Wednesday February 20top

Adrian Belew Power Trio, Saul Zonana

[POWER PROG] Justly famed for his, shall we say, wide-ranging session recordings (contributing to Lodger, True Colors and Graceland as well as releases from Zappa, Reznor and, um, Shatner), Adrian Belew is best known for his work with King Crimson. But tonight with his Power Trio, you'll hear nothing familiar—though with balding pate, floppy tee and lightning chops, Belew at least looks like the sort of guy who listens to King Crimson. He's spent the past few years touring the globe with the barely legal rhythm section of bassist Julie and drummer Eric Slick—prog wonder twins who bring a frenetic approach to that dustiest of idioms. Nice that he's kept things fresh, somewhat wondrous that he need not depend on classic hits, but still probably an evening best left to those already wondering over his choice of effects pedals. JAY HORTON. 8 pm. Aladdin Theater, 3017 SE Milwaukie Ave., 233-1994. $25. All ages. Map

Neil Masson Trio

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

Amoree Lovell, Dusty Santa Maria, Renee Muzquiz, Ryan Lewis

  Berbati's Pan, 231 SW Ankeny St., 248-4579. All ages. Map

Portland Jazz Festival: Portland Jazz Orchestra (7:30 pm)

[JAZZ] There are plenty of reasons this year's Portland Jazz Festival is a big deal, one being that it marks the Portland Jazz Orchestra's biggest coming out party yet. The Orchestra is the first and only resident ensemble of the festival, which basically means that it'll become a staple of the fest and the larger jazz scene (having "Portland" in its name also helps to make our town look like a big deal, jazz-wise). This year they're taking on the great Charles Mingus, a bassist and composer whose music was inherently soulful, raunchy and delicate. Though Mingus is about as big as they come in the jazz world, he's anything but safe, so this is a bold choice by the PJO, as is the funky work of Dave Holland. The PJO's rhythm section best be in the groove, ’cause they'll be the backbone of everything played tonight. CASEY JARMAN. 7:30 pm. Crystal Ballroom, 1332 W Burnside St., 225-0047. $20-$25. All ages. Map

The Redwalls, The Neat, Catfish Haven (9 pm); Xotica-Go-Go w/ DJ Kenoy & Mr. Mumu (Midnight)

[INDIE SOUL] In 2006, Chicago trio Catfish Haven quietly slithered out of a Midwestern trailer park and on to the Secretly Canadian roster with a mixed-bag EP, Please Come Back. The lead and titular song alone warrants the existence of this band: Singer-guitarist George Hunter's soulful howl elicits such an immediate and visceral feeling of pain that one cannot help but think of Otis Redding or a grittier Sam Cooke. The bass-and-drum stomp behind Hunter sounds like the band came up around punk bands in dirty bars, which gets tired at times. But when it's good, it's good. JIM SANDBERG. 9 pm. Dante's, 1 SW 3rd Ave., 226-6630. $8. All ages. Map

Will West

  East Burn, 1800 E Burnside St., 236-2876. All ages. Map

DJs Atom 13, Soil

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

Toshi Reagon, Kym Tuvim (7:30 pm)

[BIG LOVELY FOLK SOUL] Following on the heels of Sweet Honey in the Rock's visit by just a couple weeks is another of Bernice Johnson Reagon's musical creations—her daughter Toshi. The younger Reagon's performing intensity and vocal power, all by her lonesome, practically equals that of the five women of Sweet Honey. One could attribute her lack of wider success—despite support from the likes of Elvis Costello and Ani DiFranco and solid support from her sometime band, Big Lovely—to the fact she doesn't fit into a prefab role in the image-conscious biz. But I'd say her songwriting, which too seldom produces truly memorable results, is at least as much of the problem. JEFF ROSENBERG. 7:30 pm. Mississippi Studios, 3939 N Mississippi Ave., 288-3895. $15 advance, $18 day of show. 21+. Map

