Wednesday January 9top

Casiotone for the Painfully Alone, Concern, Parenthetical Girls

I don't know if it's a sign of the quality and depth of Owen Ashworth's songwriting or of my own maturation that Casiotone for the Painfully Alone songs only grow in raw emotional power as the years pass. Maybe both. Ashworth's latest record, Etiquette, has moments of absolute brilliance as he—in fewer words than in this paragraph—conveys exactly what defeat, loneliness and loss feel like, all with a catchy drum beat. His recent Graceland EP features a slower, grinding version of the titular song, with Ashworth muttering the lyrics, making even Paul Simon's delivery seem insincere by comparison. JIM SANDBERG. 8 pm. Artistery, 4315 SE Division St., 803-5942. $6. All ages. Map

Cootie Platoon, The Bad Backs, The Taste!, Dan Hawthorne

Ash Street Saloon, 225 SW Ash St., 226-0430. All ages. Map

Neil Masson Trio

Benson Hotel, 309 SW Broadway., 228-2000. All ages. Map

Ron Hughes (7:30 pm)

Bethany Village Grill, 4876 NW Bethany Blvd., 533-7736. Map

Bob Soper

Biddy McGraw's, 6000 NE Glisan St., 233-1178. Map

Sour Owl

Buffalo Gap Saloon, 6835 SW Macadam Ave., 244-7111. Map

Apollo's Lute

Chaos Cafe & Parlor, 2620 SE Powell Blvd., 546-8112. Map

Circled by Hounds (7:30 pm)

County Cork, 1329 NE Fremont St., 284-4805. Map

Xotica-Go-Go: DJs Kenoy & Mr. Mumu

Dante's, 1 SW 3rd Ave., 226-6630. All ages. Map

Scotland Barr & the Slow Drags, Michael Dean Damron & Thee Loyal Bastards, Rachel Taylor Brown

[ALL KINDSA ROOTS ROCK] Though tonight's lineup spans different realms of American roots music, there's some real salt-of-the-earth tunes to be had here, however varied. Opener Rachel Taylor Brown (known also for wailing and ivory-ticklin' along with Chris Robley's Fear of Heights) offers macabre tunes from a more gothic (in a creepy, traditional, not black-eyeliner-’n’-white-facepaint kind of way), piano-laced standpoint, while Damron, a storied onetime bar-band troubadour, serves up raspy-voiced, twang-tinged cry-in-your-whiskey fare. Add Southern rock-leaning Scotland Barr (who channels a bit of Mike Ness’ country side) and company to the mix, and you've got yourself a real classic night of honest-to-God drinkin' music. AMY MCCULLOUGH. 9 pm. Doug Fir Lounge, 830 E Burnside St., 231-9663. Free. 21+. Map

Blues Jam w/ Suburban Slim, Marco Savo & Jeff Strawbridge

Duff's Garage, 1635 SE 7th Ave., 234-2337. All ages. Map

Open Mic w/ Boondogel

Forty Fifth St. Pub & Grill, 4511 SW Beaverton-Hillsdale Highway., 246-7061. All ages. Map

TRONix: Fiasco w/ DJs Brokenwindow & Ekul B

Ground Kontrol, 511 NW Couch St., 796-9364. All ages. Map

Vertual Vertigo, Keldamuzik, Metaphorical One, GT

Hawthorne Theatre, 3862 SE Hawthorne Blvd., 233-7100. Map

"Gaycation"

Holocene, 1001 SE Morrison St., 239-7639. All ages. Map

Arabesque

It's a Beautiful Pizza, 3342 SE Belmont St., 233-5444. All ages. Map

Hank Hirsh Jazz Jam

Jax, 826 SW 2nd Ave., 228-9128. All ages. Map

The Mel Brown Quartet

Jimmy Mak's, 221 NW 10th Ave., 295-6542. Map

Don Jansen

London Grill, 309 SW Broadway., 228-2000. Map

Sonny Hess & Lisa Mann (7 pm)

McMenamins Edgefield, 2126 SW Halsey St., Troutdale., 669-8610. Map

Lauren Mulderrig (9 pm); Portland Songwriter's Association Showcase (6 pm)

Mississippi Pizza, 3552 N Mississippi Ave., 288-3231. Map

Bolt Upright Blue Jam

Monty's Tavern, 13095 SW Canyon Road., 644-2337. Map

Reggae Night

Mount Tabor Legacy, 4811 SE Hawthorne Blvd., 232-0450. Map

Thad Beckman

Original Halibut's, 2525 NE Alberta St., 808-9601. Map

Justin Klump

Portland State University, Hoffman Hall, 1825 SW Broadway., 725-3000. Map

The Ambiguous Guitar Duo (7 pm)

Press Club, 2621 SE Clinton St., 233-5656. Map

Snax, Do 'n' Dudes, The Perfect Cyn, Try My Cabbage

Rotture, 315 SE 3rd Ave., 234-5683. All ages. Map

Landmine Marathon, Nux Vomica, Kudzu, Squalora, El Cerdo (7:30 pm)

Satyricon, 125 NW 6th Ave., 227-0999. All ages. Map

Hog w/ My Muse

The Knife Shop, 426 SW Washington St., 228-3669. Map

Destination Oblivion, Righteous Indignation, Stepkid

Tonic Lounge, 3100 NE Sandy Blvd., 238-0543. 21+. Map

Fedora Hot Jazz (7:30 pm)

Tony Starlight's, 3728 NE Sandy Blvd., 517-8584. Map

"Cocktail Hour"

White Eagle, 836 N Russell St., 282-6810. Map

Wicked Wednesday: DJs Wicked & Wels

XV, 15 NW 2nd Ave., 790-9090. Map

Thursday January 10top

TAARKA Quartet (CD Release)

Alberta Street Public House, 1036 NE Alberta St., 284-7665. All ages. Map

Leigh Marble, Jared Mees & the Grown Children, Stuart Valentine

[SINGER-SONGWRITERS EXTRAORDINAIRE] Stuart Valentine's contribution to last year's Pop Tomorrow compilation—a bouncing, Elvis Costello-ish number called "I Heard You Twice the First Time"—is as instantly likable a pop song as I've heard in ages. Though some of the tunes on the Portland songwriter's Summer's Winter Day (which also contains "I Heard You Twice") take themselves a little more seriously, sacrificing some of the lighthearted wit that's so charming on the aforementioned track, the bar-band organ, bright guitar and pop hooks remain even when they're bogged down with touches of sappiness. As for Mees and Marble, well, both of their latest releases were included in my "Best Local Albums of 2007" list—not much more to say than that! AMY MCCULLOUGH. 9:30 pm. Ash Street Saloon, 225 SW Ash St., 226-0430. $5. 21+. Map

