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Music Listings

For the week of Wednesday July 16th thru Tuesday July 22nd

To be considered for listings, send information at least two weeks in advance to:

    Music, c/o Willamette Week
    2220 NW Quimby, Portland, OR 97210.
    Phone: 503 243-2122. Fax: 503 243-1115.


You may also view our map on Google

Jump to: Wednesday July 16, Thursday July 17, Friday July 18, Saturday July 19, Sunday July 20, Monday July 21, Tuesday July 22

Wednesday July 16top

Neil Masson Trio

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

DJ Robb

  C.C. Slaughters, 219 NW Davis St., 248-9135. Map

African Sizzle: DJ ODUB

  Club Calabash, 835 Sw 2nd Ave., . All ages. Map

WW PickBurning Brides, Golden Calf, LSD&D, The Night, Middle Class Rut

[PSYCH-METAL] See profile of LSD&D on LocalCut. 8:30 pm. Dante's, 1 SW 3rd Ave., 226-6630. $8. 21+. Also Saturday, July 19, at Plan B. Map

Bitch & the Exciting Conclusion, Ferron, Myshkin's Ruby Warblers

[HYSTERICS] Bitch—a politically charged NYC performance artist (I know, I know; didn't see that coming)—just released her Kill Rock Stars debut, Make This/Break This, with new band the Exciting Conclusion. She enjoys ukulele, electric violin, hysteria and, presumably, Ani DiFranco. She does not seem fond of George Bush. "Unstick," from the new album—a typically wavering and intimate run-through of childlike rhyme schemes—has already appeared on Showtime's The L Word; no word yet on Grey's Anatomy. JAY HORTON. 9 pm. Doug Fir, 830 E Burnside St., 231-9663. $15. 21+. Map

DJs Atom 13, Soil

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

Mike Struwin (6 pm)

  edge of Belmont, 3350 SE Morrison St., 971-230-3343. Map

Ryan Dolliver, Matt Sheehy, Alexis Gideon, DJ Honeydripper

[JAMIROQUAI-STYLE] For Ryan Dolliver's release show (which celebrates funky new disc Get Down to Get Up), his eight-man-deep band, Double Dragons, will share the evening's stage with Matt Sheehy, Alexis Gideon and DJ Honeydripper. Put guitar-folksy Sheehy at one end of the musical spectrum, kaleidoscopic-electro Gideon at the other, Jamiroquai-style Dolliver in the middle and old-school hip-hop Honeydripper on the decks, and everything gets very Goldilocks and the Three Bears. Which fits juuust right. SARA MOSKOVITZ. 9 pm. Holocene, 1001 SE Morrison St., 239-7639. Free ($5 with Dolliver's CD). 21+. Map

WW PickAll Girl Summer Fun Band, Dirty Mittens (5 pm)

[SUMMER POP PUNK] I'm all for truth in advertising, and that's why I love the All Girl Summer Fun Band. Fact: AGSFB is composed entirely of girls. Fact: I've only ever seen AGSFB shows in the summer (which is kind of strange, actually). Fact: This band is so much fun! Jen Sbragia of seminal jangle-pop outfit the Softies co-founded the group, which plays bitchin' Ramones-y house-party favorites about video games, rock and roll and dreamy skater-turned-actor Jason Lee. The quartet-turned-trio (Ari Douangpanya left way back in 2004) finished a new record called Looking Into It in late 2007, and, according to the band, it'll finally see a D.I.Y. release Sept. 23—which officially extends the Portland summer by at least a month. Thanks, All Girl Summer Fun Band! Also see album review of Dirty Mittens' Pinky Swear on LocalCut. CASEY JARMAN. 5 pm. Portland Center for the Performing Arts, 1111 SW Broadway., 248-4335. Free. All ages. Map

Jimmy Eat World, Dear and the Headlights

[PREMO] In the midst of the current anti-emo backlash, it can be hard to remember that some of the genre's pioneers became popular in the first place was because they were actually damn good. Arizona’s Jimmy Eat World is a prime example: Go back and listen to Clarity, the band’s sophomore release on Capitol, and try to deny the impact of “Blister” and its (literally) post-apocalyptic loneliness (“The West Coast has been traumatized/ And I think I’m the only one...still alive!”), or the feel of a new love’s first bloom summed up in “For Me This Is Heaven.” This is why emo wasn't always a four-letter word. BRANDON SEIFERT. 8 pm. Roseland, 8 NW 6th Ave., 219-9929 (Grill), 224-2038 (Theater). $25. All ages. Map

