THURSDAY 8/27

ALAN SINGLEY AND PANTS MACHINE, WORLD RECORD

(Mississippi Studios, 3939 N Mississippi) See My, What a Busy Week, and Our Town Could Be Your Life.

BAT FOR LASHES, OTHER LIVES

(Wonder Ballroom, 128 NE Russell) See My, What a Busy Week.

TU FAWNING, INSIDE VOICES, AGES

(Doug Fir, 830 E Burnside) Any casual fan observing Tu Fawning emerge from the nothingness to spread their wings and flutter out like bats knows that this band of local music heavyweights has yet to reach their true potential. Swollen with talent and anchored by the loving core of Joe Haege (31Knots) and Corrina Repp (Viva Voce)—plus the sturdy foundation of Liza Rietz and Toussaint Perrault—Tu Fawning has so far delivered limited recordings of sullen dirges and gorgeous torch songs, yet still has room to evolve. Hitting what they declare to be a "new stride," the band has a dozen fresh songs under wraps, but since a new full-length won't emerge until next year, your attendance is mandatory for tonight's performance. EZRA ACE CARAEFF

METH TEETH, THE WOOLEN MEN, KUSIKIA, MAGIC JOHNSON
(Berbati's Pan, 10 SW 3rd) On the Woolen Men's MySpace page, in that convenient little box that says "Sounds Like," is the following: "Beer, Coffee, Velvet Underground." It's actually pretty spot-on... just imagine the Factory plastered with Ramones posters and littered with empty PBR cases instead of, you know, pop art and heroin. The Portland trio is all over that lo-fi, no-fi Siltbreeze sound (ya hear that, Siltbreeze?). Underneath the tinny racket, of course, are jubilant bursts of pure rockingness that would have easily incited a pogo session on the red couch. Adding to the hissy goodness, the Men will release their new album on cassette only at Berbati's—how punk rock is that?! MARK LORE Also see Saturday's listing.

FLESHTONE, GUIDANCE COUNSELOR, WAMPIRE, GRAND LAKE

(Holocene, 1001 SE Morrison) Credit a guerilla show at our offices gone horrifically wrong (that poor coffee table had one more day until retirement), or my irrational fear of spandex, but the appeal of Fleshtone has always been lost on me. Granted, it's hardly my scene, and the pulsating disco strut of their dance-floor decadence and smudged gender roles has been a mainstay of Portland's dance community for quite some time now. But one can't party forever, and now Fleshtone has slimmed down to a duo—Brett Whitman and Jayme Hansen—and manipulated their sound from disco excess to a more streamlined, enjoyable, electro-pop leaning. If you once basked in their rays of shimmering DayGlo, or perhaps were frightened by their General Zod outfits, it's time you revisited the music of Fleshtone. EAC

FRIDAY 8/28

AL GREEN, LIV WARFIELD

(Edgefield, 2126 SW Halsey, Troutdale) Visit endhits.portlandmercury.com for an interview with Al Green. Also see My, What a Busy Week.

SHUT UP AND DANCE 10-YEAR ANNIVERSARY: DJ GREGARIOUS

(Fez Ballroom, 316 SW 11th) See My, What a Busy Week.

LEVIETHAN, RUN ON SENTENCE ,

BLUE CRANES

(The Woods, 6637 SE Milwaukie) To complete his second record, Levi Ethan Cecil went into fundraising mode, taking a cue from the KBOO playbook, where he hosts Midnight Mixtape. Leviethan (Cecil's nom de rock) solicited donations and contributions from fans, friends, and family to raise the bucks for recording and distributing the record. Apparently, it all worked out, since everything on Everything Is Fine is, indeed, fine, going from gentle folk-infused numbers to more mathy exercises, all highlighted by Cecil's delicately high vocals and intricate guitar work. It's actually a bit staggering, the amount of ground he's able to cover, from the charming "A Mass in Empty Space" to a creepy cover of the Radiator Lady's song from Eraserhead. NED LANNAMANN

