Wednesday Mar 26top
Larry Munson
23 Hoyt, 529 NW 23rd Ave., 445-7400. Map
Neil Masson Trio
Benson Hotel, 309 SW Broadway., 228-2000. All ages. Map
Saucy Yoda, Digital Love, The Mystechs, Emerson Valentine Lyon, The Planets
[FUNNY WEIRD] The downfall of a bill full of comedic music is that one act’s chuckles make the next’s shortcomings more obvious. Emerson Valentine Lyon’s shtick is self-aware and often funny in its self-aware “I’m fuckin’ your mama” generics. The Mystechs, on the other hand, milk a gay-cowboy electronica act referencing a home on the range where the “queers and the antelope roam” in songs that still seem to think
Brokeback Mountain jokes are fresh and smart. Expect some laughs—but not necessarily enough of them to warrant the price of admission. AP KRYZA.
9 pm. Berbati's Pan, 231 SW Ankeny St., 248-4579. Cover. 21+. Map
Ron Hughes (7:30 pm)
Bethany Village Grill, 4876 NW Bethany Blvd., 533-7736. Map
Egg Helmet & Live Action Art
Chaos Cafe & Parlor, 2620 SE Powell Blvd., 546-8112. Map
Nada Surf, Sea Wolf
[POWER POP] There's no denying Nada Surf frontman Matthew Caws' knack for writing a catchy melody, but sometimes his songs are so darn infectious you forget to take note of his equally extraordinary voice. As an early-year acoustic showing at the Doug Fir attested, the clear and sometimes remarkably high vocals gracing Nada Surf records are not the result of studio magic: Caws actually sounds
more amazing live, his lofty croon soaring above the band's driving choruses and poignant lyrics—which, on most recent effort
Lucky, move on from the life-crumbling breakup stories of 2005's
The Weight Is a Gift into ruminations on self-discovery and moving on. Despite its overall upbeat tone,
Lucky certainly isn't lacking in insight: On anthemic opener "See These Bones," Caws finds inspiration in mortality, and on new-relationship ode "I Like What You Say" he reveals absolute truths—"They say you have to have somebody/ They say you have to be someone's/ They say if you're not lonely alone/ Boy, there is something wrong"—on a par with those of the band's brilliant '02 effort,
Let Go. And, Jesus, is "Whose Authority" ever addictive. If capacity kept you out of the Fir, Nada Surf's plugged-in, explosive pop is no poor substitute, believe you me. AMY MCCULLOUGH.
8 pm. Crystal Ballroom, 1332 W Burnside St., 225-0047. $15 advance, $17 day of show. All ages. Map
"Purple Rain Tribute"
Dante's, 1 SW 3rd Ave., 226-6630. Map
Teddy Thompson, Rosie Thomas
[SINGER-SONGWRITER-SON] Teddy Thompson luckily inherited his mother Linda's tough-yet-tremulous wonder of a voice, but, unfortunately, hasn't yet manifested father Richard's compositional chops in his own thus-far forgettable copyrights. So his retrenchment into a classic-country-covers album, last year's
Upfront and Down Low, feels more like an admission of defeat than an artistic touchstone. (Elvis Costello, for instance, had released five classic albums, not two negligible ones, by the time of his Nashville tribute
Almost Blue.) I'd love it if Teddy blossomed into as gifted a folk brat as his pal Rufus Wainwright, but so far this emperor's son just has no songs. JEFF ROSENBERG.
9 pm. Doug Fir, 830 E Burnside St., 231-9663. $15. 21+. Map
Suburban Slim, Marco Savo & Jeff Strawbridge
Duff's Garage, 1635 SE 7th Ave., 234-2337. Map
DJs Atom 13, Soil
East Chinatown Lounge, 322 NW Everett St., 226-1659. Map
Hate of the City: DJs Keebler, Jonny P Jewels
East End, 203 SE Grand Ave., 232-0056. Map
Blair-Rich Project (7 pm)
edge of Belmont, 3350 SE Morrison St., 971-230-3343. Map
Atlases, Batman vs. Predator
Exit Only, 1121 N Loring St., 815-302-6041. All ages. Map
TRONix: DJ Popcorn
Ground Kontrol, 511 NW Couch St., 796-9364. Map
Dave Reisch Jihad (9 pm); Mike Danner (6 pm)
LaurelThirst Public House, 2958 NE Glisan St., 232-1504. Map
Frank Tribble
London Grill, 309 SW Broadway., 228-2000. Map
Jon Koonce & One More Mile (7 pm)
McMenamins Rock Creek Tavern, 10000 Old Cornelius Pass Road., 645-3822. Map
Casey Neill, Mike Coykendall
Mississippi Studios, 3939 N Mississippi Ave., 288-3895. Map
Justice, Diplo, Fancy
[EIFFEL ELECTRONICA] So maybe Justice didn't win the college remix contest that gave the French pair its start, but the contest wasn't a complete loss. The duo's entry—a crunchy, rock-influenced remix of Simian's "Never Be Alone," later retitled "We Are Your Friends"—went on to soundtrack every dancefloor known to mankind and garner the Parisians acclaim far and wide. Last time Justice stole through town, the twosome produced a sweaty night of dancing for a sold-out crowd from behind its trademark cross. This time, with Diplo and Fancy along for the ride, it's bound to get even more physical. So grab your sweatbands; it's time for Justice to be served. NILINA MASON-CAMPBELL.
9 pm. Roseland, 8 NW 6th Ave., 219-9929 (Grill), 224-2038 (Theater). $22. All ages. Map
Vanishing Kids, Hot Victory, The Transport Assembly, Radar Skinny
[POST-PUNK] Despite heavy layers of reverb and black eyeliner signifying a gloomy goth vibe, I always thought the Vanishing Kids' leaders, Jason Hartman and Nikki Drohomerecky, were cute as the dickens, like a post-punk Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland (replete with "let's put on a show!" brio). When their band, er, vanished back into the Madison, Wisc., from whence it came, I worried that my friend Nikki had mistakenly heeded my pet rendering of her surname ("Gohomea'ready"). But the band's departure from Portland was only temporary, and hardly spelled the end of the Kids' career. Back in town since late '06, the band released new album
Skies In Your Eyes last November. Tonight, the group commences on a West Coast tour. JEFF ROSENBERG.
