THURSDAY 3/7

OF PLACE AND KIN SOUND INSTALLATION

(Pioneer Place Atrium of building at SW Morrison & 5th Ave., 11 am-7 pm) This is neat; this artist, Jesse Engum, is taking field recordings of people talking and turning them into music. In theory, it's pretty Eno-esque, but sound art is very cool, and Engum has a purpose--to exemplify Portland diversity. It's free, so check it out! JULIANNE SHEPHERD

LAND OF EL CAMINOS, SYSTEM & STATION

(Satyricon) System & Station's record Compiling the #7 is full of the sort of rock music that I love--loud, messy, punky dirges that come apart and glue back together, flexing their great bass lines the whole way through. Time changes, neat interplay between instruments, and good vocals with splashes of piano or weirdly isolated strums make the recording a little more creative. It's mildly emo-licious and not groundbreaking, but it's not going to make it so you have to get real drunk to tolerate it, either. JS

MR. COMPLEX, L-FUDGE, MR. LEN, STEADY ROC, KICE, OLDOMINION, DJ WICKED

(Tonic) See My What a Busy Week pg 13, Music pg 15

Z-DROGI, HOCHENKEIT, MORAL CRAYFISH

(Jasmine Tree) As a celebration for the release of the newest issue of Dan Cohoon's largely experimental music magazine A=1/f^2, largely experimental bands Z-Drogi and Hochenkeit shall play whatever fancies them. Also, Cohoon himself will appear in Moral Crayfish, which features a cast of back-alley orchestrants and other pots-and-pans bangers to flush the non-believers into the annals of time. Woah. JS

MACHINE THAT FLASHES, VI FOOT SLOTH, THE DISAPPEARER

(Blackbird, free) See Music pg 15

KOOKEN & HOOMEN

(Bitter End) K&H are a SF-based ensemble that performs improvised electronic/keyboard music with a basis of d'n'b, jazz, and new-age. Their record, escuela, showcases them as having neat ideas and good, mellow melodies, with fairly weak beats (they kind of sound like Casiotone pre-sets). It's innocuous, but good background music. JS

FRIDAY 3/8

JANEANE GAROFALO

(Crystal) Ever since Janeane Garofalo got her big break in Reality Bites, she has become the alternative darling of Hollywood. She's chunky! She has tattoos and wears funky clothes! I saw her at a club in S.F., a few years after her career really took off. The funniest thing she said was right after bounding onstage, looking surprisingly svelte: "She looks so much bigger on TV!" Ha. She spent the rest of her time alienating the audience with her snobby, condescending bitching. It was obvious that she wasn't trying and didn't feel that she needed to pander to a mere club audience, what with her upcoming films and TV spots. Oohlala. Unless you've got proof that she suffered a severe attitude adjustment, it ain't worth forking out an admission charge. This town is already LITTERED with self-deprecating, self-conscious, self-absorbed hipsters. Just go outside. For free. You probably have friends who are funnier. MARJORIE SKINNER

INDYMEDIA BENEFIT: HUNGRY MOB, THE CHOSEN, QUIVAH, BLAK SCIENZ TRIBE, MSNGR, LUKE WARMWATER, DJ BIGGZ, MADGESDIQ

(PSU, Smith Ballroom, 6 pm) As a benefit for the awesome news outlet Indymedia, some of Portland's greatest hiphop acts will tear the roof off of PSU. Don't miss it. JS

NIGEL RICHARDS, SELECTOR E-3, SIAMESE

(Ohm) Although I prefer dancing to "One Minute Man" by Missy E any day, Nigel Richards is the perfect club DJ. His digital beats are always quickly repetitive, but they range from muted hollow sounds to screeching industrial to funk. Be prepared to dance like you're at the discotheque and dress accordingly. KATIE SHIMER

OCIFFER: CRAZY LIVE METAL BAND

(KPSU, 1450 AM) Our pal Steve C., who runs the metal show Oatmeal Hour at 10 pm on Fridays, would like everyone to know that Ociffer, a crazy fucking metal band starring Kip Lachrymator, John Party Time/Mercury Birds, Jeremy Slower Than, and Brett First Band Ever, will be performing live on the radio this evening, metalifying your AM with hard riffs. In addition, there is a rumor that the cheerleaders from some high school will be in the studio cheering them on as they play! Creepy! If you can't afford to go out, tune in--it's like the Depression in the '30s, when people looked to community radio for entertainment. JS

DJ GREYBOY, DJ JUGGERNAUT

(Stephanos) See My What a Busy Week pg 13

MY MORNING JACKET, SWEARING AT MOTORISTS, THE FORTY-FIRST

(Blackbird) My Morning Jacket, with their tragic, watery harmonies, lethargic Kentucky strumming, and gorgeous, soul-searching melodies, are quite possibly one of America's best-kept secrets--a strange mixture of indierock filtered through bluegrass and effects. JS See Music pg 15