Adam Hurst Gypsy Cello (7 pm)

  Siam Society, 2703 NE Alberta St., 922-3675. Map

Lost History, Lowenbad, NIAYH

[RAP ROCK] Portland's Lost History tries really hard to breathe life into the rap-rock genre, and while the attempt is admirable, I'm just not sure that there's a lot of room to manuever within that particular musical style. Thousands disagree, of course, and for those who enjoy able guitar shredding accompanied by heart-on-sleeve rapped stories (think of a soul-infused Linkin Park), Lost History is certainly worth checking out. But for those of us not worshipping at the rap-rock altar, it's hard to get past the songwriting clichés that come with trying to meld impossibly incongruous musical aesthetics: It's just all too clear where one influence stops and another starts. CASEY JARMAN. 9 pm. Slabtown, 1033 NW 16th Ave., 223-0099. Cover. 21+. Map

Witch Hats, Magick Daggers, Nite Brite

[GLOOMY ROCK] Riding a broom all the way over from Melbourne, Australia, comes the angular swamp groove of Witch Hats. The group has distilled a sound that demands attention—taking its bass lines from the Birthday Party, guitar jangle from Wire and vocals that alternate between barky Mark E. Smith of the Fall and strung-out-sounding Jason Simon of Dead Meadow. Supporting are two of Portland’s finest gothic death-rock acts. Magick Daggers, in particular, understands it’s possible to be part of a storied tradition while still breathing new life into a decadent form. Take heed, dear goths, it’s OK to progress! NATHAN CARSON. 9 pm. Someday Lounge, 125 NW 5th Ave., 248-1030. $7. 21+. Map

Nilda Brizuela w/ Jerry Bobbe (noon)

  The Old Church, 1422 SW 11th Ave., 222-2031. Map

Facts About Funerals, Kyle Andrews, Ryan Auffenberg

[POP GRAB BAG] While Seattle-based headliner Facts About Funerals plays semi-cheesy pop-rock that at times has potential but mostly sounds like sub-par radio fodder—over-emotional vocals singing sap-heavy lyrics (“Open your mouth and slip inside of me/ Sweet kisses/ Sweet kisses/ Your sweet kisses still taste delicious”), slow-burning fist-clenchers with piano intros feigning drama—tonight’s openers are worth stopping in for. Woody-voiced San Francisco songwriter Ryan Auffenberg crafts country-tinged pop that’s at once aching and sunny, and Kyle Andrews—whose last three albums, including brand-new release Real Blasty, came out on Portland’s own Badman Recording Co. (home to Weinland and Starfucker)—veers from wavery vocals and acoustic strumming (that occasionally get a little too Oberst for comfort) to straight-up infectious electro-pop. AMY MCCULLOUGH. 9:30 pm. Towne Lounge, 714 SW 20th Place., 241-8696. $5. 21+. Map

Unfiltered Indie-Rock Showcase: Echo Helstrom, Beatbeat Whisper, A Cautionary Tale

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

Thursday July 17top

Ottmar Liebert & Luna Negra

[NOUVEAU FLAMENCO] Since his 1990 debut album—reputedly the biggest-selling guitar album ever—German-born flamenco fretboard master Liebert has released nearly two dozen albums, including a new pair, one designed for headphone listening only. Impeccably performed, his bland background music probably finds more fans in the New Age (remember New Age?) and so-called "smooth jazz" aisles of record stores (remember record stores?) than in serious jazz or world music circles. BRETT CAMPBELL. 8 pm. Aladdin Theater, 3017 SE Milwaukie Ave., 233-1994. $32.50 advance, $35 day of show. All ages. Map

WW PickBusdriver, Breakfast Mountain

[TONGUE-TWISTER HIP-HOP] Plenty of slam poets blend hip-hop into their spitting, but it’s much harder to find an MC who wears slam influences on his sleeve—or, at least, in the lyrics printed on his album sleeves. Busdriver, Epitaph Records labelmate of Sage Francis, is such a rare beast. Still, the sophistication of his rhymes pales before the tongue-mangling speed at which he delivers them and the vocal contortions he uses as punctuation. Crazy stuff. BRANDON SEIFERT. 9 pm. Backspace, 115 NW 5th Ave., 248-2900. $8. All ages. Map