7:30 pm. Satyricon, 125 NW 6th Ave., 231-1606. Cover. All ages. Map
Naomi & The Courteous Rudeboys
The Bitter End, 1981 W Burnside St., 971-222-2000. Map
Unkle Nancy and the Family Jewels, The Dope Show
Tonic Lounge, 3100 NE Sandy Blvd., 238-0543. Map
Trespassers William, Tractor Operator, The Coast
[SUMMER’S JUST AROUND THE CORNER] It’s interesting that a band out of Canada would call itself the Coast, seeing as Toronto has no coast to speak of. If the title didn’t direct you enough, then the band’s sound—influenced, and this is the band's definition, not mine, by “summer breezes and the smell of freshly cut grass”—might tip the scale. Just typing this makes me nostalgic for summer months, and the Coast’s shimmering sound, complete with ringing geetars and layered vocals, reeks of green backyards. Trespassers William is a different beast—all ethereal beauty complete with Dave Fridmann production—but still bright enough to inspire thoughts of the impending summer. MICHAEL MANNHEIMER.
9:30 pm. Towne Lounge, 714 SW 20th Place., 241-8696. $6. 21+. Map
"Wrong Side of the Tracks"
White Eagle, 836 N Russell St., 282-6810. Map
Thursday Mar 27top
Eric Stern
23 Hoyt, 529 NW 23rd Ave., 445-7400. Map
Mad Happy, Emerson Valentine Lyon
Ash Street Saloon, 225 SW Ash St., 226-0430. Map
Jean Ronne, Lee Wuthenow
Benson Hotel, 309 SW Broadway., 228-2000. All ages. Map
Starchile, Cool Nutz, DJs Sneakers, Juggernaut
[STARS COME OUT] Starchile's primary occupation is MC in the most literal sense: He has been a master of ceremonies for countless parties in Portland and beyond. One need only to peep the man's MySpace page—packed with more photos than the average 17-year-old girl's—to see that he's well-traveled and well-connected. When he's rapping, the Portland MC—who moonlights as a host of Jammin' 95.5's
Hood Radio—is smooth and quick, possessing an understated flow that keeps the emphasis on metaphors, name-dropping and an appreciation of the finer things in life (fine women, mostly). Tonight he's back-to-back with Cool Nutz, Portland's best-known MC and a rapper currently at the height of his powers. CASEY JARMAN.
9 pm. Berbati's Pan, 231 SW Ankeny St., 248-4579. Cover. 21+. Map
Jim Mesi, Steve Bradley (7 pm)
Clyde's Prime Rib, 5474 NE Sandy Blvd., 281-9200. Map
Queer Bait: CJ and the Dolls, Roadie Duke, Splendora, Fannie Mae Darling
Crush, 1412 SE Morrison St., 235-8150. Map
Xotica-Go-Go: DJs Kenoy & Mr. Mumu
Dante's, 1 SW 3rd Ave., 226-6630. Map
Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad, Uprite Dub Orchestra
Doug Fir, 830 E Burnside St., 231-9663. Map
Hard Luck 3
Duff's Garage, 1635 SE 7th Ave., 234-2337. Map
Electric Shadows, Nice Boys, The Strange Effects
East End, 203 SE Grand Ave., 232-0056. Map
Nostalgia: Kudzu, spirospero
Fez Ballroom, 316 SW 11th Ave., 221-7262. Map
Scott Fisher & 1a.m. Approach, Sweet City Slang
Goodfoot Lounge, 2845 SE Stark St., 239-9292. Map
Fun World: Legend of Dutch Savage, Fruit of the Legion of Loom, Rapids
Ground Kontrol, 511 NW Couch St., 796-9364. Map
A Darker Grey, All I Ask, Our Own Blood, Von Doom
Hawthorne Theatre, 3862 SE Hawthorne Blvd., 233-7100. Map
Gravy Train!!!!, New Bloods, Fleshtone, DJ Beyonda
[HOT ELECTRO POP] Fresh out of the birth canal, new release
All the Sweet Stuff showcases a seductively smoother side of Gravy Train!!!!. The San Francisco quartet has been making titties bounce for almost a decade—it was splattered across both the alt-porn film
Neu-Wave Hookers and the cockeyed camp of
Malaqueerche television. Propelled by synth and offering performances laden with campy rap breakdowns, vacuum metaphors and enough Spandex to catapult fans across the Willamette, GT has enough sass to leave your cheeks pink well into the week. ANIKA SABIN.
8 pm. Hippodrome, 315 SE 3rd Ave., . $8 advance, $10 day of show. All ages. Map
Love Menu, The Maybe Happening, Church, Paper Brain
Holocene, 1001 SE Morrison St., 239-7639. Map
Trio Subtonic (7 pm)
Kennedy School, 5736 NE 33rd Ave., 249-3983. Map
Drats!!!, Cicada Omega
Kenton Club, 2025 N Kilpatrick St., 285-3718. Map
The Goddamn Gentlemen, Eat Skull, Leaders
Know, 2026 NE Alberta St., 473-8729. Map
Benjamin Dewey, Will West, Pancake Breakfast (9:30 pm); Lewi Longmire Band (6 pm)
LaurelThirst Public House, 2958 NE Glisan St., 232-1504. Map
Bill Beach (6 pm)
London Grill, 309 SW Broadway., 228-2000. All ages. Map
Dave Coey & Mike Walker (7 pm)
McMenamins Rock Creek Tavern, 10000 Old Cornelius Pass Road., 645-3822. Map
Emma Hill, Emily Kurn (9 pm); Irina Irvkin, Tamra Engle (6 pm)
[SINGER-SONGWRITER] Emma Hill is not afraid to sing. In fact, her voice's countrified richness, delicate inflections and fear-no-range transitions make it easy to imagine that's all she ever does. An Alaskan transplant whose name is occasionally dropped alongside Jenny Lewis' (Hill once played in a duo with Lewis' little sis), 19-year-old Hill writes songs that are refreshingly honest—if a little melodramatic. Take the title track to her full-length debut,
Just Me: Lyrics like "I've got a brother/ He goes to school/ He's on the right path and follows all the rules/ That ain't me...I don't know where I'm goin'/ I don't know why" smack of Hill's age, but her skill in delivering them—and her knack with bubbly melodies and bright acoustic picking (see "Wrong Side of Town")—makes up for any juvenile leanings. And, hey, most singers-in-progress would love to have hints of Chan Marshall and Neko Case in their croon at age 19. AMY MCCULLOUGH.
