WEDNESDAY 8/20

TJO, KEY LOSERS, LAVENDER MIRROR
(Mississippi Studios, 3939 N Mississippi) Tara Jane O'Neil (TJO) is a multimedia artist, the ex-bassist for post-hardcore legends Rodan, a former Portland resident, and the maker of hushed, meditative solo music that often appeals to those who usually don't like it slow. Earlier this year she released her first solo studio album since her 2009 masterpiece A Ways Away. Released on Kranky, Where Shine New Lights is another great work that, like A Ways Away, exists somewhere between an experimental drone album and a folk-pop album. At times it recalls the ambience of Windy & Carl, at others the hypnotizing folk of Hope Sandoval, and here and there the plodding weight of Low. O'Neil's is music to sink into, and seeing her live is an experience unlike any other. Tonight's lineup also includes former Dear Nora songwriter Katy Davidson's project Key Losers and excellent Portland electro-pop project Lavender Mirror. JOSHUA JAMES AMBERSON

SPLIT SINGLE
(Doug Fir, 830 E Burnside) Under different circumstances, Split Single could have been much worse. The nasal vocals are similar to other indie bands, and the songs have a '90s alterna-pop vibe that, performed by lesser musicians, could have easily turned into soggy garbage. Split Single has a more advanced sound, though, and experience to match. It's led by Verböten/Verbow's Jason Narducy, who's played with Superchunk, Bob Mould, and countless others. On Split Single's debut album, Fragmented World, the band's rounded out by Spoon frontman Britt Daniels and Superchunk drummer Jon Wurster. Tonight Narducy will be joined by Ben Trokan (Reigning Sound) and Tim Remis. Though relatively new, Split Single has the tools and the pedigree to become very popular very quickly. ROSE FINN

THURSDAY 8/21

BECK, JENNY LEWIS
(Edgefield, 2126 SW Halsey, Troutdale) See My, What a Busy Week!

SEAN FLINN AND THE ROYAL WE, CATALDO, DUSTIN HAMMAN
(Doug Fir, 830 E Burnside) Read our article on Sean Flinn and the Royal We.

MEMORY BOYS, SHAGGY SAMPLE, COLE BABY
(Red & Black Café, 400 SE 12th) The smooth, Wurlitzer-driven retro pop of Shaggy Sample is irresistible. Imagine Karl Blau interpreting King Harvest's "Dancing in the Moonlight" (K Records meets K-Tel!), add in a brief rap about making soup, and you'll have a pretty good idea of the joy you'll experience on Shaggy Sample's debut, My Other Car Is. The members of this new Bay Area band come with an impressive and diverse track record of groups that include (but are not limited to) the soulful hiphop duo Jaberi & Deutsch, psych-country outfit Lazer Zeppelin, and noise-pop band Hermit Thrushes. Tonight's show is rounded out by Portland power-pop dreamboats Memory Boys, and Cole Baby, who's half of local boy band IBQT. JJA

FRIDAY 8/22

PETUNIA AND THE VIPERS, MUSTERED COURAGE, JACOB MILLER AND THE BRIDGE CITY CROONERS
(Mississippi Studios, 3939 N Mississippi) Bring your two-step kicks and an extra shirt, because Mississippi Studios is going to be transformed into a roadhouse dance party when Petunia and the Vipers roll into town. In the tradition of first-wave rock 'n' roll, Vancouver, BC's Petunia and the Vipers offer slick steel-guitar leads à la Don Helms, stand-up bass, kazoos, and some of the best goddamn yodeling you're ever going to hear. The band's 2011 self-titled LP generally lives in the lonely desert-rambling milieu of Jimmie Rodgers, but the Vipers' live penchant for exploding into dynamic Western swing is infectious and invigorating. Your attendance at this event is probably the best idea you'll have all week. RYAN J. PRADO

