THURSDAY AUGUST 2

MUSIC--Looking for a hometown honey to soothe your aching heart? Try Cuspidor's husky voice and sweetly buzzing, plunky guitar are rough-hewn, sensitive, and accessible. Four Things 7" release party. w/ Roy Tinsel. TL

Red and Black, 2138 SE Division, 231-3899, 8 pm


FRIDAY AUGUST 3

TRICKY--There are really only a precious few times when one can rightfully say that a single artist "invented a genre," and now is one of them. Trip-hop; invented by Tricky. And luckily, this crazy Brit is still reinventing, with the recently released, brilliant EP called Mission Accomplished. KD

B Complex, 320 SE 2nd, 235-4424, 9:00, $17

LEATHER--Just when you thought Leather Pride Week was going to pass by uncelebrated, you're suddenly asked to cavort in public with scraps of leather pasted to your erotic areas at the Portland Leather Alliance's Leather, Feathers & Fur Fetish Ball! If that's not enough, San Francisco's Dark Carnival will thrill your senses with pain-oriented entertainment like knife throwing and glass walking. TL

Adrianna Hill Grand Ballroom, 918 SW Yamhill, 503-727-3148, 8pm, $10-15


SATURDAY AUGUST 4

POLITICAL ACTION-- On a national tour to discuss the past election, Ralph Nader has got some feet-on-the-ground solutions for the environment, campaign reform, and various other issues our current president is apparently too coked up to face. Before Nader's speech, though, benefit from a day-long series of free local-minded teach-ins!

Rose Garden, 224-2647, 11am, free; speeches by Nader, Biafra, Glover, Vedder, more, 6:30 pm, $8-10

CHAKA KHAN... CHAKA KHAN--Chaka Khan, let me rock you, let me rock you, Chaka Khan! Let me rock you, that's all I wanna do. Chaka Khan, let me rock you, let me rock you, Chaka Khan! Let me rock you, let me feel for you. Chaka Khan, let me tell you what I wanna do! Do you feel for me like I feel for you? Chaka Khan, let me tell you what I wanna do: I wanna love you, wanna hug you, wanna squeeze you, too. Let me take you in my arms, let me fill you with my charms, Chaka, 'cause you know I'm the one to keep you warm, Chaka. I'll make you more than just a physical dream, I want to rock you, Chaka baby, 'cause you make me wanna scream. I wanna rock you... rock you. GMM

Jammin' for Salmon Concert, Tom McCall Waterfront Park, SW Front, 8:30, free


SUNDAY AUGUST 5

STRIPPER FILM--If you want to learn more about Portland's stripper community--and frankly, who doesn't--don't miss this special benefit screening of Not Even Ashamed, a documentary spotlighting 15 of our proudest exotic dancers. Featuring a soundtrack of local bands, along with hee-larious as well as poignant anecdotes, this flick keeps it REAL. Plus, there will be live dancers in between shows! Woo-hoo! WSH

Mary's Club, 129 SW Broadway, 227-3023, 1 & 3 pm, $7 or $5 with a can of food

MUSICAL--Thank gawd, they've finally come up with a musical version of Mark Twain's rambling nineteenth century fable Huck Finn, titled Big River. Hmmmn, this sounds like a perfect opportunity to burn a big fat doober, snicker at some overacting, talk like a redneck, and roll down the mountain when you get bored. PB

Mount Tabor Park's Crater Ampitheater (outdoors), 245-3642, Thurs-Sun 7 pm, free


MONDAY AUGUST 6

FILM--Protagonist J.C. becomes a big city gigolo in this campy, sexy/sad coming-of-age story. Made in the 1960s, the Meat Rack is a rare opportunity to see some gay softcore that actually includes body hair. KS

Clinton Street Theater, 2522 SE Clinton, 238-8899, 7 & 9 pm, $6


TUESDAY AUGUST 7

ROCK 'N ROLL FILM--Not only does the Blackbird like to rawk, but they also like to show rawk 'n roll films. Headed up by filmmaker Andrew Dickson, this week's DIY feature Half-Cocked includes punk rockers Rodan and appearances by the Make-Up. KS

Blackbird, 3728 NE Sandy 282-9949, 10 pm, $3

BOOTY BOMB--The awkwardness of sex, as interpreted by backseat beats that seem to sweat and pant. Peaches, the white girl who raps like she's giving phone sex: "Mo-fuckas wanna get with me, lay with me, love with me. Ahhhll... riiight." It's so nasty, all about humping, and it's hot. JS

Dante's, 1 SW 3rd, 226-6630, 9 pm, $10


WEDNESDAY AUGUST 8

THE EXPERIMENT--Jason Soares and Thatcher Orbitachi--Aspects of Physics--play guitar and synths like scientist orchestrators of mischief and they're going to bore a very precise hole into your head (approx. 3/4" in circumference) with their messed-up musical equations. JS

Blackbird, 3728 NE Sandy, 282-9949, 9 pm, $6

BIKINIS--Portland's finest hotties will gather under one roof tonight for the Tonic's Bikini Contest! Gals, guys... all in various states of undress... and not only will they pit their bodies against one another, but some brain work will also be involved! Hot-cha-cha! WSH

Tonic Lounge, 3100 NE Sandy, 239-5154, 10 pm, $5