BLUEBOTTLE KISS, RICK BAIN, LOCH LAMOND, GENIUS POSITION
(Ash Street, 225 SW Ash) This show is brought you by In Music We Trust, the three-headed label/magazine/publicist machine that is currently giving away Adam Sandler's latest album on its website, and produces watery Coldplay clones like The Maroons and one of tonight's bands, Bluebottle Kiss. It also, however, backs truly quirky outfits like another of tonight's bands, Portland's Loch Lomond, the Ritchie Young-led four-piece that combines darkly beautiful rock melodies with lush string orchestrations. I'm not exactly sure what overall vibe In Music We Trust is aiming for, but at least some of it is supportable, which is more than you can say for a lot of three-headed label/magazine/publicist machines out there. JUSTIN WESCOAT SANDERS

DONNAS, VON BONDIES
(Crystal Ballroom, 1332 W Burnside) You know the music industry's in a rough patch when bands like the Donnas are starting to look like positive role models for the contemporary teenage feminist. And you know the Donnas are in a rough patch when they start calling Avril Lavigne's producer. With Gold Medal, their recently released sixth record, the girls continue to "grow up" (what are you, 30 now?)--maturing into their hapless relationship with cock rock. It's a far cry from those frumpy teenagers with the Ramones fascination--and no matter how much make up they slather on, I can't help but wish they would have just let well-enough alone back when they were just spotty high school girls. ZAC PENNINGTON

MAGNETIC FIELDS
(Aladdin Theater, 3017 SE Milwaukie) See Music, Pg 21

REBIRTH BRASS BAND, TEA LEAF GREEN
(Berbati's Pan, 10 SW 3rd) Rebirth and their primary peers/rivals of the last couple of decades, the Dirty Dozen Brass Band, reflect an age-old Stones/Beatles counterpoint. While the Dirty Dozen have veered into various areas of experimentation (weird collaborations, weird production, making weird sound effects with their horns) and achieved tremendous (at least by brass band standards) popularity, Rebirth has continued to mine the fundamentals of their art form and chugged ever-forward with a steady stream of consistent, well-received records. Like the Stones of old though, they never feel in a rut. They masterfully dig into every crevice of brass band music, imbue everything with a feeling of relaxed control and build a hypnotic rhythm party to rival anything woven by Keith et al. Now all we have to wait for is the brass band Their Satanic Majesties Request. SAM MICKENS

SHINEDOWN, SILVERTIDE, FUTURE LEADERS OF THE WORLD
(Bossanova, 722 E Burnside) Silvertide are the Black Crowes minus Kate Hudson. If you've gotten a bad case of Alzheimer's since that band broke up, you might find Silvertide's denim boogie refreshing, but then again you might find shitting in your pants refreshing, too. JENNIFER MAERZ

WALKING CONCERT, RECALL-SEVEN, OCEANA, WESTERN AERIAL
(Dante's, 1 SW 3rd) As a former member of Youth of Today and Gorilla Biscuits, Walter Schreifels knows how to string together short songs. But the two-minute tunes he writes now bear no resemblance to those blast-beats from the past. Walking Concert plays pop in its purest form, with memorable melodies, jangly riffs and little else. Their songs are so inescapably catchy that those introduced to their hummable hooks immediately seek additional exposure. ANDREW MILLER

WILCO, CARLA BOZULICH
(Roseland, 8 NW 6th) See My, What a Busy Week!, Pg 19

YUMA NORA, SECRET PUPPETS, SPACE HAWK, DAPHNA KOHN
(Holocene, 1001 SE Morrison) See Music Bio, Pg 35

FRIDAY 11/12

DE LA SOUL, BUTTA VERSUS, LIGHTHEADED, DJ KEZ
(Roseland, 8 NW 6th) See Music, Pg 23