DANIEL ASH, LENNON

(Aladdin) Daniel Ash (ex-Bauhaus) has made a new self-titled record with his trademark, scratchy voice pasted gloriously over house beats. On paper, it sounds awful, but it's a lot better than you'd expect, I promise, even despite that he produced it over at DJ Keoki's house. JS

AMOREE LOVELL, MORGAN GRACE

(Produce Row) The name like Amoree Lovell makes me picture a girl in a pink baby doll dress singing sweet songs, or playing violin. Amoree, however, is the opposite, wearing all-black and smoking cigarettes while playing piano--quite a talent--in manic, sultry cabaret style. KS

AL-ANDALUS

(Reed) Through music and dance, Al-Andalus will perform gypsy/ flamenco music from Moorish-ruled Spain during the eighth to 15th centuries. Flamenco music and dancing is one of the most passionate folk musics, and we're lucky to have this opportunity to see it. JS

SATURDAY 3/9

DIY FUNFEST: PEACE HARBOR, JEFF LONDON, RACHEL BLUMBERG, WET CONFETTI, JULIANNE S., HOLY SONS, STATESIDE, CAJUN GEMS, BLUE SKIES FOR BLACK HEARTS, MINMAE, CELESTEVILLE, NAÏVE, STUART VALENTINE, LADYKILLER, DISASTERS, FAKE FAKE, YOU?

(Kelly House, 3944 SE Kelly, noon-10 pm) Hey, do you like fun? No? Then come over to my house this weekend, clean out the kitty litter, and scrape out all the moldy containers in the fridge. If you do like fun, however, go to the all-day fun festival of music. It's a free-for-all, so if you want to play (quietly, to avoid neighbor conflict), you can. KS

DEADLY SNAKES, CATHETERS CD RELEASE, THE NERVES, ELECTRIC EYE

(Satyricon) Bring on the brash punk rock of the Stooges and Mudhoney. Tonight the Catheters officially ring in the release of Static Delusions and Stone-Still Days, the band's jacked up 11-song adolescent shitstorm of a Sub Pop release. Good news for the label: The Catheters actually deliver, on both the punk and the posturing. This is a killer band with a bright future ahead of it. And as exciting as the release may be, the live show is even better. JEFF DeROCHE

J BOOGIE'S DUBTRONIC SCIENCE, DOC MARTIN, HIGH PLANES DRIFTERS, DJ MANOJ

(B Complex) The first in a spectacular, all-night-long series of dance nights held at the B called Jedi Nights, with really famous and fantastic deejays, plus visuals and... yoga? JS

V FOR VENDETTA, THRONES, 31KNOTS, THE INTIMA

(Meow Meow) Two totally toughass ladies from Providence, RI, V for Vendetta is one of Mr. Lady Records' newest signings. They make very crushing rock that can only be described as mathy, with super drumming and breathy, mysterious vocals. Joined by the lovely Intima, who are at work on a new record, and the bass-a-thonic powerdrone of my main man Joe Preston, aka Thrones. JS

WU-TANG CLAN, LIFESAVAS

(Roseland) The huge crew from NY that changed the face of rap. Also known as "The Wu." JS

DAVID BOWIE TRIBUTE: QUEENS OF OBLIVION

(Fez) A good tribute band should follow three rules of thumb: Fill your ranks with talented, enthusiastic musicians, play with such infrequency that each gig becomes an anticipated event, and (above all) choose a good subject. The Queens of Oblivion, a David Bowie tribute band, is a model of this ethic. Featuring members of Carmina Piranha, the Jeff Trott Band, Karaoke from Hell, the James Low Band, and the Flatirons, they rock with the confidence of true believers and the panache of accomplished professionals. Those who attended their Halloween show last year can attest to the mayhem wrought by these ruffians. The Queens will play two full sets of songs from Bowie's best period (1969-1983), but show up early to catch Mike Menace's juggling act and Disc Jockey Gregarious. MURRAY CIZON

NORFOLK & WESTERN CD RELEASE, DOLOREAN, JEFF LONDON, YORK ROBERTS

(Blackbird) Norfolk & Western play sweet, mournful mellow tunes with so much polish that even people who are anti-emotional tip their hats. Their recordings (including their newest release, Winter Farewell) are the best things in the world for curling up next to your space heater and feeling wounded. The only trouble is that it's not the best kind of music to see live, unless you're in the habit of toting your emotional fragility along with you to the bar. MS

SUNDAY 3/10

STEPHEN MALKMUS & THE JICKS, THE PLANET THE, M WARD

(Crystal Ballroom) It really sucks that the rock music made by the Jicks is so straightforward and uninspiring, because Stephen Malkmus has an incredible singing voice that scratches and twitches and hollers so unexpectedly. I would like to see him form an a cappella project, sans '70s classic rock guitar solos. (And sans Eagles covers, argh!) The Planet The, who just finished up a new album and are taking their amazing, keyboards/guitars/drums/wails rock to new situationist levels via dynamics and stream-of-consciousness noise bombs, will entertain and perhaps frighten the Jicks crowd, which is an exciting thought. JS

