WEDNESDAY 11/26

EAR CANDY: HURRY UP, THE CHANTERELLES, MOTHERTAPES
(Mississippi Studios, 3939 N Mississippi) See My, What a Busy Week!

LORD DYING, CASTLE, NORSKA, HOLY GROVE
(Ash Street Saloon, 225 SW Ash) See My, What a Busy Week!

JAMESTOWN REVIVAL, NIKKI LANE, PETE MOLINARI
(Doug Fir, 830 E Burnside) In the past few years, a wave of young women—Brandy Clark, Kacey Mugraves, plus Ashley Monroe and Miranda Lambert and their group, Pistol Annies—have crashed country music with a sound that owes more to the genre's traditions than the junk they're pushing aside on the charts and radio. Following hot in their footsteps is Nikki Lane, a Southerner with a soulful voice (think early rock 'n' roll queen Wanda Jackson), a punk spirit, and the power of producer (and Black Key) Dan Auerbach behind her 2014 album All or Nothin'. Combine all those things, and you end up, it turns out, with a punchy and pristine-sounding twang-pop-rock record slathered in outlaw signifiers and a convincing sneer. Lane met Auerbach when he showed up at her pop-up vintage clothing shop and wanted to buy the 1940s hunting jacket she was wearing. Because of course he did. BEN SALMON

CARRION SPRING, EDHOCHULI, VALKYRIE RODEO
(The Know, 2026 NE Alberta) In the world of sports, they say an official is doing his or her job well if you don't notice them. But as the NFL has become inescapable in recent years, its most visible referee—a muscular lawyer-by-day named Ed Hochuli—has developed something of a cult following. Case in point: Edhochuli, a Pittsburgh-based quartet that plays the Know tonight. The band's 2013 self-titled album is a sturdy, six-song slab of heavy hardcore, screamo, and math-rock that's as ambitious as it is brutal, with no song shorter than four minutes and one that stretches beyond eight. That gives Edhochuli time to wind their way through labyrinthine arrangements that are mostly fuzzed over by guitar grime and human howls. Gnarly stuff! Also on the bill: like-minded locals Carrion Spring and Valkyrie Rodeo. Come for the rock show, stay to watch dudes shred their vocal cords. BS

THURSDAY 11/27

JIVE TURKEY! DISCO DANCE PARTY
(The Spare Room, 4830 NE 42nd) See My, What a Busy Week!

FRIDAY 11/28

THE NEXT WALTZ
(Alberta Rose Theatre, 3000 NE Alberta) Top five moments in The Last Waltz, the Martin Scorsese-directed documentary of the Band's farewell show, filmed (mostly) on Thanksgiving Day in 1976: (5) Neil Young's coke booger, which had to be rotoscoped out of the film. (4) Richard Manuel reminiscing about the days when the Band used to shoplift baloney. (3) Eric Clapton's guitar strap breaking mid-solo. Sadly, this did not lead him to quit music forever. (2) Van Morrison's purple sequined suit and jump kicks during "Caravan." (1) Mavis Staples fucking ruling "The Weight," which is easily the highlight of the concert, although it turns out it was shot on a soundstage later. Every year around Thanksgivingtime, a group of Portland musicians recreate The Last Waltz, classic rock's classic-rockiest moment. Since some of the proceeds go to benefit the Jeremy Wilson Foundation and the Oregon Food Bank, and since most of the songs are pretty good, it remains a worthwhile event for a great cause. NED LANNAMANN

