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Wednesday, Jan. 22
Tank and The Bangas are the kind of band you expect to spontaneusly burst into song even when they’re not performing, and not just because they cite old Disney movies as an inspiration on the “magic” air they bring to their jubilant pop funk. Tarriona “Tank” Ball and her crew of conspirators carry themselves like people who live and breathe music so completely that they’re not even thinking about how good they are; it’s that kidding-around-but-not-really energy that won them 2017’s NPR Tiny Desk Concert, memorably beating out meme-rapper Hobo Johnson. Revolution Hall, 1300 SE Stark St. 7 pm. $30. All ages.
Thursday, Jan. 23
Mary Ocher released last year’s Your Guide to Revolution during a fertile time for art pop from continental Europe (see ML Buch, Astrid Sonne, Milan W.), and it’s fair to say that it stands out even in that crowded field. Yet the Russian-born, Berlin-based singer-songwriter and punk poet’s work is more in the tradition of mischievous pop academics like Julia Holter, Marie Davidson and Laurie Anderson, for whom revolutionary politics and references to 12th century poetry can exist easily alongside straightforward thrills like Auto-Tuned melodies and club beats. The Fixin’ To, 8218 N Lombard St. 8 pm. $15. 21+.
Friday, Jan. 24
The eight bands on the bill for Raindance 2025 make up a who’s who of present Portland music talent across a remarkably broad spectrum of genres. Dakota Theim, whose warped and VHS-damaged take on psych pop suggests a Northwestern answer to Jerry Paper, headlines alongside dreamy post-rockers Jonny’s Day Out (whose multi-instrumentalist Eli Goldberg records exquisite chamber music as Ann Annie). Don’t miss the bands earlier in the day, from the happy-go-lucky bluegrass jams of Dadweed to the country-disco workouts of Megan Diana. McMenamins Mission Theater, 1624 NW Glisan St. 5 pm. $20. All ages.