WEDNESDAY 12/18

SUN ANGLE, XDS, SUMMER CANNIBALS
(Mississippi Studios, 3939 N Mississippi) See My, What a Busy Week!

OLD AGE, US LIGHTS, MOTHERTAPES
(Holocene, 1001 SE Morrison) Old Age hail from Corvallis, but they're becoming some of Portland's favorite rockers. Matthew Ulm's uniquely gritty vocals make you feel their explosive emotion straight to the bone. Their recent EP, Rain Won't Ever Come, is packed with songs that spiral into one another, flowing with energy honest enough to feel like home—their melodic and uproarious songs just beg to be your next anthem. If you haven't taken the opportunity to give these guys a listen, I suggest making your way out tonight as they round out this rad lineup. RACHEL MILBAUER

MOONGRIFFIN/BERNSTEIN DUO, LEE ELDERTON
(Revival Drum Shop, 1465 NE Prescott) The latest edition of Creative Music Guild's ongoing Outset Series features Moongriffin and Bernstein, the amazing duo of erstwhile jazz players Elliott Ross and Noah Bernstein. Together they work in a much more electronic milieu, with Ross (performing under the name Moongriffin) manipulating programmed beats via laptop while Bernstein sends his alto sax through a series of effects pedals, rendering the sound as different from the source instrument as possible. Joining them on the bill is Lee Elderton, a self-proclaimed "degenerate saxist" who usually spends his evenings backing up folks like Dan Duval and former Zappa sideman Mike Keneally, but tonight will be performing an all-improvised solo set. ROBERT HAM

DJ TAN'T, LONG HALLWAYS, QUIET COUNTRIES
(East End, 203 SE Grand) For his new record, Paul Lynch—also known as DJ Tan't—plundered Led Zeppelin's drum tracks from the 1978 sessions for their In through the Out Door album, recorded at ABBA's (at the time) brand-new, state-of-the-art Polar Studios in Stockholm. John Bonham's undeniable beats form the backbone of DJ Tan't's The Bonham Diaries, an eight-song concept album with Lynch overlaying synthesizers on top of the drum tracks via Ableton. It's true that Bonham's drumming casts an immense shadow—"Fool in the Rain" might be one of the few songs in recorded history that anyone on the street can recognize by its drum track alone—but Lynch has created something interesting and heavy, much more than a curio for Zeppelin fanatics. Tonight Lynch plays with drummer Will Hattman, who takes over the drum throne from the late Bonham to provide in-the-flesh backbeats for The Bonham Diaries' live rendition. NED LANNAMANN

THURSDAY 12/19

EAR CANDY: SWAHILI, WISHYUNU
(Mississippi Studios, 3939 N Mississippi) See My, What a Busy Week!

X, THE BLASTERS
(Roseland, 8 NW 6th) The members of X don't take breaks for the holidaze—they tour. "A Family X-Mas" is not a Christmas-themed string of shows as some might fear (so don't get your wrapping in a bunch). The legendary Los Angeles punk band is just doing their thing. It's hot on the heels of their tour with Blondie, and also follows the recent reissue of the band's first six studio records, including one of my favorites, More Fun in the New World. X's importance to punk rock is immeasurable, as is the importance of escaping the holiday rush and finding the true meaning of X-mas. MARK LORE

TIGER HOUSE, TALKATIVE, BUBBLE CATS
(The Know, 2026 NE Alberta) The three local bands that combine forces tonight create a pop-influenced lineup that's as diverse and playful as it comes. The common thread that connects these bands is the ability to craft joyful and uptempo music that's not afraid to take a few twists and turns along the way. Bubble Cats mash classic rock and punk into spurts of high-octane exuberance. The trilogy of EPs they released earlier this year are chock-full of garage-pop tunes as delightful as their name suggests. The sometimes rocking, often experimental freak-folk sounds of Talkative are the wild card here, but that's not surprising given how far-out last year's appropriately named cassette Frantically sounded. Tiger House make bright dance-pop love songs that are whimsical and endearing. They've even got a cover of "Last Christmas" by Wham! up their sleeve, should the need for a little extra holiday spirit present itself. CHIPP TERWILLIGER