DIPLO (OF HOLLERTRONIX), SOULPHONIC SOUNDSYSTEM VS. PURA VIDA
(Holocene, 1001 SE Morrison) What Philadelphia's Hollertronix does is what the great New York DJs of the early 80s used to do--mix everything up like crazy. In the manner of their great hiphop ancestors, Hollertronix recognizes no borders, and submits to no hard rules or order; any record (funk, rock, soul, new wave, soul) that sounds fresh can find its way into the heart of the mix. This is what a mix should always aspire to be: a radical sonic space wherein completely different sounds, aesthetics, periods, meet and become one monstrous thing. CHARLES MUDEDE

DRUNK WHORES, YOB, SUBARACHNOID SPACE, LUDICRA
(Sabala's Mt Tabor, 4811 SE Hawthorne) Come and get your dose of druggy doom metal with YOB, a band whose dexterous, mind bending take on the dark art of metal, belies their origin from the sleepy, sweet town of Eugene. Snatch the new CD to tide you over between visits to the city! MARJORIE SKINNER

DAMIEN JURADO, RICHARD BUCKNER, THE WESTERN STATES
(Berbati's Pan, 10 SW 3rd) We all know that Buckner is a burly, hard-drinking, handsome dude busting with dude-osity whose music is dark, tragic, and beautiful. And we know he tours alone, like a wild cowboy across the plains. But forget that testosterone crap--what's really special about the guy's music are its crazy subtleties. As a poet, he's, well, like, a real poet! Meanwhile dude's voice is a magic carpet ride of crazy twists and turns and when he's on it, can reach total qawwali levels of out-of-body grooviness. When he's off, it's worse than Dubya's "fool me twice" flub, but almost just as entertaining either way. MIKE MCGONIGAL

HOUSE OF CUNT
(Nocturnal, 1800 E Burnside) In many circles, the hallucinogenic performance group House of Cunt will be described as "theater," or, quite wrongly, "sketch comedy." But make no mistake about it; beneath the wacky characters and absurd plot developments, this is an entourage deeply rooted in the gardens of old-school funk, country, and soul. The soundtracks to their shows are right out of Pop 101, peppered with little known hits from artists that have helped shape American music. Be entertained and edified. JWS

ROGUE WAVE, DEATHRAY DAVIES, THE VELLS
(Doug Fir Lounge, 830 E Burnside) Tonight's main event pits all manner of pop revisionists upon one another--a kaleidoscopic swirl of '60s psychedelia from most of its many angles. First you've got the Vells, who's latest record, Flight From Echo Falls, is a marked improvement upon their self-titled EP from a few years back. In spite of the leaps and bounds however, the record--much like their last--is impenetrably marred by the offensive British affectations of their very American vocalist. On the upswing, we've Dallas' self-explanatory Deathray Davies, and Sub Pop's latest retro-darlings, Rouge Wave. EDITH WONG

PANTHERS, DEATH FROM ABOVE 1979, vietnam
(Dante's, 1 SW 3rd) See Music, Pg 23; My, What a Busy Week! Pg 19

SCIENCE OF YABRA, YELLOW PRESS
(Davey Jones' Locker, 5925 SE Foster) If you missed the mighty Hot Snakes when they blew through town on Halloween, don't sleep on local kids Science of Yabra. Their latest album Don't Panic is nothing but brilliant panicked guitars fighting amongst themselves, frantic drumming, and those personal vocals that bring back memories of the day when the word "emo" was not such a shameful stigma. Plus the Yabra boys win the volume award for local bands, so unless you like the idea of Tinnitus, you better ear-plug up. EZRA ACE CAREFF

SATURDAY 11/13

CRACKHAUS, DEADBEAT, BUS, D. METEO
(Holocene, 1001 SE Morrison) Five-years deep, Berlin's eclectic ~scape label continues to astound the way that only German electronic labels can--whatever that means. Supporting the label's 5th anniversary compilation But Then Again, the Germans do their damnedest to invade the U.S. in the form of some of the label's finest--Crackhaus, Deadbeat, Bus, and DJ D. Meteo. ZP

