Wicked Shallows and King Strang

Wicked Shallows and King Strang play The Showdown on Friday, October 16, with the night presented by Pickathon. It's a double bill that puts two folk-leaning acts on the same stage, and the sound of the evening sits right in that folk-punk, folk, and ragtime territory.

King Strang takes the main feature slot, and the ragtime influence is a good place to start with what to expect. Ragtime is that syncopated, piano-driven style that feels like it belongs in a turn-of-the-century parlor, and when you mix that with folk and a punk edge, you get something that's as much about the dance as it is about the song. It's the kind of music that works just as well if you're standing still as if you're moving around.

The Showdown is a straightforward little room for live music and rougher-around-the-edges nights, the sort of place that earns its name honestly. It's not a polished theater or a high-end club; it's a space built for the music and the crowd that comes to hear it, which fits the folk-punk side of the bill. The night is presented by Pickathon, the organization known for its annual festival in the hills, so this is one of their smaller, city-based dates.

Doors open at 7 PM, and the music starts at 8 PM. The show is for ages 21 and up, so bring your ID. If you're into folk with a bit of grit and a ragtime lean, this is a good one to have on your radar for a Friday night in Portland.