THURSDAY, JULY 2
SUMMER LOVERS—If your summer still needs a soundtrack,
look no further than Lovers’ stunning fourth record, I Am the
West. The Portland band has assembled an album of ’80s-influenced
pop perfection, catchy and yearning and steeped in summer’s sense of
elusive possibilities. AH
w/Love Grenades, Big Moves, Reverse Dotty & the Candy Cane
Shivs; Rotture, 315 SE 3rd, 9 pm, $6
BLUES FEST—It’s another big weekend starting today for
the annual Waterfront Blues Fest! Johnny Winter, the Lee Boys, Storm
Large, and many more will be filling the night with blues, gospel,
rock, blues-rock, gospel-blues, rock-gospel, and blues-blues. Just the
way I like it. WSH
Tom McCall Waterfront Park, 1020 SW Naito, suggested donation $10
plus two cans of food, full schedule at waterfrontbluesfest.com
FRIDAY, JULY 3
SOPHIE’S CHOICE—Two fantastic screenings are happening
tonight, so make up your mind which one to hit: 2004’s hilarious
Team America: World Police—the perfect film with
which to celebrate Fourth of July—will be screening at Cinema 21,
while across town, KUFO’s Cort and Fatboy will host a rare big-screen
showing of the best Star Wars movie ever made, 1980’s The Empire
Strikes Back! EH
Team America: World Police at Cinema 21, 616 NW
21st, 11 pm, $6, 21+; The Empire Strikes Back at
Bagdad Theater, 3702 SE Hawthorne, 11 pm, $5 (proceeds from Empire benefit Doernbecher Children’s Hospital),
21+
GAYTRIOTISM!—Leave it to Holocene to throw a
first-class dance party for America’s sexiest second-class citizens. If
you were born in the US of GAY, flaunt your right to party—if not
your right to marry—in your most gaytriotic red, white, and blue
sequined short shorts. SM
w/DJ Snowtiger, Mr. Charming, DJ
Girlfriends, Boyjoy; Holocene, 1001 SE Morrison, 9 pm, $3, 21+
SATURDAY, JULY 4
NOISY BBQ—In an annual tradition—just like an
evil Rose Parade—JonnyX and the Groadies are celebrating their
13th anniversary with head-exploding noise and delicious vegan grub.
Blast some carbs at the V.E.G.B.B.Q., and then dance it off once the
strobe lights start and the music begins. Also, since it is the
nation’s birthday, feel free to blow some shit up. EAC
w/Thrones, Kit, Gay Deceivers; Worksound, 820 SE Alder, food 7 pm,
music 9 pm, FREE, all ages
YOU NASTY—The suggestively named Casual Encounters
party is having its fireworks edition tonight, with a veggie BBQ and
good views of the sparks from the club’s porch. Dance and skeeze the
lit-up night away with DJs Automaton and Jenny Hoyston (of Erase
Errata). MS
w/DJ Nolita; Rotture, 315 SE 3rd, 9 pm, $3
SUNDAY, JULY 5
BIKINI BINGO—Are you tired of all the old prudes
horning in on your hot bingo action? ME, TOO! That’s why you should
forego the VFW Hall and get down to the East End for their Sunday night
Bikini Bingo games! There will be fun, cash prizes, and (yum, yum)
plenty o’ skin! WSH
East End, 203 SE Grand, 9 pm, FREE
BLISTER IN THE SUN—Party’s down at the waterfront
tonight, where Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings are taking the stage at
the Waterfront Blues Festival with what the critics love to refer to as
a “blistering” live set. Since the sun will still be up, that might be
pretty accurate. MS
Tom McCall Waterfront Park, 1020 SW Naito, 7:50 pm, suggested
donation $10 plus two cans of food, full schedule at waterfrontbluesfest.com
MONDAY, JULY 6
GO FIND YOURSELF—Is pop art a boy’s best friend? It
sure is in Lance Reynald’s coming-of-age novel Pop Salvation.
This isn’t pity prose about being unpopular or the self-empowerment of
dyeing one’s hair. Sure, that’s in there, but the point is that
self-expression is fucking fabulous. See for yourself at tonight’s
reading. JC
Powell’s Books on Hawthorne, 3723 SE Hawthorne, 7:30 pm,
FREE
MOONAGE DAYDREAM—One of the best sci-fi movies you’ll
see all year, director Duncan Jones’ Moon stars the always-great
Sam Rockwell as a lonely astronaut stuck on (you guessed it) the Moon,
with only a computer (voiced by Kevin Spacey) for company. Then things
start to get weird. Moody, creepy, and engrossing, this is one you’ll
want to see on the big screen. EH
Fox Tower 10, 846 SW Park, see Movie Times on pg. TK for
showtimes
TUESDAY, JULY 7
SNAKES ON A RING—What the heck? Sideshow pitchman Jim
Rose leads his eccentric performance troupe through town, alongside
disgraced WWF legend Jake the Snake Roberts? While it makes no sense
whatsoever, tonight’s event will feature some turnbuckle-flying action,
circus stunts, a possible appearance by a snake named “Damien,” and
enough oddities to make The Wrestler seem like a wholesome
family flick. EAC
Wonder Ballroom, 128 NE Russell, 9 pm, $15-18
O CANADA—The Rural Alberta Advantage singer Nils
Edenloff sings in a majestic voice that soars like an Aeroplane over
the Sea, but don’t tag this Toronto outfit as just another Neutral
Milk Hotel knock-off. The trio is responsible for a stellar full-length
recording, Hometowns, which generated a furious buzz and went
from self-released to finding a home on respected indie Saddle Creek.
As long as he doesn’t disappear like Jeff Mangum, this band will be
around for the long run. EAC
w/Dallas County Potential; Backspace, 115 NW 5th, 8:30 pm, $6, all
ages
WEDNESDAY, JULY 8
BALD-FACED LIE—A lot has happened since Natalie
Portman’s Shaved Head formed in 2005. They released their dance-tacular
debut album Glistening Pleasure last year, Bic invented the
20-bladed disposable razor, and the FDA recognized the band’s
electro-pop jams as treatment for adult ADD. Plus, one of those is
actually true! JC
w/Copy, Hey Champ, Glint; Doug Fir, 830 E Burnside, 9 pm,
$10
MUSIC ON MAIN—At 5 pm bureaucrats pour out of their
glum downtown office buildings, only to be greeted by a pleasing,
unfamiliar noise. Why, it’s a musical concert! Those rogues at the
Portland Center for the Performing Arts blocked off the section of Main
Street next to the Schnitz and they’ve invited that banjo blues band
Woodbrain to perform. How delightful! SM
SW Main between Broadway & Park, 5 pm, FREE, all ages