Pink Martini
Pink Martini performs with the San Francisco Symphony on Thursday, June 30, and Friday, July 1, at Davies Symphony Hall. 8 p.m., $20-$115; www.sfsymphony.org.
Portland's music scene these days often gets pigeonholed as a mix of folk, indie rock, and alt-country. But the Oregon city's most vibrant export might just be the idiosyncratic ensemble Pink Martini. The group has scant regard for genre distinctions: Its members draw inspiration from the past while crafting some of the most wildly innovative sounds you'll hear anywhere. They will try classical orchestration, salsa, Latin jazz, worldbeat, and even '70s soft rock, weaving those influences into a startlingly rich sonic tapestry. Their albums, particularly 2007's Hey Eugene! and 2009's Splendor in the Grass, are fiercely, painstakingly beautiful.
Tags: Hear This, Show Preview, Portland (Oregon), Splendor in the Grass, Oregon, Davies Symphony Hall