THURSDAY, APRIL 26
PICTURES & WOYDS—Super-fun, semi-regular comics reading night Comics Underground returns to offer you a spot in a dark bar with the likes of Mike Allred, Jen Van Meter, Jonathan Case, and Joe Keatinge! They’ll project their comics on a big screen, read them in funny voices, and put you to booze. SS
The Jack London Bar, 529 SW 4th, 8 pm FREE, 21+
POP UP—The annual fundraiser for PDX Pop Now! is upon us, so Make It Pop! This year’s benefit features performances by Y La Bamba’s Luz Elena Mendoza, Lost Lander’s Matt Sheehy, drummer extraordinaire Neal Morgan, and Loch Lomond’s Brooke Parrott, plus OPB’s Jeremy Petersen DJs as you snack on goodies from Olympic Provisions, Boke Bowl, Bakery Bar, and 50 Licks. NL
The Cleaners at the Ace Hotel, 403 SW 10th, 6:30 pm, $35-70, all ages
FRIDAY, APRIL 27
DECISIONS—The best late-night talk-show host on the air, The Late Late Show‘s Craig Ferguson is a hell of a stand-up comedian. And while he’s known as the voice of Archer and Home Movies‘ Coach McGuirk, Jon Benjamin is also hilarious. Tonight they’re both in town. Separately. This is like Sophie’s Choice!
But funnier. EH
Craig Ferguson at the Aladdin Theater, 3017 SE Milwaukie, 7 & 10 pm, $42.50-55; Jon Benjamin at the Bagdad Theater, 3702 SE Hawthorne, 9 pm, $15
CONTEST FROM HELL—Karaoke from Hell awards its top prize of $1,000 tonight to one of 15 finalists in its live band karaoke competition, as judged by a panel of local personalities (including the Mercury‘s own Wm. Steven Humphrey).
For those of you non-competitive types, singing after midnight will not
be judged (officially, at least, but
always internally). MS
Star Theater, 13 NW 6th, 10 pm, $5
AURAL PLEASURE—You’re listening to…
Radiolab, WNYC’s experiment in auditory storytelling is coming to town. Your stalwart guides through topics scientific and philosophical, Jad Abumrad and Robert Krulwich host a sound-filled evening with dancers, comedian Demetri Martin, and musician Thao Nguyen. Tickets are going fast—just saying. NG
Keller Auditorium, 222 SW Clay, Fri & Sat 8 pm, $35.50
SATURDAY, APRIL 28
FUNNYBOOK FEST—It’s the annual gathering of Portland’s comic book fiends, creators, and publishers at the Stumptown Comics Fest. Catch the Oni Press talk-show panel, a tribute to Moebius, and artists and writers like Pete Bagge, Jeff Lemire, and Mike Allred. Then drink it up at Saturday’s awards show and afterparty at the Jupiter Hotel. CF
Oregon Convention Center, 777 NE MLK, Sat April 28, 10 am-6 pm, Sun April 29, noon-6 pm, $7/day, $12/weekend, stumptowncomics.com
HIT HISTORY—Since DJ Cooky Parker’s New Year’s Eve party was so rockin’, he’s pulling out the records again. Fifty: Another Possible History of Dance Music 1962-2012 aims to present awesome songs from the last 50 years, promising deeper cuts than the NYE’s playlist. Come on down and boogie to R&B, soul, hiphop, and other dance tracks. AZ
Holocene, 1001 SE Morrison, 9:00 pm, $5
SUNDAY, APRIL 29
ANIMATED!—The Dill Pickle Club’s A Place Called Home series presents a talking/learning time, and this lecture’s about animation! Local filmmakers Rose Bond, Joan Gratz, and Joanna Priestley focus on their 10,000 killer animation projects and what it was like to make those projects here in Portland. SS
Hollywood Theatre, 4122 NE Sandy, 1 pm, $10
MO’ MOSHE—Moshe Kasher had a troubled childhood as a drug addict with two deaf parents, but now he’s the funniest, smartest stand-up you’re ever likely to hear. Catch his whip-smartypants comedy on Saturday, and a reading from his memoir Kasher in the Rye on Sunday (which he totally should’ve titled Kasher in the Wry). CF
Stand-up at Mission Theater, 1624 NW Glisan, Sat 9:30 pm, $12.50-15, 21+; reading at Powell’s, 1005 W Burnside, Sun 7:30 pm, FREE
MONDAY, APRIL 30
DUDE WILL ABIDE—An alum of Scarface’s Facemob, Devin the Dude struck out on his own back in ’98, wowing underground hiphop audiences with his blend of quirky, intelligent, and often fall-down funny lyrics ladled atop some devilishly wicked beats. Tonight he’s back in Portland with former bandmates Coughee Brothaz North in tow. WSH
Hawthorne Theatre, 1507 SE 39th, 8 pm, $17-20, all ages
AVAST!—Fans of Aardman Animations (best known for such clay-tastic films as Wallace and Gromit and Chicken Run) have a new joint—The Pirates! Band of Misfits. Based on the kids’ book, a bumbling pirate (voiced by Hugh Grant) sets off on a hilarious mission to become “Pirate of the Year.” Claymation-style hijinks ensue! WSH
Various theaters, check Film Times for times
TUESDAY, MAY 1
PROPHETS—The new album from Ramona Falls, Prophet, is released into the world today, so catch the band at a very special in-store performance. Since leaving Menomena, Brent Knopf’s knack for heartfelt, creative art-pop hasn’t diminished one bit, as Ramona Falls will clearly prove this afternoon. NL
Music Millennium, 3158 E Burnside, 6 pm, FREE, all ages
STRIKE!—Stay home from work/school/stalking the pretty shelvers at the library and strike a blow for the 99 percent! On May Day—a high holiday for the anti-establishment—Occupy Portland is joining with its compatriots all around the country and planning a rally and general strike. It might be family friendly, but medics will be on hand. DCT
Under the westside of the Burnside Bridge, rally at 11:30 am, march at 12:30 pm, FREE
WEDNESDAY, MAY 2
DECLARATORY—They’ve been popping up on lineups a lot lately, but Portland’s most dramatic, texturally orchestrated pop band (fronted by former Mercury music editor and sometimes freelancer Zac Pennington) Parenthetical Girls sounds better than ever, and tonight they headline their own show, where they’ll be the rightful center of attention. MS
Holocene, 1001 SE Morrison, 8:30 pm, $5
GREAT NORTHWEST—Hometown filmmaker made good Matt McCormick drops into the Whitsell for two nights with a special treat: his newest quasi-documentary The Great Northwest, which recreates a lengthy road trip taken by four Seattle women back in 1958. Visually gorgeous and
hauntingly thought-provoking stuff—as usual. WSH
Northwest Film Center’s Whitsell Auditorium, 1219 SW Park, Wed May 2 & Thurs May 3, 7 pm, $9
In response to the article about May 1, that rally and march is NOT Occupy Portland. That’s an autonomous action being done by a separate group. It is not a family friendly event. The real May Day rally and march will be at Salmon and Park starting at 2pm. This is a family friendly event.
In regards to the upcoming May Day holiday that so many disenfranchised hooligans have hijacked as their own day of chaos, referring specifically to the anarchists, please try to refrain from causing more public & private property damage if you can. You are not helping yourselves with your so called revolution by committing petty crimes that law abiding people will have to pay the tab for, whether it’s passed down to the consumer or taxpayer. I understand most of you had little guidance and boundaries while growing up but now that you’re out of mommy and daddy’s basement you have to learn there are penalties for breaking the law in our society. So pull the heroin needle out your arm and get at least one foot in reality.
Thank you