MINT CHICKS, THE ASCETIC JUNKIES, BODHI, EZRA CAREY

(Doug Fir, 830 E Burnside) I suppose it's possible to confuse local troubadour Ezra Carey with the similarly named music editor of this here paper. But one listen to Carey's new full-length The Fire Keeps Us Warm—celebrating its release tonight—and the confusion instantly ends. Carey's easygoing, gently raspy voice is a capable host to the folky Americana of Fire, and his songwriting shows the gritty, hard-won wounds of being thrown into the fire and living to tell about it. Mercury Music Editor Ezra Caraeff, meanwhile, cannot carry a tune (as evidenced by his atonal groaning at last year's Christmas karaoke party). If you are ever offered the choice to listen to either Ezra Carey or Ezra Caraeff—please, for the love of sweet heaven, choose Carey. NL

PANTHER, MAY LING, ATOLE, BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

(Worksound, 820 SE Alder) There's something disturbingly cute about electro-pop band May Ling. Watching them, it's kind of hard not to fall in love with their quirky outfits and lead singer Alberta Poon's breathy voice—like her other projects, Wet Confetti and Reporter, Blonde Redhead references still apply. The last time they played at Worksound, for the Wampire tape release show, it was total mayhem, with band members running around onstage, switching up instruments, and several electrical issues occuring as a result of too much rocking out. Tonight their out-of-control live show will celebrate the release of their first album, Threats. THEODORA P. KARATZAS

THE RAINY STATES, RADIANT SILVERGUN, SEA CAVES, GNOMENCLATURE

(Berbati's Pan, 10 SW 3rd) Somewhere in between an EP and a full-length album, the nine-song Slow Wave from Sea Caves showcases the Portland band's water-polished songs and precise musicianship. Sea Caves are effective at building a mood, and don't shy away from grandiosity, giving their elaborate songs a stately and austere quality that still conveys plenty of emotion, particularly on the epic "Shades of Grey." Radiant Silvergun, meanwhile, makes brief pop snippets à la Guided by Voices, highlighted by the Roland Gift-esque vocals of Charles Westmoreland, former frontman of gone-but-not-forgotten the Kingdom. His new endeavor already has some marvelous songs, including "Building Monuments" and "These Shapes Could Be Anything"—simple pop chunklets that, even after a single listen, get stuck in your head for days on end. NL

MANBONES, CAFETERIA DANCE FEVER, THE PITY FUCKS

(Twilight Café and Bar, 1420 SE Powell) Spazz-noise-punk band Cafeteria Dance Fever has no shortage of songs, and they've crammed their latest batch onto a new 7-inch, Man the Lifeboats, just released on Hovercraft Records. The 7-inch single is the perfect format for their abbreviated freakouts, where musicality takes a backseat to energy, and no good idea is left un-turned inside-out, un-shrieked over, and un-abandoned after a minute or two. Cafeteria Dance Fever is headed to France and Spain for a short tour in September, but before they do, they play a hometown show with garage girl group Manbones and the organ-driven Pity Fucks. NL

SATURDAY 8/29

RAMONA FALLS, DIRTY MITTENS, BROTHERS YOUNG

(Doug Fir, 830 E Burnside) See Music.