Bill Beach (Restaurant, 6 pm); Jean Ronne & Lee Wuthenow (Lounge, 8:30 pm)

Benson Hotel, 309 SW Broadway., 228-2000. All ages. Map

Ida Viper

Biddy McGraw's, 6000 NE Glisan St., 233-1178. Map

Robb & Crockett

Buffalo Gap Saloon, 6835 SW Macadam Ave., 244-7111. Map

The Ocean Floor, The Old Believers, Love Menu

Clinton Street Pub, 2516 SE Clinton St., 236-7137. All ages. Map

The North Forkers (7:30 pm)

County Cork, 1329 NE Fremont St., 284-4805. Map

Queer Bait: Splendora & King Fader

Crush, 1400 SE Morrison St., 235-8150. All ages. Map

The Section Quartet, Pseudosix

[HIP STRINGS] For a group that's played with Maroon 5 and enlisted Linda Perry to produce its latest album, Fuzzbox, the self-proclaimed loudest string quartet on earth maintains surprising hipster cred—Coachella, sigh. But there's something undeniably hypnotic about the Section Quartet's covers of every indie luminary from the Yeah Yeah Yeahs to Bowie. The group's version of "The Man Who Sold the World" doesn't exactly outstrip (clear inspiration) Nirvana's, and its fixation upon exact replication sorta numbs. But the group's best moments highlight the original composition's subtleties (eerily familiar melodies resembling classic soundtracks that never were) with an impeccable taste absent from its choice of collaborators—unless, of course, we've overlooked Rick Springfield's Christmas album. JAY HORTON. 9 pm. Dante's, 1 SW 3rd Ave., 226-6630. $5. 21+. Map

The Rev. Payton's Big Damn Band, Jason Webley

[GYPSY PUNK] There's a Jason Webley lyric that goes, "A gang of maniacs with knives are playing blackjack with their lives/ To kill the time until the giant rats attack." He's also got a song where he has everyone spin in circles to simulate being really, really drunk. Webley's songs vary from the sort of dark material you get from PDX locals like the Builders and the Butchers and Nick Jaina to the childishly gleeful—"Eleven Saints" could be a kids' song, if it wasn't for that opening line, "And if my cat looks scared/ It's because he knows he won't be going to Heaven." BRANDON SEIFERT. 9 pm. Doug Fir Lounge, 830 E Burnside St., 231-9663. $10. 21+. Map

Indie Record Store Night feat. Green Noise Records: DJ Ken Dirtnap, The Soda Pop Kids, The Girls

[PUNK] East End has barely been open a month, and already Portland's newest venue is making its name as a punk hangout. Case in point: Local label Dirtnap Records—which has released albums by acts like the Exploding Hearts, the Epoxies and Nice Boys—and record store-label hybrid Green Noise Records are teaming up for a monthly night at the former location of Noir and the Rabbit Hole. And like any good punk community, it's already getting incestuous: MC5-inspired glam rockers the Soda Pop Kids will perform at Green Noise Records Nite, which is no coincidence, since the Kids' bass player Tony Mengis is part-owner of East End. And since Ken Dirtnap, proprietor of the eponymous record label is DJ'ing between bands, you can bet his pet projects will be on display as well. PAIGE RICHMOND. 9 pm. East End, 203 SE Grand Ave., 232-0056. $5. 21+. Map

The Quick & Easy Boys, The Waydowns

Goodfoot, 2845 SE Stark St., 239-9292. All ages. Map

Fun World: World's Greatest Ghosts, Paper Brain, The Rainy States

Ground Kontrol, 511 NW Couch St., 796-9364. Map

Run Kid Run, The Send, A Dream Too Late, Search The City, The Grand Atlantic (7 pm)

Hawthorne Theatre, 3862 SE Hawthorne Blvd., 233-7100. Map

Krebsic Orkestar

Imbibe, 2229 SE Hawthorne Blvd., 239-4002. Map

Portland Jazz Singers Showcase

Jax, 826 SW 2nd Ave., 228-9128. 21+. Map

The Mel Brown B3 Organ Band

Jimmy Mak's, 221 NW 10th Ave., 295-6542. Map

The Naysayers (7 pm)

Kennedy School, 5736 NE 33rd Ave., 249-3983. Map

Steve Lockwood (7 pm)

McMenamins Edgefield, 2126 SW Halsey St., Troutdale., 669-8610. Map

Klickitat, Mighty Ghosts of Heaven

Mississippi Pizza, 3552 N Mississippi Ave., 288-3231. Map

Claes of Blueprints Open Mic & Jammin

Mock Crest Tavern, 3435 N Lombard St., 283-5014. Map

We're From Japan, Love Meter, Marmits (Main Room); Subversive Zone (Legacy Lounge)

Mount Tabor Legacy, 4811 SE Hawthorne Blvd., 232-0450. All ages. Map

Terry Robb

Original Halibut's, 2525 NE Alberta St., 808-9601. Map

Crazy Andy

Portsmouth Pizza & Pub, 5264 N Lombard St., 289-4644. Map

Joe McMurrian

Produce Row Cafe, 204 SE Oak St., 232-8355. All ages. Map

7 Year Old Blind Girl

Red Room, 2530 NE 82nd Ave., 256-3399. Map

Lupe Fiasco

[HIP-HOP] Lupe Fiasco may have made his name alongside Kanye, but he laid his career's foundation in the mixtape game, where he balanced his boyishly smooth Chicago verses over pilfered beats and samples and got the whole world listening. Accordingly, Fiasco is a uniquely Internet-age star who often seems as awestruck by his own celebrity as any of his fans, but that's just another facet of the unguarded directness we've come to love about the guy. Even as his fame expands, Lupe is able to keep an open lyrical dialogue with the mainstream and underground simultaneously—as demonstrated on latest album The Cool's "Dumb It Down," on which he raps, "They told me I should dumb down, cousin/ But I flatly refuse, I ain't dumb down nothin'" over a beat normally reserved for bars about bitches and champagne. It's unfortunate The Cool was buried by the blogosphere's year-end madness, because it's a fine portrait of an independent-minded artist balancing the needs of his heart with those of his pocketbook, and one of the smartest hip-hop releases of 2007 to boot. CASEY JARMAN. 8 pm. Roseland, 8 NW 6th Ave., 219-9929 (Grill), 224-2038 (Theater). $20. All ages. Map