9 pm. Mississippi Pizza, 3552 N Mississippi Ave., 288-3231. Cover. 21+. Map
DC Malone
Mock Crest Tavern, 3435 N Lombard St., 283-5014. Map
The Sinners Club
Mojo's, 1819 Main St., 360-694-0518. Map
Seabound, IRIS, Poisonous Friends, Son of Rust (Main Theater); Steel Stiletto, Acroyear, Nightmare Generator (Legacy Lounge)
Mount Tabor Legacy, 4811 SE Hawthorne Blvd., 232-0450. Map
Those Who Lie Beneath, Swamp Monster, As They Decay, Brother Joseph or as I call him Broseph, This Hideous Strength (7 pm)
Satyricon, 125 NW 6th Ave., 231-1606. Map
The Fix: Rev Shines, Ohmega Watts, DJs Kez & Dun Diggy (9 pm); DJ Classwarnow (6 pm)
Someday Lounge, 125 NW 5th Ave., 248-1030. Map
The Fenbi International Superstars
The Bitter End, 1981 W Burnside St., 971-222-2000. Map
Birdmonster, LoveLikeFire, Cement Season
[WARM AND FUZZY] LoveLikeFire plays art rock with heart, or is it heart rock with art? In either case, the San Francisco outfit reminds of Rainer Maria with a Nico complex (in her darker moments, frontwoman Ann Yu reminds of the pale-faced model/singer, though she's just as capable of belting out scale-climbing choruses), and the results are glorious. Hypnotic buzzsaw riffs move slow and oceanic over a crowd transformed into mere swaying seaweed. Fellow San Franciscans Birdmonster moves from folksy acoustic crawl to Kings of Leon-style spastic rock in the blink of an eye, and both sound dang good. Should be a great Thursday night bill. CASEY JARMAN.
9 pm. Towne Lounge, 714 SW 20th Place., 241-8696. $6. 21+. Map
Appetite for Dancetruction: DJ Joeeirwin (6 pm)
Tube, 18 NW 3rd Ave., 241-8823. Map
DJs Led, Magic Bullets
Vendetta, 4306 N Williams Ave., 288-1085. Map
Fabulous Saturdays
West Slope Bar & Grill, 8775 SW Canyon Lane., 445-0272. Map
Friday Mar 28top
Michael Papillo
23 Hoyt, 529 NW 23rd Ave., 445-7400. Map
José González, Mia Doi Todd
[INDIE FOLK] What does it mean if an artist's second big hit is yet another cover song? Swedish singer José González's first was a version of the Knife's "Heartbeats" in 2005—a brilliant acoustic rendering filled with subtle nuances in his voice and guitar, not unlike a more down-to-earth Devendra Banhart. Now, on his sophomore LP,
In Our Nature, González covers Massive Attack's "Teardrop" for his leadoff single. If these covers were his only trick, he'd be forgettable—just the guy who sang that song in the Sony commercial—but the depth and beauty of the original songs that fill out his body of work demand to be heard. What another cover means, then, is that casual fans of González might never delve deeper than those two songs. Maybe it's his fault, but it's still a shame. JIM SANDBERG.
8 pm. Aladdin Theater, 3017 SE Milwaukie Ave., 233-1994. $19 advance, $20.50 day of show. All ages. Map
"1964"...The Tribute (Beatles tribute band)
Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, 1037 SW Broadway., 248-4335. Map
Neil Masson Quartet w/ Lee Wuthenow
Benson Hotel, 309 SW Broadway., 228-2000. All ages. Map
Snap!: DJ Freaky Outy, Colin Jones, Coco Madrid
Branx, 320 SE 2nd Ave., 234-5683. Map
Norman Sylvester
Candlelight Cafe & Bar, 2032 SW 5th Ave., 222-3378. Map
Dr. Something & the Poppin' Fresh Love Engines, The Oz St. Fossils, Ganson
Chaos Cafe & Parlor, 2620 SE Powell Blvd., 546-8112. Map
Copacrescent (CD release)
[SOUL-HOP] See album review, coming soon.
10 pm. Crown Room, 205 NW 4th Ave., 222-6655. $10 (includes album). 21+. Map
DJ Brad
Crush, 1412 SE Morrison St., 235-8150. Map
Bell X1, The Submarines
[U.K. ROCK] Bell X1 has the difficult fate of being made up of the other guys from the band Juniper, a successful '90s Irish rock band fronted by singer-songwriter Damien Rice. After Rice left, the rest of the band pushed on as Bell X1, landing a couple of songs on the charts with that grandiose pop sound that was popular in the early aughts, shooting for Radiohead but landing closer to Coldplay. Though the band's third album,
Flock, has been out in the U.K. since 2006, it was just released here—a pretty hard sell, considering Radiohead's
In Rainbows blows Bell X1's two-year-old album out of the water. It's a shame the boys didn't get it out earlier; it would have fared nicely in the calm before Radiohead's storm. Timing and luck can make or break a band, and Bell X1 has neither. JIM SANDBERG.
9:30 pm. Dante's, 1 SW 3rd Ave., 226-6630. $10 advance, $12 day of show. 21+. Map
DJ Kenoy
Devils Point, 5305 SE Foster Road., 774-4513. Map
Bob Mould & Band, Saturna
[JUST DÜ IT] By now, Bob Mould should be a household name—if the household is made up of Midwesterners and fans of '80s punk, at least. Mould was the vocalist, songwriter and guitarist for Hüsker Dü, the legendary hardcore-turned-melodic punk band from Minneapolis that would influence the rise of alternative rock during the '90s. Mould and his bandmates became as well-known for their music as their in-fighting, and the band’s breakup led Mould to record solo albums and form the alt-rock band Sugar. After a three-year hiatus, he released
District Line in February. Although his solo work sounds much more like Sugar’s college-friendly radio rock than Hüsker Dü’s guitar-driven punk, Mould’s voice is unchanged after 30 years in the business. His vocals remain deep and monotone—but above all else, honest. PAIGE RICHMOND.