CLUB CHEMTRAIL: KINGDOM, MASSACOORAMAAN, SPF666, COMMUNE
(The Rose, 111 SW Ash) Club Chemtrail has consistently provided a progressive dance haven, putting Portland on the map by inviting niche producers the world over to de-homogenize the swag-hat centrism of downtown nightlife. Chemtrail's founders curate with praxis by informing their audience of the potential sociopolitical forces inherent in movement and music, highlighting how electronic music functions in varying subcultures. For Chemtrail's one-year anniversary, LA-based label Fade to Mind founder Kingdom comes to the Rose with a signature sound that harkens back to the ambience of new age fused with industrial SFX, subsonic bass, and macro-world rhythms that are BPM'ed to the max. Expect a celebration of style and future-forward club vibes for the masses on tonight's epic DJ bill. WYATT SCHAFFNER

FRIDAY 12/20

PORTLAND CELLO PROJECT'S HOLIDAY SWEATER SPECTACULAR
(Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, 1037 SW Broadway) See My, What a Busy Week!

SALLIE FORD AND THE SOUND OUTSIDE, THE KIDS
(Doug Fir, 830 E Burnside) See My, What a Busy Week!

ICONA POP, K. FLAY, SIRAH
(Wonder Ballroom, 128 NE Russell) When Icona Pop's hit song "I Love It" first surfaced in mid-2012, its blend of big beats and flippant, post-breakup carnage was so irresistible you could close your eyes and practically see packs of twentysomethings shouting along—"I don't care! I love it!"—with blurry city lights in the background. So you can understand why the Swedish electro-pop duo's team put the Charli XCX-penned tune on one EP and two albums within a span of 13 months; when you've got a song as fun as "I Love It," you should milk it for all it's worth. But now, after a year of hearing it blasted over and over on Top 40 radio, "I Love It" has worn out its welcome. Its relentless pulse and brash point of view have finally become exhausting. That it took this long is a testament to its appeal. BEN SALMON

MICHAEL HURLEY AND THE CROAKERS
(LaurelThirst Public House, 2958 NE Glisan) Michael Hurley, once of the Holy Modal Rounders and New York's original Greenwich Village pre-punk folk scene, knows what works. Whether it's avoiding press, collaborating with revivalist artists and labels like Cass McCombs and Mississippi Records, or playing only the most down-home, community-friendly venues like Pickathon and the LaurelThirst, Hurley's comfort zone is well defined. And after 71 years, it ought to be. He's got it down. Plus, there's something about Hurley's sweet, warm, plucky, austere, reminiscing tunes that makes extra sense during the holidays. His welcome—of warts and all—is the kind we can only hope for from our own friends and family. Should you find yours lacking, well, Hurley provides a glowing example—in both grace and song. ANDREW R TONRY

ROTTIES, FASTERS, SHARKS FROM MARS, LADY PROBLEMS
(Slabtown, 1033 NW 16th) On a full platter of local garage-punk, Rotties serve up the protein. Their Pacific Northwaste demo from earlier this year features a burlier sort of garage rock, with shades of stoner metal peeking through the slash-and-burn party-punk—less pogoing, more headbanging. As far as the rest of the lineup goes, Lady Problems keep things similarly visceral, but there's plenty of the bouncier stuff elsewhere. Fasters serve up power-pop, and while the name might be a tough sell, Sharks from Mars' catchy hooks, with just the right amount of snotty sloppiness, are a lot easier to like than their name would suggest. MATTHEW W. SULLIVAN

THE LOWER 48, MINDEN, TANGO ALPHA TANGO
(Mississippi Studios, 3939 N Mississippi) The Lower 48, led by Ben Braden and Sarah Parson, play sleek rock 'n' roll that sounds like it belongs on a jukebox in a '60s diner. Their smooth, poppy lyrics meld with upbeat harmonies to make you want to move your feet across the floor. Portland's beloved Minden makes sexy, sultry, '70s tunes that would fit perfectly into a porno soundtrack for ultrachic cool kids. The band, led by frontman Casey Burge, is known to adorn themselves in amazing spandex onesies and other costumed getups, which makes their live show that much more fun to watch. RM

