, $35.49+
Akeem Ali’s punchy hip-hop and rap music is heavily influenced by the 1970s rap scene, using smooth synth to offset sharp lines and snare rhythms. Ali describes himself as an artist, songwriter and actor, each aspect coming together in his performances to create a refined and smooth persona. “The Texture Tape III,” his most recent album, plays with material textures and rhythm, connecting each song’s title with stylistic elements that mimic the material named. This solo tour is meant to exemplify Ali’s showmanship and musical prowess, spanning North America and running until December 2026.
She’s Green, Witches Exist and Starling at the High Limit Room
Monday, Oct. 26, $15
This triple bill is a perfect span of the bedroom pop genre, with each band holding its own distinct twist on the popular dreamlike sound. All three bands have a hazy quality to them that is more than appropriate for the cold of early autumn. She’s Green’s new album “Swallowtail” drifts like its namesake, using warm indie guitar tones to support soft vocals that are interspersed with faster drums and overdriven chords. In contrast, Witches Exist’s recent songs have a faster beat and heavier guitar use that creates a deliciously punchy and danceable sound. “Plexus,” the most recent EP released by Starling, tends toward interesting backbeats and grungy guitar overlaid by rich vocals.
Joy Oladokun at the Aladdin Theater
Tuesday, Oct. 27, $40.29+
Good vibes and cross-cultural beats characterize Oladokun’s latest album, “Hope Is a Heavy Thing.” With music heavily influenced by her experience as a queer Black woman and the daughter of Nigerian immigrants, Oladokun regularly combines Nigerian rhythms with North American folk guitar. Her songs carry a sense of introspection and are wonderfully varied in their subject matter, moving from self-reflective material to wider social criticisms with ease. Oladokun has previously collaborated with artists such as Noah Kahan, Michael Marcagi and Chris Stapleton and has a total of 2.3 million monthly listeners on Spotify.
Basement at the Roseland Theater
Wednesday, Oct. 28, $43.75+
Together since 2009, Basement has been a staple of British alternative rock for over a decade. “Wired” is their latest album after an eight-year hiatus and is distinctly rock, with a grungy background that makes the listener want to headbang, or at the very least get up and dance. For the Portland show, Basement will be supported by High Vis, Big Boy and Lowertown, who each put their own spin on alt-rock: High Vis with echoey synth backgrounds, Big Boy with softer guitar and Lowertown with heavier rock.
Though not all of these bands may draw your attention, they encompass a wide variety of upcoming events stretching from Oct. 17 through Oct. 28, keeping you entertained until Halloween covers campus in pumpkins and dubiously scented candles. Even if none of these shows are options for you, each artist listed has an online presence that I would highly recommend investigating. After all, you never know what new favorites you might find.
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