THE EPOXIES, LES HELL ON HEELS, STARANTULA, SADO-NATION, GAS HUFFER, 8-FOOT TENDER, THE NIGHTMARES, THE DEL TOROS, CANNED HAMM
(Berbati's Pan, 10 SW 3rd) Scorpio or no, this birthday bash is a showcase sampler of punk favorites. The Epoxies will be working the throwback new-wave synth-dance punk party, along with the sexy snarls of Arizona rocker chicks Les Hell on Heels. Then there's the chaotic Portland party band Starantula, old school punkers Sado-Nation, Seattle punk boys Gas Huffer, the post-punk gruffness of 8-Foot Tender, local punk icons the Nightmares, the wicked ass-mashing no-fucking-around ladies of The Del Toros, and Canada's Vegas vaudevillian Neil Hamburger darling duo Canned Hamm. Here a punk, there a punk, everywhere a punk punk. MS

KINSKI, TALKDEMONIC, MAGIC BULLET/GRASSY KNOLL
(Doug Fir Lounge, 830 E Burnside) If the Kraut-y, psych-y, mostly instrumental ambiance of Kinski is leading you Fir-wards tonight, make sure you get there to see local one man experience Talkdemonic. Kevin sits behind a drum kit and accompanies his own loops and electronic orchestrations of music that sounds like travels, embedding influences of foreign culture into the eerie loveliness of the songs. MS

KORN
(Salem Armory, 2320 17th St, NE Salem) The band that saved Rock n' Roll--if not music in general--plays the songs that made the meatheads sing in support of their new Greatest Hits collection. Don't blame them--they voted for bagpipes. ZP

THE MAKERS, GOODTIME GIL & THE CHAMPAGNE COWBOYS
(Dante's, 1 SW 3rd) There may be no finer rock'n'roll frontman than Michael Maker. He knows it, too. With every outrageous posture, hypersexual gesture, and diva strut, Michael reminds you that he is a rock star god--not just because he wants to be, but because he has to be. It's no surprise that with their spit-in-your-eye attitude and combative performances, the band has made as many enemies as fans throughout the years, but it's probably just the way they like it. KIP BERMAN

SOCIAL DISTORTION, TIGER ARMY, THE EXPLOSION
(Crystal Ballroom, 1332 W Burnside) Social Distortion is a rare example of a band that has managed to continually write good (arguably great) records after making the jump from an indie to a major label. After releasing a few albums on Time Bomb, Social D made their Epic debut in 1990 with their self-titled album--featuring classics like "Sick Boys," "Story of My Life," and of course their version of Johnny Cash's "Ring of Fire". And while some might allege that the band has put out the same record many times over since then, all I can say is "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." MEGAN SELING

SUBMISSION HOLD, DRUNKEN BOAT, DARK SKIES
(Liberty Hall, 311 N Ivy) Submission Hold's politi-punk is a bit of an exercise in ear abrasion, with cymbal crashes all over the place, guitars plucked haphazardly, and shrill girl vocals that remind me of my little sister yelling at my mom. Apparently, though, their live show is an exercise in "holy shit, this is completely amazing"--so, there's that. KS

SUNDAY 11/14

BLONDE REDHEAD, helio sequence
(Aladdin Theater, 3017 SE Milwaukie) See My, What a Busy Week! Pg 19

CIRCUS CONTRAPTION
(Dante's, 1 SW 3rd) It is impossible not to respect the serious, studious effort Circus Contraption put into their ever-shifting, ultra-entertaining/unsettling spectacles. How many bands that you know of maintain an airplane hangar for rehearsal and performance, build custom human fly suits, and employ not only musicians and circus performers, but welders, in their regular entourage? The answer: very few. SM

LARRY TEE
(Doug Fir Lounge, 830 E Burnside) One of dance music's greatest opportunists (which is saying something), DJ Larry Tee found his first taste of fame as the co-author of RuPaul's mega-hit "Supermodel"--and later as the man who trademarked the word Electroclash™. Exploiting a style of music largely dominated by female performers pushing feminist agendas, Tee svengalied his own Electroclash™ band--Whatever It Takes (or W.I.T.)--whose lip-syncing, interchangeable blow-up dolls were more-or-less an inadvertent parody of the style they were aping. Then he put together a couple of package tours--featuring Peaches, Chicks on Speed, and Tracy + the Plastics--in a transparent attempt to promote the band. The band garnered a few magazine covers, but the tide was--luckily--already well on its way out. Tonight, Tee clings to the last scraps of long-faded Electroclash™ glory with this celebrity DJ set! ZP

