The Macks at Mississippi Studios with Zookraught (11/21 – Portland, OR)

This show at Mississippi Studios was one of those nights where everything hit just right: two killer bands, a packed crowd, and energy that never dipped for a second. As someone who’s seen Zookraught three times now, I already knew they were going to deliver—but somehow they still managed to exceed expectations and remind me why they’re probably my favorite Seattle-area band at the moment.

Zookraught opened the night and immediately lit the room up. They came out tight, fierce, and fully dialed-in, instantly rallying the crowd and setting the tone for the rest of the show. What made this set even more special was the addition of a dedicated electric light-show artist, whose visuals wrapped the entire room in a shifting, psychedelic glow. It turned an already epic performance into a complete sensory trip—easily one of the most immersive sets I’ve seen them play. They’re currently working on new material for an upcoming album and we were lucky enough to get to hear some of it. Definitely looking forward to more.

The Macks, meanwhile, were returning home after finishing a full U.S. tour, and they hit the stage with the swagger of a band that’s been sharpened nightly on the road. Their sound was tight and mesmerizing, locking the crowd in from the first riff. Sam delivered his usual wild-man antics—yes, including the classic moment where he shoves the mic in his mouth, because of course he did. Toward the end of their set, the whole band pulled off one of the night’s surprises: they switched instruments and played on, grinning and ripping through their finale.

They ran through a bunch of songs off their new album Bonanza, which dropped in late September, and honestly the tracks still hit just as hard as the first listen—they haven’t gotten old for a second. I was lucky enough to see them perform the whole album during a small podcast taping their and also attend their release party at Trouble Bar before tour. Naturally, I snagged their beautiful green vinyl.

In all, the show was a perfect pairing—Zookraught bringing the heat and elevating the room from the jump, and The Macks closing things out with road-honed precision and chaotic charm. A fun, loud, and unforgettable night at Mississippi Studios. Already counting down to the next one.