9 pm. Doug Fir, 830 E Burnside St., 231-9663. $15. 21+. Map
Boys Next Door (10 pm); Nickey D & the Juice (7 pm)
Dublin Pub, 6821 SW Beaverton-Hillsdale Highway., 297-2889. Map
Ellen & The Felons, Aubrey DeBauchery, The Growlers
[RAUNCHY AMERICANA] In person, Chico, Calif., singer-songwriter Aubrey Debauchery comes off as a sweet girl, perhaps even a bit innocent and naive. Then she gets onstage and starts singing lines like: "You look so good in those jeans/ I wanna take them off you" and "Just pull my hair and whisper dirty things in my ear tonight," recounting plenty of drunken flings. Yes, Miss Debauchery is aptly named. She's also well-suited to having a full band behind her, as testified by her new album,
He's a Damn Good Liar. BRANDON SEIFERT.
9:30 pm. Duff's Garage, 1635 SE 7th Ave., 234-2337. Cover. 21+. Map
Drones Club: DJs Brother Hollywood, Reverand Strickland
East End, 203 SE Grand Ave., 232-0056. Map
Numbered Days
Glo Loca Cafe & Bistro, 7901 NE Glisan St., 257-0063. Map
Time Lapse: DJ Moonchild
Ground Kontrol, 511 NW Couch St., 796-9364. Map
Jr Soapbox (Balcony, 9 pm); All Time Low, The Rocket Summer, The Matches, Sonny, Forever The Sickest Kids (Theatre, 6 pm)
Hawthorne Theatre, 3862 SE Hawthorne Blvd., 233-7100. Map
Albino, MarchFourth Marching Band, The Everyone Orchestra, Solovox
Hippodrome, 315 SE 3rd Ave., . Map
Barry Hampton and the Triple Grip, King Louis and Sweet Baby James
[SOUL MAN] You might be able to fake the funk, but when it comes to soul, it’s impossible to bullshit. Soul man Barry Hampton and his crew, the Triple Grip, let the soul shine bright. Laying down a thick, groove-based funk and lacing it with soulful vocals and a showman’s touch onstage, Hampton’s got all the pipes and prowess of his catalog of influences (which includes Stevie, Sly and Prince) while adding indie rock and hip-hop sensibilities into the mix. AP KRYZA.
8 pm. Jimmy Mak's, 221 NW 10th Ave., 295-6542. $10. 21+. Map
Ordinary State, Aquanaut vs. Cosmonaut, Deepest Darkest
Kelly's Olympian, 426 SW Washington St., 228-3669. Map
The Shivas
Know, 2026 NE Alberta St., 473-8729. Map
Mo Phillips Band, Zac Brown, Giantess (9:30 pm); The Jukes (6 pm)
LaurelThirst Public House, 2958 NE Glisan St., 232-1504. 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
Debrie-Conroy Trio
Mark's On the Channel, 34326 Johnson Landing Road, #17., 543-8765. Map
Sweet City Slang
McMenamins Rock Creek Tavern, 10000 Old Cornelius Pass Road., 645-3822. Map
Al-Arwah (9 pm); Back Porch Revival (6 pm)
Mississippi Pizza, 3552 N Mississippi Ave., 288-3231. Map
Sneakin' Out
Mock Crest Tavern, 3435 N Lombard St., 283-5014. Map
The Sinners Club
Monty's Tavern, 13095 SW Canyon Road., 644-2337. Map
Dementia Night: DJs Mohawk Adam, Spetsnaz & NoN (Legacy Lounge); Crazy Train, Miss Ann Thrope, AK-47 (Main Theater)
Mount Tabor Legacy, 4811 SE Hawthorne Blvd., 232-0450. Map
NEON: Bulimiatron, DJs Koolaid, Tre Slim, Patricia Furpurse, VJ Welkin
Pi-rem, 433 NW 4th Ave., 227-5494. Map
Gabe Rozelle & The Decency
Produce Row Cafe, 204 SE Oak St., 232-8355. Map
Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band (7:30 pm)
[THE BOSS] Just in case you had the impression Bruce Springsteen was a flag-waving patriot—an impression his biggest hit "Born in the U.S.A." might leave, were you not paying close enough attention to the lyrics—he's not. The Boss does have a knack for Americana, though his take on America can be dark, from cross-country killing sprees to dying auto towns and harrowing, non-politicized descriptions of 9/11. Springsteen can't be described as working class these days, of course, though his stage shows embrace an ethic in keeping with those values: By the end of a performance, he's covered in sweat and gasping for air. He's also kept much of his original E Street band—cancer-stricken keyboardist Danny Federici being a notable exception—intact over the last few decades, so expect plenty of Clarence Clemons' rock saxophone, smiling Max Weinberg's deceptively gentlemanly drums and "Little" Steven Van Zandt's hot licks to move you. Just forget about Bono, Steven Tyler and Mick. Heck, forget about Dylan. Bruce Springsteen keeps it real, even in a stadium setting. And did I mention that his new favorite band is Against Me!? All hail the Boss. CASEY JARMAN.
7:30 pm. Rose Garden, 1401 N Wheeler Ave., 235-8771. $65-$95. All ages. Map
The Greyboy Allstars, Busdriver
Roseland, 8 NW 6th Ave., 219-9929 (Grill), 224-2038 (Theater). Map
The Muddy River Nightmare Band, Juke Joint Gamblers, The Nekronotz, The Hollowbodys, Scratch, The Dicers
Satyricon, 125 NW 6th Ave., 231-1606. Map
Chris Merrill, Russell Stafford, SarahAngela, Dimitri Trichos
Sellwood Public House, 8132 SE 13th Ave., 736-0182. Map
The Slow Poisoner, The Department of Motor Vehicles, Andy Combs and the Moth, Here Comes a Big Black Cloud
[ROCKABILLY GOTH] San Francisco's Andrew Goldfarb is one strange bird. As the Slow Poisoner, Goldfarb crafts twisted rockabilly tunes—picked, kick-drummed and crooned by his own hand, foot and voice, respectively—detailing headless roosters and weed (of the garden variety) invasions. Imagine something along the lines of a collaboration between Emily the Strange and Jerry Lee Lewis or a zombie-fied, decaying Elvis. A true creepy Renaissance man, the Slow Poisoner also pens and illustrates fairly enjoyable graphic novels on the side. And his sorrowful characters of print—with names like Ogner Stump and Millford Mutterwurst—experience similarly dark-humored, surreal occurances to those of the Poisoner's tunes. Local opener Andy Combs, like a banjo-toting, foot-stomping disciple, crafts tunes alike in tone but a touch more realistic in their gothic eeriness—and not nearly as hokey. AMY MCCULLOUGH.
