WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 5

MUSIC—Aging gracefully may be easier said than done, but by all reports Slowdive—the English shoegazers who first formed in 1989—have "still got it" on their current reunion tour, where they're trotting out the old favorites (new material may be forthcoming). Go on, get dreamy. MS
w/Low; Crystal Ballroom, 1332 W Burnside, 8 pm, $25-30, all ages

FILM—Christopher Nolan's galaxy-spanning epic Interstellar is one of the most anticipated films of the year—and two days before it plays at the soulless multiplexes, the Hollywood Theatre has it on pristine 35mm. Why? Because Nolan believes in film, goddammit, and he wants you to see Interstellar on the medium he shot it on, not this newfangled digital bullshit. EH
Hollywood Theatre, 4122 NE Sandy, noon, 3:15 pm, 6:45 pm, 10:15 pm, $5-8, see Movie Times for more showtimes

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6

COMEDY—Did you know that April 30 is officially Margaret Cho Day in San Francisco? Well, for Portland, it's today, when the winsome Kim Jong-il impressionist and queen of mouthy broads arrives at Helium to tell some jokes, probably about her mom. Earlier shows on this tour drew angry responses from the Westboro Baptist Church, so you know it's going to be good! MB
w/Selene Luna; Helium Comedy Club, 1510 SE 9th, Thurs 8 pm, Fri-Sat 7:30 & 10 pm, $27.50-35

MUSIC—Need a soundtrack for rainy-day baking? Something for dancing around the kitchen licking cookie dough from spoons with your beloved, the precursor to a hot 'n' heavy makeout sesh followed by a melancholy afterglow about this moment slipping into the past? Sure, you could put on the Cure, but Frankie Rose's lovely echoing, gossamer dream-pop is the exact-perfect soundtrack. CF
w/Cold Beat, Ephrata; Bunk Bar, 1028 SE Water, 10 pm, $10-12

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 7

SIRENS—The fantastic, female-focused Siren Nation music and arts festival is hitting town with a tsunami of quality engagements this week! There are music shows with Edna Vazquez, Swan Sovereign, and Natasha Kmeto, just to name a few—plus a huge visual art group show. Heyyy, ladies! MS
Through Wed Nov 12, various times and locations, sirennation.org for info

SPACEMAN—Astronaut Chris Hadfield is Canada's greatest living hero—a humble scientist who's spent thousands of hours in space, all the while cracking wise and playing guitar. Hadfield's especially famous for making earnest videos showing the quotidian doings of life in orbit—and also for a magical, zero-gravity rendition of "Space Oddity." He's also written a book about his time in the sky, and he'll be taking us on a photographic tour around the world tonight. (And maybe playing a song.) DCT
Powell's City of Books, 1005 W Burnside, 7:30 pm, FREE

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 8

MUSIC—Here's something to buoy your rain-spackled Pacific Northwest allegiances. For the new compilation All Your Friend's Friends, Olympia indie label K Records offered up its entire catalog for sampling, then invited dozens of the region's emcees to christen the resulting beats. The thumping, gray-green love-fest drops tonight at Dante's, with performances from some of Interstate 5's best. DVH
w/the Chicharones, IAME and Goldini Bagwell, Karl Blau, and more; Dante's, 350 W Burnside, 9 pm, $8-10

DANCE—In case ya missed it, the rump-shakin', sex-sweatin' dance night Mrs. adjusted its name last month to Queen—and what's different? Same hot 'n' messy turntablism from the great DJ Beyonda, but now with even more QUEER. That's right, Queen is a flamboyant celebration and representation of all queer folk—regardless of what you look like or call yourself! (I'd expect a lot more "sweat," too!) WSH
Mississippi Studios, 3939 N Mississippi, 10 pm, $5

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 9

MUSIC—When you've got a good thing, why the bloody hell should you give up the ghost? Blonde Redhead are touring on the strength of their back catalog, a deep well of spacy noise rock. Plus the trio has a new album out called Barragán, a welcome addition to the experimental heap of 20 years of songs from the arty New York band. CF
w/Hungry Ghost; Wonder Ballroom, 128 NE Russell, 9 pm, $22-23

BENEFIT—I'm sure you're a nice enough person, but you know who the real heroes are? The doctors who've gone to West Africa to fight Ebola. That's why the good folks at Holocene, along with your friends at the Mercury, are holding this amazing benefit for Doctors Without Borders, with a great musical lineup including Lost Lander, Ancient Heat, Barna Howard, and Aaron Chapman of Nurses. So go, and give—or don't, and be a monster. NL
w/Adventure Galley, DJ Cooky Parker, & more; Holocene, 1001 SE Morrison, 8 pm, $10-12

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 10

METAL—While you can read all about Atriarch's new record, tonight's also the album release for Usnea's Random Cosmic Violence, their first for Relapse Records and a four-song steamrolling saga of brutal sludge and doom, violently loud and punishingly slow. Go tonight and witness both bands, along with the ethereal Muscle and Marrow, and see why Portland's heavy music scene is the most interesting thing going. NL
Tonic Lounge, 3100 NE Sandy, 9 pm, $8

FILM—When Edward Snowden was holed up in a Hong Kong hotel, only one filmmaker was in his room with him: documentarian Laura Poitras. Poitras' Citizenfour serves as a horrifying overview of America's surveillance state—and as a portrait of Snowden himself, who is nervous, funny, inspiring, and, above all, admirably certain of the importance of his actions. EH
Living Room Theaters, 341 SW 10th, see Movie Times, $5-10

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 11

MUSIC—Bow down before one of the undeniable kings of instrumental pop, Herb Alpert! Since the mid-'60s, the salsa-influenced trumpeter (along with his backing band, the Tijuana Brass) redefined cool with their songs "The Lonely Bull" and "Spanish Flea." Now Alpert is touring with wife and former lead singer of Sérgio Mendes & Brasil '66 (!!!), Lani Hall, to present an evening of jazz standards, Brazilian-style pop, and oh-so-classic hits. WSH
Aladdin Theater, 3017 SE Milwaukie, 8 pm, $42.50-45, all ages

DE NIRO—The Oregonian's former film critic Shawn Levy is also a superlative biographer, providing insightful looks at icons such as Jerry Lewis and Paul Newman. Now with De Niro: A Life, Levy presents 608 pages of rarely heard stories about one of America's all-time best actors, Robert De Niro... yes, even if we're counting Rocky & Bullwinkle. BR
Powell's City of Books, 1005 W Burnside, 7:30 pm, FREE