I've Got a Hole in My Soul: DJ Beyonda

Rotture, 315 SE 3rd Ave., 234-5683. Map

This Bike Is a Pipe Bomb, Drunken Boat, Vena Cava, P.O.P., Destroy Nate Allen

[FOLK PUNK] Though it hails from what I can only assume are the shithole swamps of Florida, there is no band more "Portland" than This Bike Is a Pipe Bomb. Songs about fighting racism, sexism and bicycle discrimination are staples of punk, but no one tackles such subjects with the irreverence and back-porch party aesthetic (its sound floats somewhere between Woodie Guthrie and Operation Ivy) that TBIAPB has perfected in its decade-plus stint of basement tours and DIY recordings. Though the band goes largely unheralded outside of its hardcore punk following (I doubt it's ever had a proper publicist), one can trace a clear lineage from TBIAPB to fellow Floridian folk punks Against Me! (a band now touring NBA arenas nationwide with the Foo Fighters and Jimmy Eat World). CASEY JARMAN. 7:30 pm. Satyricon, 125 NW 6th Ave., 227-0999. $6. All ages. Map

The Fix: Rev Shines, Ohmega Watts, DJs Kez, Dundiggy

Someday Lounge, 125 NW 5th Ave., 248-1030. All ages. Map

Valiant Arms, The SG's

The Knife Shop, 426 SW Washington St., 228-3669. Map

Kenny Lavitz Kombo

Tillicum, 8585 SW Beaverton-Hillsdale Highway., 292-1835. All ages. Map

Egyptian Lover, Sad Music for Happy Humans, Who Cares

[ELECTRO FUNK ESSENTIAL] This is for real: The pioneer of electro-rap, the Egyptian Lover, returns to Portland after his mind-blowing appearance at Holocene last year. The Tonic Lounge is an odd venue for Lover, to be sure, but freakazoids and robot rockers will take what they can get when it comes to this living legend. The Lover was there in the early ’80s when the electro sounds of Kraftwerk were fused with L.A.'s burgeoning rap scene: Ice-T was wearing leather and spikes, and Egypt was the place to be. JIM SANDBERG. 9:30 pm. Tonic Lounge, 3100 NE Sandy Blvd., 238-0543. Cover. 21+. Map

Carrie Cunningham, Libbie Schrader, Jake Oken-Berg (8:30 pm); Stevi Marie and Jackson Road (5:30 pm)

White Eagle, 836 N Russell St., 282-6810. All ages. Map

Key of Dreams (6:30 pm)

Wine Down, 126 NE 28th Ave., 236-9463. All ages. Map

Time Travel: Gen.Erik

XV, 15 NW 2nd Ave., 790-9090. Map

Friday January 11top

Celilo (6:30 pm)

Alberta Street Public House, 1036 NE Alberta St., 284-7665. Map

Dirt Jake Replicas, Quandry, Rustmine, Rishloo

[GOTHY PROG] A little bit goth, a little bit prog rock and a lot dark, Portland outfit Dirt Jake Replicas is just the thing for Tool fans who want some good female vocal action but think Evanescence sucks balls. Complementing the band's all-over-the-place bass and metal-sophisticate guitars, vocalists Dakota Max and Ashley Beard sing in and around each other, expertly coupling her sweet, clear tone with his uncannily Maynard James Keenan-like croon-growl. It's all very spooky and borderline Hot Topic, but—even though fans of Evanescence would actually probably dig it—Dirt Jake Replicas is far more artful (and listenable) in its metal-meets-operatic chick vocalist craft. AMY MCCULLOUGH. 9:30 pm. Ash Street Saloon, 225 SW Ash St., 226-0430. $5. 21+. Map

Neil Masson Quartet w/ Lee Wuthenow (Lounge, 8:30 pm); Bill Beach (Restaurant, 6 pm)

Benson Hotel, 309 SW Broadway., 228-2000. All ages. Map

Blue Poole

Bethany Village Grill, 4876 NW Bethany Blvd., 533-7736. Map

MF Bonafide (9:30 pm); Billy Kennedy (6 pm)

Biddy McGraw's, 6000 NE Glisan St., 233-1178. All ages. Map

Kulturszene: Wasted Portland Youth, Kate Simko, M. Quiet, 31Avas

Branx, 320 SE 2nd Ave., 234-5683. Map

Stepkid

Buffalo Gap Saloon, 6835 SW Macadam Ave., 244-7111. Map

The Other Side Music Collective, Off the Grid

Chaos Cafe & Parlor, 2620 SE Powell Blvd., 546-8112. Map

Danny Hay Davis Duo

Chayote Grill, 915 SW 2nd Avenue., 222-7723. All ages. Map

Johnny Connolly & Cary Novotny (7:30 pm)

County Cork, 1329 NE Fremont St., 284-4805. Map

DJs Marko & Cad

Crush, 1400 SE Morrison St., 235-8150. Map

Floater, Apex Theory, In Lunar Blue

[POST-GRUNGE] Whether you're down with Floater's hard rock-meets-prog-meets-stoner rock steez or not, one thing's for sure: Floater fans are effin' crazy, and fanaticism has to count for something. Perhaps it's frontman-bassist Rob Wynia's versatile croon or the band's knack for alt-rock hooks circa the mid-’90s, or even the longhaired metalhead, overly pierced hippie, butt-rock-anthem-crooning Camaro driver vibe Floater channels—a vibe that's way more Oregonian than many of us realize (or wanna admit). Regardless, people freakin' love this band, and you probably know by now whether you're one of those people or not. AMY MCCULLOUGH. 9 pm. Crystal Ballroom, 1332 W Burnside St., 225-0047. $15 advance, $18 day of show. All ages. Map

