Sunnyside Piazza

The featured event is PDX Pop Now!

But of course! It’s July 22 – 24 at Audio Cinema (under the Hawthorne Bridge). My favorite music event of the year showcases the variety of our local music scene. 44 bands over three days, covering all genres. It’s all ages and free, which makes it even sweeter.

I had the honor of being on the listening committee that helped put together the annual double album. I’ve been going to the festival every year for as long as I can remember and it is always a blast. I love to have some beers and vegan ice cream and just kick back.

My don’t miss picks are: Jenny Don’t & The Spurs (old timey country, not the modern shit that makes my ears bleed), Tender Age (darkwave), Summer Cannibals (indie rock) and Arlo Indigo (indie rock). But the best part is discovering new bands. Memorable bands I heard for the first time at Pop Now! are Phone Call, The Lower 48, The Estranged and Spellcaster.

Shows You Don’t Want to Miss

Down Gown will be playing at the soon-to-be-closed Portland landmark, The Know, on Thursday, July 14th. Those of us who have gone to some fun, rowdy shows there over the past 11 years will dearly miss it.

The always surprising and fun A Possible History of Dance Music will be at the regular third Friday night at Holocene on July 15th.

The Malt Ball at Mississippi Studios will be on Sunday, July 17th. As part of Oregon Craft Beer Month, each participating brewery was paired with a band and made them a commemorative beer. I just love that. I really dig Natasha Kmeto, Months and The Ghost Ease. This line up is amazing! An $18 advance ticket gets you four 4-oz. pours and all these talented musicians. In my opinion, this is the best value of all the various beer festivals BY FAR. $25 day of, additional pours are $1.50.

As part of the city-sponsored summer series of free events, The Student Loan will be playing at the Columbia Park Annex at 6:30 on Tuesday, July 19th.

Tough call – Crystal Castles at Wonder Ballroom or Toad the Wet Sprocket at Revolution Hall on Thursday, July 21st? My musical tastes are indeed wide because I love both bands.

If you aren’t going to PDX Pop Now!, check out There is No Mountain at 7pm at Pioneer Courthouse Square on Friday, July 22nd.

Dreckig and Etbonz are at The Liquor Store on Tuesday, July 26th. Wear your dancing shoes.

I’m intrigued by the Songs of Joy Division event at Mississippi Studios on Thursday, July 28th.

Food and Drink

If you haven’t yet, drop by the monthly Vegan Drinks gathering at Killingsworth Dynasty on Wednesday, July 20th (and every third Wednesday). I admit, I was not impressed by their food, although I very much wanted to be. But you’ll always be in good company.