TRUMAN'S WATER, MORIS TEPPER, JUANITA FAMILY
(Berbati's Pan, 10 SW 3rd) The gloriously spastic music of San Diego-based TW is totally haphazard, but it's supposed to be. So you don't know if it's as orchestrated as a Buster Keaton two-reeler or if that house really is about to fall on those poor guys. Touring behind a new-ish album called You Are in the Line of Fire and They Are Shooting at You, TW make pop music for people whose idea of pop music is the Shaggs, the Fall, and Beefheart. Speaking of the Captain, opener Jeff Morris Tepper played guitar in the last incarnation of the Magic Band and his solo records are pretty fabulous. MM

WOLF EYES, COMETS ON FIRE, SMEGMA, RUBBER O CEMENT
(Meow Meow, 320 SE 2nd Ave) See My, What a Busy Week! Pg 19

MONDAY 11/15

DRESDEN DOLLS, COUNT ZERO AND THE DITTY BOPS
(Aladdin Theater, 3017 SE Milwaukie) Theater is as much a part of punk rock as the bar chord--but rarely have the two been married so heavy-handedly as with cult twosome Dresden Dolls. With piano, drums, and a ton of pancake make up, the Dolls are the band all of your Goth-y drama club friends in High School never really got around to starting--only just slightly less embarrassing. ZP

DENNIS DRISCOLL
(Ozone 03, 701 E Burnside, 6 pm) Dennis Driscoll is an entertainer in the most confusing sense of the word. A crafter of beautifully (or knowingly) naïve pop songs that even my mom likes, Driscoll is the sort of ethereal performer that constantly begs the question: "Is this guy for real?" Thing is, it's either that, or dude hasn't broken character for 10-odd years. Possessed by the spirit of Kaufman? You decide. ZP

GUIDED BY VOICES, THE JOGGERS
(Berbati's Pan, 10 SW 3rd) See Music, Pg 21

TUESDAY 11/16

GUIDED BY VOICES, THE THERMALS
(Berbati's Pan, 10 SW 3rd) See Music, Pg 21

ISIS, THESE ARMS ARE SNAKES, BIG BUSINESS
(Meow Meow, 320 SE 2nd Ave) Move over WWE! It's a slam bam, doubleheader of modern ROCK bruuutality! Isis, weighing in at 13,123 pounds is metal's most adventuresome contender. It's heavier than Hulk Hogan and more sinister than the Iron Sheik (RIP). The band's new rec, Panopticon, pulsates with stormy, tangled sidewindering riffs thicker than Macho Man Randy Savage's neck. (And that's some thick shit.) These Arms are Snakes, weighing in at 96 pounds, is the darkhorse for tonight's bout. Their wiry sound snaps into a Slim Jim with a piledriver of MicroKorg synth, menacing avant-hardcore scream fits, and enough sinewy, steroided guitar to pin The Rock 15 times over! ADAM GNADE

WEDNESDAY 11/17

DEVENDRA BANHART, SCOUT NIBLETT
(Berbati's Pan, 10 SW 3rd) See My, What a Busy Week! Pg 19

FUTUREHEADS, THE HIGH SPEED SCENE
(Doug Fir Lounge, 830 E Burnside) See My, What a Busy Week! Pg 19

ROCK N' ROLL CAMP FOR GIRLS BENEFIT W/ RECLINERLAND, THE UPSIDE DOWN, & MORE
(Holocene, 1001 SE Morrison) A fun night o' peppy rock in support of a very good thing--the annual summer camp that encourages impressionable adolescent girls to look past the bad stuff and ROCK in the name of good, clean fun. Don't miss the lovable keyboard pop of Mike Johnson's Reclinerland, and definitely don't miss the door prizes, which include a free tattoo from Infinity, and studio time at Jackpot Records! JWS