Spectrum, Jackie-O Motherfucker, Plants

[DRUGGISH] Peter Kember, a.k.a. Sonic Boom, a.k.a. Spectrum, a.k.a. Experimental Audio Research (E.A.R.), may be be too old now to take drugs to make music to take drugs to, but that doesn't mean he still isn't (waitaminute, did I mean making the drugs or taking the music? Duuuuude). Those not yet completely fried by history may remember Sonic Boom as one third of Spacemen 3, alongside Jay Spaceman, who went on to do the more well-recognized Spiritualized (and no one remembers who the third guy was). Boom's lastest incarnations, E.A.R. and Spectrum, find the former Spaceman, well, still very much in space: unfurling sonic carpets of velvet sound waves in deep galactic slow motion. If that doesn't make sense, take two of these and call me after the show. ERIK BADER. 9 pm. Rotture, 315 SE 3rd Ave., 234-5683. Cover. 21+. Map

Thursday February 21top

Clampitt Family, Lincoln Crockett (9 pm); Terry Robb and Corvida (6 pm)

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

Jean Ronne, Lee Wuthenow

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

Rychen Paddack

  Capitol Coffeehouse & Bistro, 6646 SW Capitol Highway., 297-1455. All ages. Map

China Forbes, Lael Alderman

[LILITH POP] See album review. 9 pm. Doug Fir, 830 E Burnside St., 231-9663. $10. 21+. Map

Bill Beach (6 pm)

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

The Hives, The Donnas

[GARAGE ROCK WITH SUITS] Sweden's entry in the great 2002 slim-trousered garage cavalcade, the Hives never disappeared, exactly (they soundtracked the NFL and Cartoon Networks last year, which describes their appeal as well as anything), but the band never quite became Strokes/White Stripes icons the way we—and, certainly, frontman Pelle Almqvist—assumed it would. Last year's Black and White Album madly danced atop every possible production style (including Pharrell's) without a smash hit, and the subsequent tour behind Maroon 5 seemed a poor joke. Still time for them to reshape the world in their grand, monochromatic image, but the clock is ticking. Those suits won't fit forever. JAY HORTON. 8 pm. Roseland, 8 NW 6th Ave., 219-9929 (Grill), 224-2038 (Theater). $18. All ages. Map

Friday February 22top

Nancy King & Kurt Elling (7:30 pm)

[JAZZ] Nancy King is one of Portland's great jazz treasures. Anyone who has seen her knows the singer can move from playful scatting into emotive, dramatic storytelling through song without skipping a beat. She has been called the "greatest living jazz singer" by guitar great Herb Ellis, and one suspects that the energetic King has quite a lot more living to do. Chicago singer Kurt Elling is a similarly minded jazz vocalist—he rarely sacrifices the feel of the song for vocal theatrics, though he can certainly freestyle and dazzle with the best of them. It's disappointing that pianist Fred Hersch couldn't make his slated appearance tonight, but Elling and King form a pretty nice one-two punch, and if we're lucky the two singers will pull off a duet or two. If you botched Valentine's Day this year, Elling and King wouldn't be a bad bill to start making up for it. CASEY JARMAN. 7: 30 pm. Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, 1037 SW Broadway., 248-4335. $24-$46. All ages. Map

The SKR Project

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

Neil Masson Quartet w/ Lee Wuthenow

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

Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars

[NU AFRICAN] Stepping aside from the traditional—well, standard—Fela Kuti Afrobeat sound, Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars focus on guitars and percussion (with traditional African instruments) to create a laid-back, warm feeling, rather than the fiery assault of Kuti's signature sound. Reggae vocal stylings and something that sounds like a ukulele are incorporated, creating a truly unique and modern sound. This must be what Wyclef Jean's been trying to get at for so long with his attempts to mash together disparate American musics. Well, sorry ’Clef, but these refugees are legit. JIM SANDBERG. 9 pm. Berbati's Pan, 231 SW Ankeny St., 248-4579. $18 advance, $20 day of show. 21+. Map

