THURSDAY 9/1

THE JUAN MACLEAN, THE BLOW, 1999

(Holocene, 1001 SE Morrison) See Music, pg 22

TED LEO & THE PHARMACISTS, TALKDEMONIC, THE KINGDOM

(Aladdin Theater, 3017 SE Milwaukie) See My, What a Busy Week! pg 21

OK GO, THE REDWALLS, THE COLOUR, CLIMBER

(Dante's, 1 SW 3rd) OK Go had a decent-size hit a couple years back with "Get Over It" before being dropped like an anthrax potato by mainstream music. (I blame their terrible band name, or maybe the fact that the song's "Get get get get get over it" chorus got old quick, despite being a good pop song.) It's a shame, really, because the self-titled album that "Get Over It" rode in on was actually pretty great. Where "Get Over It" tried for something like Weezer plus Van Halen plus tight jeans, the rest of the record rolled hard with T-Rex glam reshaped into tight little fiery pieces of pop-punk and power-pop. The band's new record, Oh No, just came out. What? Did I just hear a great collective "Who the fuck cares?" rising above the Willamette? ADAM GNADE

THE PRIDS, AMERICAN PRINCES, OTHER MEN MY AGE

(Berbati's Pan, 10 SW 3rd) I warned my editor that I still think The Prids are the best band in Portland and since he's letting me write this piece, I guess I've won the right to full-on caps my devotion: THE PRIDS ARE THE BEST BAND IN PORTLAND! And how, you might ask, have these indomitable DIY goth savants managed to retain their dark crown for all of these years? By getting better and better and better and... you get the point. They are un-relenting in their quest for beauty—not the kind that you dismiss in glossy magazines, but the kind that makes you tremble where you stand and realize that there may be no better place in the world than where you are. KIP BERMAN

SIREN'S ECHO, DJ CHILL

(Adidas Originals, 1039 NW Couch) Call me a purist, but I don't like mixing my hiphop shows with my shoe shopping. Siren's Echo, as Portland's premiere smart female hiphop group, are for sure worth checking out, but they're local, so why not see them in a more comfortable and appropriate venue than the Adidas store, which will be giving out free booze in exchange for the opportunity to tantalize you with their merchandise? Unless of course you spend so much time listening to hiphop that you never have time to buy shoes, or spend so much time shopping that you never get around to seeing any hiphop. MARJORIE SKINNER

FRIDAY 9/2

BACKSTREET BOYS

(Clark County Amphitheater, Ridgefield, WA) To me, the Backstreet Boys will always represent one of my most embarrassing foot-in-mouth scenarios: some years ago—let's say, I don't know, 1999 or so—in one of my first conversations with someone who would grow to become one of my better friends. I took a then not entirely controversial stance in the time-honored debate between rival boy bands the Backstreet Boys and N*Sync. As Justin Timberlake and—to a lesser degree—J.C. Chavez began their assent to legitimate pop stardom, I was reminded time and time again of my hapless indiscretion; something I've never been able to live down as the Backstreet Boys spiraled into oblivion. With the rather cold reception of their comeback album sending shameful chills down my spine, the Boys have recently released what very well may be their greatest stroke of genius: the Heavy Metal Parking Lot-inspired video for their Kelly Clarkson-aping new single, "Just Want You To Know." (check out the link on the Mercury's website at Blog Town, USA) I may not be so embarrassed after all. ZAC PENNINGTON

JOHN WESLEY HARDING, KELLY HOGAN

(Mississippi Studios, 3939 N Mississippi) Born Wesley Harding Stace, the British John Wesley Harding had the audacity upon embarking on a music career to rename himself after what could be considered Bob Dylan's greatest album. Why somebody would ever set such an expectation is a mystery, but Harding has done the best he can to meet it with a steady outpour of twangy folk-pop that sounds more like Billy Bragg or Jesse Winchester than Dylan. Harding's melodies are catchy, but sometimes cloying; his strength is in literate, often hilarious lyrics, and indeed a recent, well-received novel Misfortune, published under his real name, belies what could be his true calling: writing. JUSTIN WESCOAT SANDERS

ISRAEL VIBRATION, CLINTON FEARON, ROOTS RADIC BAND

(Roseland, 8 NW 6th) Israel Vibration is one of the reggaest-sounding band names ever. (Second only to Jah and the Co-Pilots.) It's also one of the reggaest-sounding reggae bands ever, forsaking all things modern for a devotional, we-dead-seee'rious-mon, heavily religious Rasta-based roots sound that's about as devout as the crappy praise music you hear on KPDQFM. But unlike contemporary Christian music, Israel Vibration's middle-age symphonies to god are militant, drug-soaked, and damn angry. (Which is amazing considering they've been in the business since before most whities even heard the word "Marley.") Wait, I take that back, contemporary Christian music is actually all of those things only when they do it, they're kinda creepy. AG

