FRIDAY, AUGUST 28
MUSIC—Regardless of whether you identify with the term “hesher,” Hesh Fest is worth a spin, with three days of some of the Northwest’s best hard rock, including tonight’s legendary headliners, the incomparable Dead Moon! Joining them are Fireballs of Freedom, P.R.O.B.L.E.M.S., and more. MARJORIE SKINNER
Dante’s, 350 W Burnside, 8 pm, $25
MUSIC—Led by songwriter/guitarist John Dwyer, San Francisco’s Thee Oh Sees play charmingly noisy garage rock with morose—yet bleakly funny—lyrics, a generous amount of reverb, and a certain je ne sais quoi that only comes from using minotaurs in your music videos. With numerous lineup changes and aural shifts, tonight’s two show are the latest chapter in Thee Oh Sees’ constant evolution. MEGAN BURBANK
w/Psychomagic; Doug Fir, 830 E Burnside, 5 & 9 pm (early show all ages), $15
SATURDAY, AUGUST 29
RECORDS—With Oregon’s own Discogs co-hosting, Crate Diggers returns for another dope day of digging for buried vinyl treasure in the bins of some the best record dealers in the Northwest. Plus, the afterparty features incredible DJ sets from Doc Martin, Rick Wilhite, and more! NED LANNAMANN
White Owl Social Club, 1305 SE 8th, noon, afterparty 6 pm, FREE
COMEDY—Featuring the distinctive voices of cranky old Tom Scharpling and Super-chunk drummer Jon Wurster at peak weirdo, WFMU’s Best Show was so named for a reason. Scharpling and Wurster’s radio days may be over, but their comedy partnership is not. Tonight, the delightful duo invades the Doug Fir. It’s going to be the best. MEGAN BURBANK
Doug Fir, 830 E Burnside, 8 pm, $25
SUNDAY, AUGUST 30
FAIR—It’s the annual Oregon State Fair, so take the kids, eat some fry bread, go on some gut-churning rides, look at some robust animals, and otherwise indulge in all the down-home, family-friendly, end-of-summer gluttony this annual hoedown provides. And this year, in honor of their 150th anniversary, they’ve added dinosaurs! Discover the Dinosaurs has “moving and replica museum-quality dinosaurs” that probably won’t eat your kids. SHELBY R. KING
Oregon State Fairgrounds, 2330 17th St NE, Salem, 10 am-10 pm, $8
WIENER RACES—Dogs are the best, and to prove it to any idiots who still don’t know that very simple fact, the Mercury proudly presents Dogs’ Day of Summer—an event that takes over at the Lucky Lab with WIENER DOG RACES. And then? PUG RACES. The “Wiener Takes All” Dachshund races start at 2 pm, the “Pug o’ War” pug races start at 5 pm, and it’s free to attend. Today, my friends, is a great day. ERIK HENRIKSEN
Lucky Lab Brew Pub, 915 SW Hawthorne, wiener races 2-4 pm, pug race 5-7 pm, FREE to watch, $15 to enter
Hash fest is better.