Portland Jazz Festival: Joshua Redman Trio

[TENOR DAD-NESS] Acclaimed tenor Joshua Redman's newest disc, Back East, amounts to a tribute to his even more acclaimed father, Dewey, who played on his son's album sessions just prior to the senior Redman's death in 2006. The resulting album (which was nominated for, but did not win, a Grammy Award) combines Redman fils' trademark urban bop influences with Indian motifs—call it Back East and Further Back East. JEFF ROSENBERG. 9:30 pm. Crystal Ballroom, 1332 W Burnside St., 225-0047. $29-$46. All ages. Map

The Mediam, Phonochrome, Castella

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

Ashleigh Flynn (CD release), Susie Blue, Bac'Untry Bruthers

[AMERICANA/POP] Ashleigh Flynn's recording career is on the rise—literally. After cutting her 2005 live album in Mississippi Studios' first-floor venue, she made her brand-new release, American Dream, upstairs in the recording studio (co-producing with proprietor Jim Brunberg). And it's a triumphant showcase for both artist and studio, with pealing acoustic instruments, crisp rhythm tracks, and clear vocals leaping from the speakers. But the true triumph is Flynn's mastery of her own voice, in every sense of the word, resulting in perhaps the most satisfying rootsy-gal album to come out of Portland since Little Sue's 2002 release, The Long Goodbye. JEFF ROSENBERG. 8 pm. Doug Fir, 830 E Burnside St., 231-9663. $10 advance, $12 day of show. 21+. Map

The Ocean Floor, Ohioan and Native Sons, Adam Gnade, Johanna Wright

[ECLECTIC] I'm pretty in love with the recordings of the Ocean Floor's Tall Tales and Small Tales that I first heard it last year, but I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a bit disappointed with the group's showing at PDX Pop Now! '07. Primary singer-songwriter Lane Barrington sounded a tad too cutesy, and without the deep percussion and orchestration that swirls through Tall Tales, his flawed, delicate voice was left to flounder. But I'm gonna give that a pass. Barrington is an ace arranger and retains a childlike wonder in his songwriting that's too good to wave away after one poor showing—especially when he has the support of one of my favorite Portland projects, O Ryne Warner's jazzy/earthy/gospel-rich outfit Ohioan and Native Sons, and the verbose musical road trip that is Adam Gnade. Fans of Kimya Dawson ought to come just for opener Johanna Wright, who shares a breezy delivery with that Northwest cult figure (though Wright's songwriting is a tad more surreal). CASEY JARMAN. 8 pm. Funky Church, 2456 SE Tamarack Ave., . Cover. All ages. Map

Goodfoot 7-Year Anniversary Show: DJ Aquaman & Soul Stew DJs

[DANCIN' MACHINE] Fact: Anybody who says they don’t like James Brown or Stevie Wonder is either a liar or an enemy of the free world. In celebration of the Goodfoot’s seven-year anniversary, the Southeast Portland institution’s most reliably funktastical DJs—Aquaman and the Soul Stew crew—are engaging in a spin-off featuring rare (and not so rare) cuts from the Godfather and Stevie from their extensive respective stashes. It’s a friendly battle—one where the only casualty will be the dance floor. AP KRYZA. 9 pm. Goodfoot Lounge, 2845 SE Stark St., 239-9292. Cover. 21+. Also see Saturday listings. Map

The Rainy States (CD release), The Morals, Church

[RHYTHMIC INDIE] Led by vocal powerhouse Betsy Johnson, the Rainy States celebrates the release of full-length debut In Basement Air tonight. The local R&B-leaning indie rock four-piece hasn't been around all that long, but Basement displays impressive growth in light of the band's more amateurish demo (in production, at least) and occasionally loosey-goosey early performances. Kevin Van Geem's lively, driving drums anchor the sound (instead of distracting from it), along with Benjamin Johnson's bass, adding a strong rhythmic core that was lacking before. Guitarist Kevin Morgan's meandering, icy leads are as strong as ever, countering Johnson's rich, emotive croon (think a smoother, breathier Caithlin De Marrais of Rainer Maria) quite nicely. And the States sometimes throw in an awesome cover, like the Stones' "Moonlight Mile" or a random Kinks number. Nothin' wrong with that! AMY MCCULLOUGH. 10 pm. Kelly's Olympian, 426 SW Washington St., 228-3669. Free. 21+. Map

