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

OGLE GALLERY

Group show.
Featuring artists Rob Tyler, Yoshi Kitai, Brenda Mallory, and Mary Lang 310 NW Broadway., 227-4333. Closes Feb. 2. Map

BULLSEYE GALLERY

Carrie Iverson's print-based glass works.
300 NW 13th Ave., 227-0222., 227-0222. Closes Feb. 16. Map

FROELICK

Group show.
Group show featuring such artists as Rick Bartow, Ron van Dongen, Sally Finch, Kris Hargis, and Laura Ross-Paul 714 NW Davis St., 222-1142. Closes Jan. 26. Map

NEWSPACE CENTER FOR PHOTOGRAPHY

Hiroshi Watanabe's photos.
"Ideology in Paradise," photos from Watanabe's recent trip to North Korea 1632 SE 10th Ave., 963-1935. Closes Feb. 3. Map

PDX CONTEMPORARY ART

Joe Macca's works.
Slowblivion, a show of oil and acrylic abstract paintings on panel 925 NW Flanders St., 222-0063. Closes Feb. 2. Map

AUGEN (DESOTO BLDG)

Pablo Picasso's prints and ceramics.
716 NW Davis St., 224-8182. Closes Feb. 26. Map

ELIZABETH LEACH GALLERY

Hap Tivey's light sculptures, Gregg Renfrow's paintings.
This double-whammy features two artists whose work is associated with the Southern California Light and Space movement. For devotees of luminosity, color and abstraction, this is a show not to be missed. See review. 417 NW 9th Ave., 224-0521. Closes Feb. 2. Map

GRASS HUT

Alicia Rose's photos.
In her latest body of work, photographer, virtuoso accordionist (a.k.a. Miss Murgatroid), and Doug Fir head booker Alicia Rose reinterprets three classic fairy tales from the Brothers Grimm, in her supersaturated, well-lit and well-composed tableaux. See review. 811 E Burnside St., 445-9924. Closes Jan. 28. Map

Thursday January 10top

Shining City

In this sublimely written play by Conor McPherson, Ian (Michael O’Connell), an ex-priest turned therapist, and John (Bruce Burkhartsmeier), his first, and possibly only, client, cope with the problem of John’s wife, Mari, who died in a car accident months ago but keeps showing up around the house. Third Rail’s production showcases the impressive talents of director Slayden Scott Yarbrough, whose touch brings out a lot of congenial humor in what could easily be a very dour show. He also made a fine move in casting Burkhartsmeier, who plays guilt-ridden John as an unexaggeratedly anxious wreck. He fidgets, scratches and tears up subtly and powerfully. As John works through his talking cure in Ian’s shabby office, we start to wonder who really needs the therapy. An apparition in the foyer is one thing, but Ian’s haunted by the perfectly solid mother of his child (Val Landrum) and a crisis of sexual identity. BEN WATERHOUSE. Interstate Firehouse Cultural Center, 5340 N Interstate Ave., Call 235-1101 for tickets. 8 pm Thursdays-Saturdays, 2 pm Sundays. Closes Feb. 2. $16-$25. All ages. Map

The Communist Dracula Pageant

Meet Dracula. No, not that Dracula, though he’s invited as well. We’re talking about the communist Dracula: Nicolae Ceausescu, the former dictator of Romania. Anne Washburn’s new play, running in a workshop production at defunkt theatre, ambitiously attempts to encompass in 95 minutes a sketchy history of the Romanian revolution, nuanced portraits of the dictator and his wife and some dime-store philosophizing about the nature of freedom. It doesn’t quite succeed. The defunkt ensemble has impeccable comedic timing, and the show’s humorous scenes manage to hold the audience’s attention, but the story loses steam during a few scenes that don’t quite make sense to the viewer who comes without prior knowledge of the December Revolution—that is, almost all of us. The show is, nonetheless, worth seeing for Kenichi Hillis’ bizarre, toothy performance as Vlad "The Impaler" Tepes. He steals the show. See review. (Playwright Anne Washburn will lead talkbacks after the show Feb. 8 and 9.) The Back Door Theater, 4319 SE Hawthorne Blvd., 481-2960. 8 pm Thursdays-Sundays. Closes Feb. 16. $10-$15. 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. , 3100 NE Sandy Blvd., 238-0543. Cover. 21+. 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

