THURSDAY, JANUARY 15
EARFUL—I’m pretty sure that David Lynch’s sweeter,
kinder brother would be a fan of Shelley Short’s enchanting
folk. She’s got a way of comforting with her beautiful
voice—yet there’s an amputated ear lurking in the backyard of her
deceptive strums and vocals. Let her lull you into her lovely web.
CF
w/Ilyas Ahmed, Mbilly; Holocene, 1001 SE Morrison, 9 pm,
$7
BAD BOYS—I always thought the Bad Boys of Dance were the Sharks and the Jets from West Side Story. Turns out
they’re actually a company of rowdy male dancers from mixed disciplines
who put on one hell of an energetic show, and White Bird has
brought them to town. PAC
Newmark Theatre, 1111 SW Broadway, 7:30 pm, $25-57.50, through
Jan 17
ALTER EGO—By day, singer/guitarist Joe Davis mans the
boards here at the Mercury, but by night he fronts the pure rock
power of Pinehurst Kids, whose frenetic, melodic superhero pop
needs no disguise. NL
w/Pacific Blasting; Roscoe’s, 8105 SE Stark, 9 pm, FREE
FRIDAY, JANUARY 16
RAD PEOPLE ONLY—I don’t care how cool you think you
are: If you haven’t given Battlestar Galactica a shot,
you’re just being stubborn. All the people with their heads right will
be at tonight’s big-screen premiere of the final season with
beer and pizza in hand. MS
Bagdad Theater, 3702 SE Hawthorne, 10 pm, FREE
RELEASE—Looking for a surefire way to blow off some
steam after the workweek? Then traipse on down to Slabtown for two
of Portland’s funnest, catchiest bands. Blue Horns make spastic
new-wave folk-rock that’s perfect for flailing to, while the
Crosswalks hurl rock-solid power-pop gems that’ll smack you clean
in the kisser. NL
w/Dominic Castillo; Slabtown, 1033 NW 16th, 9 pm, $6
THE WAIT IS OVER—Admit it: The odds of you ever
actually seeing the enigmatic Tom Waits live in concert are
pretty slim these days. But don’t let that stop you from enjoying a
screening of his marvelous—and totally odd—concert film
Big Time. EAC
Northwest Film Center’s Whitsell Auditorium, 1219 SW Park, 7 pm, $8
SATURDAY, JANUARY 17
FORGIVENESS—If you’re still angry about last month’s
cancellation of the excellent pairing of Portland luminaries Blind
Pilot and Loch Lomond, you can finally unclench your
fists and put away the pitchfork—they’re playing together
tonight, and if haunting chamber-pop and peppy folk sweetness doesn’t
calm your thirst for revenge, you should probably stay home anyway.
RJP
w/the Old Believers; Aladdin Theater, 3017 SE Milwaukie, 8 pm,
$12, all ages
ROCKETS—One of the most intriguing plays on Portland
Center Stage’s roster this year is the world premiere of
Apollo, a multimedia look at post-World War II America
that promises Nazis, rocket ships, and a “kaleidoscopic array of
theatrical methods.” Oooh! AH
Gerding Theater at the Armory, 128 NW 11th, Tues-Sun 7:30 pm, Sun
2 pm, $59-65 ($15 under 18), through Feb 8
THE GITS—Tonight’s offering from the Reel Music
festival is a moving, punk rock homage to the Gits frontwoman Mia
Zapata, who was raped and murdered in Seattle in 1993. Bring a
tissue. Bring the whole box. AH
Whitsell Auditorium, 1219 SW Park, 9 pm, $8
SUNDAY, JANUARY 18
WORD—Everyone’s favorite lesbian TV drama (not that
there’s much competition) The L Word premieres its sixth
season tonight. Check it on the big screen, with admission benefiting
the Human Rights Campaign, followed by an afterparty at
Holocene. MS
Screening at Bagdad Theater, 3702 SE Hawthorne, 7 pm, $5; party
at Holocene, 1001 SE Morrison, 8 pm, FREE with movie ticket ($5
without)
HEART ATTACK-ACK-ACK—Best described as a “rock ballet,”
Movin’ Out is a jukebox musical powered by Billy
Joel songs, leggy half-naked dancers, and Twyla Tharp choreography. If you’re a boomer, you probably have your tickets. If