'80s Video Dance Attack: VJ Kittyrox

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

Bill Beach (6 pm)

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

Nick Jaina (CD release), Au, Pancake Breakfast (10 pm); Nick Jaina (CD release), Karli Fairbanks, Kaylee Cole (7 pm)

[DARK AMERICANA] See Here Comes Your Fan. 7 & 10 pm. Mississippi Studios, 3939 N Mississippi Ave., 288-3895. $8 advance, $10 day of show. 21+. Also Sunday, Feb. 24, at Towne Lounge. Map

The Dimes (6 pm)

  Music Millennium, 3158 E Burnside St., 231-8926. Map

Drew Grow, Kelli Schaefer, Sara Ahmed

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

Saturday February 23top

Portland Jazz Festival: Bela Fleck & The Flecktones (7:30 pm)

[POOTIE TWANG] Banjo superhero Bela Fleck is a sight to behold any time. But Bela’s at his best when joined by the Flecktones, his crew of musical samurai highlighted by bassist Victor Wooten. Arguably one of the best players alive, Vic’s also a hell of a showman who can turn his bass into a hula hoop without breaking his furious slap-and-pop rhythmic connection with drummer Futureman. The Flecktones offer a generous dose of world and classical music—the song “Hoedown,” for example, is a balls-to-the-wall showstopper—and their appearance at the Jazz Fest is a must-see. AP KRYZA. 7:30 pm. Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, 1037 SW Broadway., 248-4335. $41-$76. All ages. Also Sunday, Feb. 24. 3 pm. $15-86. All ages. Map

Blitzen Trapper, Starfucker

[SLOW-ROLLING COUNTRY CARAVAN] The boys in Blitzen Trapper have been compared to a lot of different bands, but Wowee Zowee-era Pavement just seems too spot-on to resist. More than any other local group, they embody the rambunctious spirit that Malkmus and company handled so perfectly. I mean, how frickin’ awesome is it that one album can feature both the zany “Miss Spiritual Tramp” and the tender, sincere and beautiful acoustic strums of “Summer Town”? It should be interesting to see what Starfucker does in the opening slot—Josh Hodges could just play “German Love” for a half-hour and I’d be a happy camper. Could Pitchfork be next on the bandwagon? MICHAEL MANNHEIMER. Artistery, 4315 SE Division St., 803-5942. All ages. Map

Bagdad's 81st Birthday Bash: The Wherewithals, Giant Bug Village, Hungry Holler (7 pm)

[COUNTRY GRIT] For those of you who've wished, amid the psych-folk wonder of a Minders show, that keyboardist/drummer/backup singer Rebecca Cole would branch out and do her own thing, Hungry Holler's your answer. Kentucky native Cole's new project, Hungry Holler, borrows a bit of twang—and attitude—from her Southern roots and combines it with a down-and-dirty garage-rock grit that's undeniably Portland. Also featuring guitarist Jacob Balcom (known to spin Oldies, garage and country 'round the corner from tonight's birthday venue at Greater Trumps) and drummer-about-town Joe Kincher, Hungry Holler's offers swing, chops and fun in droves. Tonight, they're joined by Buffalo Tom-channeling folk-rockers the Wherewithals and Guided By Voices tribute band Giant Bug Village. Um, holla! AMY MCCULLOUGH. 7 pm. Bagdad Theater & Pub, 3702 SE Hawthorne Blvd., 236-9234. Free. All ages. (until 9 pm) Map

