THURSDAY 10/19

PINBACK, VI FOOT SLOTH, SEY YRRAL, URBAN LEGENDS

(Medicine Hat) Ahhh, Pinback. Two really nice boys from San Diego (although on this tour, they'll have extra musicians to complete the full sound from their albums). They make introspective, intelligent music with amazingly beautiful melodies. They have a lot of songs titled cities' names, like "Tripoli," "Manchuria," and "Lyon." About this, member Zach Smith says, "I'm surprised we didn't look like fools [on our tour] in France. Here, if we said, 'This song's titled 'San Diego' or 'San Francisco' or 'Portland,' how dumb would that be? That's what it'd be like to us. There, we were like, 'Versailles!' How pretty!" So you see, not only are they awesome musicians, but they're funny and don't take themselves too seriously. That's a reason to go in itself! Sey Yrral apparently took a cue from "Incan Princess"/'50s singing sensation Yma Sumac, although whether he'll be strumming island standards on his acoustic guitar and belly dancing voluptuously remains to be seen. The meltingly endearing Urban Legends, who are lately improving with every gig, share the Tree Records label with Pinback. JULIANNE SHEPHERD

THE ALARM 2000, BARBARELLA

(Berbati's) As a general rule, it's a bad sign when anything is resurrected by putting "2000" at the end. Take the movie Godzilla 2000, for example; while its contemporary predecessor, Godzilla starring Matthew Broderick, was merely cheesy and laughable, Godzilla 2000 was just plain crappy. It's also inevitable that some bands will reunite, especially if they were once a cornerstone of some era or genre of music. It's embarrassing, sure, but not like a goiter--it's excusable with only mild discomfort. The Sex Pistols reunion, for instance. Or Bauhaus. Christ, even the Eagles' "Hell Freezes Over" tour was somewhat understandable. But '80s radio-friendly Welsh band the Alarm... 2000? That's like my friend Jim's band in college, Monostat 7 (who I'm sure you've all heard of), reuniting for the Monostat 13 tour. No matter what your sensibilities, its significance is about the same as burnt microwave popcorn. JS

JACKSTRAW

(Kennedy School) Traditionally, bluegrass music has held firmly to the idea of a time when life was less complicated and consumed by hours on the front porch. Of course, what is ironic about this stagnation is that bluegrass grew organically, from simple banjo-plucking and porch-stomping with toothless neighbors. What allowed bluegrass to become a unique sound 50 years ago is that no one held it back--those picking at their stringed instruments improvised, experimented, and otherwise cross-pollinated their songs with whatever sensibility they could borrow or invent. Unfortunately, in the early '60s, the forward progression of bluegrass got stuck in the mud and stayed there for decades. Like other genres, the inherent tension in bluegrass was how to remain pure. The cowardly solution was to bear hug their roots and not change. Over the past few years, a new wave of bluegrass bands has begun to loosen this grip on the past and allow tentative exploration into new territory. With the same old foot-stomping, but pushing a more aggressive beat, Jackstraw is riding this new wave of bluegrass. Plus, they all have their full sets of teeth. PHIL BUSSE


FRIDAY 10/20

HOUSE OF GROOVES GRAND OPENING NIGHT STARRING PROZ & CONZ, MADGESTIQ, DJ CLEARCUT, DJ JOE T, 88 FINGAZ, DJ MARQUEZ, APTSKEMATIC, LSJ, MORE

(House of Grooves) Over the past year, one of the best venues in Portland (whose track record for staying open is almost as comical as La Luna's) has transformed from Zoot Suite to Club Hip Hop (which, according to my calculations, was there just last month) to the current House of Grooves. This time, hopefully, the House will fill Portland's need for a really good hip hop/electronica club. Tonight looks promising, with an extravaganza of jungle, house, electronica, underground, rare grooves, downbeat, soul, jazz, funk, and live hip hop--all at once, in three different rooms! Get dressed to sweat and help turn the House of Grooves into a staple. Oh, and not only is there a space for the under-21 crowd to hang, but there is a "breakers floor!!!" Pop and fuckin' lock, y'all! JS

ATTRITION

(Paris Theater) Attrition bring their own brand of electronically induced nächtmusik to town in support of a recently released collection of remixes, The Hand That Feeds. Though not as widely appealing as some of their gothic brethren, they're undeniably creative and frequently fascinating to listen to, with a wider array of influences and sound than many of their compatriots. They also deserve points for longevity; this group's been around, in one incarnation or another, since the early 1980s. GENEVIEVE WILLIAMS

