THURSDAY 12/18

INTEGRITY, ON BROKEN WINGS, ROSARY, PHYSICAL CHALLENGE, REFLUX
(Meow Meow, 527 SE Pine) One time I saw Integrity in their hometown of Cleveland. The singer gave a monologue about how everywhere he travels, fans ask him if Cleveland is really as violent as people claim. He said something about how it's worse than you could ever imagine, then encouraged the audience to prove him right. Now, 10 years later, you might be tempted to think that they've calmed down; in fact, Integrity have sunk even further in their swamp of brutality. Although Cleveland is six times tougher than Portland, knowing the way Integrity whips their fans into a frenzy, you'd better start thinking of excuses for all those bruises now. ETHAN SWAN

PEYOTE CALAMITY, AT EVERY STEP, THE DEAD UNKNOWN, BLOWUPNIHILIST
(Solid State, 624 E Burnside, 7 pm) Whatever will we do when Lord of the Rings finally dissipates from mainstream consciousness, and it's no longer socially appropriate, acceptable, or redeeming to make Orc jokes? In the interest of prolonging the moment, let us grasp as many Orc references as possible, lest we lose this opportunity in times ahead. Peyote Calamity, a slaying grindcore trio from California, sound like dwarf axes searing into the flesh of hellhounds, or the devilish yawl of the Balrog as he descends flailing into the gut of the earth--the final belches of magma, pulverizing falterers to bits. Calamity? Indeed. Peyote? Hey, it's none of my business. Go forth! JULIANNE SHEPHERD

DEFIANCE, STRAIGHT JACKET, OBSERVERS, ALL OUT
(Paris, 6 SW 3rd) For 10 years, premium anarcho punk quartet Defiance has railed against the tyranny of the state, and promoted self-empowerment and unity, through song--agile, wily, urgent song. Delve into their progression from members of groundbreaking PDX DIY punk bands in the late '80s, to unfaltering purveyors of keeping it real, with their new retrospective on crust label Punk Core Records. Not only do their lyrics provoke thought and discourse--"É start working together on our own with no leaders/stop giving those bastards opportunity to beat us"--they also make great buttons, which say, "Defiance: Fuck This City Up." JS

CLARITY PROCESS, EVER WE FALL, KISSING TIGERS, BLUE SKY MILE
(Nocturnal, 1800 E Burnside) They come from Southern California, and so Kissing Tigers' throwback synths, teen-ennui vocals--a de rigueur intertwining of Robert Smithian wail and Guy Picciottoian resignation--and voracious big-chord, punk-influenced guitars aren't much of a surprise. But they're a bright light on this bill for the clean kids, and certain choruses--such as the breathy, pained "I Died in a Mall"-- needle their way into your brain until you forget all about--what's that other band, again? JS

THE DISTILLERS, THE BRONX, THE LOT SIX
(Aladdin, 3017 SE Milwaukie) See Music pg 19

POH-HOP 8: SIREN'S ECHO, PIECE, TURIYA, KAY KAY, J-KRON, SONNIE, DJ DEENA B, BEYONDA, DJ NIZ
(Ash Street, 225 SW Ash) Tonight's Women in Hiphop showcase features Siren's Echo, which combines the x-acto sharp spitting of Syndel, the wilting, jazzy vocals of Toni Hill, and DJ Beyonda cutting up the decks. Hiphop poet Turiya Autry, rappers Kay Kay (see "Jingles" pg 17) and J-Kron make rare appearances, and DJ Deena B (KBOO, Tiger Bar) holds it down. JS

ROY, WINIFRED E. EYE, LOCH LOMOND
(Berbati's, 231 SE Ankeny) If you're a local band connoisseur, Loch Lomond is for you: a local band hodgepodge of voices from other local bands past and present. LL's new album, When We Were Mountains, features work by Jay Clarke from Dolorean, Tim Putnam and Rob Oberdorfer from the Standard, Brian Gumpert from Hurt Bird, violinist studette Kate O'Brien from Iretsu, and several more. The resulting sound is slow and heavy, almost spiritual, like the gothic hymns of a medieval church. JUSTIN WESCOAT SANDERS