Neil Masson Quartet w/ Lee Wuthenow

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

Brainstains Farewell Show: DJ Freaky Outty, Taxpayers, Shitfit, Jonny X and the Groadies, David Evan & band, The Hand That Bleeds, Palo Verde, Dagger of the Mind, Advisory, Here Comes a Big Black Cloud, Autry, Betacrack, Mr. Stay Away From Me, Julie Rose (3 pm)

[HOUSE SHOW EXTRAVAGANZA] See music feature, coming soon. 3 pm. Brainstains, 3535 N Lombard St., . $5. All ages. Map

Sick: DJs Burn, Megadeth, Jimme Jamma

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

The Lowe Beats, Casey Neill & The Norway Rats, The Shee Bee Gees

[DRUNK TRIBUTE] Nick Lowe is primarily known for his hits "Cruel to be Kind" and for penning Elvis Costello's time-tested hit "What's So Funny About Peace, Love and Understanding?" But there is a whole library of fantastic Lowe songs that don't get quite as much play (my favorites: "Cry it Out," "Heart" and the befuddlingly awesome "Rollers Show," a song about going to see the Bay City Rollers). The lesser-known tunes are fodder for the Lowe Beats, a Scott McCaughey-led Nick Lowe cover band. The Beats—which features various members of the Minus 5, the Young Fresh Fellows and their ilk—have been on hiatus for quite some time, but are using the Yep Roc reissue of Lowe's Jesus of Cool (you gotta cop that shit) as an excuse to play two Northwest dates in Seattle and Portland. Expect drunkenness and the occasional botched chord, but a hell of a good time singing along to your favorite Lowe cuts. Local troubadour Casey Neil and the all-female Bee Gees tribute group, the Shee Bee Gees, open up. CASEY JARMAN. 9:30 pm. Dante's, 1 SW 3rd Ave., 226-6630. $6. 21+. Map

The Clumsy Lovers, Tango Alpha Tango

[FOLK ROCK] After five albums on Nettwerk (label to Avril and, formerly, our Foghorn Stringband) and more than 1,500 live performances (which beggars reason, honestly; they must have fingertips of granite), the Clumsy Lovers have garnered a sizable following for their good-time acoustic hootenannies. Ostensibly Celtic, the British Columbia troupe incorporates reggae rhythms, pop hooks, rock dynamics and lyrical themes that SpongeBob would find a bit silly. Fifteen hundred shows. Somebody must be passing around the happy pills. JAY HORTON. 9 pm. Doug Fir, 830 E Burnside St., 231-9663. $15. 21+. Map

Goodfoot 7-Year Anniversary Show: Drunken Masters, Das Vibenbass

[BIRTHDAY CAKE] After seven years, the Goodfoot has become a Southeast Portland institution. Part art gallery, part venue, part restaurant and all awesome, Goodfoot is a mecca for acts big and small looking to keep it real in an intimate space. It also features one of the greatest Friday dance parties in town, a stellar jukebox loaded with local music and a kitchen that does wonderful and scandalous things with cheesesticks and falafel. For the big seven, the Goodfoot brings the noise with experimental jazz maniacs Das Vibenbass and those ever-rockin’ Drunken Masters. So grab some cheese and a beer and ring in another hazy year of Goodfoot nights. AP KRYZA. 9 pm. Goodfoot Lounge, 2845 SE Stark St., 239-9292. Cover. 21+. Also see Friday listings. Map

Exodus, Goatwhore, Arsis, Warbringer, Amongst Us

[METAL] Bay Area thrash legends Exodus never quite achieved the fame of their peers—founding guitarist Kirk Hammett having rather better luck with Metallica—but, then, they never became punch lines, either. The band's eighth album, Atrocity Exhibition...Exhibit A (Exhibit B's planned for later this year), sees the return of original drummer Tom Hunting to the ever-rotating lineup, and the band largely shreds like it's 1981. A bit heavier bass, perhaps, a bit more distortion, but of all the colors in the metal rainbow, thrash meshes particularly well with digital recordings. And, with the benefit of malleable membership and relative anonymity, they'll probably stick around for the next tech jump. JAY HORTON. 8 pm. Hawthorne Theatre, 3862 SE Hawthorne Blvd., 233-7100. $18. All ages. Map

