WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9

MUSIC—The sun-shimmering psychedelic pop of Portland's own Jackson Boone is the perfect music for opening your third eye. Tonight Boone releases his second album of cosmic candy—Natural Changes—which is full of the music Syd Barrett would have made if he'd ever had the chance to front Electric Light Orchestra, with a beachy West Coast flair. NED LANNAMANN
w/Wampire, Cat Hoch; Mississippi Studios, 3939 N Mississippi, 9 pm, $5

COMEDY—The most descriptively titled event, Competitive Erotic Fan Fiction is a hysterical comedy night full of the cognitive dissonance of listening to dirty stories about your favorite Muppets and Friday Night Lights gangbangs, with host Bryan Cook and local erotic-story-weavers JoAnn Schinderle, Steven Wilber, and more. COURTNEY FERGUSON
Helium Comedy Club, 1510 SE 9th, 8 pm, $10-18

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10

ARTS FEST—Hurray, it's time once again for TBA—the 11-day Time-Based Arts festival that never ceases to amaze. Tonight kicks off with a special free all-ages performance from Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks—but there's so much amazement to follow, including Requiem Mass: LGBT/Working Title, a musical work by Holcombe Waller honoring members of the LGBT community who've been persecuted by religion. And TBA's just getting started! WM. STEVEN HUMPHREY
Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks at the Works at the Redd, 831 SE Salmon, 10:30 pm, FREE, all ages; Requiem Mass, Trinity Episcopal Cathedral, 147 NW 19th, Fri & Sat 6:30 pm, $10-30 sliding scale, pica.org

BOOKS—The undisputed great American (sci-fi) novelist and light of Portland Ursula K. Le Guin (YAY!) has a new book out, Steering the Craft, a writing guide that should be required reading for aspiring Nebula winners. Also, Le Guin's been known to say some amazing things when she's given a platform (like calling out Amazon at last year's National Book Awards). We're not worthy! MEGAN BURBANK
Powell's City of Books, 1005 W Burnside, 7:30 pm, FREE

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 11

VARIETY SHOW—Don't miss the recurring Entertainment for People: New Shit Show, featuring music, stand-up, readings, and lots more weird stuff! This go-round is hosted by The Moth's Dan Kennedy, with performer/artist Andrew Dickson, comedian Bri Pruett, director Arthur Bradford, and many more along for the ride! WM. STEVEN HUMPHREY
Disjecta, 8371 N Interstate, 8 pm, $15-22

MUSIC—Milwaukee's Jaill are as good at making fun, punky, poppy, kicky songs as they are bad at spelling the word "jail." They've got a splendid new record called Brain Cream and a back catalog of terrific, twisty tunes. They're at the top of a bill that also includes the awesome Colleen Green and two of Portland's finest, Summer Cannibals and Coma Serfs. NED LANNAMANN
The Know, 2026 NE Alberta, 8 pm, $8

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 12

PODCASTS—If you love the political and social commentary from the podcasts Throwing Shade and Jordan, Jesse, Go!, maybe you'll enjoy their (and their surprise guests) hilarious pontifications about celebrities, sex, and life in general even better IRL? Only one way to be sure! MARJORIE SKINNER
Hollywood Theatre, 4122 NE Sandy, 7 pm, $20

BRIDGE—The snazzy Tilikum Crossing and the long-awaited MAX Orange Line celebrate their grand opening today. All TriMet rides are FREE today. They've been making a real big deal over this new line, including a fireworks show and a selfie contest, so go ride it for free while you can. SHELBY R. KING
MAX Orange Line, various locations, 11 am-6 pm, FREE

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 13

BOOKS—Sure, religious fanaticism, in all its forms, is super depressing these days. But cheer up! It always has been, and there are people like Salman Rushdie writing books like his latest, Two Years Eight Months and Twenty-Eight Nights, which dresses up that fanaticism with murderous fictional genies, and then neatly skewers it. DIRK VANDERHART
Powell's Books at Cedar Hills Crossing, 3415 SW Cedar Hills, Beaverton, 2 pm, FREE

MUSIC—If the little-girl wight in the opening scene of Game of Thrones grew up to become a goth (as a reanimated dead girl in the frozen woods might), her taste in music might resemble that of Zola Jesus. Find out what that sounds like at tonight's rare TBA Fest DJ set from the enigmatic artist. MARJORIE SKINNER
The Works at the Redd, 831 SE Salmon, 10:30 pm, $8-10, all ages

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 14

MUSIC—What are your thoughts on "loud," "feedback," and "the Jesus and Mary Chain"? All signs point to "Yay!" The ear-splitting noise-rock of New York's A Place to Bury Strangers comes into town on a dark wave of New Order mutilation. With their fourth album, Transfixiation, they're spreading gothy soundscapes to all the good little grownups in black vintage T-shirts. COURTNEY FERGUSON
Star Theater, 13 NW 6th, 9 pm, $13

FILM—There was a time when Emilio Estevez held an entire world in thrall. In those days, friends, he starred in Alex Cox's sci-fi/comedy/crime flick Repo Man, one of the most cult of all cult classics. Behold its beloved weirdness on the big screen, and behold Estevez as he ever shall be, in each of our hearts. ERIK HENRIKSEN
Laurelhurst Theater, 2735 E Burnside, 9:30 pm, $4

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15

MUSIC—With lyrics like "Ladies, it's okay to be slutty," Seattle's Chastity Belt play music to make joyfully poor life choices to, all with a smooth surf-rock-meets-early-Sleater-Kinney vibe. They're also one of the only bands brave and goofy enough to have press photos that look like awful family portraits taken at Sears. MEGAN BURBANK
w/Pinecones, Mope Grooves; Mississippi Studios, 3939 N Mississippi, 9 pm, $12

BOOKS—With his stylish, funny western The Sisters Brothers, Portlander Patrick deWitt established himself as one of the most offbeat and insightful writers around—and also one of the best. Tonight, he reads from his latest, Undermajordomo Minor—a story of "polite theft, bitter heartbreak, domestic mystery, and cold-blooded murder." SOLD. ERIK HENRIKSEN
Powell's City of Books, 1005 W Burnside, 7:30 pm, FREE