9 pm. Slabtown, 1033 NW 16th Ave., 223-0099. $5. 21+. Map
Infinitia Art Ensemble
The Kingstad Center, 15450 SW Millikan Way, Beaverton., 626-6338. Map
Toni Lincoln w/ Ron Steen Trio
Tony Starlight's, 3728 NE Sandy Blvd., 517-8584. Map
The Attachments, Newspapers, Lasers All The Time (EP release)
Towne Lounge, 714 SW 20th Place., 241-8696. Map
DJ Hornet Leg
Valentine's, 232 SW Ankeny St., 248-1600. Map
DJ Landlord
Vendetta, 4306 N Williams Ave., 288-1085. Map
Sean Garcia
Vino Vixens, 2929 SE Powell Blvd., 231-8466. Map
Bobby Torres Quartet
Wilf's Restaurant, 800 NW 6th Ave., 223-0070. Map
Saturday Mar 29top
Dave Stassens, The Djangophiles
23 Hoyt, 529 NW 23rd Ave., 445-7400. Map
Asylum Street Spankers
[ROOTS COMEDY] "Stick a Yellow Ribbon on Your SUV" is the archetypal Asylum Street Spankers song. It starts with profanity, then moves into political satire with lyrics like "It's a bummer that my Hummer isn't armored to a T/ To show me your support you spent a dollar ninety-three." Then there's the chorus that riffs on "Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ol' Oak Tree"—all to a swingy roots-Americana tune played with great flair and musicianship. I'd say the band never needed to write another song, but that would be a shame. BRANDON SEIFERT.
8 pm. Aladdin Theater, 3017 SE Milwaukie Ave., 233-1994. $18 advance, $20 day of show. All ages. Map
Amaretta, The New Urban Decay, DT’s Hammer, Secnd Best (7 pm)
[BASEMENT POP-PUNK] The mystique of the Artistery has been explained many times before (including in these hallowed pages), but it’s still hard not to get totally floored seeing some scummy punk band in a basement that actually features decent sound and serves yummy homemade vegan goods. It also serves as the perfect outlet for discovering new sounds—and tonight brings us a healthy dose of local bands that lean toward the poppy side of punk. Amaretta lists a bunch of ’90s alt-rock bands as its influences, but one can’t help but hear a bit of Be Your Own Pet’s teenage snarl in the faster tunes. Damn you, OLCC, I never had a high-school hangout like this! MICHAEL MANNHEIMER.
7 pm. Artistery, 4315 SE Division St., 803-5942. $5. All ages. Map
Neil Masson Quartet w/ Lee Wuthenow
Benson Hotel, 309 SW Broadway., 228-2000. All ages. Map
Pierced Arrows, School of Rock Show Band, New York Rifles, Oblivion Seekers
Berbati's Pan, 231 SW Ankeny St., 248-4579. Map
Pink Martini
Bluehour, 250 NW 13th Ave., 226-3394. Map
DJ Sharon Needles
Branx, 320 SE 2nd Ave., 234-5683. Map
Braxton Bragg
Buffalo Gap, 6835 SW Macadam Ave., 244-7111. Map
Kenny Lavitz Kombo
Candlelight Cafe & Bar, 2032 SW 5th Ave., 222-3378. Map
The Sudden Anthem, Beliss
Chaos Cafe & Parlor, 2620 SE Powell Blvd., 546-8112. Map
Sid's DJs
Crush, 1412 SE Morrison St., 235-8150. Map
X, Skybombers
[L.A. PUNK ROCK] X is inevitably described as seminal, but Appalachian lyrics over Chuck Berry riffage did not break punk. The band hasn’t recorded new material since 1993. Its best-known song bum-rushes racial touchstones nowadays unthinkable (though “Los Angeles” remains the town’s unofficial anthem and should really be used by the Lakers). Yet, the quartet seems to launch reunion tours every other season. Vocalists John Doe and Exene Cervenka are best known to the iGeneration for (respectively) co-starring in
Roswell and divorcing Viggo Mortensen. And the X 31st anniversary—DJ Bonebreak and Billy Zoom very much included—should still be the hottest ticket of the year JAY HORTON.
8 pm. Crystal Ballroom, 1332 W Burnside St., 225-0047. $20. All ages. Map
Floater (acoustic)
[MOSS ROCK] See music feature, coming soon.
9:30 pm. Dante's, 1 SW 3rd Ave., 226-6630. $15 advance, $18 day of show. 21+. Map
David Valdez, Pere Soto (CD release)
Design Counsel, 1028 NW 18th Ave., . Map
Keegan Smith Band (10 pm); Handfull of Lovin' (7 pm)
Dublin Pub, 6821 SW Beaverton-Hillsdale Highway., 297-2889. Map
Carrie Cunningham, Allison Rice
Duff's Garage, 1635 SE 7th Ave., 234-2337. Map
Birds of Avalon, Old Growth, Hungry Ghost, DJ AC/Dsteve
[PSYCH-ROCK] The brainchild of husband-and-wife dueling guitarists Paul Siler and Cheetie Kumar (both formerly of Cherry Valence), Raleigh, N.C.'s, Birds of Avalon mixes equal parts trippy, rhythmic and poppy for a psych-rock sound that's as approachable as it is kaleidescopic. Rolling, deep basslines lead BOA's garage rock-ish grooves, but it's all that acid-washed guitar—not to mention the ’70s stoner-pop vocal melodies of frontman Craig Tilley—that gives the band's decidely retro vibe singularity. A fave of ex-tourmate Ted Leo, BOA is fresh out of the totally analog studio with REM/Wilco/Pavement producer Mitch Easter (new EP
Upper Outer Inner is the result), and it's Sabbath- and Thin Lizzy-esque hard-rock strut is driving as ever. This is well-played, unironic, new classic rock—taken seriously and rocked accordingly. AMY MCCULLOUGH.
