THURSDAY, APRIL 28

POP IT LIKE IT'S HOT—Summer concert season is just around the bend, which means it's time for year number three of the intimate Make it Pop! benefit. Big names in Portland music—Laura Veirs, Eric Earley (Blitzen Trapper), Laura Gibson, Israel Nebeker (Blind Pilot)—come together in order to raise some cash for noble nonprofit PDX Pop Now! EAC
w/DJ Jeremy Petersen; The Cleaners at the Ace Hotel, 403 SW 10th, 7:30 pm, $35, all ages

ART THE ARTIST—He's a grandpa of graphic novels, the only person to receive a Pulitzer for a comic book, and he still wears that dapper vest he donned all throughout the Maus comics. There, in case you needed convincing, are three very good reasons why you should catch Art Spiegelman speak at the Schnitz. JL
Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, 1037 SW Broadway, 7:30 pm, $16-68.50

FRIDAY, APRIL 29

SPRING PLEDGE—It's spring-cleaning time! But rather than dragging out the lemon Pledge, why not hit up the KPSU spring pledge event at Backspace? It's guaranteed to clean out your gunky eardrums and dust off your dancing huaraches, with the rockin' party jams of the Mean Jeans and Guantanamo Baywatch. Think of it as a sweat cleanse. CF
w/Starparty; Backspace, 115 NW 5th, 9 pm, $5, all ages

BLOOD—A Spanish mashup of splatter flick and spaghetti western, 1972's Cut-Throats Nine follows a chain gang of sadistic convicts making their way over a mountain pass. It's a bizarre, grisly, gritty exploitation flick unlike anything else, screening as part of the Hollywood Theatre's Italian Western series. NL
Hollywood Theatre, 4122 NE Sandy, see Film Times for showtimes, $7

SATURDAY, APRIL 30

HEALING BEATS—Looking for a positive way to lend support to Japan? Tonight's a perfect night to combine philanthropy and ass shaking, with Relief Thru Repetitive Beats, an electronic dance night/benefit featuring seven hot DJs and one hot cause. MS
Rotture, 315 SE 3rd, 9 pm, $5-10 sliding

MASTER AT WORK—With an incredibly prolific career featuring plenty of amped-up guitar, it's a surprise that the new Several Shades of Why is J Mascis' first solo studio album (without bands like Dinosaur Jr. or the Fog) and that it's so intimately acoustic. What's no surprise, though, is that it's a terrific collection from one of America's best songwriters. NL
w/Black Heart Procession; Dante's, 1 SW 3rd, 9:30 pm, $18-20

SUNDAY, MAY 1

OPEN YOUR HEART—Seattle sextet the Head and the Heart has been making inroads to both heads and hearts with their uplifting repertoire of folk anthems. With their self-recorded debut re-released by Sub Pop and a spirited, joyous live show, they're entering more ears, heads, and hearts than ever—and deservedly so. NL
w/the Devil Whale, Quiet Life; Wonder Ballroom, 128 NE Russell, 9 pm, $15, all ages

BUST—Former Daily Show correspondent Lauren Weedman built a show around her experiences volunteering in a Southern California prison. Bust contrasts her bumbling best intentions with the prison's cast of characters, also played by the hilarious, versatile Weedman. AH
Portland Center Stage, Ellyn Bye Studio at the Armory, 128 NW 11th, Tues-Sun 7:30 pm, Sat-Sun 2 pm, through June 19, $25 & up, pcs.org

MONDAY, MAY 2

MONKEYS & MADNESS—One of Werner Herzog's most beloved films, Aguirre, the Wrath of God follows one conquistador's steady descent down the Amazon... AND INTO MADNESS! Seeing this 1972 classic on the big screen is a no-brainer. EH
Clinton Street Theater, 2522 SE Clinton, Fri-Mon 7 & 9 pm, $6

MINE—Portland has a lotta bands, but Menomena's one that we keep extra close to our possessive hearts. Too wise to overplay themselves, a Menomena show doesn't come along every other week, so between the two Doug Fir shows tonight and tomorrow, you'd better get it while you can. MS
Doug Fir, 830 E Burnside, Mon w/EMA & Hosannas, 8:30 pm, Tues w/Talkdemonic, 9 pm, $15-18

TUESDAY, MAY 3

CRYSTAL BALL—Celebrate the opening of the new Crystal Hotel with a three-day extravaganza with M. Ward as the load-bearing funmaster. He'll be entertaining the lookie-loos with a cadre of musical pals like Corin Tucker, David Bazan, and Doug Martsch. Come to gape at the former gay bathhouse, stay for the awesome concerts. CF
Crystal Ballroom, 1332 W Burnside, Tues-Thurs, 9 pm, $25 (FREE events begin at 4 pm), all ages

D-R-U-N-K—The only thing missing from the spelling bees of your youth? Booze! Tonight, the Amazing Stumptown Spelling Bee takes over the Someday Lounge with DJ Dundiggy, prizes, guest judges, and plenty of spelling embarrassment. Drink up, nerds. EH
Someday Lounge, 125 NW 5th, 9 pm, $3

WEDNESDAY, MAY 4

SCIENCE!—Nerds rejoice! It's time again for OMSI's annual IMAX Film Fest: eight whopping weeks of 24 of the museum's newest and greatest wide-screen nature/science epics, including the monkey-rific Born to Be Wild, Tornado Alley, Ultimate Wave Tahiti, and... wait. Where the hell is Beavers (AKA Best "Dam" Movie Ever)? WSH
OMSI, 1945 SE Water, see omsi.edu for schedule, through June 26, $6-8.50

WINNING BATTLE—There are normal rock bands (yawn) and then there is the almighty Battles. The visionary rock outfit creates towering songs unlike anything you have ever heard, and this tradition will likely continue on their forthcoming Glass Drop, which features everyone from Gary Numan to the Boredoms' Yamantaka Eye. EAC
w/1939 Ensemble; Doug Fir, 830 E Burnside, 9 pm, $15