you’re the child of a boomer, you secretly want tickets, but will beat
the shit out of anyone who finds out. PAC
Keller Auditorium, 222 SW Clay, Fri Jan 16 at 7:30 pm, Sat Jan 17
at 2 & 7:30 pm, Sun Jan 18 at 1 & 6:30 pm, $31.25-68.50
GIRLS’ NIGHT—Three small-press darlings storm Powell’s
tonight: Invincible Summer zinester Nicole Georges, Soft
Skull Press graphic artist Cristy Road, and first-time novelist
Rhiannon Argo. Come on and get indie. AH
Powell’s City of Books, 1005 W Burnside, 7:30 pm, FREE
MONDAY, JANUARY 19
SAY IT LOUD—The Reel Music fest is crammed
chock-a-block with great flicks, and here’s yet another: The
Night James Brown Saved Boston. The day after Martin
Luther King Jr. was assassinated in 1968, James Brown played a concert
that many say saved Boston from devastating riots. Don’t miss this
document of a hallmark moment in music history. WSH
Whitsell Auditorium, 1219 SW Park, 7 pm, $8
COOLEYHIGHARMONY—Relive that Motownphilly feeling with
the R&B stylings of ’90s superstars Boyz II Men! I easily
got 27 women pregnant thanks to songs such as “I’ll Make Love to You,”
“On Bended Knee,” “It’s So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday,” and of
course, “End of the Road.” ABC/BBD 4-evah! WSH
Spirit Mountain Casino, 27100 SW Salmon River Hwy, Grand
Ronde, 8 pm, $20-30
BOOKS—Geraldine Brooks‘ paperback release of
People of the Book follows a manuscript through the ages.
And she’s won a Pulitzer! MD
Powell’s City of Books, 1005 W Burnside, 7:30 pm,
FREE
TUESDAY, JANUARY 20
OBAMA!—Holyfuckingshit! We have a black president!
Celebrate the post-election glory of Barack Obama being sworn in as
the 44th president of the United States with a night of bumping
music. There will be funk (Shock, Marlon McClain), jazz (Linda Hornbuckle, Janice Scroggins), and of course, plenty of beats
and rhymes (Cool Nutz, Mic Crenshaw, Serge Severe, and
more)—and you’ll wake up tomorrow with a smile on your face.
EAC
Roseland, 10 NW 6th, 7 pm, FREE, all ages
INAUGURATION!—The Mercury presents a celebration
of all things Barack in association with the Democratic Party of
Oregon, for which (unlike our rivals) we are in no way ashamed. DJ
Optimo will be spinning, and posters will be available. The theme:
“Change Is Here.” MD
w/Nightclubbing, Linger & Quiet; Holocene, 1001 SE Morrison,
9 pm, $8-10
FUNNY—The trio of former The State comedians
Michael Ian Black, Michael Showalter, and David Wain make up the comedy
troupe Stella, whose absurdist humor is sure to have you
furrowing your brow and slapping your knee in equal measures. NL
Aladdin Theater, 3017 SE Milwaukie, 9 pm, $25, all ages
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21
TNT—Avoiding any mainstream pandering with last year’s
pretty damned good Walk it Off, Minneapolis’ Tapes ‘n
Tapes continue their cusp-toeing jaunt of fun and broody sixth wave
indie rock. Tickle your hips with nothing less than an infection of
danceable punk and ultra-catchy scorchers. RJP
w/Wild Light; Doug Fir, 830 E Burnside, 9 pm, $15
BLAZERS VS. CAVALIERS!—Curse those pesky
Cavaliers, with their LeBron James, their 27 wins and six
losses, compared to Portland’s 20 and 14. If our franchise player would
start playing like one, this could make for a great game. MD
Rose Garden, 1 Center Ct, 7 pm, $10 & up
PILEDRIVER—Forget Britney! The real comeback kid of the
year is formerly washed-up actor Mickey Rourke, who has been
nominated for a Golden Globe for The Wrestler. Rourke’s dead-on portrayal of an ’80s pro wrestling star plotting his
return is just what you expect: heart-wrenching, funny, and
devastating. WSH
Cinema 21, 616 NW 21st, 4:30, 7 & 9:15 pm, $8