Tonight: Hillstomp at the hi-dive

Portland duo Hillstomp (playing the hi-dive tonight with Legendary River Drifters) is a definite throwback, but the band delves deeper than most contemporary Americana-styled groups with a porch-rattling sound. Henry Christian and John Johnson's less-than-modern approach is about creating loud and rowdy shows based on the simplicity of two voices, a minimal drum kit (made partially of overturned buckets and a washboard) and a steel guitar.

In the five-plus years as a band, Hillstomp has spent much of its time on the road, traveling from San Francisco to Rome with its hollowed-out beats and intricate string-plucking, not to mention songs about backwoods girls and the blues that comes along with getting involved with them. This show is 21 and up, and tickets are $8. Doors open at 8 p.m., and bands start at 9 p.m.