THE STANDARD, THE VISIT

(Medicine Hat) At less than a year old, The Standard is already one of the most exciting bands in Portland. The first time I saw them was by accident, playing last on a four-band bill at Berbati's on a Thursday night. I had come to see the third band, but after this inspired quartet took the stage, I had a hard time leaving. Even though there were only 30 people left, jaws were dropping and I heard someone say, "These guys are fucking good." Tim Putnam's vocals are strained, emotional, purring, and barking. The band's music is crunchy and charged, with well-timed splashes of keyboard mood-setting. Catching them at this show gives you an excellent chance to buy their highly impressive debut CD as well. KEVIN SAMPSELL

FREAK MOUNTAIN RAMBLERS

(Laurelthirst) The running joke about country music is that it must incorporate an ex-wife, hard luck, a yeller old dog, a pick-up truck, and a triple shot of whiskey--into every song! But Freak Mountain Ramblers aren't your typical country western band. Not only have they chucked the slick yippie-ki-yay good looks of contemporary C&W singers for the haggard couture of mountain men, their lyrics have bizarrely warped the genre's storytelling. One song starts as a fable about two fighting neighbors and picks up speed until they have doused each other with gasoline. Strangely addictive and disturbingly fun, the song is sung in sweet tones and set to a galloping swing. Tonight's show is part of the Freak Mountain Ramblers worldwide tour, which, thus far, has not strayed further than Horning's Hideout along Highway 26. PHIL BUSSE

FIVE IRON FRENZY, THE VERICOASTERS

(Pine Street Theater) The best thing about ska, which this band clearly exemplifies, is that it's not about super boring topics (i.e., love). Five Iron Frenzy have very unromantic titles, such as "The Phantom Mullet," "You Probably Shouldn't Move Here," and "I Still Like Larry." Their songs correspond perfectly to their titles; most are teetering on the edge of too ironic, but manage to hang on by a fingernail--saved by their true enjoyment factor. They're glossy, for ska, but they're also good musicians, having just released their fifth album, All the Hype That Money Can Buy. Go, do the ska dance, and have fun. KATIA DUNN


SATURDAY 10/21

DIRTY THREE, SHANNON WRIGHT

(Crystal Ballroom) Shannon Wright's last Portland show was scheduled on the same night as label-mates Don Caballero. All of you went to Don Cab, didn't you? Well, the 15 of us who saw Shannon Wright experienced something of an unfettered exorcism--she thrashed around in the near-dark, her acoustic guitar sounding like the echoing groan of unsettled demons and her voice the banshee wail of a woman released. It was totally flooring. Tonight, you've got another chance to see her, this time with Australia's awesome guitar-drums-violin trio, the Dirty Three, who will redefine how you think about both classical and rock composition. After this show, I guarantee you will want to bond with your lover in a very real, un-cheesy way. No kidding! JS

ORSO, ROLLERBALL, JACKIE-O MOTHERFUCKER

(Medicine Hat) Welcome home to the Portland branch of radical improvisors Jackie-O Motherfucker, as they've just returned from a tour of Europe and are setting out to release new stuff on Ecstatic Peace! (You might recognize Ecstatic Peace! as Thurston's label. You know, the Sonic Lifer. Uh.) When I think of Jackie-O, I am reminded of the wise men made famous in the New Testament of the Bible. Except, whereas the wise men were bringing offerings of frankincense and myrrh, Jackie-O brings offerings of "fuck yr shit up" and "blow you away with bells guitars drums and whatever else they happen to be playing." After pondering this metaphor, I like to sip from a glass of Carlo Rossi Paisano and let its ramifications sink in. Orso's new CD, long time by, is diverse and deconstructionist, with both sweet western songs and noisily caked-together instrumentals with influences seemingly derived from both the Far East and Flash Gordon. This show is going to be good. JS

THE HORRORS, GODDAMN GENTLEMEN

(Satyricon) How bent it gonna get went! Uh... least, that's what I'm prayin' for 'cause, like, to tell you the truth, I ain't seen the Horrors perform, tho' I have heard 'em... that is, the shit they stomp, so... it's as a result of said aural experience my confidence, nay... my expectation, runs high. See, they play the trebelious "no-fidelity" 'R' and the 'B' much like our fallen brethren the Pussy Galore, Memphis' Oblivians, the ever-soulful Gories, and the always well reverberated Fireworks... and this, the Horrors do, all at the same time. And that's a good gotdamn thing. MIKE NIPPER

GRAVITY AND HENRY CD RELEASE

(Music Millennium NW) See CD Review pg 13



SUNDAY 10/22

KITTY DIGGINS' MAD MONSTER A GO-GO STARRING THE NATRONS, THE HARVEY HELLCAT FREAKSHOW RODEO

(Berbati's) In the Halloweens of my youth, we preteens spent the evenings shooting each other with shaving cream, someone inevitably starting a rumor about a renegade NAIR sprayer poisoning the foam. Girls would start crying about their stupid hair and a mayhem of lighted aerosol spray, children taped to trees, toilet papering and spin-the-bottling would erupt. I wish such outbursts of chaos still existed in my boring life, although now preferably with more nakedness and drugs. Hark! What's that? The Mad Monster a go-go will have a Burlesque show, those wild Natrons and the Harvey Hellcat Freakshow Rodeo?! Yee haw--some semblance of craziness! But where's the cocaine? KATIE SHIMER