THE SORRY DEVILS, RE-IGNITION, BALTO
(Dante's, 350 W Burnside) The Sorry Devils release their first album, Peace in the Valley, tonight, and the Portland five-piece have made an accomplished debut that finds a surprisingly workable mixture of country-rock and funk. "Dig a Grave" puts its emblematic guitar solo front and center, and "Chicky Pie" has an organ-drenched Southern soul groove that offsets the slightly nauseating sound of a grown man singing the words "my, my, my chicky pie." Meanwhile, "Flip Your Lid" is a streetwalking vamp with rapid-fire slap bass and chucka-chucka guitar, and "Valley Hymn" is a stomp-clap gospel hymn with Sacred Harp harmonies. Sure, the Sorry Devils aren't exactly interested in coaxing popular music out into the 21st century, but they don't really need to be. Their take on your dad's favorite music is as predictably enjoyable as a rerun of The Dukes of Hazzard. NL

PURE BATHING CULTURE, TENDER AGE
(Mississippi Studios, 3939 N Mississippi) Dream-séance sway-poppers Pure Bathing Culture were slated to play with Tennis at the Wonder Ballroom a few weeks ago, but when Tennis had to cancel, it meant we were deprived of the chance to see Portland's own PBC as well. Thankfully, tonight serves as a rain date for Pure Bathing Culture. The group has evolved beyond the blueprint of Sarah Versprille's lullaby synth and Daniel Hindman's crystalline guitar to incorporate the rhythm section of Zach Tillman and Brian Wright, adding a bit of ballast to their winningly gossamer songs. This will be Pure Bathing Culture's last show of the year; perhaps this means that a follow-up to their splendid 2012 EP and 2013 LP is not too far in the future. NL

SATURDAY 11/29

HORSE FEATHERS, THE CAVE SINGERS, THE ALIALUJAH CHOIR
(Crystal Ballroom, 1332 W Burnside) See My, What a Busy Week!

THE NEXT WALTZ
(Alberta Rose Theatre, 3000 NE Alberta) See Friday's listing.

WILD ONES, RADIATION CITY, THE COMETTES
(Star Theater, 13 NW 6th) It's Thanksgiving weekend, which means that everyone is home for the holidays. And that includes Wild Ones and Radiation City, who are making an extended stop in their hometown in the middle of a joint West Coast tour. Wild Ones have been playing some new songs since the re-release of their debut album Keep It Safe earlier this year on Topshelf Records. And Radiation City have a new record in the can, which they recorded with John Vanderslice; it won't be out for a bit, but to tide you over, they've put a new B-side, "Stutter," onto the world wide web. Make sure to get there in time for the Comettes, a Seattle band with an omnivorous sound of wave-crashing psychedelic surf. At least, that's what they were playing last time I saw them. This band moves quickly—in fact, the main duo of frontman Timmy Sunshine and drummer Jettie Wilce have formed a furry sunshine-pop splinter project called Pink Sun that might actually be taking the stage tonight. NL

SHY GIRLS, MASSACOORAMAAN
(Doug Fir, 830 E Burnside) Some artists have a sound that perfectly depicts their hometown. Fitz and the Tantrums sound like a day of wine coolers at Venice Beach. Joni Mitchell sounds like a long drive to Saskatchewan. Shy Girls, fronted by Dan Vidmar, embodies the mellow, effeminate tones of Portland, whether it's a day exploring forgotten books at Powell's or trying to figure out what you did wrong in your last relationship while hiking through the Gorge. Shy Girls make somber electro-pop, but what makes it engaging is that it's melodically based, when so much electronic music often sounds like a splash of computer-based pops and whistles. Despite Shy Girls' so-Portland sound—or perhaps because of it—they've been touring all over during the past year, rapidly becoming popular outside their hometown. ROSE FINN

SUNDAY 11/30

RIO GRANDS, NEW MOVE, NO LALA
(Holocene, 1001 SE Morrison) New Move continue their "New Move Likes to Party" series—conceptual events intended to be more than just another night at the club. For this installment, Jesse Bettis and his crew have a night of yacht-rock decadence planned, centered on the premiere of headliners Rio Grands' new video for "Liz." It's a beach-blanket throwback that they shot while cruising on the Willamette on one of the hottest days of the year. If you've got the seasonal affective blues, tonight might be exactly the shot of musical Vitamin D you need. NL

MONDAY 12/1

RAP CLASS, KITCHEN DJ, RYAN ORGAN
(The Know, 2026 NE Alberta) Read our article on Rap Class.

