Concert Reviews

Lauryn Hill Dropped Nas and Santigold from Her Portland Show Without Advance Notice to Ticket Holders

At the Rose Quater, the crowd thinned during the show’s 150 minutes of purgatory. But the loyal fans who remained seemed to shed their ire as soon as the lights dimmed and Hill sauntered onstage.

Slayer’s Farewell Tour Was a Celebration that Cemented the Band’s Legacy

The thrash titans blasted through a megalithic headlining set that began with the title track from its most recent album Repentless, and proceeded to annihilate its back catalog with precision, all the way back to “Black Magic” from their 1983 debut Show No Mercy. Pyrotechnic blasts punctuated each riff, with sustained flames heating up “Hell Awaits” late in the set.

The Smashing Pumpkins’ Portland Show Was Really Just About Billy Corgan

At the Moda Center, Corgan’s face appeared on stage screens again and again—on medieval tarot cards, in old footage, in pre-recorded screeds, and in the most embarrassing example, as the embodiment of a Catholic icon, which got wheeled around the venue like it was part of some sacred procession. A reunion tour, in theory, should be about the reconvergence of a unit. Instead, it just felt masturbatory.

At the Voidz’s Portland Show, Julian Casablancas Proved that He’s Not Just an Out-of-Touch Rocker

Onstage, Casablancas displays a refreshing amount of humility. He often retreated from the front of the stage to allow the guitarists some much-deserved time in the spotlight. He praised his bandmates in between songs. He joked about Creed. Tucked in between the members of the Voidz, Casablancas proved before a sweaty, euphoric crowd that he still deserves his spot on the stage.

Jesse McCartney’s Portland Show Was a Detached Trip Down Memory Lane

The 30-something moppet bounded onto the Roseland’s stage rocking Blazers sweats and a gleaming chartreuse jacket, but seethed rat pack flair nonetheless. A portion of the set was dedicated to unreleased material from his forthcoming sixth album. The new material’s limp dance pop and watered-down R&B was aided by a crack live band and McCartney’s unflagging verve.

Green Noise Record’s First Hip-Hop Show Proved That MCs Are Making Some of the City’s Most Audacious Music

This past Saturday, Green Noise Records diverged from its normal range of punk and hardcore shows, and hosted three Portland hip-hop artists. It wasn’t hard to see why the record store decided to host its first rap show—with sets from established MC Mic Capes and newcomers [E]mpress and KayelaJ, it was clear Portland MCs are making some of the city’s most audacious music.

Gaytheist’s Show at Kenton Club Was Portland’s Most Hardcore Pride Party

Last Saturday—the pinnacle of Portland Pride nightlife—Gaytheist played a hometown show at Kenton Club, the city’s northernmost hub for heavy music. With fire-engine red fringe lining the perimeter of the stage, Gaytheist walked out to cheers and screams that seemed to last for the first 30 minutes of their set.

For Their Hometown Show, Unknown Mortal Orchestra Came Ready to Celebrate

There’s a hedonistic spirit that pervades UMO’s music, but on albums, that hedonism is colored with a shade of melancholy. Live, the band comes ready to celebrate. The May 9 Roseland show was a particularly auspicious occasion—the birthday of drummer Kody Nielson, who is frontman Ruban Nielson’s brother. During the encore, Kody was presented with a cake and serenaded with “Happy Birthday” by the packed, sweaty audience.

Kendrick Lamar Marks a Turning Point in His Already Legendary Career in Ridgefield

With this tour, Lamar and his labelmates are simultaneously claiming their place in history and staking out their spot in the future.

Post Malone Celebrated His New Album by Smashing a Guitar at Memorial Coliseum

The 22-year-old, who colors his hard-partying anthems with lyrics about loneliness and depression, is perhaps the darkly Caligula-esque pop star these times deserve—either that or the Millennial Kid Rock.

Willamette Week

Most Read