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

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

Joseph Bradshaw, Susan Denning, Dean Gorman and Rebecca Loudon

Northwest poets read from their contributions to the new sexy anthology, The Bedside Guide to the No Tell Motel: Second Floor. Press Club, 2621 SE Clinton St., 233-5656. 7 pm. Free. Map

Friday January 11top

Back Room: The Wife, the Mistress and the Prostitute

Nothing will get you articulating opinions you didn’t even know you had like good food and fancy folk. Hence a great reason to attend the multi-sensory pairing of local art mag PLAZM and the Back Room series. Join PLAZM founder Joshua Berger and the rest of the crew at 6:30 pm to discuss “The Wife, the Mistress and the Prostitute”—provocative, right?—as essential metaphors for the lives of writers, artists and otherwise creative professionals. Hosted by Cooley Gallery director Stephanie Snyder, with food by Tastebud Farms and music by Tara Jane ONeil. Reservations strongly encouraged (email thebackroompdx@gmail.com). Podkrepa Hall, 2116 N Killingsworth St., . 6:30 pm. $48 per person, includes a chapbook created for the occasion. Map

Pix Birthday Weekend

The fixin's at my fifth birthday were pretty swell, but I’ll be honest—they didn’t include a three-day party, or champagne and French cheese. All the more reason to come celebrate five years of Pix Pâtisserie. On Friday, enjoy $5 glasses of bubbly and samples from Steve’s Cheese between 4-7 pm, or come later (11 pm-2 am) for live performances by Michael Rockstar, Quiet Countries, and CJ and the Dolls. Fabulous prizes and free coffee (in-house only) dished out all weekend. Pix Patisserie, 3402 SE Division St., 232-4407. 4-7 pm, 11 pm-2 am. Free. Map

Exit the King

A ruler who has run his country into the ground now refuses to let go. Sound familiar? Probably its resonance with our current national leadership crisis prompted Arts Equity to take on Ionesco’s political satire, and it does a fine job playing up the similarities. King Berenger (Rod Harrel) and his court speak with thick Texas accents, and Berenger himself makes apelike facial expressions and frequently lets fly a sinister airy cackle—heh, heh, heh—that will be instantly familiar to anyone with a TV. This spirited production—nimbly directed by Llewellyn Rhoe—successfully straddles the line between tragedy and farce, and it has the advantage of lending itself to contemporary allegory. Unfortunately, the script hasn’t aged well; what may have challenged audiences in 1962 drags in the new millennium. The second act features unforgettable monologues by Berenger and Queen Marguerite (Virginia Belt), and, in general, the performances are solid. However, not all characters speak with the same accent—the maid is French, the guard is German, and the actors step on each others’ lines. JOHN MINERVINI. The Main Street Theater, 606 Main St., Vancouver., 360-695-3770. 8 pm Thursdays-Saturdays, 2 pm Sundays. Closes Feb. 16. $10-$24. All ages. Map

Raymond Carver: Word for Word

Readers Theatre Repertory presents three of the Oregon-born writer's best stories, read by an excellent cast under the direction of David Berkson. Blackfish Gallery, 420 NW 9th Ave., 234-2634. 8 pm Friday and Saturday, Jan. 11-12. $8. All ages. Map

Where's My Money?