ALVVAYS, ABSOLUTELY FREE
(Doug Fir, 830 E Burnside) On paper, the raw materials of Toronto's Absolutely Free are familiar: Their band name comes from a Frank Zappa album, their members from the disbanded DD/MM/YYYY, their sound from the 21st-century digital stew of every-sound-recorded-ever, where unfettered access to the world's discographies is a mouse click away. Their debut full-length, Absolutely Free, includes motorik rhythms, chiming guitars, lo-res but perky synths, and wobbly, Eno-influenced effects on the voices and instruments. It also contains an adventurous spirit and some really terrific songs, cresting with the pair of closing tracks, the relentless and soaring "Vision's" and the slow-building astral burble of "Spiral Jetty." They play tonight with fellow Torontonians Alvvays—whose pair of singles "Archie, Marry Me" and "Adult Diversion" are basically perfect—making this the most exciting show this week by quite a stretch. NL See My, What a Busy Week!, and read our article on Alvvays.

DUSTIN WONG AND TAKAKO MINEKAWA, SOFT SHADOWS
(Mississippi Studios, 3939 N Mississippi) After Baltimore art-rock extraordinaires Ponytail called it a day in 2011, guitarist Dustin Wong began churning out solo material. Armed with a guitar, loop pedal, a handful of effects pedals, and the occasional drum machine, Wong mixes and matches brittle melodies and robotic-sounding skronk into dizzying loops. After relocating to Tokyo, he connected with singer/songwriter Takako Minekawa, who found international acclaim in the '90s with her skewed synthpop. The pair released a collaboration on Thrill Jockey in 2013 called Toropical Circle—Minekawa's first new album in 13 years. It only took a year to follow that one up, though, and the duo's latest, Savage Imagination, is a carefree romp that paints in bright colors and lets both musicians' personalities shine. MATTHEW W. SULLIVAN

TUESDAY 12/2

THEE OH SEES, JACK NAME
(Doug Fir, 830 E Burnside) In addition to being the mastermind behind Thee Oh Sees, John Dwyer somehow finds time to operate Castle Face Records, a label that's been home to a number of inspired and unhinged rock records since its inception back in 2007. Earlier in the year, Dwyer expressed some jealousy in seeing Jack Name's debut album, Light Show, being put out on Ty Segall's Drag City imprint, God? Records. As one of many solo monikers of White Fence touring guitarist John Webster Johns, Jack Name is not afraid to stretch far beyond the comfort zone. Light Show sees the musician blending high-pitched, childlike vocals with swirling, spaced-out sound effects to create an intriguing, narrative-driven album that examines medication used on school children and its harmful ability to suppress imagination. It makes for a captivating listen, and the single, "Pure Terror," is one of the finest psychedelic pop songs to come along all year. Although he didn't get to put out the record, Dwyer's brought Jack Name along for the current Oh Sees tour, which hits Portland tonight for two shows, including an all-ages early set. CHIPP TERWILLIGER Also see My, What a Busy Week!

DEAFHEAVEN, LESBIAN, USNEA
(Holocene, 1001 SE Morrison) In a short time, Deafheaven has become a rather divisive band in metal's periphery—old-school heshers don't think they're metal enough, while listeners with more adventurous palates appreciate their non-metallic properties. Like Mastodon and Red Fang, the San Francisco black metal five-piece has inadvertently dropped metal into the laps of hipsters—which isn't necessarily a bad thing. Deafheaven's moody, post-rock twist on metal is refreshing, though definitely not for everyone. (Add the fact that core members George Clarke and Kerry McCoy look like American Apparel models and things get extra dicey.) Of course, if you're banging your head, it's harder to overthink it. MARK LORE