FRIDAY 12/19

JOHN DOE, PHRANC, LYSA FLORES
(Crystal, 1332 W Burnside) John Doe sooo wants to get away from X. You can tell by the way he acts during X's shows--reticent, tired, bitchy, going through the motions while his band has the time of their lives. Solo, John Doe wants to be Aimee Mann, not a punk icon. His latest rec, Dim Stars, Bright Sky, is nothing close in any way, shape or form to X. But last time I saw him live, X still seeped in. After a muffled apology, and a half-self-dis, he reluctantly played X's greatest pop-song, "Poor Girl." It was beautiful, moving, and the first time that night that anybody sang along. ADAM GNADE

POH-HOP 8: SLEEP, MANIAC LOK, BROTHA LOVE, TD 32, POTLUCK, YOUNG FAME, BULLET & TODD G, CLEVELAND STEAMERS, MR. MEEZALINI, XTAC, QUIVAH, DEE ARTHUR & THE FLYTRAPPER, MYG, SONNY BONOHO, TRASHHEAP, FACE, DJ WICKED
(Berbati's) As Cool Nutz meant for it to be, the man version of the POH-Hop is a genre-free amalgamation of hiphop styles, bringing together the more underground-sensible groups and emcees with harder skills. And he's right: this kind of bill is rare in Portland. (Though, when I wrote my friend in New York about the Raekwon/Cool Nutz/C-Rayz Walz/Libretto show a couple months ago, he responded, "That bill would never happen here." So it's an epidemic of Coastal proportions.) JS See Music pg 17

SHOEGAZER'S BALL II: THE HIGH VIOLETS, TELEPHONE, HYPATIA LAKE, MAN OF THE YEAR, THE JOLENES, NORDIC, THE UPSIDEDOWN, WATSONVILLE PATIO, THE TURNONS
(Fez, 336 SW 11th) Well, if you've been curled up in your room wondering when the heck you were going to get the chance to bask in a nonstop sonic wash of reverb-heavy, aptly termed shoegazer music, it's okay to come out now. This orgiastic lineup includes: The High Violets, Telephone, Hypatia Lake, Man Of The Year, The Jolenes, Nordic, The Upsidedown, Watsonville Patio, and The Turn Ons. Also, your admission cost includes a copy of In A Different Place (aww), a compilation CD that has tracks from the performing bands as well as Voyager One, James Angell, Silver Surfer, King Black Acid, Sushirobo, Charmparticles, Black Nite Crash, and Saturna. So put your shoes on, Lucy. MS

LOCH LOMOND CD RELEASE, HURT BIRD
(Jasmine Tree, 401 SW Harrison) Hurt Bird suffers for its vocalist, who meanders in the paradigm of "monotonous faux-rap sing"--the one that worked for Dose and why? (though many would argue that point) and probably could have been left at the Anticon doorstep. However, the local band redeems itself in the form of its tight, downtempo, and hiphop-influenced rhythm section, which has live bass and synths and drums rocking it steady. JS See also Thursday listing

DJ FIXX, JT DONALSON, MADAME MERCURY,
(Cool School, 13 NW 13th) SF breaks connoisseur, DJ Madame Mercury, is riding high on I Wanna Dance (on her label Mad Wax), a mix which features her billmate, DJ Fixx. On her self-produced single, a slab of "My Soul" plus dance remixes, she explores the sparser side of the beat, with a gated, vague melody and echoed vocal sample drifting into an ether of breaks. JS

PHARCYDE, STRAITJACKET FILMS' DAILY DOSE
(Roseland, NW 6ht and Burnside) It wasn't that long ago that Pharcyde put out an album (Plain Rap, 2000), but it has been a long time since they were rocking my stereo (although the song "Passing Me By" did make a brief resurgence in 2002). Question: why don't they ever play Pharcyde on Jammin' 95.5? I mean, is Jammin' required by law to play the same shitty "jump in my Escalade," "I don't need no effing hook on this beat" songs 40 times a day? Regardless, Pharcyde's got some cuts and I'm sure they'll be playing the oldies tonight, while you're simultaneously entertained by a snowboarding film called Daily Dose. I just had an extreme-sports flashback to the Sobe-sponsored Coup tour, aka the shittiest Coup show ever, but who knows, this could be different. KATIE SHIMER