The Drunk Ladies, Eat Skull, The Phantom Lights

[SONIC BOOM] Between Phantom Lights, Eat Skull and the Drunk Ladies, tonight's top-volume craziness is a Molotov cocktail of styles. The trio Phantom Lights rips forth with estrogenated garage rock that sounds at once classic and wholly fresh. Phantom Lights might be drunk chicks, but the Drunk Ladies are drunk dudes (confused?) and are certain to bring the whiskey-stained noise. Eat Skull offers distortion-heavy, noisy rock, but allows catchy riffs to peek through the grime, sometimes evoking MC5, or a totally drunken version of the Who. With these powers combined, a trifecta of speaker-blowing anarchy is born. AP KRYZA. 10 pm. Kelly's Olympian, 426 SW Washington St., 228-3669. Cover. 21+. Map

Bill Beach (6 pm)

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

Yoav (3 pm)

  Music Millennium, 3158 E Burnside St., 231-8926. Map

Golden: Truckasaurus, Atole, DJs Linoleum & Copy

[TECH HEAT] Turn the dial to techno-leaning Truckasauras, and the frequency emanating from this quartet is that of 8-bit blips and other analog sounds that go bump in the night. It's especially fitting that these electro kids hail from Seattle, land of the Space Needle, as the electronic outfit has come to establish some landmarks of its own through its all-out live show (including megaphones, Game Boys and American flags). Think dance party-meets-cable access kitsch. NILINA MASON-CAMPBELL. 10 pm. Someday Lounge, 125 NW 5th Ave., 248-1030. $5. 21+. Map

Justin Ringle (Horse Feathers), Ryan Sollee (The Builders & the Butchers), Justin Power, Nick Delffs (The Shaky Hands)

[CREAM OF PORTLAND'S FRONTMAN CROP] Excluding solo artist Justin Power (who plays a crazy guitar-bass hybrid he built himself), tonight should cast light on just how much some of Portland's most notable band leaders rely on the support of their contributors and ’mates. Will the Tracy Chapman-esque vocals of Justin Ringle soar quite as poignantly without the lush strings of Horse Feathers? Can Ryan Sollee, of the Builders and the Butchers, channel as creepy a swamp-blues gospel vibe going it alone as he can with the aid of his Southern freak-folk outfit? I guess we'll have to turn out and see if the songs (and singers) can truly speak for themselves. My guess is that the charmingly naive, wavery-voiced acoustic fare of Shaky Hands songwriter Nick Delffs ought not disappoint, and I've got a good chunk of faith in these other fellas, too. AMY MCCULLOUGH. 9:30 pm. Towne Lounge, 714 SW 20th Place., 241-8696. $6. 21+. Map

Providence Medical Center Benefit: Please Step Out of the Vehicle, The Slants, Baleine, Beluga Whale, The Vulturines, Zach Boyle, Zeitgeist, The Harvey Girls (7 pm)

[GOULASH] The Twilight is a springboard venue for bands building their status, a perfect nook where small crowds still look pretty damn big. At the Providence Medical Center Benefit, crowd size probably won't be an optical illusion. The cancer fundraiser, held in the name of My Favorite Everything bassist Shane Asbery, is drawing in eight acts for a nightlong celebration of music and philanthropy that offers, along with a whole lineup of great music, another chance to see the Slants in a small venue as they gear up to take over the world. AP KRYZA. 7 pm. Twilight Cafe & Bar, 1420 SE Powell Blvd., 232-3576. Cover. 21+. Map