Jean Ronne, Lee Wuthenow

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

The Blasters, The Dirty Birds, Caguama

[ROCKABILLY] Band leader Phil Alvin has been blasting away again since the ’70s, and even after losing his brother Dave (to X and a subsequent ’80s solo career), he has kept the ultimate bar band going strong through personnel changes and sabbaticals. The latest change involves replacing the band's recent drummer with its original stickman, Bill Bateman. They've only made one new album in 20 years, but the Blasters' old-fashioned rock ’n’ roll really requires no update. JEFF ROSENBERG. 9 pm. Berbati's Pan, 231 SW Ankeny St., 248-4579. $15 advance, $18 day of show. 21+. Map

DJ Flipsta

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

DJ Alex Hollywood

  C.C. Slaughters, 219 NW Davis St., 248-9135. Map

DJ Zoxy's Thursdays Trance Sunrise

  Club Calabash, 835 Sw 2nd Ave., . Map

Royal Tease Burlesque

  Crown Room, 205 NW 4th Ave., 222-6655. Map

WW PickPanther, The Joggers, DJ Magic Beans

[DANCE PUNK] Getting people to dance was never Charlie Salas-Humara’s problem, but after leaving Panther shows in days past, I do recall scratching my head trying to recall a single melody. Panther’s songs have always hit the feet before the brain, but this year’s 14 Kt. God—though more conventional than past releases—finally sees the man a friend once labeled “Beck channeling Prince without the smartass irony” writing songs that stick in your brain long after the dance party is over. It's no longer a one-man show—31Knots' Joe Kelly is on board, providing just enough lock-step drumming to anchor each and every groove—and keep them from spiraling out of control. MICHAEL MANNHEIMER. 9 pm. East End, 203 SE Grand Ave., 232-0056. Cover. 21+. Map

Jon Koonce

  Eugenios, 3584 SE Division St., 233-3656. Map

Carley Baer

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

WW PickDykeritz (CD release), Lackthereof (CD release), Alan Singley & Pants Machine

[EXPERIMENTAL POP] See Here Comes Your Fan on LocalCut. 9 pm. Holocene, 1001 SE Morrison St., 239-7639. $6. 21+. Map

Tribal Lounge

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

Bill Beach (6 pm)

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

DJ I Love You

  Matador, 1967 W Burnside St., 222-5822. Map

Earl and the Reggae Allstars

  Matchbox Lounge, 3203 SE Division St., 234-7844. Map

Throwback Suburbia (noon)

  Pioneer Courthouse Square, 701 SW 6th Ave., . Map

John Gilmore

  Rafati's Encore, 310 SW Lincoln St., 221-0140. Map

Alan Jones and the Cave Men

  The Cave, 636 SW Jackson St., 274-4294. Map

DJ KG

  Tube, 18 NW 3rd Ave., 241-8823. Map

Danny Hay Davis Band Open Jam

  Wetlands Public House, 16015 SE Stark St., 256-2575. Map

WW PickThe Jesus and Mary Chain

[PROTO-SHOEGAZE] In the late ’70s, the Ramones took bubblegum pop, Brian Wilson and Phil Spector into the world of punk. Across the pond a few years later, Glasgow’s the Jesus and Mary Chain used the same basic ingredients to invent a feedback-laced form of proto-shoegazer rock. The band's primary formula was simple: Take the Neanderthal drumbeat of a Stooges song and coat it with guitar licks that would be pretty catchy if they weren’t run through all the distortion and amplification the Chain could get its hands on. The two Reid brothers (William and Jim) are still at the core of the group, though their taste for feedback has waned some over the years. NATHAN CARSON. 9 pm. Wonder Ballroom, 128 NE Russell St., 284-8686. $32 advance, $35 day of show. 21+. Map