THE BEDPANS, THE TRIGGERS, ELECTRIC EYE, THE HOSPITALS

(Blackbird) The Hospitals are a garage punk duo featuring a LOUD drummer who is also very concerned with swallowing/screaming arrhythmically into the microphone, and a guitarist who, rumor has it, weirdly used to play in the underground emo band Knapsack. There's nothing emo about The Hospitals, though; they just pound the shit out all ramshackle, and if you don't like it, at least you will be awestruck by two peoples' ability to be so loud. JS

DEAD KENNEDYS SANS JELLO BIAFRA, POISON IDEA

(Roseland) By now you've heard about the Dead Kennedys lawsuit, in which East Bay Ray, Klaus Fluoride, and D.H. Peligro won a case against Jello Biafra/ Alternative Tentacles Records, for not paying them full royalties and not promoting the DK catalog in the most monetarily beneficial manner (i.e., not promoting and advertising like a major label would). The DK three were awarded monetary compensation and all rights for almost the entire Dead Kennedys catalog. Tonight, the Dead Kennedys will not be performing with Jello, needless to say, and lots of people have been up in arms over this whole tour's existence (predictably, those with the loudest megaphones are Jello and Ray). Of course they should debate whether this tour should happen, but for a different reason: Reunion tours by any band 20 years later are pretty pathetic and depressing, but ESPECIALLY by punk bands. Come out of the past! JS

MONDAY 3/11

LOVE AND THE COSMIC MICROWAVE BACKGROUND NOISE

(Portland Building, 7 am-6 pm) Wow, what's up with Regional Arts & Culture Council? This is the second rad-sounding, day-long sound installation they've sponsored this week! This one, by Joseph Schneider, is "equipped with light and sound elements that enact space transmissions," to show the artist's feelings about technology. JS

BARDO POND, FURSAXA, MADE FOR TV MOVIE

(Blackbird) Though it's been around for nearly ten years, Philadelphia quintet Bardo Pond may have scored its biggest fan-base while serving as opening act on Mogwai's most recent American tour. Fronted by flute-playing chanteuse Isobel Sollenberger, Bardo Pond's far-reaching appeal stimulates fans of older psychedelic bands such as Hawkwind or Chrome, as well as neo-stoner (that's "experimental" to you highbrows) audiences keen on acts like Spiritualized and the aforementioned Mogwai. Fursaxa is Tara Burke's (also out of Philly) solo project in which she employs keyboards, guitar, dulcimer, accordion and other equipment to create what has been referred to as "acid folk." KATHLEEN WILSON

JACKIE-O MOTHERFUCKER, VI FOOT SLOTH, THE ANGELL BROS CHAMBER ORCHESTRA

(Berbati's) Lately, my favorite song of Jackie-O Motherfucker's is not on their haunting, newest record, Liberation. Instead, it's a live track from U-Sound, Vol. One, the CD documenting the multiple city, improvisation installation co-curated by Jackie-O's Tom Greenwood. It's a jazzy track, with a barrage of scrappy percussion (Greenwood) and the totally monstrous improv tenor saxophone of Jef Brown, that pretty much makes me go mad with seizures, it's so fucking full of life and breath. Check 'em out live tonight, as they search for the meaning in randomness. JS

TUESDAY 3/12

RUFUS WAINWRIGHT

(Aladdin) As far as I'm concerned, the freedom to be swoony, pretentious, and fey--particularly when it's done with Rufus Wainwright's wit, commitment, and gorgeous melodies--is what makes living in today's world worthwhile. Rufus' debut album sounded like something out of a fin de siecle French cabaret produced by Elephant Six; last year's follow-up, Poses, exploded in all directions, coming up with a wealth of sounds and textures, yet never losing that romantic feeling. BRET FETZER

WEDNESDAY 3/13

LE TIGRE, CHICKS ON SPEED, TAMI HART

(Crystal Ballroom) As incredible as NYC's lady-empowered, dance-anthemic, digi-revolutionary art trio Le Tigre is, there's been a sad pallor over this show ever since it was announced that it would be at the Crystal Ballroom. Even though the Crystal is a great space, this show can't possibly approach the intimacy and energy of Le Tigre's double-show appearance at Meow Meow last year, only because of the sheer size of the venue. Will it still be an eccentric dance-a-thon, with the audience screaming "Hell yeahs" to background slides of bell hooks and Bahamadia? Will Kathleen Hanna's fucking passionate wail and jumproping have the same effect in a venue with 150-feet ceilings? Let's hope so, because the Le Tigre live experience is unrivaled in both "fun" and "tough" factors. Either way, Tami "Ms. Wonderful" Hart's gutsy, husky-sweet vocals will cause a faint-a-thon in even the coldest hearts. Ow! JS

GOING TO SEATTLE?

Thurs 3/7: Modest Mouse (Showbox)
Sat 3/9: Acid Mothers Temple (Graceland)

For more info, visit www.thestranger.com

New Releases March 12: Airport 5, Aspera, Fila Brazilia, Destiny's Child*, Finch, Hayden, Masters of the Hemisphere, N.E.R.D., Six Parts Seven *= may actually turn out okay