Wednesday January 16top

New York Rifles, The Lonely H, My Fellow Traveller

[NEW CLASSICS] The fellas in the Lonely H just graduated from high school, but you'd never know it from their classic rock-inspired riffs and front guy Mark Fredson's wail (which sometimes hints of the beefier of the two Dr. Dog guys). The bar band's keys- and guitar-heavy sound can border on obnoxious (they are young, and they do have a Southern rockishness à la Kings of Leon), but the Port Angeles-based band also veers into softer, mature-sounding Americana. Take "Rollin'": It's got smooth, high-pitched vocal hooks, mellow guitar worthy of the very ’70s cover of their debut, Hair, and a laid-back nonchalance that belies the members' ages. Though they look like the sun-kissed longhairs from the beginning of Dogtown and Z-Boys, I'd believe the voice on some of the tracks came from a fully mustachioed mouth. AMY MCCULLOUGH. 9:30 pm. Ash Street Saloon, 225 SW Ash St., 226-0430. $5. 21+. Map

DJs Atom 13, Soil

  East Chinatown Lounge, 322 NW Everett St., 226-1659. Map

Modernstate, Ghost to Falco, Ribbons

[EARNEST ELECTRO] Apolitical music fans might be inclined to knock Sam Schauer's steadfast, politically active electro-folk group, Modernstate, as fringe hippie shit. Between the slow-building, meditative instrumental pieces and Schauer's pop-structured, fuzzy lefty rallying cries (where his cannonball of a voice is equal parts Lawrence Ferlinghetti and Ian Curtis), I can see why some might write him off before bothering with a second listen. But when you spend a little quiet time with Modernstate's tunes, you realize that Schauer's dedication to both art and social change come from the same place: one damn near his heart. And if Modernstate uses the word "lovers" one too many times for your own ol' calloused ticker, you can always just listen to the music. CASEY JARMAN. 9 pm. Holocene, 1001 SE Morrison St., 239-7639. $6. 21+. Map

Castanets, Whip, Adam Gnade

[NEO-BARD] Adam Gnade is quite the wandering troubadour of late. This past fall he wound his way around the motorways of Britain, providing a live soundtrack to venues along the way. Will he have tales to weave of transport from the piers of Brighton to the northern suburbs of Manchester, or will he have captured some of the country's local legends to inhabit his free-verse poetry and to partner with the strums from a banjo? Just as a multitude of instruments and musicians often accompany him onstage, so are tales culled from all over likely to compose his set. It's up to him what road his songs will walk down tonight, but it's a path you want to take. NILINA MASON-CAMPBELL. 9 pm. Someday Lounge, 125 NW 5th Ave., 248-1030. $6. 21+. Map

Thursday January 17top

OM, Lichens, Sir Richard Bishop

[DETAIL-ORIENTED] A distinction: There's stoner rock, and then there's OM. Stoner rock pretty much started when Black Sabbath tuned everything down to the key that fits in the Gates of Hell and penned that famous ode to their favorite plant, "Sweet Leaf." It has been steadily evolving—or devolving—ever since. OM is basically the rhythm section of the once-mighty Sleep, the former God Lords of all things gargantuan and stoned. Yet OM's monolithic power draws itself not from pure heavy-osity but rather from space itself—the emptiness between a cloud and a mountain. Arguably the "folk rock" of evil music, the fear in OM's sinister bass lines and chanty vocals is not the face of the Devil but rather the awesome power of nature itself. The Devil is in the details, and the details are misty woods, silent rivers, and a world without sun. They're from California, not Oregon, but they get it. ERIK BADER. 9 pm. Berbati's Pan, 231 SW Ankeny St., 248-4579. $12 advance, $14 day of show. All ages. Map

Jenny Conlee (of the Decemberists)

[ORGAN JAMZ] See preview. 7:30 pm. Also see Tuesday listings. Chapel Pub, 430 N Killingsworth St., 286-0372. Free. All ages. Map