Friday July 18top

Toby Keith, Carter's Chord

[TRUCK COUNTRY] I think the dudes from Portland's own the Punk Group may have said it best when they sang simply that "Toby Keith is a fucking asshole" in their opus "Toby Keith." Yet here he comes again, living that authentic hillbilly life from the back of a gigantic air-conditioned bus, on a tour sponsored by a gigantic new Ford truck (this is the corporate shill who sings, "I'm a Ford truck man," after all). Keith's equally gigantic new release, 35 Biggest Hits, includes the new single "She's a Hottie," which finds him painting a portrait of his ideal woman ("got her Marlboro Reds and a can of cold Bud"—sheesh, I hope he got paid to deliver that line). Other timeless lyrics include "String bikini and a barbed-wire tat/ She's a-rockin' that cowboy hat" and "Ki-yi diggy diggy/ Ki-yi diggy diggy/ Hey hey hey heeeyyy." My country, ’tis of thee. CASEY JARMAN. 7 pm. Amphitheater at Clark County, 17200 NE Delfel Road., 224-4400. $24.50-$73.50. All ages. Map

WW PickOhioan and Native Kin, Jack Lewis Band, Inside Voices

[SINGER-SONGWRITER] It’s never easy to live under the shadow of a well-known sibling, but for Jack Lewis, younger brother of Crass-obsessed NYC crooner Jeffrey Lewis, any direct comparisons are left to the wind the first time he opens his mouth. More Jonathan Richman to his bro's John Darnielle, Jack’s songs feature fewer inside jokes but are just as charming and clever in their own right, full of fake laments (“The Day Neil Young Died”) and quirky come-ons (the indelible “you danced your ass off” refrain from “New Year's Day.”) Amazingly, things never get too tongue-in-cheek, staying sweet throughout—and if you don’t believe it, just, umm, look it up in the OED. MICHAEL MANNHEIMER. 8 pm. Artistery, 4315 SE Division St., 803-5942. $6. All ages. Map

Neil Masson Quartet w/ Lee Wuthenow

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

Little Beirut, Jon Garcia and the Best Laid Plans, The Winebirds, Adrian H and the Wounds

[ROCK] Would you name your band after a phrase coined by the first President Bush? Besides, with the big indie success of, um, Beirut, that's one dry well. At least these fellows had the good sense and taste to draft baroque-pop savant Chris Robley to co-produce their debut, High Dive. His studio savvy makes their radio-craving, sharp-guitar pop-rock sound more sophisticated than it probably oughtta. One track, "Love During Wartime," might justify the political conceit, but its concept—a perky antiwar love song to Condoleezza Rice—may have been poached from a superior Portland artist: Check out Holcombe Waller's "No Enemy." JEFF ROSENBERG. 9:30 pm. Berbati's Pan, 231 SW Ankeny St., 248-4579. $7. 21+. Map

WW PickRay Davies

[ROCK MASTER] Some band leaders taking a solo turn produce songs more personal than their group's work. But Ray Davies (pronounced "Davis"; did you know that?) has never shied away from making the Kinks a vehicle for whatever personal or societal concerns might be keeping him awake at night. His solo work seems motivated more by a desire to avoid his perpetual struggles with sibling bandmate Dave. Fortunately, Davies drafted a harmony singer for his recent and very satisfying Working Man's Cafe who is—as the joke goes—a dead ringer for his brother. Expect some Kinks classics as well. JEFF ROSENBERG. 8 pm. Crystal Ballroom, 1332 W Burnside St., 225-0047. $47.50 advance, $52.50 day of show. All ages. Map

DJ Kenoy

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

AMERO: DJs Caliente, Kikon, Control Animal

  Dunes, 1905 NE Martin Luther King Jr Blvd., 493-8637. Map

Angela Davise

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

WW PickPICA B-Day Party: Mega Church, Velella Velella, Fleshtone

[DANCING] Dancing is hard work. Especially if you're simultaneously feigning interest in what's oozing from the speakers. Feign not, says Velella Velella, a jivey electro movement that's very extraterrestrial and damn convincing. Simply slide into the Seattle quartet's funk-born, digital stupor and leave the blood and sweat to them. Their smart and surging 2005 release, Bay of Biscay, is, pound for pound, among the best electronica records of the new millennium. Stop pretending you've got the perfect mix for the perfect dance party. You don't. Velella Velella does. And it'll be in full force tonight to celebrate the Portland Institute for Contemporary Art's 13th birthday. MARK STOCK. 8 pm. Holocene, 1001 SE Morrison St., 239-7639. $7, $5 for PICA members. 21+. Map

