MUSIC--I've never seen them live, but if their recordings are any indication, Autechre will make their beats from amplified cheese graters and their melodies from lucid yet radioactive animals kidnapped from space. Well... probably not... but their electronic-based music is THAT gorgeous, exotic, and groundbreaking. JS
B Complex, 320 SE 2nd Ave, 224-TIXX, 9 pm, $13
GRIT ROCK--Listening to Ensign makes me wanna ride a Harley through the desert with a guy like Rowdy Roddy Piper (although a more attractive version). Their hyper, gritty hardcore is the shit fantasies are made of. KS
w/ Berzerk, Pine Street Theatre, 215 SE 9th Ave, 224-TIXX, 7:30 pm, $8
FRIDAY MAY 18
RAWK--"Mommy! Grandpa scares me!" Or at least that's what you may initially think after seeing the latest incarnation of Dee Dee Ramone onstage. Happily, Grampy still knows how to RAWK, and this performance will most certainly feature our favorite Ramones hits, a tribute to the late, great Joey, as well as original compositions. But dude... what's up with the hair? WSH
w/ City Girls' Boys, Goddamn Gentlemen, The Riffs, Satyricon, 125 NW 6th Ave, 243-2380, 9:30 pm, $10
MUSIC--Though it would be really punny if we recommended the All-Girl Summer Fun Band just because the sun's out now, that's not why (though we love a good pun). You should see them because of the joy that wells up in your stomach as you dance to their sweetly carefree harmonies and extremely cute subject matter. Two years, and they're still playing the "charm bracelet" song. Woo! JS
Meow Meow, 527 SE Pine, 230-2111, 8:30 pm, $6
SATURDAY MAY 19
EL SALVADOR--Charles Mee's characters do not develop as much as attack the unassuming viewer with the jargon of violent, philosophical manifesto. Nowhere is this more apparent than his play The Investigation of El Salvador, where snooty elitists brag about their wealth as political violence wages in the streets just outside their sheltered little world. JWS
Raindog Theatre, 8638 N Lombard, 938-1482, Thurs & Sun 7 pm, Fri & Sat 8 pm, $8-$15
SUNDAY MAY 20
ANIMATION--If you love animation like The PJs on the WB, or MTV's Gary & Mike, you can kiss them goodbye 'cuz they're getting cancelled. However! Since the makers of these fine shows live and work right here in Portland (at Will Vinton and Flying Rhinoceros), it's high time we see an animated festival of their work. Featuring almost 30 entries using varying techniques (claymation, stop-action, flash animation, etc.), this fest is a must-see for fun-lovin' filmgoers! WSH
Clinton Street Theater, 2522 SE Clinton, 238-8899, part 1 @ 7pm, part 2 @ 9pm, $6 each
MONDAY MAY 21
FILM--Is Las Vegas the center of the world? Is sex really that fucking important? These questions are asked through the eyes of a confused girl/ boy pair in Wayne Wang's latest film The Center of the World. Local celeb Miranda July contributed to the story--so go and show the Portland sister-love. KS
Cinema 21, 616 NW 21st Ave, 223-4515, 7, 8:50 & 10:40 pm, $3-6
TUESDAY MAY 22
MUSIC--Pow! The Bangs just sucker-punched you with their snarling punk rock, Cheap Trick riffs, and devil-may-care drums--and it felt like a kiss. We all wish we were as tough as they are. JS
Meow Meow, 527 SE Pine, 230-2111, 8:30 pm, $6, all ages
Pine Street Theatre, 215 SE 9th Ave, 224-TIXX, 9 pm, $8
WEDNESDAY MAY 23
READING--Tess Gallagher is working hard to commemorate the life of her long-time partner in writing, Raymond Carver. She'll be stopping by Powell's to read from Soul Barnacles, a distant look at her life with Raymond. KD
Powell's City of Books, 1005 W Burnside, 7:30 pm, free