Napalm Beach, Old Growth, Dirty Lowdowns

[LEGENDARY] As with so many innovators, more folks know Napalm Beach by reputation than by the band's tunes. A starstruck Nirvana was one of many acts to open for and rather overshadow Portland's godfathers of grunge, even as original Wipers drummer Sam Henry, guitarist Chris Newman, and a few dozen bassists spread the legend over 25 years of enlightened garage mayhem. Henry spent the last of those propelling local indie chanteuse Morgan Grace, while Newman joined longest-lasting Beach bassist Dave Dillinger's band, Divining Rods. They've collected themselves for one last dance. And it's not like we're getting a Nirvana reunion. JAY HORTON. 9:30 pm. Dante's, 1 SW 3rd Ave., 226-6630. $8. 21+. Map

The Mother Hips, Weinland

[COLLEGE ROCK] Dave Matthews Band be damned: The Mother Hips are the definition of college rock. Formed in 1990 while all four members were still undergrads at California State University at Chico (a notorious party school), the band has played what they call "California soul" for the better part of two decades. The music feels like Phish—jammy and lacking polish—with a bit of the Beach Boys—harmonized and oddly cheerful—thrown in. It's innocuous music: Like DMB, the Mother Hips are easy to listen to and equally easy to ignore. Which means local lyrical folk outfit Weinland (the band formerly known as John Weinland) will steal the show as the opening act. PAIGE RICHMOND. 9 pm. Doug Fir Lounge, 830 E Burnside St., 231-9663. $13 advance, $15 day of show. 21+. Map

DJs Ms Prid & Cityrocker, The Prids

East End, 203 SE Grand Ave., 232-0056. All ages. Map

Forever Growing

Forty Fifth St. Pub & Grill, 4511 SW Beaverton-Hillsdale Highway., 246-7061. All ages. Map

Soul Stew: DJ Aquaman

Goodfoot, 2845 SE Stark St., 239-9292. All ages. Map

Time Lapse: DJ Moonchild

Ground Kontrol, 511 NW Couch St., 796-9364. All ages. Map

Andy McKee, Don Ross (Balcony, 9 pm); Hurt (Theatre, 7 pm)

Hawthorne Theatre, 3862 SE Hawthorne Blvd., 233-7100. All ages. Map

Barbara Lusch Band w/ Greg Goebel & Jon Hughes

Heathman Hotel, 1001 SW Broadway., 241-4100. All ages. Map

"Rockbox"

Holocene, 1001 SE Morrison St., 239-7639. All ages. Map

Jasmine Ash (9:30 pm); Little Sue (6 pm)

Imbibe, 2229 SE Hawthorne Blvd., 239-4002. Map

Ryan's Myth

Jade Lounge, 2346 SE Ankeny St., 236-4998. Map

Gene DeNardo Group

Jax, 826 SW 2nd Ave., 228-9128. Map

Jazztronica, David Friesen

[JAZZTRONICA] I'm more than a little skeptical of groups with names like Jazztronica. If you're not going to name your group with a certain level of creativity, why should I trust that anything good will come of the music itself? Trumpeter Derek Sims' group, though, which plays weekly at Jimmy Mak's, is treading in some interesting territory despite the obvious moniker, with spaced-out beats in the foreground and roaming, film noir horn cutting like a ribbon across the background. Nice to see Jimmy Mak's trying out something new, and should be fun to follow Sims—an established name in Portland's jazz scene—to wherever this project might take him. But we've gotta do something about that name. CASEY JARMAN. 8 pm (minors welcome until 9:30 pm). Jimmy Mak's, 221 NW 10th Ave., 295-6542. $10. 21+. Map

Third Angle: River of Life

[ART-FOLK] See preview. 7:30 pm. Kaul Auditorium at Reed College, 3203 SE Woodstock Blvd., 777-7755. $30 ($25 senior/student). All ages. Map

'80s Video Dance Attack!: VJ Kittyrox

Lola's Room at the Crystal Ballroom, 1332 W Burnside St., 225-0047. All ages. Map

Kate Mann (7 pm)

McMenamins Edgefield, 2126 SW Halsey St., Troutdale., 669-8610. Map

Hands on Haiti Benefit w/ Lincoln Crockett (9 pm); Cabin Kind (6 pm)

Mississippi Pizza, 3552 N Mississippi Ave., 288-3231. Map

Back Road Boogie

Mock Crest Tavern, 3435 N Lombard St., 283-5014. Map

Oblivion, Particle Son, Ghost Motor (Main Room); Dementia (Legacy Lounge)

Mount Tabor Legacy, 4811 SE Hawthorne Blvd., 232-0450. Map

Frank "Paris Slim" Goldwasser

Original Halibut's, 2525 NE Alberta St., 808-9601. Map

Hudson Rocket Band

Portsmouth Pizza & Pub, 5264 N Lombard St., 289-4644. Map

Paul Brainard

Press Club, 2621 SE Clinton St., 233-5656. Map

Shipwreck of Eddie King

Produce Row Cafe, 204 SE Oak St., 232-8355. Map

The Dregs, Tomorrows Heroes

Red Room, 2530 NE 82nd Ave., 256-3399. All ages. Map

Rumble's Birthday Party w/ Vintegrass, Shunt, Polly Panic, Livid Minds (7 pm)

Rock 'N' Roll Pizza, 11140 SE Powell Blvd., 760-7646. All ages. Map

Neon: DJs BJ, Pocketrock-It, Patricia Furpurse & Tre Slim

[DANCE DANCE] After getting lost one day in outer Southeast Portland, my friend and I found ourselves at a gigantic Goodwill where they weigh your purchases and charge you by the pound. It was enough for us to abandon our intended destination. Now Neon has given us an excuse to go back! After we're done raiding the bins for the best in DayGlo, we can hit the dance floor to all the best in current electronic music—from electro to house—and so can you! NILINA MASON-CAMPBELL. 10 pm. Rotture, 315 SE 3rd Ave., 234-5683. $3. 21+. Map

Rum Rebellion, Shock Troops, The Hollowbodys, Hot Rod Carl, Leave No One Behind (7:30 pm)