Northwest String Summit: Yonder Mountain String Band, Keller Williams, Strings for Industry, Band Contest (starts at 4 pm)

[A-PICKIN’ AND A-SINGIN’] Old-time musicians sure know how to put on a show. They’re the ones who invented the word “hootenanny,” for goodness' sake. The seventh annual Northwest String Summit is a revival of this form of celebration—a gathering in the wilderness devoted to bluegrass and other folk musics. The nationally renowned Colorado group Yonder Mountain String Band is headlining this year's fest, along with Virginia-based part-time YMSB/String Cheese Incident member Keller Williams. Most of the fest comprises local and regional acts, and jazz musician Bill Frisell will be around on to show off his own bluegrass chops. We hear tickets are going fast. JOE WATTS. 4 pm. Horning's Hideout, 21277 NW Brunswick Road., 647-2920. $140 advance (weekend pass w/camping), $155 day of show. All ages. Map

Swissfest 2008 (7 pm)

  Keller Auditorium, 222 SW Clay St., 248-4335. 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

DJ Trixie Doll & Sarafina

  Matador, 1967 W Burnside St., 222-5822. Map

Kenny Lavitz Kombo

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

Los Lobos, Los Lonely Boy

[CHICANO ROCK] Los Lonely Boys are best known for their theological inquiry “How far is Heaven?” from the aptly titled "Heaven," which reached the top of the U.S. adult contemporary charts in ’04. If you remember the melody, you won’t be surprised to learn that the band's work since that has been just as uninteresting. The members of Los Lobos, on the other hand, have been rock and roll stalwarts for the past 30 years. When Los Lonely Boys were questioning God four years ago, Los Lobos was recording The Ride, a rock album of staggering genius with guest appearances from Tom Waits, Elvis Costello, Mavis Staples and Bobby Womack. Lobos' most recent album explores what it’s like being Mexican, a musician and growing up in East L.A. The better band by far. JOE WATTS. 7 pm. Oregon Zoo, 4001 SW Canyon Road., 220-2789. $24. All ages. Map

Mood Area 52 (CD release)

tango outfit Mood Area 52 has always meddled with genre, infusing its traditional sounds with electronic embellishments, surf guitar and the occasional outburst of maniacal laughter. Tonight’s show celebrates the release of (count ‘em!) two new albums from Michael Roderick and company, and, together, they aim to conceptualize and organize this gaggle of well-versed musicians’ eclectic leanings. First In Line to Get Stuck With a Pin showcases the band’s “edgier” side, which means more of what already makes Mood Area 52 interesting: inventive rhythms, fevered accordion and electrified guitar. While Remember This Dream takes the band back to its roots, fleshing out the string-based tunes of an earlier demo more lushly. AMY MCCULLOUGH. 8 pm. Press Club, 2621 SE Clinton St., 233-5656. Free. All ages. Map

Tom Grant & Kate Davis

  Rafati's Encore, 310 SW Lincoln St., 221-0140. Map

H Duo

  Riverplace Hotel, 2115 SW River Parkway., 552-9500. Map

The Swellers, Hit And Run, The Streaking Healys, Kill The Kids, Faithless Saints

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

Tim Wilcox Quartet

  The Cave, 636 SW Jackson St., 274-4294. Map

Climatize, Funk Shui

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

Saturday July 19top

WW PickAimee Mann, Blind Pilot

[SINGER-SONGWRITER] Some voices just have character. And the pipes of L.A.-based, Academy Award-nominated songwriter Aimee Mann—which lean upon notes with the weight of the world—manage to embody her own (smart, perceptive, empathetic) and those of her songs’ subjects, which range, on recent release @#%&*! Smilers (insert your own profanity), from drug addicts to ex-boxers. Smilers sounds bigger and bolder than her oft-sparse previous efforts (see the honky-tonk piano and tuba of “Ballantines”), but it shouldn’t take more than album opener “Freeway,” which features Mann belting, “You got a lot of money/ But you can’t afford the freeway” over Cars-like synth, to sell you on it. Local duo Blind Pilot, which plays equally thoughtful acoustic pop, opens—because Mann asked it to. AMY MCCULLOUGH. 8 pm. Aladdin Theater, 3017 SE Milwaukie Ave., 233-1994. $35. All ages. Map