AMANDA X, BEACH DAY, IS/IS, THE CHANTERELLES
(The Know, 2026 NE Alberta) Go right ahead and add Philadelphia twee-punk trio Amanda X to the staggeringly large pile of rock bands making a name for themselves in the City of Brotherly Love. The group's debut album, Amnesia, is loaded with 11 tracks of well-crafted, K Records-indebted pop that's been amped up a notch. Songs like "Tunnels" and "Parsnip" have a sweet and playful side that remains firmly anchored by a fuzzed-out '90s guitar-rock leaning. Meanwhile, Hollywood, Florida's Beach Day formed out of a fondness for the girl-group sounds of the '60s. The trio's latest, last year's Trip Trap Attack, oozes with a summer fun vibe. Album cuts like "Seventeen" and "Walking on the Streets" are must-hears for anyone with a love for the Shangri-Las, and they make the ideal music to blast as we head into the waning days of river season. CHIPP TERWILLIGER

TERRY MALTS, GIRL TEARS
(Bunk Bar, 1028 SE Water) Over the course of two records, fuzz-rock trio Terry Malts have made their dissatisfaction with hot topics like religion and consumerism pretty clear, doing so as rents in their home base of San Francisco continue to squeeze out the middle class. Someone's gotta do it. Whether you call them a punk band or a garage-rock band, Terry Malts are doing it with just the right temperament. The guitars do most of the raging, while vocalist/bassist Phil Benson delivers the message in a semi-croon. It's more effective than one might think, and these guys are a better band than some who actually do call themselves punk. MARK LORE

DEAD WINTER CARPENTERS, CROW AND THE CANYON
(Doug Fir, 830 E Burnside) Though the heat seems never-ending, we're approaching the tail end of summer. So before it's sweater this, permanent-gray-skies that, it'd be wise to get your fill of warm-weather vibes, and there's something about country songbirds Dead Winter Carpenters that seems to scratch that itch. Their quick-step, happy-harmony-filled alt-country puts you in the heart of a hot summer day with nothing to do but hear the fiddle move like laughter. It's joyous—but just to clarify, the show's in the cool Doug Fir basement, with plenty of iced cocktails to go with it, so it won't be too blistering hot—from the sun, anyway. ROBIN BACIOR

SATURDAY 8/23

AKA AT THE BURGUNDY WILDCAT
(Red Lion Hotel Vancouver at the Quay, 100 Columbia, Vancouver, WA) See My, What a Busy Week!

HOVERFEST
(N Kerby, between Thompson & Tillamook) See My, What a Busy Week!, and All-Ages Action!

THE FOURTH WALL, BOYS BEACH, JACKSON BOONE
(High Water Mark, 6800 NE MLK) Read our article on the Fourth Wall.

THE PARSON RED HEADS
(Crystal Ballroom, 1332 W Burnside) See All-Ages Action!

DROPDEAD, BELL WITCH, NOISEM, ANCIENT ALTAR, BASTARD FEAST & MORE
(Slabtown, 1033 NW 16th) Read our article on Noisem.

THE ROSEBUDS, EL MAY
(Bunk Bar, 1028 SE Water) Things fall apart, but perhaps none as often as bands and marriages. If you're a band who's also married, needless to say, the odds are stacked against you. Ivan Howard and Kelly Crisp, the core duo who make Raleigh, North Carolina, band the Rosebuds, fell to these odds a while back and divorced after a decade, but their musical union found a way to continue. Following a rather stormy release that came in their breakup's wake (2011's Loud Planes Fly Low), they seem to have moved on to a more hopeful place on their sixth album, the new Sand + Silence. Readily apparent is the influence of Howard's recent involvement in the band Gayngs—not only for enjoyably breezy, polished cuts like "Mine Mine" and "Death of an Old Bike," but also for the presence of the record's co-producer, Justin Vernon (who, aside from being Mr. Bon Iver, is Howard's bandmate in Gayngs). And speaking of new beginnings, this weekend's Bunk Bar show marks the first for the Rosebuds and Howard in his newly adopted hometown. JEREMY PETERSEN