MOS DEF, JAY ELECTRONICA, LILLA D'MONE

(Roseland, 8 NW 6th) Although his stardom in America is assured, tonight marks a critical turning point for Mos Def and his relationship with Grumptown. The once-mighty Mos Def's last two Portland concerts have gone awry. A year ago, the rapper/actor (or should it be the other way 'round?) ended up in the midst of the summer's gnarliest heat wave, reportedly phoning in an insipid performance full of complaints. Fair enough, I suppose—one cannot control the weather. But what about more recently, when his most recent show was cancelled in May, because—as I was told by the Roseland box office—his plane couldn't get out of Hawaii in time? Or was it that a little more time in paradise just sounded better? Certainly I can't say, but I do know it's time for Mos to prove to Portland that he (and his rap career) deserve our support. And should he appear with aplomb, I, for one, am ready to welcome him with open arms. ANDREW R TONRY

TALKDEMONIC, CHURCH, DEELAY CEELAY

(Mississippi Studios, 3939 N Mississippi) Just about a year ago, Deelay Ceelay broke onto the music scene at the 2008 Time-Based Art Festival. Now they have already become a local staple, garnering a spot on an upcoming national tour with Starfucker and busily working away on a new album. Their artful blend of electronic ambiance and precise drumming has a way of completely enveloping the listener, making you forget about everything except what's happening at that very moment. Hydrate yourself and get plenty of rest before this show—also featuring excellent local bands Church and Talkdemonic—because Deelay Ceelay concerts can get a little crazy. TPK

BUSDRIVER, ABSTRACT RUDE, OPEN MIKE EAGLE, TOPE, TRAVIS WIGGINS

(Rotture, 315 SE 3rd) Busdriver is really weird sounding, but in a super good and addictive kind of way. He's sort of like Ol' Dirty Bastard (R.I.P.) in that it takes a second to get over his peculiar voice and style, but eventually he turns irresistible and you can't stop listening. His collaborations with innovative producers like Daedelus and Boom Bip, and his ability to write sharp, worthwhile lyrics add to his appeal. Backing up Busdriver on tour is an old friend—Abstract Rude. The two go all the way back to mid-'90s LA, where they frequented hiphop workshops at the seminal Good Life Café and started their own influential open mic series, Project Blowed, which offered an unfenced environment for burgeoning West Coast emcees. Their shared sociopolitical insights and interest in experimental production make both Abstract Rude and Busdriver preeminent figures in the underground hiphop scene. AVA HEGEDUS

ARRINGTON DE DIONYSO, DEATH SONGS, KUSIKIA, SCHOENBERG/SIELAFF

(East End, 203 SE Grand) Last winter when the duo Kusikia endeavored to relocate to Portland from Tacoma, Washington, a natural fit was found. In the same vein as other acts that have migrated to be a part of the Portland DIY aesthetic and sound—New Bloods and Magic Johnson, for example—they're expanding the local scene of principled, community-minded rockers. "Love rock," is what they call it. MARANDA BISH

D12, POTLUCK, MIC CRENSHAW, RAISE THE BRIDGES, BLACK MARKET, DJ WICKED

(Wonder Ballroom, 128 NE Russell) So hey, guess what? Potluck likes weed. A lot. On tour with the also-famous-for-liking-drugs group D12 this summer, their shows should be full of marijuana enthusiasts and people who heard "Purple Pills" in 2001. Accompanying those intrepid stoners on the tour is Portland's turntable king, DJ Wicked, who, not usually blunted himself, will hopefully be able to stay tight on the cut while catching epic contact highs. On the PDX stop of the tour, Mic Crenshaw will perform solo material with the help of a live band, bringing his famous energy to probably highlight the night. GRAHAM BAREY

SUNDAY 8/30

DARK BLACK, CAULDRON, ENFORCER

(Kelly's Olympian, 426 SW Washington) See Music.

CABINESSENCE, RED JACKET MINE, NORMAN

(Doug Fir, 830 E Burnside) Unlike so many of Portland's rotating cadre of boom-and-bust, what's-hip-now bands, Cabinessence subsist purely on the joy of craft. Which isn't to say that they're astoundingly more earnest than the leagues of up-and-coming bands cradling that impossible dream of (blog) stardom; it's that they've been there. In the '90s, Cabinessence's principle songwriters Jacob Arnold and Nathan Maricle played in Marigold, a bubblegummy Brit-pop group whose story is the classic pre-internet-era tragedy of potential derailed by major label politics. But Arnold and Maricle's joy in pop—along with their angelic falsettos—remained, perhaps even buoyed by seeing the emperor nude. In the early '00s, they formed Cabinessence, a nod to Brian Wilson with alt-country twang. Since, Maricle and Arnold have settled into simpler lives, chasing the earthly pursuit of comfort and peace in the exquisitely crafted song instead of fame or status. In so, their success has become sublime. ART