Sunday February 24top

Johnny Winter, Joe McMurrian Quartet

[ALBINO BLUES] I'm sure it's been corrected by now, but a few days ago, the marquee at the Aladdin was advertising an upcoming appearance by "Johnny Witer." Now, maybe the theater was just short a consonant, but it's also true—the journeyman guitarist is indeed "w(h)iter" than the average bluesman. He's not just white, he's freakin' albino! But Winter (along with his fellow eggshell-maned brother Edgar) did much to reclaim blues heritage for American longhairs in the years after the John Mayall-led British blues boom. These days he's mostly a journeyman road hog, though he did take the time to clarify the obvious by titling his 2004 release—his only new disc in over a decade—I'm a Bluesman. JEFF ROSENBERG. 8 pm. Aladdin Theater, 3017 SE Milwaukie Ave., 233-1994. $32.50 advance, $35 at the door. All ages. Map

Portland Jazz Festival: Bela Fleck & the Flecktones (3 pm)

[POOTIE TWANG] See Saturday listing. 3 pm. Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, 1037 SW Broadway., 248-4335. $15-$86. All ages. Map

Portland Jazz Festival: Maceo Parker (7:30 pm)

[BLOW YOUR HORN!] That's what James Brown used to shout to Maceo Parker when it was time for the latter's staccato sax squeals to pepper the spaces between the Godfather's funky beats. While we're employing the exhortative tense, let me add: Shake your booty! A Maceo Parker show is the most comprehensive workout available for your gluteus maximus, an effect only enhanced by the Crystal's bouncing ball-bearing floor. Parker's effortless blending of jazz, soul, and funk continues on his latest album, the Ray Charles tribute Roots and Blues. JEFF ROSENBERG. 7:30 pm. Crystal Ballroom, 1332 W Burnside St., 225-0047. All ages. Map

"Sinferno Cabaret"

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

WNTR WRKS: E*Rock, Hooliganship, Gay Deceivers, Nollifur, DJ Beyonda

[AUDIO-VIDEO COLLABORATION EXTRAVAGANZA] Sometimes you see a show and it takes forever between sets. Sure, enough time to grab another drink, but when the in-house sound system plays the same damn Steely Dan record over and over again, it kinda gets to ya. Fortunately, lag time shouldn’t be a problem with the (no vowels) WNTR WRKS show tonight—live performances from Hooliganship and 8-bit wonder kid E*Rock share the same stage with what I can only imagine are awesome short films from Takeshi Murata, Bruce Bickford, Amy Lockhart and others. Plus, no annoying breaks while the roadie tries to tune a guitar, as DJ Beyonda will spin in between the chaos. Should be one crazy night of cartoon images and beats. MICHAEL MANNHEIMER. 9 pm. Holocene, 1001 SE Morrison St., 239-7639. $6. 21+. Map

Eli Reischman (5:30 pm); Jean Ronne (9:30 am)

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

Yo-Siff, 9 Gage, Dynamix, Onelife, Mizfit, Optimus Deuce, Triple B, Death of a Saint, N.S.B, C.I.G, Hate Records (6:30 pm)

  Satyricon, 125 NW 6th Ave., 231-1606. All ages. Map

Portland Lounge Series: Nick Jaina, Michael Apinyakul (of Shoeshine Blue), Michael the Blind

[DARK AMERICANA] See Here Comes Your Fan. 9:30 pm. Towne Lounge, 714 SW 20th Place., 241-8696. Free. 21+. Map

Monday February 25top

Gregory Isaacs, Instigators, Trinity Soundz w/ Cansaman

[LIVING LEGEND] Gregory Isaacs is the sort of singer who can release a double-disc greatest hits compilation—spanning his entire 30-year career—without a crappy tune on it. An undisputed giant of roots reggae with a honey-smooth voice, the man can do no wrong. Though his skill lies in love-themed slow jams and not the Rockers-era political jams, he can hold his own on the latter, too. Singers can falter in the hands of various producers, but Isaacs' intricate and nuanced voice carries nearly any tune he sings over. Best of all, that voice hasn't diminished with age. JIM SANDBERG. 9 pm. Berbati's Pan, 231 SW Ankeny St., 248-4579. $23 advance, $20 day of show. 21+. Map

