Dancing Plague at Star Theater – 4/20 /25 Portland’s Darkwave Darling Goes Full Force

Portland’s darkwave scene felt the tremors on 4/20 as Dancing Plague stormed the stage at Star Theater with a set that was equal parts industrial catharsis and goth club ritual. The solo project of Conor Knowles, Dancing Plague has built a reputation for delivering cold, pounding synths with raw, emotional weight — and this show proved why he’s one of the most exciting acts in the post-industrial underground right now.

Clad in all black and backlit by pulsing strobes, Knowles tore into tracks like “Fall Apart with You” & “Shadow Self” with a fierce urgency. Each beat hit like concrete — heavy, textured, and unrelenting. The crowd, a sea of fishnets and combat boots, didn’t just watch; they moved as if possessed. Dancing Plague didn’t ask for your attention — he demanded it.

One of the standout moments was “Cataracts”, a track soaked in despair but driven by an almost euphoric rhythm. It’s this contrast — pain wrapped in dance-floor propulsion — that makes his work so powerful live. Fans of Boy Harsher, Qual, or early Cold Cave would feel right at home here.

This wasn’t just a show. It was an exorcism by drum machine.

Venue: Star Theater, Portland, OR
Date: April 20, 2025
Artist: Dancing Plague
Genre: Darkwave, Industrial, Post-Punk
Photographed + Written by: Megan @ Stumptown Static