Jeremy Enigk, Bryan Free & the Doxyhaunts

[EMO-ISH] In the mid- to late-’90s, Jeremy Enigk's Sunny Day Real Estate provided a visceral and poignant sing-along to an entire generation of young people, uncertain of themselves and possibly uncertain of what the band's frontman was getting at. Nevertheless, his emotive vocal delivery, ranging from a tempestuous scream to a cooing raspy calm, set the standard for the now-hollowed shell that is "emo." Post-Sunny Day, Enigk exists in a limbo. His lush, oft-orchestral tunes are sought out by his old fans, yet he's denied the mainstream popularity he once deserved—maybe because his voice speaks directly to that earnest 16-year-old most of us have long since turned our backs on. JIM SANDBERG. 9:30 pm. Dante's, 1 SW 3rd Ave., 226-6630. $5. 21+. Map

The Maybe Happening, Invisible Rockets, Strangers Die Every Day

[VIOLIN ROCK] In a city filled with so much great music, Portland’s lack of high-quality post-rock is a little surprising. Recently transplanted from Colorado, Strangers Die Every Day makes the kind of spare, orchestral instrumental rock that is perfect for a rainy winter morning. The band's 2007 album, Aperture for Departure, is filled with twisting violins, a rumbling low end, and enough cello to make Cursive blush. The group doesn’t share much with local faves the Maybe Happening (except for the violin!), but that should only add to the melodrama. MICHAEL MANNHEIMER. 9 pm. Doug Fir, 830 E Burnside St., 231-9663. $6. 21+. Map

Fun World: Advisory, Like Claws!, Rough Chukar, The Bustling Townships

[PUNK VARIETY] Playing connect-the-dots with musical acts has always been a favorite game of mine, but it can be hard in a city ripe with so much collaboration. It seems like every young stalwart in this town plays in another band—or three. Nick Vicario and Alex Tryon of the Bustling Townships also play in Autistic Youth, but here they trade punk-rock simplicity for pop. Tonight, the Townships share a bill with the whiskey-soaked folk punk of Advisory and Like Claws!, the latter bringing an acoustic guitar and heartbreak down from Seattle. MICHAEL MANNHEIMER. 9 pm. Also Sunday, Jan. 20, at Kelly's Olympian. Ground Kontrol, 511 NW Couch St., 796-9364. $5. 21+. Map

Circle Jerks, Hit Me Back, Last of the Believers

[PUNK] In the same manner we don't entirely trust yet-undessicated blues bands, there's something suspicious about hardcore troupes rounding their third decade; "shouldn't they be dead by now?" repeatedly muttered through the venue. Somehow, though, Circle Jerks' live punk frenzy has, beyond frontman Keith Morris' worrisome dreads, evaded the rigors of time. Even more miraculously, the group has resisted the temptation to record, and crowds should enjoy an unsullied run-through of hits from the salad days, plus a good swath of Morris' old Black Flag tunes, as well as spoken-word political musings (apparent requisite for aging punks) that allow new and perilously young snowboarder acolytes downtime ’tween pummelings. JAY HORTON. 9 pm. Hawthorne Theatre, 3862 SE Hawthorne Blvd., 233-7100. $15. All ages. Map

Double Double Video Video Premiere Premiere: The Shaky Hands, Swan Island

[BITTERSWEET] I've seen the video for the Shaky Hands' "Whales Sing," and it's a fine piece of work indeed. Portland's favorite shaggy quintet challenges its endless summer image by totally playing it up—to the extreme! Think matching sweaters and Help-era Beatles production techniques. It's so tongue-in-cheek that it's sincere. And while I haven't yet seen Swan Island's video for "Night Owl" (arguably the finest track on the local pop-metal foursome's 2006 release The Centre Will Hold), it comes packaged with the sad news that Swan Island is calling it quits. The Swans' performance tonight (both bands will perform in addition to showing new videos) will be their last. And while this saddens us deeply, it also works as an excuse to get drunk and dance with Portland's premier (only?) all-female dance-metal queercore outfit one last time. CASEY JARMAN. 9 pm. Holocene, 1001 SE Morrison St., 239-7639. Free. 21+. Map

Sonny Smith, Kurt Hagardorn

[BLUES 'N' FOLK] What a lovely pairing for a Thursday evening at Mississippi Studios' intimate space. The music of loosely Californian busker Sonny Smith—who, impressively, has recorded tunes with the likes of Jolie Holland, Kelly Hogan and Leroy Bach (Wilco)—ranges from lazy guitar folk to piano-led blues, but he laces both with splashes of experimental production and a singular knack for literary, colorful character sketches. Opener Kurt Hagardorn is a local chap with plenty of charm of his own—and, like Smith, seems as if he crawled out of a different era. Tonight, Hagardorn plays with a relatively new six-piece band, which oughta embellish his country-tinged pop classics (think Sun Records) and fiddle- and mandolin-fueled lite rock nicely, casting them in just the right vintage glow. This is a good 'un. AMY MCCULLOUGH. 7:30 pm. Mississippi Studios, 3939 N Mississippi Ave., 288-3895. $10 advance, $12 day of show. 21+. Map