9 pm. East End, 203 SE Grand Ave., 232-0056. Cover. 21+. Map
Reaganomix: DJ Paula B (10 pm); DJ Megalow (7 pm)
Ground Kontrol, 511 NW Couch St., 796-9364. Map
Beth Willis (Balcony); Throwdown, Soilwork, Through The Eyes Of The Dead, Wages Of War (Theatre)
Hawthorne Theatre, 3862 SE Hawthorne Blvd., 233-7100. Map
Summer of Love '08 Kickoff Party: Tronik Youth, Miss Toats, Beyondadoubt, Joeeirwin
Holocene, 1001 SE Morrison St., 239-7639. Map
Ben Fowler Band, Trio Subtonic
Jimmy Mak's, 221 NW 10th Ave., 295-6542. Map
Marie Black
KJ's Bar & Grill, 2002 SE Division., 234-1420. Map
White Recluse
Know, 2026 NE Alberta St., 473-8729. Map
Billy Kennedy, Lynn Conover & Jim Boyer Band (9:30 pm); Lisa & Her Kin (6 pm)
LaurelThirst Public House, 2958 NE Glisan St., 232-1504. Map
Bill Beach (6 pm)
London Grill, 309 SW Broadway., 228-2000. All ages. Map
Gavin Wahl-Stephens
Macadam's Bar & Grill, 5833 SW Macadam Ave., 246-6227. Map
Beth Willis
Mark's On the Channel, 34326 Johnson Landing Road, #17., 543-8765. Map
Conroy-Debrie Trio
McMenamins Rock Creek Tavern, 10000 Old Cornelius Pass Road., 645-3822. Map
Jeffrey Foucault, Kathleen Haskard (10 pm); Rachel Harrington, Audrey Auld-Mezera w/ Andrew Hardin (7 pm)
Mississippi Studios, 3939 N Mississippi Ave., 288-3895. Map
Franco and the Stingers
Mock Crest Tavern, 3435 N Lombard St., 283-5014. Map
Phuck It: DJ Machwave (Legacy Lounge); Red Zone (Main Theater)
Mount Tabor Legacy, 4811 SE Hawthorne Blvd., 232-0450. Map
Jimmy Lott (6 pm)
Music Millennium, 3158 E Burnside St., 231-8926. Map
Meet the Press: Luciana Lopez, Amy McCullough, Ezra A. Caraeff, Barbara Mitchell (2 pm)
Musicians Union Hall, 325 NE 20th Ave., 235-8791. Map
DJ Non Prophet
Night Light Lounge, 2100 SE Clinton St., 731-6500. Map
The Sinners Club (noon)
Paradise Harley-Davidson & Buell, 10770 SW Cascade Ave., Tigard., 924-3700. Map
DJ Seoul Brother #1 w/ The Way Downs
Ratskeller, 88335 E. Government Camp Loop, Mount Hood., 272-3635. Map
Foul Tip, Drone Hooligan, Please Do Not Fight
Red Room, 2530 NE 82nd Ave., 256-3399. Map
The Greatest Hits, The Eegos, Avenue Rose, Leaders
Slabtown, 1033 NW 16th Ave., 223-0099. Map
Arohan, DJs Jeffrey Sfire, Robot Hustle, Tobias, Cache (9 pm); Victor Noriega (7 pm)
Someday Lounge, 125 NW 5th Ave., 248-1030. Map
The Tudor Choir
St. Mary's Cathedral, 1716 NW Davis St., 228-4397. Map
Shock Troops, My Life in Black and White, Rum Rebellion
The Bitter End, 1981 W Burnside St., 971-222-2000. Map
Chris Boone
The Green Dragon, 928 SE 9th St., 517-0660. Map
Pure Country Gold, The Pack AD, The Mean Jeans, The Pity Fucks
Tonic Lounge, 3100 NE Sandy Blvd., 238-0543. Map
Tony Starlight Show
Tony Starlight's, 3728 NE Sandy Blvd., 517-8584. Map
The Pathogens, Ms. 45
Twilight Cafe & Bar, 1420 SE Powell Blvd., 232-3576. Map
DJ Landlord
Valentine's, 232 SW Ankeny St., 248-1600. Map
Kolvane
West Slope Bar & Grill, 8775 SW Canyon Lane., 445-0272. Map
Bryn Loosley (CD release), Celilo, The Don of Division St. (9:30 pm); Eddie Bodine (4:30 pm)
White Eagle, 836 N Russell St., 282-6810. Map
Saves the Day, Armor For Sleep, Set Your Goals, Metro Station, A Cursive Memory (7 pm)
[ALL GROWED UP EMO] Little known fact about New Jersey emo icons Saves the Day: The band has a Portland connection. It’s well known that guitarist Ted Alexander quit the band not long after the 2001 release of
Stay What You Are, Saves the Day’s breakthrough album. (It reached number 100 on the Billboard 200 Album Chart and spawned two singles/music videos.) Rumor has it, after playing a show here, Alexander fell in love with Portland and couldn’t imagine leaving. He snagged a job at Pizza Oasis on Hawthorne and then enrolled at Reed College. While the latter half of the rumor is true—Alexander did go to Reed (at least for a few semesters)—it’s more likely he left the band because of the reportedly difficult Chris Conley, Save the Day’s lead singer and the only remaining original member, who writes the band's dark and emotional pop-punk songs. Shall we ever know the truth? PAIGE RICHMOND.
7 pm. Wonder Ballroom, 128 NE Russell St., 284-8686. $16.50. All ages. Map
Sunday Mar 30top
Lew Jones (7 pm)
Bethany Village Grill, 4876 NW Bethany Blvd., 533-7736. Map
Ann Christensen & Lisa Bergman (2 pm)
Central Library, 801 SW 10th Ave., 988-5123. Map
DJ Dance Night!: DJs Indus & Gangster Computer God
Chaos Cafe & Parlor, 2620 SE Powell Blvd., 546-8112. Map
The Drums of Broken Eye!