The Mountain Goats, Jeff Lewis & the Jitters

[BRASH, SMART FOLK] Right from the first song of the Mountain Goats' latest, Heretic Pride, it's clear core member John Darnielle's feeling a bit more exhilarated (to say the least) than he did on 2006's aptly named Get Lonely. Opening track "Sax Rohmer #1" positively bursts with his biting, so-poetic-they-hurt lyrics—and his sharp delivery hurts even better, like a sibling poking you in the ribs til you laugh and cry all at once. The title track—a driving, punchy take on, well, heretic pride—is no slouch, either, and the life-breathing continues throughout. A few sullen interludes occur, but they're lovely and welcome this time around, instead of overwhelming. Other changes include a lively band (ever-present bassist Peter Hughes, not to mention snap-crackle-pop drums, cello, organ, and some guest guitar and vocals from St. Vincent's Annie Clark). Sure, "Woke Up New" is a great song, but damn is it sad. Darnielle is back on top of his super-catchy, emotive pop game; the spunk has returned, and I, for one, greet it with open arms. AMY MCCULLOUGH. 9 pm. Doug Fir, 830 E Burnside St., 231-9663. Sold out. 21+. Map

Bonobo, DJs Kez & Dundiggy

[DJ SET] British electronic musician Bonobo (born Simon Green) composes music that wouldn't be out of place on a "chill-out" compilation or on the speakers at a "modern" restaurant—pieces of plucked guitar, clean drum samples, muted piano, etc. The music is pleasant, and yet (unlike that of a majority of his contemporaries) not boring. But this is a DJ appearance, so one should expect for him to play a variety of artists that he respects or have influenced him—or maybe he'll play heavy-metal records all night. Considering the phenomenal Rockbox DJs are accompanying this Ninja Tune artist, you have nothing to worry about except how to keep your drink from spilling when you're dancing (hint: beer in a bottle). JIM SANDBERG. 9 pm. Holocene, 1001 SE Morrison St., 239-7639. $8. 21+. Map

Tuesday February 26top

The Mountain Goats, Jeff Lewis & the Jitters

[BRASH, SMART FOLK] See Monday listing. 9 pm. Doug Fir, 830 E Burnside St., 231-9663. Sold out. 21+. Map

DJ Wyld Chyld

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

Lifehouse, Matt Nathanson, Honeyhoney

[ROCK OF AGES] Six years after topping the Billboard Hot 100, Lifehouse made No. 3 on the Hot Adult 40: The circle of Lifehouse continues apace. They still resemble carefully tousled suburban teens, but hard to consider most of the balladry within last year's Who Are We to be rock. Emo's stretching things even. Dull, familiar hooks, prefab guitar work, anthemic flourishes absent recognizable emotion—it sounds like the end of an office holiday party mixed to the Sunday afternoons of relationships of convenience. Life, house, marriage, death. Whoo! JAY HORTON. 8 pm. Roseland, 8 NW 6th Ave., 219-9929 (Grill), 224-2038 (Theater). Sold out. All ages. Map

Joe Preston's Mancampus: Santa Sangre, Selector Mancampus

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

Castanets, Death Songs

[DEATH FOLK] Even though Castanets and the über-ambitious Sufjan Stevens share a record label, don’t expect the songs of Raymond Raposa ever to be considered, well, cute. Castanets rocks the death ballads and sad songs the way Sufjan rocks songs about the holidays. 2007’s In the Vines adds subtle electronic burbles to Raposa’s off-kilter folk melodies, turning songs that would sound ordinary in a normal troubadour’s hands into compact gems of nuanced songwriting. Tonight, the nomadic outfit's joined by (appropriate band name alert!) Death Songs—the acoustic-minded side project of the Shaky Hands' Delffs brothers. MICHAEL MANNHEIMER. 9 pm. Valentine's, 232 SW Ankeny St., 248-1600. $6. 21+. Map