THURSDAY, July 10

MUSIC--Just a bunch of straight-up gorgeous music tonight. Rilo Kiley has the countrified indie pop thing going, enhanced by Jenny Lewis' lovely, unassuming vocals, while Califone pumps out comforting computer effects-enhanced fuzz-folk. Songwriting wunderkind M. Ward brings in the reserves, armed with a twangy guitar and a harmonica, the standard weapons of mass destruction. JWS
w/Brokeback, The Eternals; Aladdin Theater, 3017 SE Milwaukie, 233-1994, 7:30 pm, $12.50

MUSIC--It's a historic week in Portland, my friends, and not only because I finally clipped my toenails. It is also a historic week because not only is Marilyn Manson playing, but the theatrical speed-metal hardcore freaks from Cradle of Filth will be dazzling you with a live show so intense, it just might give you hemorrhoids. KS
Roseland, NW 6th & Burnside, 1-800-325-SEAT, 8 pm, $20

FRIDAY, July 11

PARTY PUNK--We missed the living hell out of The Bugs, the favorite Portland party band who kissed us goodbye months ago. Come welcome back their nutty, rocky drink-and-fall-down fun times. It's not their usual house party scene, but there will still be people who basically live there. MS
Chez What?, 2203 NE Alberta, 281-1717, 10 pm, free!

SHORT EXPERIMENTIA--Fresh off the boat from Washington, D.C., cinematic experimentalist Rob Hatch has moved to Portland, and is ready to strut his movie stuff. Check out his collection of short flicks being presented at The Know under the banner of Raw Deal Short Film Explosion. As the man said, it's chock full of psychotronic, psychedelic, and psychosympathetic media flickerings. WSH
The Know, 2022 NE Alberta, 284-6397, 9 pm, $4

SATURDAY, July 12

BDSM FUN--Looking for something naughtier than dinner and a movie? Try A Midsummer Nightmare, a night of BDSM fetish art and performers, like Bridgette Harrington--you won't believe what this woman can do with five minutes and a rope... MS
Ascension, 5224 SE Foster, 972-2226, 7 pm, $5-8

MUSIC--Portland trio Nudge celebrates their new record on Tigerbeat6 this evening, and all I have to say is that last time they played, they magically transformed a gloopy dub beat on contact drums, laptop, bass and vox into a BANGIN' TECHNO TRACK. Humorous, smart, etc. JS
Blackbird, 3728 NE Sandy, 282-9949, 9 pm, $6

SPORTS--With competition levels that fall somewhere between the Olympics and the Special Olympics, the Oregon State Games is an annual scrum for athletes and non-athletes. With sports from basketball and swimming, to pickleball and table tennis, the games have something for all shapes and sizes. Participate or just come to watch! PB
For more information about venues, signing-up, etc., check out "stategamesoforegon.org"

SUNDAY, July 13

MUSIC--What do Marilyn Manson and the Dixie Chicks have in common? Perhaps a few hues of eye shadow, AND they both make President Bush's sphincter tighten to the size of a pinhead! But after that, common ground between the honey-sweet C&W trio and macabre glam rocker quickly disappears. Compare and contrast for yourself. Both are in town TONIGHT! PB
Dixie Chicks at the Rose Garden, 224-4400, 8 pm, $35+; Marilyn Manson at the Schnitzer, 1111 SW Broadway, 224-4400, 7 pm, $39

OUTDOOR CINEMA--Before Martin Sheen was president, he was roaming the Dakota backcountry with his white-trash girlfriend (a very young Sissy Spacek) in Badlands, Terrence Malick's hauntingly beautiful 1973 film. Tonight, Cloudy Vision Cinema screens this seminal work on the patio of the Produce Row Cafe, a happy place with delicious sandwiches and a great beer selection. PB
Produce Row, 204 SE Oak, 232-8355, film starts at nightfall, free admission

MONDAY, July 14

INTELLIGENT DANCE MUSIC--I am in love with them. It's okay if you are, too. Erase Errata, taut with tension from their impenetrable rhythms and determined vocal treatises, is by far the most important art-punk band of our time. ADMIT IT: YOU ARE IN LOVE WITH THEM!!! JS
Disjecta, 116 NE Russell, 335-6979, 9 pm, $9

TUESDAY, July 15

OLD SCHOOL--With a new album, Repossession, stirring up copyright controversy thanks to its exclusively-online release, the 44-year-old Ice-T hasn't missed a beat since his "Cop Killer" days. His live show is a curious blend of pretty good hiphop; spontaneous, merciless, expletive-heavy spoken/shouted tirades; and heavy metal. Yes, that's right: the crazy rapper will also be performing with his metal band Body Count. He is truly a Renaissance Man. JWS
w/Anybody, Killah, E Sham the Boogie Man; Roseland, 8 NW 6th, 224-2038, 8 pm, 1-800-325-SEAT, $20

WEDNESDAY, July 16

READING--What's more cultural than an evening with Rick Moody and Miranda July at Reed College? I don't know, maybe a night at the symphony with Salman Rushdie? Regardless, Rick--author of everyone's favorite book, The Ice Storm--will be interviewed by Rob Spillman and afterwards Miranda will read and show a film. That chick really loves films. KS
Reed College, 3203 SE Woodstock, 224-TIXX, 8 pm, $15