Neil Masson Quartet w/ Lee Wuthenow

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

DJ Alex Hollywood

  C.C. Slaughters, 219 NW Davis St., 248-9135. Map

Tulsi, Specs One, DJ Able

  Crown Room, 205 NW 4th Ave., 222-6655. Map

WW PickKing Black Acid and the Sacred Heart, The Upsidedown, New York Rifles

[EPIC, AND SEXY] See music feature, "Return of the King," on LocalCut. 9 pm. Doug Fir, 830 E Burnside St., 231-9663. $8 advance, $10 day of show. 21+. Map

Angie Foster

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

Bryan Flannery Band

  edge of Belmont, 3350 SE Morrison St., 971-230-3343. Map

theXplodingboys, DJ Kenny

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

On the One, Jason Butterworth All-Stars

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

WW PickGray Matters (CD Release), Sandpeople, Step Cousins, Living Proof, Def Minds Crew, Diezel P, State of Mind, Cool Nutz, DJ FlipFlop (Main Theater); Unkle Nancy (Balcony)

[HIP-HOP] Gray Matters, a two-man crew that reps for both Portland and Seattle—a wise move these days, what with Seattle’s Blue Scholars (and friends) getting big national props—is calling in favors from extended family and friends tonight to celebrate the release of Intellectually Sound. But then, Gray Matters got these friends because the duo knows how to work a stage. And a studio, as demonstrated on the new album: Mr. Mr. mixes book smarts and street slang while Introspective’s murky, quick delivery reminds of Grayskul’s Onry Ozzborn. The beats are typically NW-strong (with some exceptionally dope production from Oldominion’s Pegee 13), and some of your favorite Sandpeople show up here as well. Gray Matters might claim both Portland and Seattle as homes, but dude, we got dibs. CASEY JARMAN. 8 pm. Hawthorne Theatre, 3862 SE Hawthorne Blvd., 233-7100. $10. All ages. Map

Northwest String Summit: Keller Williams and the WMD's, Yonder Mountain String Band, Drew Emmitt and Bill Nershi, Great American Taxi, Greensky Bluegrass, Bryn Davies and Sharon Gilchrist, Head for the Hills, Pete Kartsounes Band (starts at 11:30 am)

[A-PICKIN’ AND A-SINGIN’] See Friday listing. 11:30 am. Horning's Hideout, 21277 NW Brunswick Road., 647-2920. $140 advance (weekend pass w/camping), $155 day of show. All ages. Map

The Maybe Happening, Pancake

[THEATRICAL POP] In what is a refined experiment in postmodern music making, the Maybe Happening draws from a retrograde pastiche of musical styles (gypsy, punk, ’50s doo-wop and raw indie pop, to name just a few) to drive home the thoughtful personas behind its theatrical, character-driven lyrics. In fact, the band’s 2008 release, the violin-driven Beyond the Bells, is a narrative album centered on the trek of an anonymous 17-year-old who permeates Portland’s various urban layers with music on his mind. CHANDLER FREDRICK. 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

DJ Moisti

  Matador, 1967 W Burnside St., 222-5822. Map

Ex-Boyfriends

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

Tom Grant & Dave Captein

  Rafati's Encore, 310 SW Lincoln St., 221-0140. Map

Margaret Slovak

  Riverplace Hotel, 2115 SW River Parkway., 552-9500. Map

Super Villain, The Blacklights, Gordon Avenue, uNtyD, Sinnergy, Jon Owren, Stealing Daisies (6:30 pm)

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

Darrell Grant Truth and Reconciliation Band

  The Cave, 636 SW Jackson St., 274-4294. Map

DJ Maxamillion, DJ Brux Blackhawk

  Tube, 18 NW 3rd Ave., 241-8823. Map

Sunday July 20top

Ron Steen Jam w/ Tony Pacini & Dave Captein

  Clyde's Prime Rib, 5474 NE Sandy Blvd., 281-9200. Map

WW PickEarlimart, Sabertooth, The Parson Red Heads

[SMITH INDIE] Earlimart has drawn enough comparisons to Elliott Smith to fill a swimming pool. Sure, the Los Angeles-based band is fronted by Aaron Espinoza (one of Smith’s BFFs, for real), whose soft, trickling, Smithesque croon leads its songs. But bandmate Arianna Murray is the band's quiet all-star: The small-framed pianist has a deep voice that lies somewhere between sexy and sweet, and her clever piano riffs bust Earlimart's songs—found most recently on this year's Hymn and Her—from understated acoustic pieces into full-blown, catchy indie pop. WHITNEY HAWKE. 9 pm. Doug Fir, 830 E Burnside St., 231-9663. $12. 21+. Map