Satyricon, 125 NW 6th Ave., 227-0999. All ages. Map

Castle, Plans vs Sea, Doctor Moss

Slabtown, 1033 NW 16th Ave., 223-0099. Map

Eternal Tapestry, Rollerball, Plants, Brave Priest

Someday Lounge, 125 NW 5th Ave., 248-1030. All ages. Map

Ohioan & Native Kin, Alan Singley, Church

[REVOLUTION ROCK] See profile. 8 pm. Also Sunday, Jan. 13, at Valentine's. The Modern Age, 1825 SW Broadway., . Cover. All ages. Map

purrbot, Screech Owl, Saw Whet

The Waypost, 3120 N Williams Ave., 367-3182. All ages. Map

The Fast Takers, Iceage Cobra, Fruit of the Legion of Loom, Sprinkles

Tonic Lounge, 3100 NE Sandy Blvd., 238-0543. Map

Pete Petersen's Porkpie Septet (CD Release)

Tony Starlight's, 3728 NE Sandy Blvd., 517-8584. Map

Jon Garcia, Ali Wesley, Jack Elder, Audie Darling

Towne Lounge, 714 SW 20th Place., 241-8696. All ages. Map

Roots Revival, Robbie Laws

Tupelo Joe's, 10721 NW Sandy Blvd., 788-5150. Map

Brandon Daniel & Everybody Gets Laid, The War Wagon, Bodhi

Twilight Cafe & Bar, 1420 SE Powell Blvd., 232-3576. Map

High Ceiling

Twilight Room, 5242 N Lombard St., 283-5091. Map

Avalon

West Slope Bar & Grill, 8775 SW Canyon Lane., 445-0272. Map

Lewi Longmire, Sassparilla

[ROOTS ROCK] What's new with Lew? Portland's favorite rootsy guitar slinger and his cohorts Bill Rudolph (bass) and Ned Folkerth (drums) have been working on a new album at the studio of ubiquitous six-string wielder Chet Lyster (who, by the way, is lately a favorite well beyond Portland; he was tapped last fall to join Lucinda Williams' road band and has toured in recent years with the Eels). New tracks are due to debut soon on Longmire's MySpace page. Meanwhile, he stays busy as ever, having backed up the likes of Fernando, Jim Boyer and Bingo last month alone. But it's his growth from sideman to frontman that continues to impress. JEFF ROSENBERG. 9:30 pm. White Eagle, 836 N Russell St., 282-6810. $6. 21+. Map

Gen.Erik

XV, 15 NW 2nd Ave., 790-9090. Map

Saturday January 12top

Floydian Slips

Aladdin Theater, 3017 SE Milwaukie Ave., 234-9694. All ages. Map

Whiskey Puppy w/ Michael Ismerio & Curtis Alsobrook (9:30 pm); Will West Acoustic Showcase (6 pm)

Alberta Street Public House, 1036 NE Alberta St., 284-7665. All ages. Map

Oregon Symphony: Chopin Piano Concerto No.2 (7:30 pm)

Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, 1037 SW Broadway., 248-4335. All ages. Map

Dear Friends & Gentle Hearts (Stephen Collins Tribute): Trashcan Joe, Ali Ippolito, Swingin' Amiss, Heyday Cabaret & more (6 pm)

Artichoke Community Music, 3130A SE Hawthorne Blvd., 232-8845. All ages. Map

Identity Zero, Goathead, Eyes Like Mine, Kalyx Pistol

Ash Street Saloon, 225 SW Ash St., 226-0430. All ages. Map

Wow & Flutter, Paper Brain, Bumtech, Milwaukie3

Backspace, 115 NW 5th Ave., 248-2900. All ages. Map

Neil Masson Quartet w/ Lee Wuthenow (Lounge, 8:30 pm); Bill Beach (Restaurant, 6 pm)

Benson Hotel, 309 SW Broadway., 228-2000. All ages. Map

Gabriel Teodros, Sleep, Bambu, DJ Phatrick

[SOUL HOP] Seattle rapper Gabriel Teodros is far more than just that. With tracks chock fulla totally danceable beats, soulful female backing vocals (think locals Hungry Mob or Barry Hampton's Triple Grip) and undeniable hooks (be they vox-, keyboard-, vinyl- or sax-produced), Teodros is readily available to fans of pop, world, R&B and just about anything in between—which is not to sell his smooth rhymes short. To be perfectly honest, I don't know much about hip-hop, but I know this: Teodros makes good music, genre (and politically conscious, intelligent and lightning-fast tongue lashings) notwithstanding. AMY MCCULLOUGH. 10 pm. Berbati's Pan, 231 SW Ankeny St., 248-4579. Cover. 21+. Map

Menace Band

Bethany Village Grill, 4876 NW Bethany Blvd., 533-7736. Map

Hanz Araki

Biddy McGraw's, 6000 NE Glisan St., 233-1178. Map

Swallows, Sick Sick Sister, The Neat, Purple Rhinestone Eagle

Brainstains, 3535 N Lombard St., . All ages. Map

DJ Sharon Needles

Branx, 320 SE 2nd Ave., 234-5683. Map

Paul Hanover Band

Buffalo Gap Saloon, 6835 SW Macadam Ave., 244-7111. Map

Papagaiyo, Purple Rhinestone Eagle

Chaos Cafe & Parlor, 2620 SE Powell Blvd., 546-8112. Map

Tiffany Carlson

Chayote Grill, 915 SW 2nd Avenue., 222-7723. All ages. Map

Heavy Rotation

Chesterfield, 1101 E Burnside St., 236-6133. All ages. Map

House Love: DJs William Hawkins & Luca

Crush, 1400 SE Morrison St., 235-8150. All ages. Map

The Head Cat, Blackout Radio, The Stood-Ups

[LEMMY!] Loose-stitched rockabilly covers of favored ’50s tunes are among the more despicable elements of dad bands, and while much of the Head Cat's 2006 debut, Fool's Paradise, sounds like a self-recorded album sold from the back of VFW halls, what if the lightly decomposing vet hawking discs turned out to be Lemmy? Wouldn't you buy, like, all of them? The Motörhead icon's whimsy should be depressing, I guess—unconscionably sloppy and enervated instrumentation from the Stray Cats' Slim Jim Phantom and (Rockats, 13 Cats...band name coming into focus) Danny B. Harvey—and it's a bit late in the day for hard rock's most infamous growl to ape Gene Vincent. But Lemmy's earned our benefit of the doubt. Uneasily awaiting the lounge project. JAY HORTON. 9 pm. Dante's, 1 SW 3rd Ave., 226-6630. $20 advance, $25 day of show. 21+. Map