Improv Logic, Project Eldridge, Nightcrawlers, Gepetto, Start Fires, Mickey Dee

[OUTER-HOP] When I last saw Improv Logic, it was a scene to behold. Up on the Backspace stage while purveying his fringe brand of hip-hop and freestyling alongside DJ Zone, Improv Logic had his rhythm until a concertgoer verbally objected to his flow. Turning around from their spots directly in front of the stage, a handful of loyal Improv Logic disciples quickly came to his defense. After a brief exchange, the adversary exited the venue and the audience's arms returned to the air for a college sophomore truly treading his own path in Portland's hip-hop underground. NILINA MASON-CAMPBELL. 7:30 pm. Satyricon, 125 NW 6th Ave., 231-1606. $6. All ages. Map

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

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

Friday January 18top

The Slants, Renegade, Hello Lobster

[SYNTH-POP] See profile. 9:30 pm. Also Saturday, Jan. 19, at Dante's. Ash Street Saloon, 225 SW Ash St., 226-0430. $5. 21+. Map

Ultimate Reality, Dan Deacon, Dat'r, DJ Hoop Dreams

[ELECTRO PSYCH] Ultimate Reality pieces together film clips taken entirely from Arnold Schwarzenegger movies. I know it sounds like another dumb YouTube video that your friend really wants to show you, but this is real art. By composing loops of rhythmic, synth-driven arpeggios and syncing multiple film clips—often on top of one another—the duo of Baltimore artists, Dan Deacon and Jimmy Joe Roche, have created something that is closer to a spiritual journey than a series of silly juxtapositions. I defy you to watch this film performance—with live instrumentation, no less—and not catch yourself with your mouth open. JIM SANDBERG. 9 pm. Also Saturday, Jan. 19, at Holocene. Backspace, 115 NW 5th Ave., 248-2900. $10. All ages. Map

Eek-A-Mouse

[REGGAE] Like any rudeboy worth his rep, Eek-A-Mouse can craft everything—including murder and drug smuggling—into pleasant dancehall/roots reggae. Eek-A-Mouse is also a mutant outlaw. A true reggae star, his nearly 30-year career has seen him pioneering “singjaying,” teaming up with random bands (P.O.D.? Ouch.), and getting capped in New Jack City (among other adventures). Rudeboys are the prototype for American gangsta rappers, and Eek-A-Mouse has also run that gamut, going from a skinny Snoop type to a (rumored) ’roided-out hulk. But through it all, his peculiar vocal prowess and rasta flow have held steady, making his a show not to be missed. AP KRYZA. 9:30 pm. Dante's, 1 SW 3rd Ave., 226-6630. $17 advance, $20 day of show. 21+. Map

Kultur Shock, Mirumir, DJ Anjali

[KULTUR CLASH] It’s funny how one big cameo can make an entire scene. When Madonna appeared onstage alongside gypsy-punk weirdos Gogol Bordello at this summer’s Live Earth benefit, every music rag seemed to write the same story of “Eastern” music making a comeback—even though it had never gone anywhere in the first place. Seattle’s Kultur Shock sound an awful lot like Gogol, mixing loud guitars with Balkan horns and buzuki breakdowns. The band’s six members come from the world over (Bulgaria, Croatia, Bosnia, the U.S.), but, as the title of new album We Came to Take Your Jobs Away suggests, they came to take your jobs away. Just don’t ask for their passports. MICHAEL MANNHEIMER. 9 pm. Doug Fir, 830 E Burnside St., 231-9663. $10. 21+. Map

