After a day spent rallying through the streets and partaking in what may be a contentious string of May Day events, march on over to the Know for some harsh sounds provided by Self Group.

What’s particularly intriguing about this show is the debut of the reformation of Yardsss (∅∀‡). What started as avant experiments with noise and multiimedia installations by Krist Krueger has now expanded to include Robin Levy and Paul Schaefer. Symbology wise, the characters break down as: ∅ – Krist Krueger, ∀ – Paul Schaefer, ‡ – Robin Levy.

Some of what Krueger created prior to the addition of Levy and Schaefer was inspired by the avant-garde composer John Cage, so seeing what the new trio can do live will be transcendentally intriguing.

Experience some visuals by Colin Manning, some alt-prog from Polygris and slightly folky doom rock from duo Glacial Fall. Tickets are only $8 and all proceeds are being donated to the ACLU.

Round 2 of Not Without A Fight II is here, our gathering to go against all of the political b.s. as of late. Even today’s events act as proof that we need a bit more common decency in the world for sure, but definitely on a much more local level here.

That’s why tonight’s bill of this show boasts an entertaining bunch of garage rock punk from Bobby Peru, post-punk from famed Vice Device, queer feminist punk leaders Cockeye and Escort from Washington. We wish there were more days of this installment but it’s easy to see that there will be much more to come.

Not Without A Fight II starts in just a couple of hours, so be sure to head to The Know.

It’s pretty decent outside right now, but the feelings Souvenir Driver‘s latest video for "Sunsets" gives are much more lovely.

A dazed visual entry of a tour diary recounting a day gone awry, "Sunsets" follows the band on an adventurous journey following the breakdown of their video vehicle. The band then have some unexpected encounters at a small town dive bar, where the band actually used real locals and regulars from the location. It’s a story of compassion among strangers and offers a bit more beauty we could all definitely use right about now.

See Souvenir Driver perform "Sunsets" and the rest of the songs from their recent, self-titled release tonight at the Fixin’ To with Leading Psychics and the Verner Pantons.

Human Ottoman is quite the trio.

Utilizing a couple instruments not usually employed by the typical makeup of a band, the amalgamation of Human Ottoman’s vibraphone-cello-drum production caught our eye back in February of last year when we premiered their video for "YDKWH." Their vibrance even captured the attention of the bookers over at Treefort Music Fest, of which they played earlier this year and all of you voted as one of the best Portland acts there. 

As for what they’ve got going on currently, Human Ottoman were on the bands selected to be featured at tonight’s Northwest Post-Rock Collective showcase. See their greatness, along with Volcanic Pinnacles, Long Hallways, A Collective Subconscious and Seattle’s You May Die In The Desert, later today at the Tonic Lounge.

Portland is getting a new death metal band and tonight, they’ll be celebrated with a well-backed release show.

Coming out on Portland’s extreme underground metal label Headsplit Records, Extraneous are dropping their demo cassette tonight. What started as some shreddy rough cuts from guitarist/vocalist Alex Stanley in late summer of last year has flourished into a fully formed lineup, their expertise quickly noticed. A short shuffle through Stanley’s YouTube profile, where Extraneous’ few tracks live for now, but provide enough insight into the band’s capacity for gruesome sounds.

Pick up a copy of Extraneous’ demo tonight at the High Water Mark, where there’s also the chance to catch fellow Headsplit act Blood Freak and other new death metal act Septic Tank. This bill is guaranteed to split some heads… or at least, some ears.

Post-rock appreciators have waited years, four to be exact, to experience the followup album to local outfit Long Hallways‘ debut Live From Dystopia. Tonight, fans will get the jazzy, experimental rock answer they’ve been waiting for performed right before their eyes.

Long Hallways shared a taste of their newest instrumental narratives with "Crystal Forest," the first to come off of The Way Home. Seeing Long Hallways live is even more of a wanderous experience than what’s given through headphones, which is why debuting their new tracks and first official music video (for their son "March of Knives") at the third installment of the Northwest Post Rock Collective Showcase (NWPRC) is perfect.

Take a journey with Long Hallways, their new songs, and the rest of the NWPRC showcase bands tonight at the Tonic Lounge, but give The Way Home a streamed listen below first.

As the first 100 days of our terrible president’s time in office comes to a close, our country’s woke citizens are still trying to figure out coping mechanisms for the awe that will undoubtedly overwhelm us for the years to come. Trump has already destroyed much of the progress our country has made in so many ways and if there’s one thing us here in the Pacific Northwest can do about it, it’s put on a damn good show in support of the programs he’s trying to nix.

