10 Concerts You Can't Miss in Portland This Month
Solange brings synth and soul to town.
Image: Soul'd Out
From the '90s grunge of Radiohead to the piano poetry of Vanessa Carlton, we've cherry-picked 10 must-see concerts.
APR 2: Tech N9ne, “Speedom”: Since founding Strange Music, Inc, rapid-fire rapper Tech N9ne has collaborated with big names like Eminem and Kendrick Lamar. His latest album Dominion, the seventh installment in the “Tech N9ne Collabos,” drops just five days after he drops by the Roseland. www.roselandpdx.com
APR 4: Senses Fail, “In Your Absence?”: Identifying as post-hardcore punk, the Jersey-based band celebrate their 15-year band-i-versary with a 28-city tour in conjunction with the release of their latest EP, In Your Absence. City number 25? Good ol' Portland. www.hawthornetheatre.com
APR 8: Vanessa Carlton, “A Thousand Miles (Live)”: Spewing pixie-light vocals and teenage sentiments, Vanessa Carlton shattered the airwaves in the early 2000s with her hit, “A Thousand Miles.” The song's tinkling piano riff remains one of the most recognizable melodies in music history. Her latest works, Earlier Things and Liberman Live, are a collection of live recordings that trace her evolution through music. Make your way down to the Doug Fir—where she put on a captivating show just last year—for Carlton's uncharted sound: wistful, raw, with a depth that miles can't measure. www.dougfirlounge.com
APR 9: Radiohead, “Karma Police”: Karaoke night just isn't complete without a howling rendition of “Creep,” the '90s grunge anthem Radiohead themselves grew tired of and refused to play live for seven years. Luckily, Portland got to hear it during the band's last visit in 1996. Will it creep into their set this time? There's only one way to find out. Moda Center, www.rosequarter.com
APR 10: SOHN, “Bloodflows”: In 2010, the London-born singer-songwriter Christopher Taylor was reborn as SOHN. His second studio album, Rennen, provides a heavy dose of ambient electronica. www.wonderballroom.com
APR 16: BANKS, “Mind Games”: Trip-hop? Witch-pop? Electro R&B? Jillian Banks—aka BANKS—has a sound that's hard to define, marrying dark, brooding vocals, with sultry bass beats. The former psych major kicked off her musical career by touring with the Weeknd before releasing her inaugural album, Goddess, building a fortress of female-empowered musings. In her latest album, The Altar, she sits atop a metaphorical pedestal, expelling venom-tongued confessions one minute, and conjuring up quiet vulnerability the next. www.crystalballroompdx.com
APR 18: Cherry Poppin' Daddies: “Zoot Suit Riot”: Despite being thrown some serious shade for their “offensive band name,” the Eugene eight-piece burst into the musical mainstream in 1997. Their most popular song, “Zoot Suit Riot,” danced at the forefront of a late '90s swing revival. After releasing Zoot Suit Riot: The 20th Anniversary Edition earlier this year, they're on the road again. www.revolutionhall.com
APR 19: SHAED, “Starboy (cover)”: Fronted by the small yet vocally fierce Chelsea Lee, SHAED made its Portland debut last fall as openers at the Wonder Ballroom. Now the trio is taking their colorful pop vibes to the log-cabin underworld that is the Doug Fir, this time as headliners. www.dougfirlounge.com
APR 21: Solange, “Don't Touch My Hair”: During the tumultuous, politically charged fall of 2016 Solange (yes, Bey's little sis) released her third studio album, A Seat at the Table. Dubbing it the Best Album of the year, Pitchfork hailed her creation as “a thematically unified and musically adventurous statement on the pain and joy of black womanhood.” Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, www.portland5.com
APR 23: The xx, “Shelter”: This London trio is all about minimalism (see their first two album covers for proof). Hushed vocals, atmospheric beats, and distant reverb-y effects are their jam, and they’re the masters of it. Moda Center, www.rosequarter.com