Saturday January 19top

Mirah, Bryce Panic, Arrington de Dionyso, Rebecca Pearcy

[DANCE PAR-TAY] Storied party-starter Bryce Panic—known among the K Recs scene as many things: one-time drummer for noise-screamers Old Time Relijun; regular collaborator of Olympia twee-electro-indie stalwarts Mirah, the Blow and Rebecca Pearcy; life of the dance floor—tonight celebrates the release of his solo debut, Better Bizness Bureau. As the show's press proclaims, Bizness—which Panic recorded with his hip-hop crew of the same name, featuring rappers B-Wanna and Jam Master B—is "straight-up hip-hop." But it's the kind of jazz-laced, slightly experimental hip-hop fulla flute-led hooks and wacky-ass beats you'd expect from a smart-ass, Calvin Johnson-approved indie-collaboratin' kid from the Northwest. AMY MCCULLOUGH. 8 pm. Artistery, 4315 SE Division St., 803-5942. $6 ($12 includes copy of Bryce Panic album). All ages. Map

Serge Severe, Raise the Bridges, Sauce Policy, Lost History

[HIP-HOP] Not only do Serge Severe's beats comprise an impressive collection of throwback soul, the MC has also taken strides as a lyricist, through simultaneously staying true to himself and refusing to stagnate stylistically. The combination, as evidenced on early tracks from his upcoming record, Orangutan Slang, creates an underground monster that refuses (despite the album title) to ape any particular national MC or trend. It will be interesting to see what tricks are up the MC's sleeve to distinguish his laid-back flow from the backpack crowd—which Serge will emerge? CASEY JARMAN. 9:30 pm. Ash Street Saloon, 225 SW Ash St., 226-0430. $5. 21+. Map

Redray Frazier, Michael Jodell

[ROOTS] Last month, I chose Holcombe Waller's forthcoming disc as my most-anticipated local music release of ’08. But that's just because Michael Jodell's long-awaited debut album was also my most-anticipated release of ’05, ’06 and ’07 as well. The dulcet-toned Miss Jodell has been promising her fans—of which I'm a big ’un—a home-game version of her show for at least that long. Maybe this year? I'm less impressed than some by local, acoustic neo-soulster Redray Frazier (see WW, May. 9, 2007), but maybe that's because I haven't yet seen his live act. JEFF ROSENBERG. 9:30 pm. Biddy McGraw's, 6000 NE Glisan St., 233-1178. Cover. 21+. Map

Fist of Dishonor, Cocktail Cabaret, Hello Lobster

[SYNTH-POP] See profile. 9 pm. Also Friday, Jan. 18, at Ash Street. Dante's, 1 SW 3rd Ave., 226-6630. $5. 21+. Map

Loch Lomond, Matt Sheehy, Johanna Kunin

[CELESTIAL PIANO POP] Johanna Kunin is a remarkable songwriter with an unmistakable talent and the ability to lure you into her grasp mere moments after hearing her for the first time. The Seattleite's fingers delicately stroke and caress the piano keys, and her voice has all the makings of a bonfire, lighting up the darkness surrounding her songs' mystique in a twinkling, hopeful glimmer. It doesn't hurt that Kunin has friends like drummer Matt Chamberlain, composer Eyvind Kang, and Karl Blau, who bring in some added depth and lush, dramatic detail to the piano pop-laced songs on her self-released full-length, Clouds Electric. Kunin brings to mind a more romantic Cat Power and a less neurotic, more dreamy Tori Amos. Tonight, she opens for local pretty folk outfit Loch Lomond, which plays in support of its fine Paper the Walls release. TRAVIS RITTER. 9 pm. Doug Fir, 830 E Burnside St., 231-9663. $8. 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

Joey Porter's Tribute to Stevie Wonder

[VERY SUPERSTITIOUS] After nailing tributes to Herbie Hancock, and Sly and the Family Stone, former Goodfoot regular-turned-Colorado expat Joey Porter selects Stevie Wonder as the subject of his latest show. Stevie might well be our greatest living entertainer, meaning some serious work for Porter’s busy keyboard fingers and his band of both touring and local musicians. But Porter’s a pro, and it’s unlikely he’ll lose his breath blasting through Stevie’s lifelong catalog. The audience, however, is likely to get winded after a night of uncontrollable dancing that only the Motor City’s finest could inspire. AP KRYZA. 10 pm. Goodfoot Lounge, 2845 SE Stark St., 239-9292. $12. 21+. Map

House Hooligans: DJ Professor Stone (Saganaki Lounge); DJs Izm, ATM, Flipsta, Rascue (Minoan Ballroom); DJ Brett (Taverna)