SLEEPYHEAD, RALLY BOY, PRECURSOR, COOTIE PLATOON
(Tonic) After eight years, this is Rally Boy's last show ever. And how could they love us and leave us and never say goodbye? Although the local jubilant indierockers have come to the end of the road, it's natural they're having a bittersweet farewell. Including local punk popsters Cootie Platoon (who are Phil "Maybe for Mayor" Busse's favorite local band) and up and coming young emcee Sleepyhead, part of the Dismal City crew, who raps about narcolepsy, his inexorably suave nature, Dungeons and Dragons, and other absolute truths. JS

JOEY DEFRANCESCO
(Jimmy Mak's) Oh yeah... gimme gimme that Hammond JAZZ!!! I first saw DeFrancesco in tandem with Captain Jack McDuff, on the Captain's final tour about four years ago, and I was very, VERY pleased. For reals, DeFrancesco lit them keys on FIRE. And, like, I don't keep up with the contemporary jazz scene at ALL, I dig the '60's soul jazz and boogaloo... the kind you WANNA dance to! Well, turns out I'd been missing out on DeFrancesco 'cause he laid down some swingin' heat, y'all, he got in the groove and got it ON! Uh-huhÉ he got soul. MIKE NIPPER

DETROIT COBRAS, FIREBALLS OF FREEDOM, FIST CITY
(Ash Street) Every couple of years a band comes along that rekindles the discussion about white appropriation of black music: John Spencer, White Stripes, Eminem. So it's a little striking that the Detroit Cobras, who have made a whole career of covering Soul/R&B gems (Jackie DeShannon, Otis Redding, Mary Wells) have avoided criticism. The key is that they're total nerds. You'd never guess from their onstage swagger--all cigarette smoke, tattoos, and flailing arms--but, as fans of the originals, they reach a geekiness ordinarily reserved for chubby baby boomers with custom built cases for their 45s. Anyone who has memorized catalog numbers and obscure label discographies deserves to show their love any way they see fit. ETHAN SWAN

SATURDAY 12/20

WINTERLAND WINTER PARTY STARRING DAHLIA, RHETORIC TUESDAY, MADGESDIQ, LUMINOUS FOG, MANO-DESTRA, JULIAN TULIP'S LICORICE, DJ SNEAKERS
(Haze Gallery, 6635 N Baltimore, 8 pm-2 am) Indubitably the most equally altruistic and fun event of the winter: a vast extravagant swathe of local acts--including stalwart emcee Madgesdiq, local favorites Dahlia, and live hi-NRGtronica artist Mano-Destra--performing against a backdrop of local artists and designers--including Ductbill duct tape wallets and local keystone label Sameunderneath (aka the Ecko or Rocawear of Portland, but not all corporate and shit)--and stuff donated to Doernbecher Children's Hospital Toy Drive ($5 off the cover if you bring a new toy!). Don't miss it, it'll be fantastic. JS

SUPERSUCKERS, DWARVES, VISQUEEN, I CAN LICK ANY SONOFABITCH IN THE HOUSE
(Roseland) Ah, the ol' lick and suck. Supersuckers and I Can Lick Any Sonofabitch in the House share salacious sentiments and a strut-and-swagger stage presence, not to mention a gritty garage-punk-bar-brawls-with-country sound. Cranking up the chaos in each category are the Dwarves, who cuss more than the evil elf in Bad Santa and get nastier than the midget strippers who tour under the name Little Darlings. Finally, there's Visqueen, a post-Fastbacks project that's the only nice act on this naughty bill. But its debut disc does rock, so at least these goodie-goodies have that going for them. ANDREW MILLER

DAMNED FOR ALL TIME: DETONATORS, HELLSIDE STRANGLERS, SADO-NATION, STATCH & THE RAPES, THE BELLIGERENTS, CULPRITS
(Ash St) This is the second of three consecutive nights that celebrate the release of Damned For All Time, a compilation of Northwestern, loud-ass, punk-ass hard rockers. It's so nice to see all the kids from the neighborhood getting along, isn't it? Anyway, tonight's episode features ear-splitters like the Detonators, the Hellside Stranglers, Statch & the Rapes, the Belligerents, and the Culprits, as well as the rock-reliable Sado-Nation. If you have metal punks visiting for the holidays, then your entertainment responsibilities are cake. Or just experience the local deaf 'n' drunk flavor for yourself. It's your town. MS

