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One of Portland's most promising young bands, Inside Voices has a debut that captures the trio's incredible live chemistry in deceptively simple pop. The brightly chiming "Living on the Range" is one of the year's best songs, highlighted by a pulsing bass line and a high, buzzing quarter-note guitar riff that spirals around the beat.
July 21: Iame, I Am My Enemy (self-release)
On his first solo record since 2005, Iame is helped out by fellow Sandpeople Sapient and Illmaculate, but it's his own verses that really shine. I Am My Enemy boasts stellar production, keen rhymes about phony rappers and Chicago sports and at least one Cormac McCarthy reference.
July 28: YACHT, See Mystery Lights (DFA)
After a two-year break during which it toured across the country, electronic lifestyle act YACHT—now a duo with the addition of Claire Evans—returns with a record of summer jams destined for backyard barbecues and basement dance parties. The first single, "Psychic City," is a bubbly, easygoing bit of pop with a big, fat chorus that reminds us of Tom Tom Club's "Genius of Love."
Aug. 4: Nurses, Apple's Acre (Dead Oceans)
Equal parts quirky and oddly melodic, Nurses' debut Apple's Acre borrows from Brian Wilson, Animal Collective and Olivia Tremor Control but still manages to sound completely original. Can you believe they recorded the whole thing on GarageBand?
Aug. 18: Ramona Falls, Intuit (Barsuk)
OK, so we're not getting another Menomena record until at least 2010, but that doesn't mean the band is staying quiet. Ramona Falls is the new project from Brent Knopf, and it's filled with the same layered experimental pop that is Menomena's stock in trade—just with more of Knopf's vocals and less Danny Seim.
Concerts We’re Looking Forward To
June 23: David Byrne
The former Talking Heads frontman and artistic troublemaker's latest tour involves a four-piece band, three backup singers and three dancers performing songs from Byrne's recent album with Brian Eno, Everything That Happens Will Happen Today. (Brian Eno not included.) Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, 1037 SW Broadway, pcpa.com. 8 pm Tuesday. $36.25-$46.50. All ages.
June 27: No.Fest
The eclectic all-day St. Johns festival, which premiered to general excitement last summer, returns with performances by 36 artists in unconventional venues around the neighborhood. Performers this year include Illmaculate, Mega*Church, the Working Theater Collective, Evolutionary Jass Band and Mustaphamond. Various venues, nofest.net. Starts at 10 am Saturday. Free. All ages.
June 27-28: Superfest
Set to take place on two (hopefully hot) summer nights in June at Rotture, this all-ages electronic-pop dance party brings together an exciting array of talent, including Copy doing his thang on the keytar, PDX electro-pop big-deal Starfucker going crazy and the return of the awesome Nice Nice. Rotture, 315 SE 3rd Ave., rotture.com. Doors open 4 pm Saturday, 7 pm Sunday. $15 two-day bracelet, $10 day of show. All ages.
July 2-5: Waterfront Blues Festival
This year's lineup is particularly stellar: Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings, Etta James and the Roots Band, Bonerama (a trombone-centric septet), Johnny Winter, Karl Denson's Tiny Universe, Sonny Landreth and many, many more. Tom McCall Waterfront Park, Southwest Naito Parkway between Southwest Harrison and Madison streets, waterfrontbluesfest.com. 3-10 pm Thursday, noon-10 pm Friday-Saturday, noon-9 pm Sunday. $10 and two cans of nonperishable food per day. All ages.
July 7-Aug. 20: Noon Tunes Summer Concert Series
Downtown laborers can escape the air conditioning and get outside for lunch and a little music, from local, regional and national bands. Pioneer Courthouse Square, 701 SW 6th Ave., pioneercourthousesquare.org. Noon Tuesdays and Thursdays. Free.
July 11: Tears for Fears with Wainwright
The most exciting of the Oregon Zoo's summer concert series (June 17-Aug. 28) is the world-ruling duo's first Portland appearance since its 2004 reunion album. Oregon Zoo, 4001 SW Canyon Road, oregonzoo.org. 7 pm Saturday. $22. All ages.
July 18-19: The Decemberists
Portland's own thesaurus-toting purveyors of whimsy pop, fresh from a national tour, perform their recent rape-centric rock opera, The Hazards of Love, in its entirety. McMenamins Edgefield, 2126 SW Halsey St., Troutdale, edgefieldconcerts.com. 6 pm Saturday-Sunday. $36 advance, $39 day of show. All ages.
July 24-26: PDX Pop Now!
Now in its sixth year, the free, all-ages, three-day festival of Portland pop music returns. Rotture, 315 SE 3rd Ave., pdxpopnow.com. Hours TBA Friday-Sunday. Free. All ages.
July 25: The Weakerthans
If you can resist the charms of these Winnipeg popsters, you have no soul. Aladdin Theater, 3017 SE Milwaukie Ave., aladdin-theater.com. 9 pm Saturday. $15. 21+.
July 31-Aug. 2: Pickathon
This year, the roots-music festival's 11th, features performances by Blitzen Trapper, Alela Diane, Horse Feathers, Laura Gibson and a bunch of really excellent musicians who ain't from 'round here. Pendarvis Farm, 16581 SE Hagen Road, Happy Valley, pickathon.com. Noon-11 pm Friday, 9 am-11 pm Saturday, 9 am-10 pm Sunday. $70-$80 per day, $120 weekend pass, $15-$30 parking, kids 12 and under free. All ages.
Aug. 28: Al Green
We love you, too, Rev. McMenamins Edgefield, 2126 SW Halsey St., Troutdale, edgefieldconcerts.com. 6:30 pm Friday. $40-$80. All ages.
Sept. 16-19: MusicfestNW
WW's three-day music festival is going to be awesome this year. Various locations, musicfestnw.com. Individual shows vary, all-access wristbands are $60. Some shows 21+.
WWeek 2015