Chaos Cafe & Parlor, 2620 SE Powell Blvd., 546-8112. Map
Ron Steen Jazz Jam
Clyde's Prime Rib, 5474 NE Sandy Blvd., 281-9200. Map
Federale, Ghost Town Soul Club
East End, 203 SE Grand Ave., 232-0056. Map
Ministry Show After-Party: DJs Carrion & Horrid
Fez Ballroom, 316 SW 11th Ave., 221-7262. Map
Black Sunday: Toxic Holocaust, Deathpact, DJ Parasitic
Ground Kontrol, 511 NW Couch St., 796-9364. Map
Louis XIV, What Made Milwaukee Famous, Carolina Liar
[NEW WAVE SAUSAGE] If most normal folks were confronted with the question “What made Milwaukee famous?” on a multiple choice test, I’m guessing they’d go with one of two options—beer or the sausage race that occurs at the bottom of the sixth inning at every Brewers home game. And no doubt they’d be correct (how can you argue against people dressed in giant sausage costumes?), but after a few spins of
What Doesn’t Kill Us, the indie-rock school board has decided it’s OK if you picked the band with the same name. Though they hail from Austin, WMMF have a sound that's deeply rooted in the punchy power-pop and New Wave of the ’80s—which, in my book, is always a good thing. Come early and stand close for WMMF, which should enable you to hit the bar when the unfortunately named headliner Louis XIV takes the stage, berating you with bland post-punk tunes and tales of illicit sex. MICHAEL MANNHEIMER.
8 pm. Hawthorne Theatre, 3862 SE Hawthorne Blvd., 233-7100. $15. All ages. Map
The Sub Terra Sessions
Kelly's Olympian, 426 SW Washington St., 228-3669. Map
Eli Reischman (5:30 pm); Jean Ronne (9:30 am)
London Grill, 309 SW Broadway., 228-2000. All ages. Map
Darrin Craig & Jon Neufeld (5 pm)
McMenamins Edgefield, 2126 SW Halsey St., 669-8610. Map
The Way Downs (9 pm); Cuba Ache (6 pm)
Mississippi Pizza, 3552 N Mississippi Ave., 288-3231. Map
The Chancers (3 pm)
Mock Crest Tavern, 3435 N Lombard St., 283-5014. Map
Alter Der Ruine (Main Theater); DJ Neailie Nea Hustler's Convention (Legacy Lounge)
Mount Tabor Legacy, 4811 SE Hawthorne Blvd., 232-0450. Map
"Gorilla Productions Battle of the Bands" (4 pm)
Rock 'N' Roll Pizza, 11140 SE Powell Blvd., 760-7646. Map
Ministry, Meshuggah
[PROG METAL] Odd time signatures, enviable chops, engagingly foreign—think of Swedish quintet Meshuggah as a heavier (far heavier, like different gravitational systems) version of Rush. Which, somehow, makes metal fans excited. With legato riffage and vocals limning James Hetfield, the band is less experimental than weirdly, distinctly classic—an embittered facility borne from long Scandinavian winters' practice. Headliners Ministry just recorded a jingle for the Chicago Blackhawks. This, somehow, makes metal fans sad. JAY HORTON.
8 pm. Roseland, 8 NW 6th Ave., 219-9929 (Grill), 224-2038 (Theater). $35. All ages. Map
The Sabbath: Dragged By Horses, Starantula, DJ Nate C
Rotture, 315 SE 3rd Ave., 234-5683. Map
The Photo Atlas, 1090 Club, The Lives of Famous Men, Something About Airplanes (7:30 pm)
Satyricon, 125 NW 6th Ave., 231-1606. Map
Nathan Hubbard Duo w/ Tim Duroche, Nathan Hubbard Trio
Someday Lounge, 125 NW 5th Ave., 248-1030. Map
Sunday Jazz: Devin Phillips & New Orleans Straight Ahead (4 pm)
The Old Church, 1422 SW 11th Ave., 222-2031. Map
Portland Lounge Series: Laura Gibson, Per Se, Meyercord
[BEHIND THE MUSIC] Portland Lounge Series is a monthy event where we invite our favorite local artists to do short on-stage interviews and play a few songs. And songs are what tonight's crew is all about. Laura Gibson will bless us with some smart, folky tunes from her forthcoming record before she heads out on a mega-tour with Decemberists frontman Colin Meloy. We'll talk dreams (Gibson is a dreamer) and recap our respective SXSW adventures. The charming Anne Adams (a.k.a . Per Se) is finally putting her debut record together, and stokeder we could not be. Adams' singular, peculiar sound will be on full display tonight, and the interview should be just as fun as the music. Ben Meyercord saw more shows in 2007 than you've seen in your whole life, and he apparently learned a few songwriting tricks along the way. The AristeiAn will share talk about quiet home recording and rocking the fuck out. Plus I'll be your host! CASEY JARMAN.
9:30 pm. Towne Lounge, 714 SW 20th Place., 241-8696. 21+. Free Map
Jef Brown, Plankton Wat, Bob Jones
Valentine's, 232 SW Ankeny St., 248-1600. Map
"Baby Loves Disco" (noon)
[OH NO, NOT
MY BABY] No. No, Baby does not love disco. Love's one of the higher emotions. Love depends upon sentience. Baby may drool and clap hands and shake to the limits of infant coordination—which, to be fair, mirrors every bit of footage I've seen of Studio 54—but Baby would be as happy watching looped commercials. Baby may, in the loosest sense, love Mommy (and prefer her unconflicted attentions), but Mommy loves disco. Mommy loves the nightlife, Mommy wants some action, Mommy wants to live in—or, at the least, to indulge delusions of—an eternal adolescence. Thirty years from now, as fudge-filled syringes get handed out at Babies Love Grunge, Gramma shouldn't bitch. JAY HORTON.
Noon. Wonder Ballroom, 128 NE Russell St., 284-8686. $12. All ages. Map
"Hagiography" Release: Love Perestroika, Pelican Ossman, The Formless, DJ Noshamebeat (7 pm)
Work/Sound, 820 SE Alder St., . Map
Monday Mar 31top
David Sanborn
[HIS SMOOTHNESS] You might remember his weekly appearances (sunglasses, dark suits, resembling Lou Reed's fitter cousin) from Letterman's salad days. You've heard him, certainly, on cultural touchstones from Bowie's "Young Americans" horn-fills to the themes from
L.A. Law and
Lethal Weapon. You sorta want to root for David Sanborn, but smooth jazz sax workers granted mainstream prominence sorta frighten no matter how many Grammys they've won. Kenny G has much to answer for. JAY HORTON.