RUNAWAY BOYS, TRY AND STEP ON HER, THIRTY 3, ONE LAST THING

(Ethos, Inc.) All ages punkfuckin'rawk tonight, and it just might revive your passion for those old Samiam records you shelved back in college. Try and Step on Her are three frantically enthusiastic boys whose love for the energy and ideal of pure punk aesthetic is so contagious, even the most reluctant dancer will do a head-nod/booty-shake. Joining them are One Last Thing, the super-tight, passionately yearning, skulking and screaming five-piece that put the emotion back into the rock. Don't miss out on the new cats; they're truly carrying the punk torch in this town. JS


MONDAY 10/23

AMY X NEUBERG AND MEN

(Berbati's) When I first heard the lovely Amy X, I was swiftly taken back to my youth. There I was, age 11, staring dreamily at my first Debbie Gibson tape at the mall (you know, the one where she has a hole in the knee of her jeans, and there's a smiley face drawn on it?) Oh, but wait! There's me again, buying my first Debbie T-shirt, complete with one of those shirt clips that made a little tail on the side of my hip. Finally, there was the day when, age 13, I realized Debbie Gibson sucks, and that The Cure was far superior. Luckily, though my musical taste has continued to evolve, and I've even learned to like things for their ironic value, I've never come back to Debbie. Unless you have, I wouldn't see Amy X. KD

SWAMP MAMA JOHNSON

(Crystal) Anyone who has spent a night listening to live Swamp Mama Johnson knows that from rock to roots they are neither the most cutting-edge nor the most authentic; just plain unpretentious, they just want to please crowds up and down the coast with their upbeat and engaging rhythm-and-blues shows. NATHAN THORNBURGH


TUESDAY 10/24

SANTANA

(Rose Garden Arena) The Mercury often finds itself in delicate situations, such as this: should we negate Santana for their popularity, or should we champion them for the same reason? For these quandaries, our editorial department often defers to the populist wisdom of Rob Crocker: publisher and "man of the people." What did Rob say? "Santana? Shit yeah, man! Write it up! Supernatural is one the top ten selling albums of all time [unsubstantiated]! People love Santana... plus they've got that Afro-Cuban thing going on now. And by GOD [slamming his fist on a table], Carlos Santana is arguably the best guitar player in the world [performs a spirited air guitar]! Of course, they should go see Santana!" Who are we to argue with the boss? Go see Santana. WM. STEVEN HUMPHREY


WEDNESDAY 10/25

ELYSIAN

(Ground Kontrol, 8 pm) Elysian's from Eugene. I've never seen them, nor have I heard them, but the boy who called me about this show said they are a cross between the Cure and the Cocteau Twins. This isn't surprising, considering I have never heard music made after 1988 playing in Ground Kontrol. And you know what? I like it that way. JS

SELDOMFENCE, PETER PANTS, CLUBFOOT SANDWICH

(Medicine Hat) Seldomfence play sort of traditional rock with a slight rootsy sound brought on by Rhodes, harmonica, and swanky slide guitar. Weirdly enough, they sound a little like they've been listening to X (although the Exene Cervenka vocal parts are sung by a guy named Jim). They're not bad, and would be excellent listening for a road trip across the midwest in autumn. JS

AFRIKA BAMBAATAA WITH DJS RISING SUN, AQUAMAN, MR. FUNKY AND BRIAN MARTIN

(Ohm) I'm so glad that good electronica/techno has come back into style and that loser DJs that loop "You've got to move it, move it," have gone out of style. It gives me hope that yes, there are still people with taste (albeit not very many). If you do appreciate artistic qualities like talent and skill you must try out Afrika Babaataa. The music is well lyricized, aerobic, and pleasantly layered--excellent for showing off all those new dance moves you've been learning from the 'N Sync videos. A night of non-stop grinding guaranteed, so look sultry and bring some S'mint. KS


GOING TO SEATTLE?

Thurs 10/19: The Fall-Outs, The Cripples (Crocodile); Vast, Unified Theory (Showbox)

Fri 10/20: Very Special Forces, Honey (Rainbow); The Dirty Three, Shannon Wright (Showbox)

Sat 10/21: Tom Tom Club (Bohemian); Beyond Reality, MC Candid, Piece of Sol, Source of Labor (I-Spy)

Sun 10/22: The Fixx, The Alarm 2000 (Ballard Firehouse); Seven Percent Solution (Graceland)

Wed 10/25: Moonshine over America 2000 (Showbox)

For more info, visit www.thestranger.com