JIM AND JENNIE AND THE PINETOPS, JAMES LOW BAND, LITTLE SUE

(Doug Fir Lounge, 830 E Burnside) Life has changed for the bluegrass ensemble Jim and Jennie and the Pinetops since they passed through town in 2002 supporting Neko Case. The individual members of the band, which originally took shape in eastern Pennsylvania, have scattered all over the East Coast. Co-founder Jennie Bedford and banjo player Brad Hutchison reside in North Carolina, bassist Matt Downing lives in western Massachusetts, and Jennie's foil, Jim Krewson, is based in upstate New York. Their new record Rivers Roll on By nevertheless marks a discernable progression in the quartet's sound. Although there are numbers that recall the more uniformly lively textures of One More in the Cabin, such as the jaunty "Quit Barking at Me," the new album boasts a much wider palette of tempos and dynamics. KURT REIGHLEY

BRO ZONE CD RELEASE PARTY FEATURING HOOLIGANSHIP, E*ROCK AND YACHT, FRANZ PRICHARD AND WHITE RAINBOW, DJ HOT AIR BALLOON, DJ SAFEASHOUSES

(Foxes, 435 SE 3rd Ave) Bro Zone, States Rights Records' sequel to last year's compilation Own Zone, focuses on "the times shared with those we consider close...The times where you are sitting in a car, windows rolled down, not talking because the music is too loud but also so happy that you are with that person or persons." And the windows are steamed up, but it could just be the effects of normal body heat in close quarters, or maybe somebody ripped a serious fart or was just playing ultimate frisbee—not everything has to be a damn sex act. Features tracks by States Rights regulars Thanksgiving, Bobby Birdman, all the acts playing at tonight's release party—including the stellar Hooliganship, a collaborative set by E*Rock and YACHT, and the reunion (sort of) of Yuma Bitsu—and about two-dozen more. Once again, States Rights does it right. JWS

TOM PETTY & THE HEARTBREAKERS, THE BLACK CROWES

(The Gorge, George, WA) Petty and his breakers of hearts have put out so much quality rock 'n' roll, and have been so good to their fans for so long, we almost take them for granted now. But rest assured, they won't take us for granted—Petty and Co. will continue to tear it up until they're too old and gnarled to move, and always at prices that all can afford. Tonight's event is a mere $29.95. Suck it, Jagger. JWS

PRA BENEFIT: STRENGTH, COPY, PT. JUNCTURE, WA, SLEEPYHEAD, ALAN SINGLEY & PANTS MACHINE, DJ TAN'T

(Holocene, 1001 SE Morrison) See My, What a Busy Week! pg 21

THOR, THE PUNK GROUP, GRUESOME GALORE

(Sabala's Mt Tabor, 4811 SE Hawthorne) See Music, pg 25

SATURDAY 9/3

GARBAGE, THE THERMALS

(Arlene Schnitzer Hall, 1037 SW Broadway) I saw Garbage open for Smashing Pumpkins in 1996 in Moline, Illinois while tripping on mushrooms. The band wasn't very good ("Stupid Girl" is a stupid song) and neither were the mushrooms. Billy Corgan, however, gave a rousing speech about looking outside your insular world and getting the fuck out of Moline, Illinois. Someone threw a shoe at him during the speech—which was fucking hilarious—and he threatened to cancel the show. What a crybaby! Anyway, I find Garbage's name, music, and posturing to be entirely unoriginal, and the fact that they're playing the Schnitzer seems to indicate that you should take them seriously. Garbage, you sucked nine years ago, and you suck now. A little modesty, please. KATIE SHIMER

GERALD LEVERT, THE WHISPERS

(Crystal Ballroom, 1332 W Burnside) In case you've forgotten, there's more than one way to get your lady in the sack, including the sweet, smooth sounds of R&B. And while many automatically turn to the masters (Barry White, Al Green), rest assured there are many less obvious choices—take for example tonight's headliners, Gerald LeVert and the Whispers. While LeVert hasn't been in your face, he's consistently hit the top 10 with an impressive lineup of panty-soaking hits, including "I Swear," "She'd Give Anything," and "Casanova." And if his full, soulful sound doesn't do the trick, the Whispers are a fun alternative. One of the few remaining four-man vocal groups, they've been swinging at the fences for three decades, hitting it big with '80s jams "And the Beat Goes On," and the hip-swinging "Rock Steady." Take your gal, and count on a sexy aftermath. WM. STEVEN HUMPHREY

LITTLE BROTHER, THE AWAY TEAM, LEGACY

(Berbati's Pan, 10 SW 3rd) Three friends from Durham, North Carolina, Little Brother are generating heat from their forthcoming second album, The Minstrel Show. The Source editor-in-chief Joshua "Fahiym" Ratcliffe recently resigned from his position when his superiors refused to give The Minstrel Show a higher rating. In an interview, he called Little Brother's music "a breath of fresh air." What makes them so appealing? Different from the mainstream without being too avant-garde, Little Brother use skits, raps, a classic hiphop style, and even R&B singing to explore daily situations, from beefing with a girlfriend ("Nobody but You") to being separated from a child ("Far Away from Me"). MOSI REEVES

