Skip to main content
PHOTOS: Leslie Montgomery, RED CARPET: Kostya Kisleyko
To be quite honest, we're skeptical of the Portland Music Awards. When the low-budget-but-glitzy awards show popped up two years ago, failing to gather the sellout crowd its promoters expected, we assumed we'd seen the last of it.
But the PMAs, now in their third year, have not disappeared. It's like the Blob—those who seek to destroy the event (by questioning its validity and its founder, Craig Marquardo) have only made it stronger. While some previously announced guests—Meredith Brooks of "Bitch" fame and Mayor Sam Adams among them—have dropped out, this year's show still features appearances from such reputable artists as 3 Leg Torso, Marv and Rindy Ross from Quarterflash, Boy Eats Drum Machine and Nancy King.
That's where our red-carpet team, intrepid WW music reporter Jay Horton and Sarah Dylan, host of the popular Funemployment Radio podcast, come in. They'll be WW's flashy presence at this year's PMAs (or "Pammys," as Horton calls them), and together they'll produce another high-fashion, high-quality video report to air on wweek.com in February, complete with artist interviews and clips from the show. So even if you think the Portland Music Awards are a sham, you know what? It's our sham…we may as well get drunk and do interviews.
Headout Picks
WEDNESDAY JAN. 27
[SCREEN]
[MUSIC] KOOL KEITH
Kool Keith might be the weirdest rapper in the world not named Lil Wayne. Hawthorne Theatre, 3862 SE Hawthorne Blvd., 233-7100. 9 pm. $20. All ages.
THURSDAY JAN. 28
[STAGE] ROAD HOUSE: THE PLAY
A reading of a musical stage adaptation of the 1989 cult Swayze film. We’re at once wildly enthusiastic about and deeply skeptical of this idea. Gerding Theater, 128 NW 11th Ave., 445-3700. 10:30 pm. $10.
[BENEFIT] MUSTACHES FOR KIDS
Get the scoop on how to grow a hot ’stache and help kids charities at the PDX chapter’s “Clean Shave” kickoff event. Red Flag, 344 NE 28th Ave., 232-0507. 7 pm. Free.
FRIDAY JAN. 29
[STAND-UP] PAULA POUNDSTONE
The funniest member of the Wait Wait…Don’t Tell Me! panel drops by the Aladdin for a solo gig. It’ll be a good one. Aladdin Theater, 3017 SE Milwaukie Ave., 234-9694. 8 pm. $30.
[HAITI AID] CAPPELLA ROMANA
Cappella Romana joins choirs from local orthodox churches for a concert to benefit Haiti. Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral, 3131 NE Glisan St., 236-8202. 7 pm. $20-$40 per family.
[MUSIC] THE CRIBS
Did you know Johnny Marr is now playing guitar for another young band that moved to PDX? Only this one is British and probably hates the Smiths. Wonder Ballroom, 128 NE Russell St., 284-8686. 9 pm. $14 advance, $15 day of show. All ages.
SUNDAY JAN. 31
[HAITI AID] VEGAN BAKE SALE
The city’s veggie clan raises funds with a big, vegan bake sale. All proceeds go to Mercy Corps. People’s Co-op upstairs, 3029 SE 21st Ave. 2-5 pm Sunday, Jan. 31.
[MUSIC] PREFUSE 73
Nobody does weird, glitchy beats like Prefuse 73, the king of experimental hip-hop. Holocene, 1001 SE Morrison St., 239-7639. 8:30 pm. $15 advance, $17 day of show. 21+.
TUESDAY FEB. 2
[WORDS] KEVIN SAMPSELL
Powell’s stalwart and WW profile subject presents his new memoir, A Common Pornography, where he feels most comfortable. Powell’s City of Books, 1005 W Burnside St., 228-4651. 7:30 pm. Free.
WWeek 2015