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KILLINGSWORTH DYNASTY
832 N Killingsworth St.
Since opening in 2015, Killingsworth Dynasty has built a strong reputation as a neighborhood dance club with a conscience. Queer-leaning parties like Switch, Cake and Strange Babes Soul & Funk Revue are its biggest draw, but recurring post-punk nights and LGBTQ comedy showcases are also well within Dynasty's realm of expertise. Add an all-vegan menu highlighted by chicken and waffles to the mix, and you've got yourself one hell of a party.
THE LIQUOR STORE
3341 SE Belmont St
On the Liquor Store's main floor you'll find flickering candlelight, walls filled with vinyl and a steady stream of DJs who create the vibe of a hip after-hours party at a rich friend's parents' house. Like most house parties, however, the real action is downstairs. In the low-ceilinged basement, you'll find touring house, bass and EDM producers alongside locals spinning everything from art rock to Zouglou, as well as indie bands who missed the actual basement show scene by a few years.
45 EAST
315 SE 3rd Ave., 45eastpdx.com.
This Southeast Industrial spot has gone from queer dance club to metalhead venue and back again since it opened in the late '70s, but its current iteration as 45 East has shown promise as a permanent installation for rawkus dance parties of all stripes. Booking is generally under the electronic umbrella, but don't be surprised to find DJ sets from Chromeo or Jazzy Jeff of Fresh Prince fame sandwiched between appearances from A-Trak, Shaun Frank and Christian Martin.
HOLOCENE
1001 SE Morrison St.
Holocene may have scrappy indie bands like Camp Cope and Lemuria on the books, but Portlanders looking to party know this converted warehouse better for its themed parties like Emo Nite and Snap!, its popular LGBTQ event Slay, and recurring tributes to pop-music deities like Drake, Beyonce and the Talking Heads.
THE WHISKEY BAR
31 NW 1st Ave., 503-227-0405, whiskeybarpdx.com.
Bassheads of all legal ages flock to the Whiskey Bar on most weekend nights for parties that highlight the past, present and future of one of electronic music's youngest and most exciting offshoots. Considering the genre's appetite for expansion, don't be surprised to hear dubstep, trap, trance and house thrown in the mix as well.
THE LOVECRAFT
421 SE Grand Ave.
Every night is goth night at the Lovecraft. Windowless and cavernous, it's a place where dark souls gather together and sulk alone while New Wave, post-punk and industrial music throbs and minimalist lighting penetrates the dense fog. A backlash against its namesake's unsavory values was inevitable, but the owners have done their part to assure patrons it's a place that respects inclusivity above all else. Besides, it's too damn dark and weird in there to judge anyone anyway.