The Minus 5, Casey Neill & the Norway Rats, Oh Darling

[ROCK] Scott McCaughey may no longer be Young, but he's still one Fresh Fellow, and he's easily squeezed into Portland's busy scene since moving here from Seattle a couple years back. McCaughey (pronounced "McCoy") made his name leading the Young Fresh Fellows, but made his bones as a longtime hired gun for R.E.M. These days, he makes noise mainly with The Minus 5, with assistance from R.E.M. guitar genius Peter Buck. Casey Neill plays with McCaughey in PDX all-star Pogues tribute band KMRIA; perhaps tonight, in Neill's scratchy, impassioned wail, Buck will hear echoes of his own band's noted singer. JEFF ROSENBERG. 9 pm. Doug Fir Lounge, 830 E Burnside St., 231-9663. $10. 21+. Map

Nic Fury

[YEEEAH!] Self-described as one who "stays in the mix like a Lil John song," Fury is a man of many angles. Head of L.A.-based 20 Kliks Records, he has a lengthy list of collaborators to fill out his hefty brand of hip-hop. Expect some unexpected freestyling, plenty of mic-passing, and a whole load of head-bobbing. MARK STOCK. East Chinatown Lounge, 322 NW Everett St., 226-1659. Cover. 21+. Map

Eric Hatcher & the Worker Bees

Gemini Bar & Grill, 456 N State St., 636-9445. All ages. Map

Freak Mountain Ramblers, Jackstraw

Goodfoot, 2845 SE Stark St., 239-9292. Map

Key of Dreams

Gotham Tavern, 2240 N Interstate Ave., 517-9911. All ages. Map

The Reverb Brothers

Green Dragon, 928 SE 9th Ave., 517-0660. All ages. Map

Reaganomix: DJs Afrobot & m_ron

Ground Kontrol, 511 NW Couch St., 796-9364. All ages. Map

Leadface, Last Regiment of Syncopated Drummers, DJs Bliss, Michael & D-Lyte

[BOOM] In a town blessed with its fair share of bands on the march—from the circuslike craziness of MarchFourth to the Carnival flair of the Lions of Batucada—the Last Regiment of Syncopated Drummers hits with primal thunder and laser precision. With an army of dozens of drummers, the group delivers complex and explosive polyrhythmic drum arrangements—a pulsing sound that kicks you in the chest from blocks away. It’s impossible to stand still through a performance. LRSD’s medieval fury is followed by dark prog rockers Leadface, releasing their new album, Life, Poverty and the Pursuit of Heaviness. AP KRYZA. 8 pm. Hawthorne Theatre, 3862 SE Hawthorne Blvd., 233-7100. $10. All ages. Map

Dan Balmer

Heathman Hotel, 1001 SW Broadway., 241-4100. Map

Atlas: DJs Anjali, E3, & the Incredible Kid

[U.K.-ASIAN DANCE] Want to go to London, but the rise of the pound keeps you down? When you dance to DJ Anjali, you find yourself very close to London's Brick Lane. Alight with pretty young things and plastered with bill postings of all the best parties, Brick Lane is also lined with curry houses as it's smack dab in the middle of the Bangladeshi community. Storefronts are lined with posters of the latest Bollywood movies, and the accompanying music rings out into the street. Mix that with the Bhangra and garage genres that flow out of London's East End and you not only have the sound of the street, but DJ Anjali's set. NILINA MASON-CAMPBELL. 9 pm. Holocene, 1001 SE Morrison St., 239-7639. $5. 21+. Map

Drunken Prayer (9:30 pm); Jasmine Ash (5 pm)

Imbibe, 2229 SE Hawthorne Blvd., 239-4002. Map

Nick Sweet / Ben Medler Quartet

Jax, 826 SW 2nd Ave., 228-9128. All ages. Map

Rocktet

Jimmy Mak's, 221 NW 10th Ave., 295-6542. Map

Kenny Lavitz

Manila Express, 12370 SW Main St., 639-8375. All ages. Map

Lincoln Crockett (7 pm)

McMenamins Edgefield, 2126 SW Halsey St., Troutdale., 669-8610. Map

Geoff Berner (9 pm); Sophia, JT & the Clouds (6 pm); Lorna Miller's Little Kids' Jamboree (4 pm)

Mississippi Pizza, 3552 N Mississippi Ave., 288-3231. All ages. Map

Carcrashlander (CD Release), Graves, Lake; Midnight Serenaders (7 pm)

[NOISY PIANO-FOLK] See music feature. 10 pm. Mississippi Studios, 3939 N Mississippi Ave., 288-3895. $7 advance, $8 day of show. 21+. Map

Dakota Bob & the Business Man's Blues Band

Mock Crest Tavern, 3435 N Lombard St., 283-5014. Map

Apocalypse and Braineater

Mount Tabor Legacy, 4811 SE Hawthorne Blvd., 232-0450. All ages. Map

Sonny Hess

Original Halibut's, 2525 NE Alberta St., 808-9601. Map

Kode Bluuz

Portsmouth Pizza & Pub, 5264 N Lombard St., 289-4644. Map

Miss Michael Jodell w/ the Dim Sons feat. Matt Brown & Allen Hunter

Press Club, 2621 SE Clinton St., 233-5656. Map

Wax Edition w/ Special Guest

Produce Row Cafe, 204 SE Oak St., 232-8355. Map

"Pairings": Dark Yoga, Ilyas Ahmed

Proper Eats Cafe, 8638 N Lombard St., 445-2007. All ages. Map

Love Doll Swingers, Hawthorne, Fenbi International Superstars

Red Room, 2530 NE 82nd Ave., 256-3399. All ages. Map

The Adio Sequence (CD Release) w/ Silversafe, Eli Keller & The Seatbelt Tragedy (7 pm)

Rock 'N' Roll Pizza, 11140 SE Powell Blvd., 760-7646. Map

Sholi, The Dead Science, Valediction

[EXPERIMENTAL POP] The Dead Science put out its first release, in the form of its Galactose EP, under the name the Sweet Science before receiving a cease-and-desist notice from a band who had already laid claim to the name. The name change hasn't set them off course. As the Dead Science winds down to Portland via I-5 from its home base of Seattle, the trio brings with it airy vocals, delicate strings and jazzy drums for tunes both ethereal and sinister. NILINA MASON-CAMPBELL. 9 pm. Rotture, 315 SE 3rd Ave., 234-5683. $7. 21+. Map

Oakhelm, Funeral Pyre, Book of Black Earth, Book of Belial

Satyricon, 125 NW 6th Ave., 227-0999. Map

The Bug Nasties, Pure Decadence, Rapids

Slabtown, 1033 NW 16th Ave., 223-0099. All ages. Map

Hexlove, Everybody, The Iditarod, Fly! Fly! Fly! Fly! Fly!