[SO MANY BEATS PER MINUTE]  The sticky, cavernous dance floors of the Greek Cusina are the perfect place to get high-BPM buck wild on a Saturday night. DJ Flipsta finesses brisk, heavy house mixes (Busta Rhymes, Jay-Z, Lil Wayne's “Lollipop” over electro); DJ Professor Stone supplies softer, smoother house grooves (melodic instrumentals); DJ Izm's attention-deficient sets cover house, hip-hop and everything in between; and DJs Brett and Rascue fill in all the funky, breakbeat cracks. SARA MOSKOVITZ. 9 pm. Greek Cusina, 404 SW Washington St., 224-2288. Cover. 21+. Map

The Pack, Maniac Lok, Pittsburgh Slim, Tyga, Chef Boy R' Bangers, Illaj & Mikey Vegas

[HIP-HOP] From "My Adidas" to "Air Force Ones," there's a rich vein of shoe fetishism within hip-hop—about the same as rockabilly auto-eroticism, if you think about it; emo needs more hoodie anthems—and the Pack's "Vans" added a worthy contender to the pantheon last summer: off-handed, catchy, deceptively minimal production, overriding ethos (low price tags) nudging indie for fashionably anti-fashion subdued strut. The Bay Area teens' major-label debut, Based Boys, shrugs a ’luded take on hyphy, absent any other defining inspiration. They're apparently mentored by Too $hort, but hasn't he moved on to wingtips by now? JAY HORTON. 9 pm. Hawthorne Theatre, 3862 SE Hawthorne Blvd., 233-7100. $10 advance, $12 day of show. All ages. Map

Ultimate Reality, Dan Deacon, Dat'r, Juice Team DJs

[ELECTROPSYCH] See Friday listing. 9 pm. Also Friday, Jan. 18, at Backspace. Holocene, 1001 SE Morrison St., 239-7639. $10. 21+. Map

The Harvey Girls, Cars and Trains, Autotopia

[ECLECTRO-POP] See profile. 9 pm. Kelly's Olympian, 426 SW Washington St., 228-3669. Cover. 21+. Map

Fernando, Lael Alderman

[POP SONGWRITER] This very paper described Lael Alderman's latest (and long-awaited) solo release, Of Birds, Devils and the Heart (in its "Best Local Albums of 2007" list, mind you), as an effort rich with "marvels of songcraft" delivered with "heaven-sent vocals." These weren't my own words, but I can tell you I'd have a hard time arguing with ’em. Alderman calls to mind all sorts of pop references—from Spoon and Creeper Lagoon to Sam Cooke—but the bottom line is that this is catchy music with soul. It's something plenty of singer-songwriter types strive for, and something few pull off this convincingly. And the older-school Wilco-leaning alt-rock of headliner Fernando is certainly worth hanging around for. Did I mention both of these fellas are Portland's very own? AMY MCCULLOUGH. 10 pm. Mississippi Studios, 3939 N Mississippi Ave., 288-3895. $8 advance, $10 day of show. 21+. Map

Kaitlyn ni Donovan, The Love Menu by Emily Katz

[FOLKIN' A] Kaitlyn ni Donovan likely has origins beyond this planet and time. How else can one explain that otherworldly siren song of hers? Of course, it's not all in the voice: Ni Donovan's songs are well crafted and intuitive, and you might catch her performing a couple of old-school jazz tunes tonight as well. Opener The Love Menu by Emily Katz is the musical endeavor of—you guessed it—Emily Katz, better known for her popular sustainable-fashion designs. Katz's music sounds similarly organic, with blues chords fluttering between simple-but-deep lyrics and plenty of accidental beauty. CASEY JARMAN. 8:30 pm. Press Club, 2621 SE Clinton St., 233-5656. Free. All ages. Map