RIOT GRRRL KARAOKE
(The Foggy Notion, 3416 N Lombard) Anybody who's attended or participated in Riot Grrrl Karaoke in the past can attest to its total incomparability. While the event's return to the Foggy Notion, after being held at the all-ages Slabtown in 2013, is a huge bummer for the kids, this year nonetheless looks to be another one for the books. Featuring a tremendous live band and a daunting number of selections—including songs by luminaries like Bikini Kill, Huggybear, and Bratmobile, in addition to songs by groups at the movement's periphery, such as Hole and Veruca Salt—Riot Grrrl Karaoke is at once a tribute to an immensely significant chapter in the punk continuum and a whole lot of booze-fueled, cathartic fun. MORGAN TROPER

SUMMER JAM: HUSTLE AND DRONE, THANKS, APPENDIXES, TENDER AGE, DJ EMERSON
(Church, 2600 NE Sandy) Hustle and Drone have been hard at work on their upcoming record, Holyland, due out in September. There's something perfectly summery about Hustle and Drone's synths, lasers, and colorful lights, giving this afternoon's outdoor show—in the parking lot behind the Church bar, with pop-up shops from Mojave, Wanderlust, and Hunter Pass—perfect timing. Hustle and Drone will be matched by the sexy, gritty soul of Thanks, making for a late-season dance party to remind you that now is your chance to seize those sun-kissed, sweaty, booty-shakin' days and nights for all they're worth. Pretty soon, you won't want to leave the house. RACHEL MILBAUER

BEAUTIFUL SWIMMERS, MAXX BASS, LINCOLNUP, BEN TACTIC
(Holocene, 1001 SE Morrison) The Washington, DC-based duo Beautiful Swimmers are making waves with their unique flavor of house music, bringing a fresh take to a genre that's seemingly been around forever. Their record label, Future Times, is responsible for putting out tunes that sound like they could have been released in the '70s or '80s, drawing inspiration from the classic disco era and creating a sound that's funky, but with a tinge of psychedelia. It's as listenable on the dance floor as it is off. Beautiful Swimmers' attention to detail and the obvious care with which they curate the label and their own productions make them one to watch. With a packed European tour schedule and only a few US dates, we're lucky to catch them stateside. CHRISTINA BROUSSARD

SUNDAY 8/24

MEGATON LEVIATHAN, VAITAL DEUL, DJ RIFF RANDELL, DJ SKULLY, DJ WAISTED
(Star Theater, 13 NW 6th) The world moves pretty fast these days. A constant stream of information is in the palm of your hand, and people are looking outward more than inward, holding stock in many fleeting experiences instead of sinking into one for a while. Perhaps as a reaction to the current state of things, many heavy bands are producing music that's slow, low, and wrought with depressive and emotional tones. Past 21 Beyond the Arctic Cell, Megaton Leviathan's new long-player, crawls at a glacial pace, and smacks of a band working to give their listeners more than a song. Droning atmosphere and psychedelia join down-tuned rumblings and sweeping riffs, and the Portland band offers an organic experience—not just another sonic pummeling. Megaton Leviathan seems to be looking for something more, and wants you to turn off for a while and start looking, too. ARIS WALES

COCO COLUMBIA, LEO, CELESTE AMADEE, ELLE ZAMORA
(White Eagle, 836 N Russell) One of the most original soul-funk-electro albums you're likely to come across this year belongs to a local young music-school dropout under the brilliant moniker of Coco Columbia. On the surface, The Weight has all the gloss of Top 40 teen pop, complete with cameos by rappers like Soopah Eype and Fabian Rush. But under the covers is Pat Matheny-like guitar work and Columbia's own jazz drumming, making her satiny compositions sound very adult indeed. ROBERT HAM

MONDAY 8/25

HOW TO DRESS WELL, DJ PORTIA
(Holocene, 1001 SE Morrison) See My, What a Busy Week!