PINK MARTINI, BRAZILIAN GIRLS

(Les Schwab Amphitheater, Bend, OR) Remember when Café Del Mar was the shit with Parisian cool kids during the blissful Clinton era? It was the center stage for that smooth down tempo bossa nova style that quickly trickled into the states—the kind of sound that helped 20-somethings slip more comfortably into adulthood by drinking dry martinis and using music as an accessory to a room instead of the centerpiece. One would be in naked denial to set the New York-based quartet, Brazilian Girls, too far from this cool, luscious era. Fortunately, the group offers fresh packaging that's shaved off all the cheesy unstomachables—like bad sax outros and theatrical vocals. Though she sings in multiple languages, Sabina Murphy tangles typically erotic lyrics with intriguing pop-culture references and some nasty words like "pussy, pussy, pussy, marijuana..." to bring you right back to New York. JENNA ROADMAN

TOM PETTY & THE HEARTBREAKERS, BLACK CROWES

(Gorge, George WA) See Friday's listing

SUICIDE CLUB FEATURING TRACY + THE PLASTICS, DJ NIGHTSCHOOL

(Dunes, 1905 NE MLK) See My, What a Busy Week! pg 21

THE LOCUST, CATTLE DECAPITATION, GET HUSTLE, BLOWUPNIHILIST

(Loveland, 320 SE 2nd Ave) See My, What a Busy Week! pg 21

SUNDAY 9/4

BRAZILIAN GIRLS, GRUESOME GALORE

(Aladdin Theater, 3017 SE Milwaukie) See Sunday's listing.

RETRIBUTION GOSPEL CHOIR, NO WAIT WAIT, HOLYSONS

(Berbati's Pan, 10 SW 3rd) See My, What a Busy Week! pg 21

YING YANG TWINS

(Crystal Ballroom, 1332 W Burnside) See Music, pg 22

MONDAY 9/5

LOVELY, DJ GREGARIOUS

(Sabala's Mt Tabor, 4811 SE Hawthorne) If you couldn't afford to see the Crüe recently, Lovely have all the attitude of their glam rock predecessors, except they're still young, and as far as I know have not ODd on heroin, killed anyone in a car crash, or fucked Heather Locklear. So yeah, they lack the really impressive qualities... No, just kidding. Anyway, this band rocks hard, fun, fast, and furious, and makes me feel the way I did when I first heard "Kickstart My Heart." Like wild and crazy. KS

TUESDAY 9/6

LIGHTHEADED, BLACKNOTES, OHMEGA WATTS, DJ BOMBAY

(Doug Fir Lounge, 830 E Burnside) See My, What a Busy Week! pg 21

MOUNT EERIE, CALVIN JOHNSON, FAERIE TALK, GOOD LUCK MR. GORSKI

(Loveland, 320 SE 2nd Ave) Featuring a grocery list of contributions by the extended K Records mafia (including the likes of Phil Elverum, Mirah, Adam Forkner, the Blow's Khaela Maricich and Jona Bechtolt, Glass Candy's Johnny Jewel, and Shoplifting's Devin Welch), Calvin Johnson's soon to be released sophomore album Before the Dream Faded... comes as a marked relief following his relentlessly Spartan debut. The decades-long ringleader of K's international pop underground successfully collaborates with an assortment of producers to largely successful ends—each song taking on a vastly different character than the last. Before may very well be the best thing Johnson's dropped since that last Halo Benders record. ZP

WEDNESDAY 9/7

CAROLINER, JACKIE-O MOTHERFUCKER, HANS GRUSEL, SIXES, GERRITT

(107 SE Washington) Formerly of the Lone Star State and now hailing from the arterial noise hub of Oakland, CA, Gerritt is one of the most accomplished and proactive figures of the past decade's new noise front. His Misanthropic Agenda label, wriggling since 1996, has been a staggering achievement, with releases from artists as varied and esteemed as Merzbow, Boris, and Man is the Bastard, and a slew of Gerritt's own limited releases and collaborations. Previously specializing in shuddering, laptop-based power noise (with fuse-straining smoke machine and strobe accompaniment) Gerritt has more recently expanded into deeper and more varied layers of drone and electro-acoustic sound, both solo and in collaborations with fellow travelers like Yellow Swans and Sunn O))). SAM MICKENS

MINUS THE BEAR, THESE ARMS ARE SNAKES, THUNDERBIRDS ARE NOW!

(Hawthorne Theatre, SE 39th & Hawthorne; Formerly Conan's) From afar, Thunderbirds Are Now! look like a baaaaad idea—the unnecessary exclamation mark, the loud neon poster art, an album title that just screams three-year-old hipster cliché... ugh. (I mean, Justamustache? They may as well have called it Mullet in a Trans Am). Despite the numerous blood-red flags, they overcame all hurdles to put out the best goddamn dance-rock album of the past year. Most songs boldly encompass the fitful sentiment of the pumping-fist '80s and plank it on post-punk immaturity, excitability, and heartbreak. Refreshingly, the group's members look like a pack of skinny college dweebs—bypassing neon pink bandannas to go straight for the jugular with substantive stage antics. Chances are they'll be falling all over the place and hurting themselves—and you'd be curmudgeonly mean not to be there early to see it. JR

SON VOLT, EARLIMART

(Crystal Ballroom, 1332 W Burnside) See Music, pg 25