[PSYCH MATH] Drummer Zac Nelson's Hexlove is a noisy, swarming beast that at times sounds akin to a silverware drawer pulled out too far. Occasional psychedelic vocals provide the needed respite from the chopped-up mayhem of Nelson's compositions. But it's Lost Lamp Records labelmate Everybody that's the highlight of this twice-offered lineup. Rhythmic and cyclical, Everybody takes an excited math-rock band's interpretation of Steve Reich and loops it, making dense, intricate and melodic music that just doesn't blink. JIM SANDBERG. 7 pm. Also Monday, Jan. 14, at Valentine's. Sugar Gallery, 420 SW Washington St., Suite 500., . Cover. All ages. Map

Kieskagato, System and Station

The Knife Shop, 426 SW Washington St., 228-3669. Map

Tranquilazer, Tempo No Tempo, Swim Swam Swum

[POST-PUNK] Tranquilazer and Swim Swam Swum are both full of quick, scampering disco drumming and fuzzy guitar, but that's pretty much where the similarities end. Where Swim Swam Swum is all, "Whoa, the Promise Ring rules!," Tranquilazer is a little more like, "Yeah, but we dig Sonic Youth." Berkeley's Tempo No Tempo is bringing Wire records to the party, insisting on keeping things nicer and tidier than that of either raw local band. Still, you probably haven't partied like this since 1998. CASEY JARMAN. 9:30 pm. Tonic Lounge, 3100 NE Sandy Blvd., 238-0543. Cover. 21+. Map

The Tony Starlight Show (8 & 10 pm)

Tony Starlight's, 3728 NE Sandy Blvd., 517-8584. Map

The Trophies, Design Drift

Towne Lounge, 714 SW 20th Place., 241-8696. Map

Blues Train

Tupelo Joe's, 10721 NW Sandy Blvd., 788-5150. Map

Stash Black, 48 Thrills, Broken Bodies, Erik Anarchy

Twilight Cafe & Bar, 1420 SE Powell Blvd., 232-3576. Map

Avalon

West Slope Bar & Grill, 8775 SW Canyon Lane., 445-0272. Map

Jorge Zamorano & Bossa Nouveau, The Dead Beetles, Vivid Curve

White Eagle, 836 N Russell St., 282-6810. Map

Ron Steen Band

Wilf's Restaurant, 800 NW 6th Ave., 223-0070. All ages. Map

DJ Stray

XV, 15 NW 2nd Ave., 790-9090. Map

Sunday January 13top

A Fifth of Funk, Vollwrath Eleven, Slaphog

[BASEMENT FUNK] A Fifth of Funk is something of a rarity: a three-piece garage funk band that manages to sound full despite residing in a genre in which bands take on orchestral numbers. Heavily distorted guitar chords and funky bass lines make it difficult, despite the trio’s descriptive name, to pigeonhole the band as pure funk. Vocalist Chris Guerin’s gritty vocals bring an element of classic rock, while the chord-heavy riffs add in a punkish feel, all supported by Tony Bader’s solid backbone bass playing. AP KRYZA. 9:30 pm. Also Monday, Jan. 14, at Mt. Tabor Legacy. Ash Street Saloon, 225 SW Ash St., 226-0430. $5. 21+. Map

Irish Circle feat. Hanz Araki & Cary Novotny

Biddy McGraw's, 6000 NE Glisan St., 233-1178. Map

Mike-a-nay: Dumpster Dive Disco Brunch

Crush, 1400 SE Morrison St., 235-8150. Map

Sinferno Cabaret

Dante's, 1 SW 3rd Ave., 226-6630. Map

"Stripparaoke"

Devils Point, 5305 SE Foster Road., 774-4513. 21+. Map

DJ Diet D.

East End, 203 SE Grand Ave., 232-0056. All ages. Map

"Black Sunday"

Ground Kontrol, 511 NW Couch St., 796-9364. Map

Crash Romeo, Say No More, Kill Your Ex, Write This Down, Shipshape And Bristol Fashion, The Greenery, Falco Does It Dirty (6 pm)

Hawthorne Theatre, 3862 SE Hawthorne Blvd., 233-7100. Map

"Pop Tart!"

Holocene, 1001 SE Morrison St., 239-7639. All ages. Map

Jon Koonce (5 pm)

McMenamins Edgefield, 2126 SW Halsey St., Troutdale., 669-8610. Map

Aguamiel (6 pm)

Mississippi Pizza, 3552 N Mississippi Ave., 288-3231. Map

Matthew Zeltzer, Def Kids, Dina Rae

Red Room, 2530 NE 82nd Ave., 256-3399. All ages. Map

Gorilla Productions Battle of the Bands (4 pm)

Rock 'N' Roll Pizza, 11140 SE Powell Blvd., 760-7646. Map

areyougone, pigeons or panthers, The Craters, Tell The Truth

Rotture, 315 SE 3rd Ave., 234-5683. Map

OneLife, Andrew Johnson, McFlavinHavin, Stupendous, Solemn Truth, Flatline, Spek (6:30 pm)

Satyricon, 125 NW 6th Ave., 227-0999. All ages. Map

Mosquito Bandito, The Wires, Leftover Patchouli, Frances Brady

Slabtown, 1033 NW 16th Ave., 223-0099. All ages. Map

Sunday's Slave: DJ van Dis

Stumptown-Downtown, 128 SW 3rd Ave., 295-6144. Map

Wester Daywick, Absent Minds

The Knife Shop, 426 SW Washington St., 228-3669. Map

Built By Giants, These Are Fireworks, Air War

Tonic Lounge, 3100 NE Sandy Blvd., 238-0543. Map

Ohioan & Native Kin, Davis Hooker, Bob Jones

[REVOLUTION ROCK] See profile. 9 pm. Also Friday, Jan. 11, at the Modern Age. Valentine's, 232 SW Ankeny St., 248-1600. Free. 21+. Map