SYLVAN ESSO, DANA BUOY
(Wonder Ballroom, 128 NE Russell) Read our article on the Sylvan Esso.

THIRSTY CITY: BONES, SHANNON PHONE, J$PINDERELLA, BENJAMONEY, NORTHERN DRAW
(The Know, 2026 NE Alberta) In something of an about-face from their ordinary broadcast of grindcore sludge, doom metal, and breakneck punk, the Know hustles its electronic side with another installation of Thirsty City. This evening, the monthly affair pits heady electronic acts like Shannon Phone and BenJaMoney with sound-collage artist J$pinderella, whose 2013 Oligopolist Records release LilGla$$Slipper is a mind-bending vibe-a-thon of looped vinyl and unhinged mash-up weirdness. Shannon Phone's excellent LP Gender™ was released by all-cassette imprint Purr Tapes in April, and swirls in liquid pools of digital decadence. With Northern Draw's equally futuristic bleep-blooping, Thirsty City promises an exploration of Portland's electro outer regions, so slap on that Max Headroom costume and get crazy dumb. RJP

JIMMIE DALE GILMORE, BUTCH HANCOCK, FRED EAGLESMITH
(Alberta Rose Theatre, 3000 NE Alberta) A living legend in some circles (but not as many as he deserves), Jimmie Dale Gilmore has always possessed a voice that's unmistakably his own. From his early days alongside Butch Hancock and Joe Ely as a member of the Flatlanders (whose "Dallas" continues to age gracefully—it's most certainly the greatest song ever written about that town) to the solo records he's recorded since establishing himself in Austin in the late '80s, Gilmore's nasal, drawled-out croon has been a constant, if also an acquired taste for some. While he's shown he can hold his own as a songwriter ("Headed For a Fall" and "One Endless Night," to cite a couple more gems), he's often been at his best as an interpreter of others' songs, including several written by Ely and Hancock. It's Hancock and Fred Eaglesmith who join him tonight as part of a tour called "Roots on the Rails," all but guaranteeing some Flatlanders tunes—not to mention a take on "White Freightliner Blues." JP

TUESDAY 8/26

THE AFGHAN WHIGS, JOSEPH ARTHUR
(Doug Fir, 830 E Burnside) See My, What a Busy Week!

CONSUMER, RAS MIX, DR. BURTRUM, 1000 TRASHCANS
(Valentine's, 232 SW Ankeny) Experimental noise music can be a tricky taste to acquire. When even some of the genre's best-regarded acts come off as grating and alienating to neophytes, the music becomes a difficult thing to recommend in a live setting. Luckily, there are people out there crafting noise with playfully engaging energy behind it. Portland's Matt Palenske is one of these people. He operates under the alias Consumer, layering looping beats, obscure samples, and modulated vocals to create a sound that has the drive to get your head bobbing—along with the weird factor that keeps you grinning for the length of an entire set. Consumer's latest release, rB>C, rides a line between dissonant and downright soulful, and makes for an experience that's as captivating and accessible as just about anything coming from the realm of avant-garde sonic exploration. CT

POCKETKNIFE, WISHYUNU
(Bunk Bar, 1028 SE Water) Last time we heard from Pocketknife, it was in the form of their 2011 EP, Tough as Snails, a collection of quaint, vaguely twee songs that sounded extremely Swedish (that's a compliment). The group's long-awaited new LP, Dying to Pretend, is a natural evolution from Tough as Snails. Opening track "Treasure" makes it clear that the group—whose Jessica Boudreaux has gone on to recent notoriety as a member of Summer Cannibals—have developed a dancier side without eschewing the pop sensibility that made them stand out in the first place. And hook-a-second standouts "The Push of Love" and "Really Really a Lot a Lot" are crash courses in effective pop songcraft. Overall, Dying to Pretend is simply a great, dense electro-pop record that avoids most, if not all, of the clichéd pratfalls that the electro-pop designation has come to imply. They still sound pretty goddamned Swedish, too. MT