Robert Ham

Robert Ham is a critic and journalist living in Portland, Oregon’s outer reaches. During his time in the Rose City, he has contributed to The OregonianWillamette WeekPortland Mercury, and Portland Monthly, while also amassing a healthy amount of clips for print and online publications including PitchforkDownBeatBandcamp, and Village Voice. In 2019, he was the recipient of the SPJ Award for Best Sports Feature. In addition, Robert produces and hosts Double Bummer, a radio show focusing on new and newly reissued experimental music from around the world that airs every Tuesday night at 11pm PT on XRAY-FM. To read more of his work, visit his portfolio site or follow him on Twitter at @roberthamwriter.

Album spotlight: Getting “High” with Freebase Hyperspace

Portland cosmic rock quartet’s new album “Planet High” marks a creative leap forward.

Weekly preview: Lindsay Clark mines the depths

The Portland-based singer-songwriter releases her latest album with a concert at The Old Church.

Now Hear This: Juneteenth edition

Black Bandcamp Matters: A wealth of sounds, from JxJURY to Darrell Grant.

Weekly preview: Fantasy object

Japanese musician Yosuke Fujita brings his custom built pipe organ to The Old Church.

Weekly preview: A different pace and a little later

Psych-folk family Faun Fables performs at Misdemeanor Meadows.

Weekly preview: Phone Voice’s blending of confessional and metaphorical

The rising artist performs at The Six in Southeast Portland.

Weekly (p)reviews: Still trying to make it happen

King Hannah comes to Doug Fir; Sigur Rós subdues the Theater of the Clouds audience.

Weekly preview: Effleuraging the tension with Soriah

Tuvan throat singer Enrique Ugalde opens for Bauhaus at The Schnitz.

Now Hear This: May 2022 edition

Soothing experimental music; distressing black metal; heartfelt folk-pop; nasty, brutish, and short punk rock.

Weekly preview: The unmistakable lightness of Anand Wilder

Former Yeasayer member's solo act arrives at Holocene.

Weekly preview: Top to bottom

Drum ‘n’ bass gathering Juice celebrates its 17th anniversary at Holocene.

Weekly preview: Lyrics Born

Bay Area rapper and podcaster performs at Jack London Revue on Friday.

Weekly (p)reviews: The distance between desire and consummation

Gabriel Kahane’s magnificent online embargo; Spiritualized semicircles at Revolution Hall.

Weekly preview: JxJURY, inspiring hope through craft

Local rapper/producer performs at Kelly’s Olympian this week.

Now Hear This: April 2022 edition

Faded, worn-in roots-pop; bubbly synths; brutal noise-punk; emotionally charged player piano; deluxe hip-hop.

Weekly preview: Slowly turning the tide

Harp-and-bassoon duo Hats & Heels perform women composers at Beall Concert Hall.

Now Hear This: March 2022 edition

Psych-pop, smoldering jazzy backbeats, hellgrazing black metal, exploratory rap, Kulululu.

Weekly (p)reviews: Random bits of happenstance

Gordon Grdina at Holocene with Creative Music Guild; Circuit Des Yeux’s visceral psych-folk.

Weekly preview: Really loud, really dense, soothing, relieving

GUZO, Shane Mcdonell, and Physical Strength perform on the third concert of Creative Music Guild’s Discordance series.

Weekly (p)reviews: A beautiful noise

The Cookers at PDX Jazz Fest; Old Time Relijun at Holocene; Dinosaur Jr. at Wonder Ballroom

Weekly previews: Assid Queens at Hoan Kiem

A return to “regular” programming at below-the-radar Southeast venue.

Now Hear This: February 2022 edition

Heartfelt quirkiness, affirmational hip-hop, perfectly balanced post-bop, sparkling Mellotronica, de-Vocodered Air covers, and more.

Weekly preview: Blackwater Holylight at Wonder Ballroom

Portland metal quintet dwells in the void.

Weekly preview: Amplified flair

ArcoPDX returns to Holocene, Show Bar

Weekly Preview: The Olympian Thesis

Monthly hip-hop showcase enters its eighth year with Prince Hyph, THE DOE FLOW, and The Gard3n

Weekly previews: Unharnessed energy

Saloli and June Magnolia find inspiration in fresh instruments

Weekly previews: Practice, practice, practice

Portland duo Mojo Holler returns to the stage; punk legends X return to the road

Now Hear This: December 2021 edition

Working class jazz, mountainous ambient, heavy electronica, psychedelic New Age, lo-fi Puntera, Sonic Meditations, molasses-slow hip-hop, delectable weird-angled pop

Weekly (p)reviews: Momentum, deconstructed

Machado Mijiga levels up and gets in the grooves; Squid builds a confusing subgenre hedge maze

Weekly (p)reviews: What if?

Mia Pixley brings her cello to Newmark Theatre; James Powers jams his birthday at The 1905; HANiF dishes disses at Georgie’s