ON THE TOWN

PoMo Picks: October 2013

Macklemore vs. Martin, Twelfth Night of the Living Dead, and the rest of the month's best bets for things to see or do

October 1, 2013 Published in the October 2013 issue of Portland Monthly

Concerts

Macklemore vs. Martin

At first glance, Seattle rapper Macklemore and comic legend–turned–bluegrass star Steve Martin have little in common. But put their lyrics side by side, and you’ll see an uncanny likeness.


SLOW DANCING
You put your hand out and I fearfully grabbed it. The most beautiful thing that I’d seen on this planet. She laughed, ’cause you could tell that I didn’t know how to dance yet. We started moving, and I didn’t know what I was doing. —“The End”	Women like to slow dance. They like it for the romance. If you want half a chance You gotta learn to slow dance. Take the time and learn to waltz, she’ll overlook your other faults. —“Women Like to Slow Dance”
ATHEISM AND MUSIC
If the grip of a God is insistent on not questioning if he truly exists, No wonder that I got caught up in [rap] music; it filled my spirit to the brim. —“Church”	Romantics play “Clair de lune,” Born-agains sing He is risen, But no one ever wrote a tune, For godless existentialism. —“Atheists Don’t Have No Songs”
SHOPPING FOR JUNK
They had a broken keyboard. I bought a broken keyboard. I bought a skeet blanket. Then I bought a kneeboard. —“Thrift Shop”	I’m picking out a thermos for you. And maybe a barometer, too. And what else can I buy, so on me you’ll rely? A rear-end thermometer, too. —from The Jerk
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis October 22	Steve Martin with the Steep Canyon Rangers and the Oregon Symphony October 3

Visual Arts

While knights walked Europe looking like drab wind-up tin cans, Japan’s samurai were downright sartorial: embroidered shoulder pads, flared helmets with animal motifs, stunningly bright color combinations, even man skirts! Seek some style inspiration (not to mention crazy history lessons) at Samurai!, Portland Art Museum’s blockbuster exhibition.

Zombies Go With Everything

Zombies + Shakespeare = Twelfth Night of the Living Dead.
October 26–31.

Zombies + Race + Capture the Flag = Zombie Apocalypse Trail Run.
October 12.

Books

“Julia Child loved the hot dogs at Costco. And she never served hors d’oeuvres. The only thing she ever served were Pepperidge Farm goldfish in a little dish.”

—Karen Karbo on her new self-help biography, Julia Child Rules: Lessons on Savoring Life October 1, powells.com

Read the full Q&A with Karen Karbo

Music

Portland bands love stringed instruments, but the symphony’s new collaboration with local and formerly local acts Black Prairie, Holcombe Waller, and Mirah must set a new record for onstage string count.