THE SPITS, THE TIRGGERS, STRAIGHTJACKET
(Twilight) See Music pg 17

MMMÉ YETI OR NOT!: NU SOLTRIBE, MARCH FORTH MARCHING BAND, DJ MANOJ, DJ MATTIE MATAUS
(Ohm) Nu Soltribe is more of a spiritual funk soul rock movement than just a band. I smell Burning Man. Anyway, I don't mean to be snarky if this is your thing; but be prepared for positivity, passion, and connecting with others. KS

JERRY JOSEPH, LEA KRUEGER, GOLDEN AMERICANS
(Mt Tabor, 4811 SE Hawthorne) The last time I saw Jerry Joseph, with his band The Jackmormons, was in the Goodfoot's basement area. Near the end of his set there were about 20 of us left, but we were all up on our feet, gathered around the little man with a booming voice, utterly entranced. The words, "so fucking good" flashed through my mind, which for some reason compelled me to look to my left. I made eye contact with some dude wearing a hat, who nodded at me, grinned, and yelled through the thunderous rock, "so fucking good!" as if he'd heard my thoughts. This is what Joseph can do; unite a crowd in body and mind. His performance is transcendent, thrusting the crowd into another realm, where every brain is telepathically connected via the music. Please don't accuse me of hyperbole; I swear Joseph's show marked the first time I'd ever felt real catharsis at a concert. And, he also rocked really fucking hard. JWS

AVERY BELL, GLASSINE, REBENGE
(Green Room) Rebenge is such a dorky band name that it's almost cool. And for dirty, bass-heavy, screamy punk that doesn't take itself too seriously, it seems just perfect. KS

SUNDAY 12/21

TERRY RILEY
(Community Music Center) Terry Riley, whose minimalist cornerstone "In C" was composed in 1964, will sing Classical North Indian Ragas at 11 am--the appropriate time to perform them. It is worth mentioning this is also the winter solstice--the shortest day of the year, a turning point. JS

HOLY MODAL ROUNDERS
(White Eagle, 836 N Russell) Them Holy Modal Rounders began in 1963 when founders Peter Stampfel and Steve Weber got together and decided to fuck with what most people consider traditional folk/old time. Like, they played it straight BUT injected some CHEEK, enough to raise the ire of strict folkies, and by the late '60s had grown into what folks now call a "cult" band ... you know they were something in their OWN way, but didn't sell enough records to crawl out from the "underground." And so it appears as if in PDX, in some form, they've reappeared! Boobs a lot? Damn straight! MN

DJ MAXAMILLION
(Tube, 18 NW 3rd) The Get Hustle doesn't play out enough. But their drummer, Ron, is quite the man about town. In the next few months he has a new release coming out with the hot-shit Locust side-band Holy Molar. Also, he's been doing a black metal band called, get this, TERRIFICK! And he's known for throwing down some sick archivist psychedelia and metal as DJ Maxamillion, regularly at the Rock and Bowl, and now, tonight, at Tube. The boy's damn inspiring in a turn-off-Celebrity Justice-and-get-off-the-fuggen-couch way--which is the best kinda inspiring in the world. And speaking of inspiring, Tube has recently souped up its act with an all-new vegan-inclusive menu! Woo! ADAM GNADE

MONDAY 12/22 "my milkshake brings all the boys to the yard, and they're like, 'it's better than yours.'"

TUESDAY 12/23 "damn right, it's better than yours.

I could teach you. But I'd have to charge."

WEDNESDAY 12/24

OLD SCHOOL LADIES NIGHT WITH DJ RECKLESS, ALEXA THE GIRL NEXT DOOR
(Hot Shots) Usually when radio stations get involved in holiday-season entertainment, the resulting debacle gets dubbed "Jingle Jam," "Twisted Christmas" or "Rise and Rock, Baby Jesus," and the lineup goes something like: Reel Big Fish, Vanilla Ice, Norah Jones, Offspring, Kelly Clarkson. Now, there isn't quite as much star power at this event, with the exception of local celebrities DJ Reckless and Alexa the Girl Next Door from Jammin' 95.5 FM. But the music mix should be better, with a steady flow of R&B and hiphop dancefloor dynamite, and the admission price should be significantly smaller, especially for women. The Blazers aren't in action this evening, so true players at this sports bar can spit game instead of watching one. ANDREW MILLER