8 pm. Aladdin Theater, 3017 SE Milwaukie Ave., 233-1994. All ages. $32.50 advance, $35 day of show Map
Armed with Teeth, Foul Tip, Trophies
Ash Street Saloon, 225 SW Ash St., 226-0430. Map
Service INDUSTRIAL: DJ Adamnation
Ground Kontrol, 511 NW Couch St., 796-9364. Map
The Andrew Oliver Sextet
Jimmy Mak's, 221 NW 10th Ave., 295-6542. Map
Frank Tribble
London Grill, 309 SW Broadway., 228-2000. Map
Colt Vista, You May Die in the Desert, We're From Japan
Someday Lounge, 125 NW 5th Ave., 248-1030. Map
Pleasure Dome w/ Spencer Doran & John Root; Starfucker, Atole, DJ Nate C
[LIVE ELECTRONIC] Electronic dance music is normally best served in venues with tons of room for dancing. After all, dance culture isn't supposed to be about any one performer, it's about holy communion out on the floor; an ocean of bodies swaying as one mighty ocean; beats digging so deep that an audience can't help but be moved. But what if we could have it both ways: the performance of a great rock show and the transformative experience of a crazy-ass rave? We can! That's what the four-man collaborative techno of Atole is all about. The brainchild of electronic/experimental music stalwart Manny Reyes, Atole makes intelligent dance music (the kids say "IDM") that stays live like a rock band without sacrificing the sound theatrics of techno. Starfucker, a crossover act that has recently been embraced by Portland's electronic-music community, will pack two drum sets into Tube and thrash along to pre-recorded synths and Josh Hodges' self-harmonizing. This shit is going to go
off, and it's looking more and more like the "Portland Sound" has a beat you can dance to. CASEY JARMAN.
9:30 pm. Tube, 18 NW 3rd Ave., 241-8823. $3. 21+. Map
Hornet Leg, Las Artificiales, I Copy Your Copy
Valentine's, 232 SW Ankeny St., 248-1600. Map
Tuesday Apr 1top
Anoushka Shankar
[MAGIC SITAR LOINS] Goddamn, Ravi Shankar’s loins are an impressive institution. While he was in his 60s, those magical things brought both Norah Jones and sitar prodigy Anoushka Shankar into the world. With daddy as her teacher, the 26-year-old Anoushka has grown far beyond being just “Ravi Shankar’s daughter”—she’s emerged as one of the planet’s foremost Indian and world music pioneers. Anoushka’s newest album,
Breathing Under Water (featuring guests like her father, half-sister Jones and even Sting), keeps the haunting virtuosity of her sitar at the forefront of each number, but fuses it with hypnotic chants, frenetic industrial and trance beats, and experimental, electronic awesomeness. When it comes to the delicious mind-fuck of the sitar—it doesn’t get any better than the Shankars. LANCE KRAMER.
8 pm. Aladdin Theater, 3017 SE Milwaukie Ave., 233-1994. $27.50 advance, $29 day of show. All ages. Map
Angela Hewitt (7:30 pm)
Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, 1037 SW Broadway., 248-4335. Map
murmur, June Terrace, Chris Margolin
Ash Street Saloon, 225 SW Ash St., 226-0430. Map
Bill Beach & Brasil Beat
Benson Hotel, 309 SW Broadway., 228-2000. Map
Laura Cunard Jazz Jam (7:30 pm)
Bethany Village Grill, 4876 NW Bethany Blvd., 533-7736. Map
Ali Ippolito, Jay Cobb, Mimi Naja, Fruition
Chaos Cafe & Parlor, 2620 SE Powell Blvd., 546-8112. Map
Darby O'Gill Band
Dublin Pub, 6821 SW Beaverton-Hillsdale Highway., 297-2889. Map
Dover Weinberg Quartet
Duff's Garage, 1635 SE 7th Ave., 234-2337. Map
Shadowplay: DJs Carrion & Horrid
Fez Ballroom, 316 SW 11th Ave., 221-7262. Map
Rock Band w/ MC Destructo
Ground Kontrol, 511 NW Couch St., 796-9364. Map
The Starting Line, Bayside, Four Year Strong, Steel Train
Hawthorne Theatre, 3862 SE Hawthorne Blvd., 233-7100. Map
The Mel Brown Septet
Jimmy Mak's, 221 NW 10th Ave., 295-6542. Map
Jackstraw (6 pm)
LaurelThirst Public House, 2958 NE Glisan St., 232-1504. Map
Luciano w/ Mikey General & Jahmessenjah Band, Copacrescent, Shocks of Sheba
[SOUL-HOP] See album review, coming soon.
9 pm. Lola's Room at the Crystal Ballroom, 1332 W Burnside St., 225-0047. $20 advance, $22 day of show. All ages. Map
Hurricane Hole
Mark's On the Channel, 34326 Johnson Landing Road, #17., 543-8765. Map
Caleb Klauder & Sammy Lind (7 pm)
McMenamins Edgefield, 2126 SW Halsey St., 669-8610. Map
Little Wings w/ Lee Baggett
Mississippi Studios, 3939 N Mississippi Ave., 288-3895. Map
Johnnie Ward & Eagle Ridin' Papas
Mock Crest Tavern, 3435 N Lombard St., 283-5014. Map
311, Monte Negro
[FRATHOUSE REBELLION] Seventeen years have passed since 311 brought the most radio-friendly aspects of rap, rock and reggae together for a sort of stoner's Yalta. Assembling the varied musics of rebellion for their natural audience (frathouses) seemed almost a new idea in the days of MTV relevance, but time hasn't been kind to the miraculously-still-intact Omaha troupe. They're touring in advance of a yet-unfinished ninth album (for whatever reason, they always seem to start tours near March 11), but 2005 release
Don't Tread On Me underlined how far the culture has shifted—reggaeton are sharing chair-lifts with gutterpunks—and how little 311 seems to notice. JAY HORTON.
8 pm. Roseland, 8 NW 6th Ave., 219-9929 (Grill), 224-2038 (Theater). $36. All ages. Map
Streetlight Manifesto, Zox, Dan Potthast
Satyricon, 125 NW 6th Ave., 231-1606. Map
Someday Incubator
Someday Lounge, 125 NW 5th Ave., 248-1030. Map
Rich Jewett (7:30 pm)
Tony Starlight's, 3728 NE Sandy Blvd., 517-8584. Map
The Outdoorsmen
White Eagle, 836 N Russell St., 282-6810. All ages. Map
[Dish]