John Patrick Shanley's anti-marital comedy may read like a particularly bitter dramatic interpretation of "Love Stinks," but in the hands of Ben Plont and the ensemble at Theatre Vertigo, it becomes a delightfully absurd skewering of the things we do to the people we love. The solid cast's spot-on comedic timing brings out the humor in even the most dismally angsty of Shanley's scenes. The play's paranormal theme—ex-boyfriend comes back from the dead to collect on an old debt—seems superfluous, but goddamn if it isn't hilarious. BEN WATERHOUSE. Theater! Theatre!, 3430 SE Belmont St., 306-0870. 8 pm Thursdays-Saturdays. Closes Feb. 9. $15. Thursdays are pay what you will. 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

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

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

Arctic Light: Orthodox Music from Finland

There's something in the water. Finnish composers have been writing coolly austere choral music of note for the past century at least, but it's rarely heard outside Europe (they've been upstaged by those pesky-popular Estonians: Arvo Pärt, Veljo Tormis, Peter Eotvos). Props to capable Cappella Romana for offering up an ear-opening program of Finnish Orthodox choral music, all of it written in the 20th century. Father Ivan Moody—a recently ordained Orthodox priest rawkin' the cylindrical kamelaukion cap—leads the choir in its first program of the new year. STEPHEN MARC BEAUDOIN. St. Mary's Cathedral, 1716 NW Davis St., 228-4397. 8 pm Friday, Jan 11. $15-$30. All ages. Map

The Back Room Reading Series: The Wife, the Mistress and the Prostitute

This installment features the brain trust of PLAZM (founder Joshua Berger and editors Tiffany Lee Brown and Jon Raymond), Portland's notorious independent arts journal, for dinner and conversation. It's also a celebration of the bastard child of creative expression chapbook Back Room and PLAZM have joined forces to create. Musical guest Tara Jane ONeil will also perform. Podkrepa Hall, 2116 N Killingsworth St., . 6:30 pm. Call 705-9450 for info. $48, includes dinner and copy of chapbook. Map

Dirty Queer Open Mic

Come celebrate the one-year anniversary of this X-rated open mic. Keep in mind that the term "open mic" is used loosely: Past performers have included everything from poets to jugglers, and organizers encourage just about any form of expression you can do on a stage in five to 10 minutes. Come early for snacks and bring your own lawn chair, if you've got one. In Other Words, 8B NE Killingsworth St., 232-6003. Reception at 6 pm, reading at 7 pm. $1-$5 suggested donation. Map

Jill Conner Browne

Brown reads from the latest in her series of humorously insightful “Sweet Potato Queens” books. This one's titled The Sweet Potato Queens’ Guide to Raising Children for Fun and Profit. Come and hear what is, at the very least, a unique take on the subject of parenting. Powell's City of Books, 1005 W Burnside St., 228-4651. 7:30 pm. Free. Map

Saturday January 12top

Pix Birthday Weekend, Part II

Again with the Pix. You know there isn’t enough butter in your life. Arteries be damned, there’s just no faking it. So start the day off with $1 brioche—60 percent butter, comme il faut—at Pix. Or stop by later for the ice cream social (2 pm), and win a fabulous secret prize by eating 22 scoops out of a hollowed-out watermelon. Email pix@pixpatisserie.com to register your team. As if that weren’t enough, stay for Dim Sum Desserts and Belgian Beer (5-7 pm), and then dance off your caloric excesses at the DJ Battle and Dance-a-thon. DJ Erick Beats vs. Dj Tan’t vs. DJ G.Dubya—and yes, Pix is clearing out the tables. Pix Patisserie, 3402 SE Division St., 232-4407. 2 pm, 5-7 pm, 11 pm-2 am. Free. Map

Winter Trails Day

I don’t know what’s more depressing, the fact that the press release for this national event actually points out that last year 12,000 participants “together burned 6 million calories per hour” or that I probably consumed almost that amount over the holidays alone. But hey, who’s not a glutton when it comes to free snowshoeing and cross-country skiing, especially when all the equipment’s included? Forest Grovers Adventure Without Limits provides guided tours, NW Avalanche Center provides winter safety know-how, and REI provides hot chocolate and more caloric treats. All you gotta provide is a damn good reason not to indulge. White River West Sno-Park, Mount Hood., 9:30 am-3 pm. 617-6072. Easy. Free.