Northwest String Summit: Yonder Mountain String Band, Super Jam with Danny Barnes, Bill Frisell and Danny Barnes, Hickster feat. "Burle," 2008 Contest Winners (starts at 11 am)

[A-PICKIN’ AND A-SINGIN’] See Friday listing. 11 am. Horning's Hideout, 21277 NW Brunswick Road., 647-2920. $140 advance (weekend pass w/camping), $155 day of show. All ages. Map

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

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

Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band (7 pm); Jeff & Vida (5 pm)

[EX-BEATLE] Continuing an enormously successful career borne wholly upon timing and affability, the former Richard Starkey has spent the past few decades bringing a, heh, All-Starr band to casinos across the country. There'll be "Yellow Submarine," to be sure, but the actual highlights should involve his rather more talented tour mates; the 10th revue features Edgar Winter, Billy Squier, Colin (Men At Work) Hay, Hamish (Average White Band) Stuart and Gary ("Dreamweaver") Stuart. Starr is actually an appealing host, and his place in history is assured, but, as ever, he gets by with a little help from…you get the point. JAY HORTON. 7 pm. McMenamins Edgefield, 2126 SW Halsey St., 669-8610. $42 advance, $44 day of show. All ages. Map

Sunny Cohen Duo (12:30 pm)

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

WW PickWyclef Jean, Kardinal Offishall

[HIP-HOP] Wyclef Jean is an oddity in hip-hop. Since his early dirty Jersey days in the Fugees ended in 1997, he's been able to experiment with the hip-hop formula, blending genres (often wielding an electric guitar) and collaborating (with everyone from Willie Nelson to Santana) without losing credibility within the industry—or, more importantly, from Dave Chappelle. Ten years after his 1997 solo debut, Carnival, Clef returns to the style (and the title) of that classic on his newest, Carnival Vol. II: Memoirs of an Immigrant, hand-picking top guests and producers while incorporating world-music influences. It's a relevant, entirely modern album. JIM SANDBERG. 8 pm. Roseland, 8 NW 6th Ave., 219-9929 (Grill), 224-2038 (Theater). $25. All ages. Map

WW PickBOAT, Dirty Mittens, The Winebirds

[MOTOWN-TINGED INDIE-POP] See album review of Dirty Mittens' Pinky Swear on LocalCut. 9 pm. Someday Lounge, 125 NW 5th Ave., 248-1030. $6. 21+. Map

DJs Ninjah, Sputnik

  Tube, 18 NW 3rd Ave., 241-8823. Map

Monday July 21top

Joseph Arthur, Anna Ternheim

[SINGER-SONGWRITER] A singer-songwriter mentored by Peter Gabriel, recorded by Lou Reed and produced by Björk's engineer—let's just say Joseph Arthur's not lacking in self-regard. For God's sake, he recently opened a Brooklyn art gallery titled "The Museum of Modern Arthur." The native Ohioan ordinarily tours with band the Lonely Astronauts, but, in preparation for the September release of his second full-length (he's kept busy recording four EPs), Arthur's planned a series of solo performances playing the—sparse, thoughtful, but not John Mayer-y—new tunes. JAY HORTON. 8 pm. Doug Fir, 830 E Burnside St., 231-9663. $15. 21+. Map

Two Man Gentlemen Band

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

Barcelona, Castella, This World Fair

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

WW PickThe Life and Times, Nueva Volcano, System & Station (9 pm); DJ Classwarnow (6 pm)

[DRAMATIC ART ROCK] Kansas City's the Life and Times began six years ago, picking right up were frontman Allen Epley's former band Shiner left off—matching his melodious vocals and crestfallen lyrical outlook with a surprisingly lush backdrop of intense art rock. The trio is in the midst of a tour to drum up some buzz for its amazing forthcoming album, Tragic Boogie, a disc that fulfills every bit of promise the band’s exhibited to date; it’ll certainly find its way into the best-of lists of many a critic this year. Or mine, at least. ROBERT HAM. 9 pm. Someday Lounge, 125 NW 5th Ave., 248-1030. $7. 21+. Map