Tonight begins the second round of Not Without A Fight, one of our city’s music-based options at dealing with the decisions of this administration thus far. On tonight’s bill, different factions of punk meet, with a bit of glam coming from Sweeping Exits, some indie/alternative from Beach Party and hints of melody from Mala Fides, rounded out by a bit of grunge-gaze from Seattle’s Bod. 

Proceeds from this year’s Not Without A Fight are being donated to local health and social services nonprofit Outside In, as well as drug safety and harm reduction volunteer organization Portland People’s Outreach Project (PPOP). Tickets for nights one and two are only $7. 

Val Bauer makes the type of tunes that take us back to the good ol’ days.

His style of songwriting is fully expressive and filled with emotion, calling back to a sonic execution like that of alt-Americana Ryan Adams and OG emo kids Saves the Day. His nostaligia rock even includes elements of pop punk, as heard on his most recent EP Malaise. Since Bauer’s songs are heavily rife with strong feelings, it’s just the kind of sound we need to ease us through this painfully slow change in weather.

See Val Bauer performing songs off Malaise and more tonight at the Firkin Tavern with Fire Nuns and Black Fruit. The show starts at 7pm, for free!

Even though spring is trying to add little pops of color to our lives with flowers and five seconds worth of blue skies, the dark tendencies of post punk are still the most appealing. Thankfully, there’s a new act on the scene to help fulfill our needs.

New electronic/anarcho/post-punk duo Fleshh… just dropped their debut in early March, and it’s already catching attention left and right. Vocalist and synth player Tim Iserman describes the sounds he makes with drummer Mark Onyx as being "early George Michael meets late stage Morrissey" with a bit of Fad Gadget. That designation is incredibly fitting, as it’s stripped down and minimal while still holding its intrigue. A nice blend of droney noise, electro beats and a subdued vocals, it’s exciting to see what they’ll be releasing next.

Catch Fleshh… TONIGHT at Dante’s with Terror Apart, Caustic Touch and Contact Cult or with Italy’s Horror Vacui and locals Vice Device, Bellicose Minds and Vacant Stares on 5/6 at Black Water.

Fun loving alternative surf trio Keeper Keeper are coming out with a brand new EP in a couple of days, and today they’re sharing a new track to go along with it.

"Sticky Bomb" is the second song from their upcoming Paradigm EP. The track boasts an excitable, beach-cowboy feel while being a mixture between a song of love and a song of lust. About the song, the band share that "’Sticky Bomb’ is an ode to one sexy creature named Anna with a firecracker tattooed on her perfect ass!" Fun and fiery, this track and "White Bear," the first to be released, give good insight into what the rest of the Paradigm EP sounds like.

Keeper Keeper is having their release show for the new mini collection of songs this Saturday at Kelly’s Olympian. Playing with them will be Mobilities, Salo Panto and Low Flyer. Snag tickets to the show for just $5 so you can catch them before they hit the road next month on a tour in support of the EP.

Gritty Birds, the local podcast and XRAY.fm radio show, is gearing up to celebrate its two year anniversary with a dance party and performances from some of Portland’s best.

Ran by soulful singer, songwriter, producer and music writer Jeni Wren Stottrup, Gritty Birds is nearly 60 episodes deep into its collection personal conversations with artists, on the spot interviews at festivals and new music. Stottrup embodies a DIY approach to showing appreciation for Portland’s music scene, always figuring out ways to keep the podcast and radio show relevant and fresh.

For the anniversary dance party and show, Skull Diver and Coco Columbia will be gracing the stage, with a secret headliner to close out the night. Festivities will be hosted by comedienne Kellie Irwin with hopefully a little bit of commentary from Stottrup herself.

Catch the Gritty Birds second anniversary party on Friday, May 12 at Kelly’s Olympian. More details will be revealed closer to the show date.

*photo by Amanda Rose Reinholz

We first discovered Paper Gates last year at Treefort Music Festival and he quickly became one of our favorites in avant creation. He played the festival again this year, but what we’re focusing on today is the new tape and coinciding zine he’s releasing tonight at The Liquor Store.

Based on the Paper Gates production we’ve heard before, Memory Box is guaranteed to be another sonic adventure down the rabbit hole of the brain behind Paper Gates, Andy Rayborn. His adept use of bass clarinet shows a mastery of compound minimalism by creating such large soundscapes with so few instrumental tools. 

Joining Rayborn in the release of the Memory Box tape and zine will performances by Sheers and a solo set from Sam Adams of Sama Dams.