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

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

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

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

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

A Day with All the Fixin's

Now that going green is, like, so totally in vogue in Hollywood, words such as “sustainable” and “carbon footprint” have finally entered the lexicon of even those who view Entertainment Tonight as a viable source for news. The celebs are out in full force, regurgitating news they read in magazines or saw on Dateline, driving hybrid cars or converting to biodiesel, talking about climate change and trying to do their part to save the environment. In a recently aired radio commercial, it was announced that the Rolling Stones, in an effort to reduce the carbon footprint caused by their never-ending tour, are planting trees to balance environmental harm (that’s a lot of trees, given the amount of smoke billowing from Keith Richards). It’s about time the rest of the country wised up to what Portland seems to have known for a long time; this planet’s covered in filth, and damn near everything we do as American consumers—be it driving to work, eating a cheeseburger or burning Styrofoam—is harmful. Unfortunately, we don’t all have endless finances to make our day-to-day lives ultra-sustainable. In the interest of preserving our planet and our pocketbooks, the city’s Office of Sustainable Development is holding its second annual Fix-It Fair, a free day full of tips and gear aimed at keeping energy costs at bay and creating healthier homes. The fair is packed with exhibitors and workshops offering info on a broad range of topics, including gardening, weatherization, recycling, and water and energy savings. The event also includes free lunch from Burgerville—our beloved purveyor of non-rainforest meats—free energy-saving light bulbs and free childcare, so Mommy and Daddy can go out and save the world while Junior is well protected. Lent School Gymnasium, 5105 SE 97th Ave., 997-7514. 8:30 am-2 pm. All ages. Free. Map

Sunday January 13top

Pix Birthday Weekend, Bingo Finale

Mais qu’est-ce qu’on va faire maintenant, ma foi? Free coffee and French bingo may sound low-key, but after the weekend you’ve been having we’re willing to bet it’s just the right speed. Stop by for a fabulous brunch featuring savory crepes and buttermilk biscuits (9 am-2 pm), or come back later for French bingo (7-9 pm): $1 per bingo card, which includes artisan chocolate space markers. Pix Patisserie, 3402 SE Division St., 232-4407. 9 am-2 pm, 7-9 pm. Free. 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

PYP Chamber Concert

Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes. This is the type of out-of-this-world chamber music program that makes one a) appreciate how smart and talented the young musicians of the Portland Youth Philharmonic really are, and b) make one long for our resident "elder" Symphony to take up the traveling chamber music banner (as so many other regional orchs do). For now, be lucky that you'll get to bathe in the sonic luxurity of Lou Harrison (Canticles for Percussion) and Gyorgy Ligeti (Bagatelles for woodwind quintet), with a Mozart viola quintet and the Saint-Saëns Fantasy for Violin and Harp also up to bat. And though TASHI is coming to town later this month with its definitive performance of the work, the PYP youngsters test put Messiaen's Quartet for the End of Time through a test drive, too. STEPHEN MARC BEAUDOIN. Whitsell Auditorium, 1219 SW Park Ave., 221-1156. 2 pm Sunday, Jan. 13. $8-$10. All ages. Map

Monday January 14top

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

Chuck Thompson

In his new book, Smile When You're Lying: Confessions of a Rogue Travel Writer, Portlander Thompson reveals that some travel destinations deemed unsafe or unappealing are actually quite pleasant and others with good reputations can be a Chevy Chase movie waiting to happen. His stories on Thai prostitutes are the stuff of excursion legend. Powell's City of Books, 1005 W Burnside St., 228-4651. 7:30 pm. Free. Map

Tuesday January 15top

Listen to the Children

The first volley in a series featuring participants of the “Writers in the Schools” program sponsored by Oregon Literary Arts, in which students in the public schools take part in writing seminars with professional writers. This event features writers from Cleveland High. Chaos Cafe & Parlor, 2620 SE Powell Blvd., 546-8112. 7 pm. Free. Map

Colson Whitehead

A National Book Critics Circle Award and Pulitzer Prize finalist, Whitehead writes novels credited with exploring profound themes such as racism and consumerism. His latest work, Apex Hides the Hurt, examines the identity of a small town when a software company attempts to rename it. Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, 1037 SW Broadway., 248-4335. 7:30 pm. $10-$26. Map