GEORGE JONES TRIBUTE: HOOK AND ANCHOR, GABE ROZZELL, BRUSH PRAIRIE, MEREDITH BROTHERS, & MORE
(Landmark Saloon, 4847 SE Division) In the eight months since the passing of country legend George Jones, the folks at Deer Lodge Records have been cobbling together a tribute album with a swarm of local country and countrified artists contributing covers of some of "the Possum"'s best tunes. The end result of their efforts—a 30-track, two-CD set—is finally available to the general public, and tonight at the Landmark Saloon, the label celebrates its release with a similarly overstuffed lineup of Portland-based talent, including classic country cover band Brush Prairie, the all-acoustic twang of Hook and Anchor, and roots rockers the Meredith Brothers. RH

CAMBRIAN EXPLOSION, AU DUNES, THE VERNER PANTONS
(Habesha, 801 NE Broadway) Local psychedelic space cadets Cambrian Explosion recently finished recording their debut EP, The Sun (available on cassette), in their practice space. It's good stuff, meandering just far enough from pop-song structures without getting too lost. "Black Maven" takes 1967 into the year 2025, mixing Ravi Shankar and Hawkwind, and making just the right amount of noise to keep the hippies (and androids) away. The four-piece seems to be taking things slowly, playing just a handful of shows so far, but I get the feeling things are going pick up in 2014. Hell, they might just make the word "jam" a little less frightening. ML

BIG EYES, MARRIAGE + CANCER, WOUNDS
(Club 21, 2035 NE Glisan) When I caught Big Eyes at Dante's back in February, they played what ended up being one of my favorite sets of the year. The Seattle pop-punk trio delivered a tight and assertive show that immediately propelled their then-upcoming album, Almost Famous, to the top of my most anticipated releases. Singer/guitarist Kate Eldridge, who honed her songwriting in New York with bands Cheeky and Used Kids, has hit her stride since relocating to the West Coast. Almost Famous offers up melodic and heartfelt power-pop gems backed by a snarling confidence that demands your attention. If you haven't gotten to know Portland's Marriage + Cancer yet, you might still be familiar with the music made under their previous name, Nucular Aminals. On "No Sum," Marriage + Cancer continue to conjure up the haunting, moody cyclones of shape-shifting punk rock they've been sharpening for years. CT

SATURDAY 12/21

FUCK CANCER—A BENEFIT FOR STEF: STOVOKOR, MILLIONS OF DEAD COPS, HERE'S TO YOUR FUCK, DJ JUST DAVE
(The Know, 2026 NE Alberta) See My, What a Busy Week!

SALLIE FORD AND THE SOUND OUTSIDE, WOODEN INDIAN BURIAL GROUND
(Doug Fir, 830 E Burnside) For the second night in a row, Sallie Ford and the Sound Outside bring their rip-roaring rock to the Doug Fir. Fresh and in your face, Ford's unabashed energy and thunderously catchy songs will spice up the night, leaving you in an incredibly saucy state. It's the Sound Outside's last show EVER, too−not to be missed. Meanwhile, local faves Wooden Indian Burial Ground kick off the evening in proper, raging style. After playing over 100 live shows in 2013, WIBG is going to focus on recording in the coming months, so this will be one of your last chances to see their psychedelic magic on stage. This is a ridiculously tasty local lineup, one not to be missed. RM Also see My, What a Busy Week!

TEENSPOT, SUPER PROJECTION, SWEEPING EXITS, MR. BONES
(Laughing Horse Books, 12 NE 10th) I'm not quite sure how Teenspot crammed six entire songs onto their debut 7-inch, Aggressive Inline Skating, but I suppose it helps that none of them boil much past the two-minute mark. One-hundred-twenty seconds is the perfect duration for the chunks of chiming, agitated power pop made by the local supergroup of Your Rival's Mo Troper, Spookies' Mayhaw Hoons, Paper Brain's Mike Wroblewski, and Profcal's Asher McKenzie. (Full disclosure: Troper is a Mercury contributor.) As good as Aggressive Inline Skating is—very—it's too bad Teenspot, as a band, never quite got off the ground; they're only now playing a record release show for the 7-inch, which was first released online back in April. And this may in fact be Teenspot's final show, proving that pop at its most fleeting and fickle may also be pop at its most perfect. NL

