Live! Tonight! Not Sold-Out!

Our top concert picks for Saturday, Dec. 5.

Want to see some live music tonight? Here are your best options, curated by the Willamette Week music staff.

SATURDAY, DEC. 5

Jay Farrar, Holy Sons

[THE OTHER GUY] It seems strange now, but there was a brief moment when Jay Farrar was the most important ex-member of Uncle Tupelo. When the critically beloved alt-country troupe split, there were many who bet the band's mop-topped frontman would go on to do great things after escaping the egomaniacal guitarist who would not heed his simple instructions to avoid speaking directly to the audience through the provided microphone. And for a moment, it seemed like maybe they were right. Son Volt's Trace marks that moment. Depending on whom you talk to (read: not me), the Son Volt debut that Farrar is playing in its entirety on his current tour is maybe even better than Wilco's first record, A.M. It certainly makes great use of Farrar's honey-dipped Upper Mississippi twang. But then Wilco released Being There, and Jeff Tweedy hasn't looked back since. Farrar, however, is looking back, with one of those whole-1995-album tours we've seen from Korn and Everclear. Godspeed, Jay. May the wind take your troubles away. MARTIN CIZMAR. Aladdin Theater, 3017 SE Milwaukie Ave. 8 pm. $25. Under 21 permitted with legal guardian.

Scott Kelly of Neurosis, Muscle and Marrow, Disemballerina

[NOT THE ASTRONAUT] Scott Kelly, main "old guy with beard" behind legendary drum-circle metal band Neurosis, has a solo career that strongly resembles the acoustic parts of post-2000 Neurosis albums. Kelly's solo material is characterized by plaintive acoustic Americana guitar work tastefully set off by a fair shake of desert-rock twang, with lyrical content borrowing heavily from the New Age "deserts and planets" playbook. Neurosis is idolized by men with unkempt beards who love having pissing contests about craft beer, so prepare yourself for an unbroken sea of dudes in Baroness T-shirts who smell like stale weed. WALKER MACMURDO. Hawthorne Theatre, 1507 SE Cesar Chavez Blvd. 9 pm. $13. 21+.

[INDIE HOLIDAZE] The von Trapps—the great-grandchildren of the Captain and Maria von Trapp from the beloved musical The Sound of Music—have found great success as musicians already. Since Sofia, Melanie, Amanda and August were kids, they've traveled the world singing the songs of their family heritage. In 2014, they teamed up with Portland chamber-pop group Pink Martini for the Dream A Little Dream album and, even released their first EP of original music earlier this year. For this performance at the Lake Oswego High School, just over the county line, the von Trapp siblings will play a range of festive holiday tunes fit for the whole family. HILARY SAUNDERS. Lake Oswego High School, 2501 Country Club Rd. 6 pm. $14-$20. All ages.

Polyrhythmics, Pigwar

[NORTHWEST AFROBEAT] Every pair of pink, fuzzy car mirror dice should come with a copy of Seattle Afrobeat ensemble Polyrhythmics' latest release, Octagon. A deep-grooving 10 track collection the band released on 45, the record has punchy horn lines spread smoothly over the top of wah-wah pedals and ghost-noted snare drums. The eight-piece instrumental group has spent the past several years touring the West Coast to much acclaim, and will use their perfectly executed stage presence to have even the most uptight of New Portland shuffling in their Bean boots. PARKER HALL. Mississippi Studios, 3939 N Mississippi Ave. 9 pm. $15. 21+.

Quiet Riot, Bullet Boys, Jack Russell

[HEAVY METAL] I'll be real fucking clear with you right now: Quiet Riot is a great band and you're a piece of shit if you don't like them. They embody the smiling hedonism of heroes like Van Halen combined with a sound that's pretty much like the Dictators if you squint. They're the soundtrack to the bad punk-type characters in those '80 movies that nerds like to watch. If listening to "Party All Night" or "Metal Health" doesn't get you hard for a Bushmills, then brother, you're dead. BRACE BELDEN. Roseland Theater, 8 NW 6th Ave. 8 pm. $17-$100. All ages.

Fred and Toody Cole

[PORTLAND PUNK] Nothing can stop Fred and Toody Cole—and the universe sure seems to be trying lately. But that doesn't mean Portland should take them for granted. Every time they do one of these acoustic sets—which often span from Dead Moon to Pierced Arrows to the pit-stops before and in between—it's a must-see…and especially when it's held in the glory of the Old Church. The Old Church, 1422 SW 11th Ave. 9 pm. $15. All ages.

Is/Is, Sunbathe, Golden Hour

[DREAM POP] This bill brings together three superlative Portland acts, but the highlight is Maggie Morris of Genders' new project, Sunbathe, which debuts a new video here. According to Morris herself, the video features "bike riding, dream-within-a-dream-within-a-dream sequences (with Inception-like-clarity into how this is possible) , my dog, pizza, a house show, my friends with stockings over their faces, my cat, bass man, dancing, and a whole lot of trying not to laugh." Kinda sells itself, doesn't it? Valentines, 232 SW Ankeny St. 9 pm. $5. 21+.

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