Sound Tribe Sector Nine

[ELECTRO JAM] Since its evening-long exploratory improvs aren't dependent upon solos, Sound Tribe Sector 9 does not consider itself a jam band. This is precisely what's argued between bluegrass/old-time players, and while one can ridicule distinctions, have you ever been cold-cocked by a hippie? Let's just note that the, ahem, unfettered musicality of STS9's instrumental rock attracts likeminded soap-dodgers ’round Bonnaroo while the electro backdrop brings along grimier drum ’n’ bass lifers—2002's Harmonic Convergence, say. Imagine a synth-drenched hootenanny or a rave where glowsticks were forcibly taken away at the door...and yet, thousands flock. STS10 shall have plans for the rocketship. JAY HORTON. 9 pm. Also Sunday, Jan. 20. Roseland, 8 NW 6th Ave., 219-9929 (Grill), 224-2038 (Theater). $21. All ages. Map

Yeltsin, The Ovulators, The Empty, The Vintage Media

[ROCK] Due to the fickle nature of Eugene's crowds (and the cultural amnesia that plagues a town that annually loses the majority of its young people once school's out), that city's bands can exist for a long time before anyone knows what they sound like. The two headliners tonight are longtime staples of Eugene's bar scene. Yeltsin, a tight indie-rock trio, surprises by way of its musical clarity, energy and catchy hooks that stick. The Ovulators' femme rock, however, is perpetually tagged as such because it seems the band has never attempted to distance itself from such bland and unoriginal descriptions. JIM SANDBERG. 9 pm. Slabtown, 1033 NW 16th Ave., 223-0099. $6. 21+. Map

The Dimes, Trevor Ras, Will West

[POP SONGWRITERS] See Here Comes Your Fan. 9:30 pm. The Green Room, 2280 NW Thurman St., 228-6178. Cover. 21+. Map

Citay, White Rainbow, Tres Gone

[DREAMY] Citay—now a full-fledged band—started out as a studio collaboration between Tim Green of the Fucking Champs and Ezra Feinberg of Piano Magic, and I guess it sorta sounds like the likely combo of these two guys, in that it's really technical and complicated, yet breezy and sweet. Imagine a band whose sole goal is to get that Led Zep airy fingerpicked "Going to California" vibe just right and you're kind of getting the idea. Riffs lap like waves on a lazy lake shore while yawning San Francisco dawn voices lilt and drift across the soundscape. This is what you'd call perfect hangover music, except it feels too good to be hungover. ERIK BADER. 9:30 pm. Towne Lounge, 714 SW 20th Place., 241-8696. Cover. 21+. Map

Sunday January 20top

Ingrid Michaelson, Greg Laswell

[TOO-SLICK POP] Ingrid Michaelson’s breakthrough track, “The Way I Am,” advertises J.C. Penney, Old Navy, four episodes of Grey’s Anatomy and countless weepy interludes of chocoholic dementia. You might think Michaelson a downmarket Feist, and upon first listen one does wish to rip the album from every proto-spinster’s grasp. Except...it’s so pristine, almost arrogantly arranged as an efficient delivery system for unoriginal sing-alongs with lyrics gently nudging satire (while her man loves her just the way she is, our narrator urges Rogaine). She’s the spawn of an NYC composer and sculptor, so says Wikipedia, and the entire album’s so artfully banal we might as well contextualize her debut as an aural installation. JAY HORTON. 8 pm. Doug Fir, 830 E Burnside St., 231-9663. $12 advance, $14 day of show. 21+. Map

The Bustling Townships, Cower

[POPPY PUNK] See Saturday listing. 9 pm. Also Saturday, Jan. 19, at Ground Kontrol. Kelly's Olympian, 426 SW Washington St., 228-3669. Cover. 21+. Map

STS9 (Sound Tribe Sector Nine)

[ELECTROJAM] See Saturday listing. 9 pm. Also Saturday, Jan. 19. Roseland, 8 NW 6th Ave., 219-9929 (Grill), 224-2038 (Theater). $21. All ages. Map

Tuesday January 22top

The Decemberists, The Dead Trees

[BETTER LATE THAN NEVER] OK, we'll settle for the Januaryists. After an undisclosed illness forced the cancellation of last month's Decemberists shows here (as well as the rest of the band's scheduled tour), it's reassuring to see the local heroes take the Crystal Ballroom stage again. With some members busy supporting the likes of Robert Pollard and Bobby Bare Jr. in the meantime, the talented crew has also been developing new material, some of which will hopefully be aired for the first time at this week's shows. Also see preview. JEFF ROSENBERG. 9 pm. Also Wednesday, Jan. 23, with Pseudosix. Crystal Ballroom, 1332 W Burnside St., 225-0047. $25. All ages. Map