Pete Krebs Trio

  The Maiden, 639 SE Morrison St., 232-5553. Map

Harry and the Potters, Jason Anderson, Math the Band, Uncle Monsterface

[GIMMICKY GEEKS] When brothers Joe and Paul DeGeorge grab their V-neck sweaters and guitars, they cease to be suburban New Englanders and become Harry Potters—year-four and year-seven versions, respectively. Their music is a convincing stab at what the fictional wizard’s teenage garage band might sound like. Until recently, HATP played its indie-wizard-punk exclusively in libraries. The band's cross-country tour, titled "Unlimited Enthusiasm," has fully embraced the inherent geek factor, with support offered by Uncle Monsterface (a sock-puppet rock band singing ballads to D&D creator Gary Gygax) and Math the Band, whose surprisingly catchy 8-bit melodies about grade school grace one of the best-named albums of the year, Math the Band Banned the Math. JOE WATTS. 7:30 pm. Wonder Ballroom, 128 NE Russell St., 284-8686. $12. All ages. Map

Tuesday July 22top

Bill Beach & Brasil Beat

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

DJ Donny Don't

  Matador, 1967 W Burnside St., 222-5822. Map

WW PickEmmylou Harris, Jimmy Gaudreau, Moondi Klein (7 pm)

[COUNTRY QUEEN] From her humble coffeehouse roots, Emmylou Harris has reached a place few artists in this biz—and even fewer female artists—are blessed to reach. She's become an icon, but not one frozen by such status: Rather, Harris is compelled, from that rarified height, to expand her vision, talent and even the horizons of the genre she's chosen and championed. With songwriting now another arrow in her quiver—alongside that hummingbird-quavering voice—her latest album is fittingly titled All I Intended to Be. JEFF ROSENBERG. 7 pm. Oregon Zoo, 4001 SW Canyon Road., 220-2789. $24. All ages. Map

Courtney Jones (noon)

  Pioneer Courthouse Square, 701 SW 6th Ave., . Map

Service Industry Night

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

The Dt's, The Family Gun

[SWEATY GARAGE SOUL] The perfect match of band and venue can be very hard for a booker to get right, but the combination of the Dt's and Slabtown could not be more perfect. The fuzzed-up sound of this Bellingham-based trio needs, nay demands to be experienced in tight, sweaty quarters like these—places where cigarette smoke hangs thick in the air, cheap beer is plentiful and the small confines of the performance space feel custom-made for the in-your-face vocals of singer Diane Young-Blanchard—not to mention the garage-soul guitar work of Estrus Records owner Dave Crider. ROBERT HAM. 9 pm. Slabtown, 1033 NW 16th Ave., 223-0099. Cover. 21+. Map

DJ Sneaker

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

Events

Culture
COLUMNS:
Hot Seat
Sean Healy
Slavoj Zizek. Violence
WW EDITORIAL STAFF | That obscure object of Violence.
0 comments
T.B.Ah-ha!
BY BRETT CAMPBELL, MARY CHRISTMAS, KELLY CLARKE, MATT GRAHAM, MATT KORFHAGE, BEN WATERHOUSE AND HEATHER WISNER | Discovering the best of Pica’s 2008 TBA fest.
0 comments
Get in My Belly
BY LIZ CRAIN | Belly does American eats right.
0 comments
Headout
Horse Feathers. House With No Home
BY ROBERT HAM | Summer’s over: The new Horse Feathers album has dropped.
0 comments
Parenthetical Girls. Entanglements
BY ROBERT HAM. | Portland’s Girls sidestep and pick up the pieces.
0 comments
Rock Solid
BY MICHAEL MANNHEIMER | The Shaky Hands want you to reconsider “rock.”
0 comments
Will Success Spoil Portland?
BY AARON MESH | The city’s movie renaissance could continue this fall—if we don’t jump the piranha.
1 comment
Ed Ruscha at the Portland Art Museum
BY RICHARD SPEERV | An edgy elegy to youth from a pop art original.
0 comments
Nena Baker. The Body Toxic
BY MATT BUCKINGHAM | A thin new book builds a thin, old case against the chemical industry.
1 comment
MFNW Movies
BY AARON MESH AND JOE WATTS | This year’s fest contains two extra treats.
0 comments


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