Y LA BAMBA, JARED MEES AND THE GROWN CHILDREN, OH CAPTAIN MY CAPTAIN
(Rontoms, 600 E Burnside) A double bill of Y la Bamba and Jared Mees and the Grown Children is as good as it gets if you like your folk music tender and smart. Mees manages to come across as a sweet and sensitive guy even when his vocals and acoustic guitar are right in your face. Mees and his Grown Children sound like they recorded the songs around a fire and talked the entire campground into joining them for a drunken sing-along. Y la Bamba's Luz Elena Mendoza is there, too, singing the evening's closing lullaby as the embers burn a florescent orange. Yes, it's going to be a good night. ML

MONDAY 8/31

PONY VILLAGE, WOW AND FLUTTER, SEAN BATTLES

(Valentine's, 232 SW Ankeny) Keeping it mellow, the talented local five-piece Pony Village sound a little like a stripped-down, lo-fi Death Cab for Cutie. It's nice and smooth indie pop, layered with rich instrumentation and down-to-earth vocals. They will be joined by Wow and Flutter, who have a new album called Golden Touch and are a bit of a departure from the more mellow sounds of Pony Village, bringing more experimentation in their music and a bit of a punk-influenced rock to the mix. TPK

TUESDAY 9/1

DUNGEN, WOODS, KURT VILE

(Berbati's Pan, 10 SW 3rd) See Music, and My, What a Busy Week.

AUTOPILOT IS FOR LOVERS, BLACK HEART MOON, RITCHIE YOUNG

(Mississippi Studios, 3939 N Mississippi) Catherine Odell plays cello in Horse Feathers and Hide and Go Hustle, but she's a fine vocalist in her own right, and Black Heart Moon pairs her voice and guitar with the upright bass of Perry Pfister. Featuring pedal steel guitarist David Dyas and drummer Dan Galucki, Black Heart Moon's new album, Lovers and Makers, is a strong and exquisite debut, falling neatly into the current Portland indie-folk canon while bringing new things to the table. Much of it is delicate and acoustic-oriented, but Black Heart Moon also lays out some gentle Mazzy Star haze, some tousled Crazy Horse fuzz, and even a bit of Velvet Underground-circa-third-album plainspoken bluntness. The end result is a comfortable and familiar-sounding album that still manages to surprise, and Black Heart Moon are poised to become one of Portland's most reliably pleasurable bands. NL

GEORGE CLINTON AND PARLIAMENT FUNKADELIC

(Crystal Ballroom, 1332 W Burnside) The P-Funk in P-town!? The planets have aligned to grace us with Dr. Funkenstein himself, who at 68 years old can still yell "flashlight" and make everyone stop in their tracks and dance. Last year's George Clinton and His Gangsters of Love was an unorganized mess of over-synthed, pre-programmed cover songs—on par with karaoke music, as far as production is concerned. But none of that matters, because this is George "Godfather of Funk" Clinton, and nothing beats the deep bass and farting keyboards of Mothership Connection—a record to which I've listened a shameful amount of times. So you know what to do. Embrace your guilty pleasures, because if anybody gets funked up tonight, it's gonna be you. PHILIP GAUDETTE 

WEDNESDAY 9/2

MATT AND KIM, AMANDA BLANK

(Hawthorne Theatre, 1507 SE 39th) See My, What a Busy Week.

OS MUTANTES, STIFFWIFF

(Aladdin Theater, 3017 SE Milwaukie) See Music.