M.A.S.S. IV: XHURCHES SYMPOSIUM: GOLDEN RETRIEVER, EARTH AND YOU
(Alberta Abbey, 126 NE Alberta) Tonight Alberta Abbey plays host to M.A.S.S IV, put on by the local druidic denizens of Northeast's Xhurch (ex-church) collective. For years now, the event has showcased artists and musicians within varying sanctified spaces, creating mind-warping installations and elaborate soundscapes to accompany the visual element. With architectural resonance, the Abbey is a natural venue to experience Portland's experimental and improvisational realms, which will be juxtaposed this evening with performance art and a retrospective of alternative church-spaces across the country. Golden Retriever headline this year's incarnation, with droney ambience and warbling synth backdropped against effects-laden bass clarinet blasts evoking the darkly triumphant instrumental zones of Bowie's Low. The event is free, with donations highly encouraged. WS

KORY QUINN AND THE COMRADES, PORTLAND COUNTRY UNDERGROUND
(LaurelThirst Public House, 2958 NE Glisan) The front cover of Portland singer/songwriter Kory Quinn's new album, At the End of the Bar, is an action shot of a typical evening at the LaurelThirst Public House (maybe a little redolent of the Kinks' Muswell Hillbillies). A milling, moving crowd forms a blurry iris around a musician parked on stage, and the album has a similarly freewheeling roadhouse vibe. Quinn's assembled an impressive roster of local talent to play his twanging, beery songs, and the album effectively tells a story of how an impromptu community can be drawn together through the shared act of playing music. Quinn's songwriting is adroit and surefooted, offering sturdily constructed country, folk, and Cajun-tinged songs for his ensemble to really sink their fangs into. Expect that community to be fully evident tonight at the release show for Quinn's At the End of the Bar. NL

SUNDAY 12/22

NICK DELFFS, MO TROPER
(Valentine's, 232 SW Ankeny) See My, What a Busy Week!

DIVERS, STREET EATERS, FINE PETS
(The Know, 2026 NE Alberta) It's a welcome sight to see Berkeley's Street Eaters back in town so soon after playing a pair of shows back in June. The duo, Megan March on drums and John No on bass, twist rhythm and fuzz with dueling vocals to create a double helix of melodic punk-rock that would have felt right at home on Kill Rock Stars back in the riot grrrl heyday. The pair strikes the perfect balance between sharp and sweet. Lyrics aim for the chest and pack a punch, and while nothing in their discography would be considered sugarcoated, there is a pop sensibility that makes the songs easy to cling to. Local fuzz-loving quartet Fine Pets get things started tonight. Their recently released album No Gaze is a take-no-prisoners burst of lo-fi punk that finds the band ready and willing to crank the volume and drench beauty in piercing noise. CT Also see My, What a Busy Week!

BOMBS INTO YOU, SOUVENIR DRIVER, HONG KONG BANANA
(Mississippi Studios, 3939 N Mississippi) Portland trio Bombs into You's new album Shake continues their catalog of punk-tinged electro-pop, and the urgency in the full-length's nine songs perpetuate a buzzing, after-midnight quality that successfully disorients then soothes the listener. While the band's reliance on vocal effects and blurred, stratospheric guitars sometimes puts the listeners at arm's length from the band—as if these sounds could be emanating out of the top of a stadium a dozen blocks away—Bombs into You's solidly written, yearning songs boast arrangements that are interesting enough to keep the listener engaged. The new songs on Shake should work a treat live at tonight's record release show. Don't miss openers Hong Kong Banana, who released the fine, Stones-y EP Now But Not NOW Now and should kick things off with the right amount of rock 'n' roll grease and attitude. NL

MONDAY 12/23

THE NUTCRACKER: OREGON BALLET THEATRE
(Keller Auditorium, 222 SW Clay) See My, What a Busy Week!

TUESDAY 12/24

Happy 68th birthday, Lemmy! You are the bestest Christmas miracle of all.