DJ Mello Cee

XV, 15 NW 2nd Ave., 790-9090. Map

Monday January 14top

Adam Hurst (6:30 pm)

Alberta Street Public House, 1036 NE Alberta St., 284-7665. All ages. Map

Oregon Symphony: Chopin Piano Concerto No.2

Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, 1037 SW Broadway., 248-4335. All ages. Map

Shaken Not Stirred, Jacob Ray & Mike P (of the Young Immortals), Nathan Alan

Ash Street Saloon, 225 SW Ash St., 226-0430. All ages. Map

Alex Arrowsmith, Lonesome Radio Heart, Mayhaw Hoons, The Morals

[RIDICULOUS POP] Local songwriter Alex Arrowsmith certainly isn't light on corniness—not to mention They Might Be Giants emulation—on Missing Briefcase, the album he celebrates the release of tonight. But regardless of his sometimes overly in-your-face quirk, Arrowsmith is funny and charming and awkward in the same sort of way a weird childhood friend is. But awkward or no (Mayhaw Hoons, the crazy-haired bass-playin' guy from the Shaky Hands, raps on one track, for crissakes), Arrowsmith is darn catchy on tunes like "The Zaps"—which, according to his one-sheet's "useless trivia" section, is about Zoloft withdrawal—and "High Speed Chase," which tries to legitimize his creation of a Wikipedia entry for local news anchor Jeff Gianola. Missing Briefcase walks a fine line between good-ridiculous and bad-ridiculous (and, oh, what a fine line it is), but Arrowsmith sometimes hints of Ben Folds or Fountains of Wayne—employing a smart sense of humor and lots of key-heavy pop hooks, which certainly isn't a bad place to start. AMY MCCULLOUGH. 8 pm. Backspace, 115 NW 5th Ave., 248-2900. $5. All ages. Map

Mattress Monday: DJ Mattress, The Lark

East End, 203 SE Grand Ave., 232-0056. All ages. Map

Chris Ayer

Hawthorne Theatre, 3862 SE Hawthorne Blvd., 233-7100. Map

The Joey DeFrancesco Trio

Jimmy Mak's, 221 NW 10th Ave., 295-6542. Map

Don Jansen

London Grill, 309 SW Broadway., 228-2000. Map

Skip vonKuske w/ Terra (7 pm)

McMenamins Edgefield, 2126 SW Halsey St., Troutdale., 669-8610. All ages. Map

Emma Hill, Shawn Holley, PWRFL POWER

Mississippi Pizza, 3552 N Mississippi Ave., 288-3231. Map

A Fifth of Funk

[BASEMENT FUNK] See Sunday listing. 8 pm. Also Sunday, Jan. 13, at Ash Street Saloon. Mount Tabor Legacy, 4811 SE Hawthorne Blvd., 232-0450. Free. 21+. Map

Lloyd Jones

Original Halibut's, 2525 NE Alberta St., 808-9601. Map

Ruiner, Broadway Calls, The Mediam, Unrestrained, Something About Airplanes (7:30 pm)

Satyricon, 125 NW 6th Ave., 227-0999. All ages. Map

Hexlove, Everybody, The Iditarod, Fly! Fly! Fly! Fly! Fly!

[PSYCH MATH] See Saturday listing. 9 pm. Also Saturday, Jan. 12, at Sugar Gallery. Valentine's, 232 SW Ankeny St., 248-1600. Donation. 21+. Map

Colin Lake & Wellbottom

White Eagle, 836 N Russell St., 282-6810. Map

Tuesday January 15top

Jeannie Reno Trio

Alberta Street Public House, 1036 NE Alberta St., 284-7665. Map

This Fair City, Michael Hart, Sleepwalk Kid

Ash Street Saloon, 225 SW Ash St., 226-0430. Map

Bill Beach & Brasil Beat (Lounge, 8:30 pm)

Benson Hotel, 309 SW Broadway., 228-2000. All ages. Map

Jazz Jam w/ Laura Cunard (7:30 pm)

Bethany Village Grill, 4876 NW Bethany Blvd., 533-7736. All ages. Map

Dylan Thomas Vance

Biddy McGraw's, 6000 NE Glisan St., 233-1178. Map

Ebeneezer (7:30 pm)

County Cork, 1329 NE Fremont St., 284-4805. Map

DJ Wann

Crush, 1400 SE Morrison St., 235-8150. Map

DJ Wyld Chyld

East End, 203 SE Grand Ave., 232-0056. All ages. Map

Shadowplay: DJs Carrion, Uberlush & Horrid

Fez Ballroom, 316 SW 11th Ave., 221-7262. Map

Carley Baer & Phil Bradley

Gotham Tavern, 2240 N Interstate Ave., 517-9911. Map

Rock Band w/ DJ Afrobot

Ground Kontrol, 511 NW Couch St., 796-9364. All ages. Map

The Mel Brown Septet w/ Hailey Niswanger (6:30 pm)

Jimmy Mak's, 221 NW 10th Ave., 295-6542. All ages. Map

Frank Tribble

London Grill, 309 SW Broadway., 228-2000. Map

Johanna (6 pm)

Mississippi Pizza, 3552 N Mississippi Ave., 288-3231. Map

Cold River Drive, A Gatherin' Storm, Absent Minds

Mount Tabor Legacy, 4811 SE Hawthorne Blvd., 232-0450. All ages. Map

Jon Koonce

Original Halibut's, 2525 NE Alberta St., 808-9601. Map

S.I.N. Night: DJ IPOD

Produce Row Cafe, 204 SE Oak St., 232-8355. All ages. Map

Joe Preston's MANCAMPUS w/ Jet Black Horror, Return from Exile

Rotture, 315 SE 3rd Ave., 234-5683. Map

Norman Sylvester Band

Tillicum, 8585 SW Beaverton-Hillsdale Highway., 292-1835. All ages. Map

Ayars Times Two (7:30 pm)

Tony Starlight's, 3728 NE Sandy Blvd., 517-8584. Map

Joe McMurrian Quartet w/ Jimi Bott, David Lipkind & Jason Honl

White Eagle, 836 N Russell St., 282-6810. All ages. Map