THURSDAY, MAY 14
If you aren’t already deeply in love
with the brilliant Flight of the Conchords, then I don’t know what to tell you. Bret McKenzie and Jemaine Clement’s live performances leave both their hilarious HBO show and their excellent soundtrack album in the dust. Naturally, this show sold out months ago, so it’s a good thing you already bought tickets—right? EH
Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, 1037 SW Broadway, 7:30 pm, $45, all
ages
Poppy, accessible, and relevant—not
necessarily the buzzwords of most local theater companies, but
perfectly suited to the sassy upstarts at Hand2Mouth. Their newest,
Everyone Who Looks Like You, promises an honest and intimate
exploration of the dynamics of family. AH
Milepost 5, 900 NE 81st, Thurs-Sun 8 pm, through May 24,
$10-15
FRIDAY, MAY 15
LA underground band No Age have played
almost every type of venue in town, from all-ages spaces to big concert
halls to vegan grocery stores. Tonight the duo blasts their arty,
momentous pop-punk inside the walls of the multipurpose Worksound art
space for a live exhibit of very real, very raw, very catchy music.
NL
w/Eat Skull, Gun Costume, Brilliant Colors; Worksound, 820 SE
Alder, 8:30 pm, $7, all ages
Any fan of UFOs knows Stanton Friedman and Linda
Moulton Howe as top researchers in the field. Others know them as
complete crackpots. Regardless of where you stand, their lectures at Hotel Oregon’s Annual UFO Festival in McMinnville will be absolutely fascinating. PAC
Stanton Friedman, Fri 7 pm; Linda Moulton Howe, Sat 4 pm;
McMinnville Community Center, 600 NE Evans, McMinnville, $10 ($15 for
both events), all ages
SATURDAY, MAY 16
Celebrating their second year, record
label/retail store/screenprinting organization/indie rock cult Tender
Loving Empire is throwing quite the anniversary party. Everyone in the
door gets a free copy of the brand-new double-disc The Friends and
Friends of Friends Vol. 2 compilation, plus you can watch a slew of
bands, chow on some cake, and take out your frustrations on a
piñata. EAC
Backspace, 115 NW 5th, 5 pm, $8, all ages
Taco carts and cheap local art abound at
Alberta Art Hop, the family-friendly annual alternative to the
fire-spewing hippie madness of Last Thursdays. Leave the paper
bag-wrapped PBR at home and spend the afternoon celebrating the 10th(!)
year of this annual festivity. SM
NE Alberta between NE 12th & 29th, 11 am-6 pm, FREE
SUNDAY, MAY 17
The musicians of the School of Rock are
some damn lucky kiddos: Not only do they get to present a night of
music from the legendary Pixies, but they get to do so alongside Pixies
frontman Frank Black himself! MS
Berbati’s Pan, 10 SW 3rd, 1 & 5 pm (Frank Black only at the 5 pm
show), $10-12, all ages
Before he wrote for The Wire, George
Pelecanos cranked out hard-boiled detective stories based in
Washington, DC. He’s got a great way with the gritty underbelly of
urban living, specializing in characters whose redemption is hard
fought and bumpy with moral ambiguities. His newest novel, The
Way Home, stays true to course. CF
Powell’s City of Books, 1005 W Burnside, 7:30 pm, FREE
MONDAY, MAY 18
Renowned novelist Tom Robbins has
written a children’s book about alcohol called B Is for Beer, in
which Daddy’s favorite beverage provides the backdrop of a subversive
bedtime story. Tonight, Robbins pimps his new product as McMenamins
ales flow freely. AS
Bagdad Theater, 3702 SE Hawthorne, 7 pm, $18 (includes copy of
book), all ages
The best film to screen at last year’s
Portland International Film Festival, the drama Goodbye Solo tells the strange, sad tale of a Senegalese cabbie that befriends a
grumpy old white dude. It’s beautifully shot, poignantly acted, and
masterfully directed—it’s one of the best films you’ll see all
year. EH
Fox Tower 10, 846 SW Park, see Movie Times for
showtimes, $8.25-10.50
TUESDAY, MAY 19
Even if his name doesn’t ring a bell,
you’ve seen claymation pioneer Will Vinton’s work. Check out the new
exhibition showcasing the work of the Oregon native behind the
California Raisins, Domino’s Pizza’s the Noid, and bizarro kid’s flick
The Adventures of Mark Twain. MV
Oregon Historical Society, 1200 SW Park, Tues-Sat 10 am-5 pm, Sun
noon-5 pm, $9-11; May 15-Sept 13
To commemorate the release of their mighty
new album Rose City, Viva Voce are throwing a little party. In
addition to rubbing elbows (or other body parts) with the band, you can
have a first listen to the record, and watch the premiere of their new
video “Octavio.” Bring cash, since Music Millennium will be slinging
copies of the record. EAC
Mississippi Studios, 3939 N Mississippi, 8 pm, FREE
WEDNESDAY, MAY 20
Finally, the opportunity to view sharks as
they should be seen: 100-feet long and devouring everything
in sight! Don’t miss the premiere of Jean-Michel Cousteau’s
Sharks—the new IMAX flick featuring tons of humongous
great whites, hammerheads, and other “misunderstood” varieties. SNORT!
Yeah, right. WSH
OMSI, 1945 SE Water, 11 am, 2 pm, 4 pm, through May 31,
$6.50-8.50, omsi.edu
The most unassuming performer in
the Kill Rock Stars’ talent pool, Minnesota’s Jeff Hanson passes
through town in support of last year’s Madam Owl. While his soft
voice and vulnerable lyrics might remind you of a certain
legendary—and dearly missed—Portland singer/songwriter from
the same label, Hanson’s music is less dire than his acoustic
predecessor. Expect warm and gracious songs, from a truly underrated
artist. EAC
w/TS Brooks, Krist Krueger; Someday Lounge, 125 NW 5th, 9 pm,
$7