WEDNESDAY, APRIL 2

MUSIC—The harmony-drenched folk-rock of local trio Fanno Creek turns explosive in the live setting, and tonight's your last chance to see for yourself for the next few months; they're taking time off to travel, so get while the getting's good. Don't miss Seattle's Tomten, who make misty-morning baroque pop in all your favorite vintage flavors. NL
w/Animal Eyes; Mississippi Studios, 3939 N Mississippi, 9 pm, $5

DANCE—White Bird hosts the all-male comedic/dance ensemble affectionately known as "The Trocks" (AKA—deep breath—"Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo"), who pull tutus over their chest hair to perform canonical works ranging from classical ballet to modern dance. AH
Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, 1037 SW Broadway, 7:30 pm, $26-64, whitebird.org

THURSDAY, APRIL 3

COMEDY—Not many comedians own the stage the way Christopher Titus does. He doesn't so much do stand-up as he does pace-and-prowl-and-leap-and-whisper-and-shout-and-stand-up, which results in provocative, piercing sets that leave a laceration or two between laughs. BR
Helium Comedy Club, 1510 SE 9th, Thurs 8 pm, Fri-Sat 7:30 & 10 pm, $18-32

THEATER—Conflict of interest not withstanding (it's co-directed and co-written by a Mercury employee), Action/Adventure's Sidekicks! looks totally fun. An episodic, semi-improvised depiction of a comic book alternate-reality Portland in which the heroes are really the sidekicks (AKA the ones who do all the work). MS
Action/Adventure Theatre, 1050 SE Clinton, Thurs-Sun, through April 27, $10-15

FRIDAY, APRIL 4

STAY WILD—Speaking of conflicts of interest, it's probably not actually in the best interest of the Mercury that our art director is starting a new magazine, but he is. Stay Wild combines outdoor adventuring with weird art, and is celebrating its launch with free beer and a small, presumably weird art show, too. MS
See See Motorcycles, 1642 NE Sandy, 6 pm, FREE

MUSIC BENEFIT—What kind of monster wouldn't want to help sick kids get sweet healing music into their ears? This star-studded variety show night, Wesley Stace's Cabinet of Wonders, benefits the kids at Children's Cancer Association, with performances by My Morning Jacket's Jim James, Colin Meloy, Ural Thomas and the Pain, and many more. You monster... of charity and kindness! CF
Aladdin Theater, 3017 SE Milwaukie, 8 pm, $50-150

FILM STORIES—Back Fence PDX debuts at its new venue, the Hollywood Theatre, with a promising, film-centric evening: The storytellers for Back Fence PDX: Reel Stories include filmmakers Jon Raymond, Brian Lindstrom, and Arthur Bradford, and their behind-the-scenes stories will include clips from their work and never-before-seen footage. EH
Hollywood Theatre, 4122 NE Sandy, 7:30 pm, $13-15

SATURDAY, APRIL 5

RADIO, RADIO—The popular NPR program Philosophy Talk tapes an episode in Portland, auspiciously themed "Remixing Reality: Art and Literature for the 21st Century." The show's inquisitive hosts will be joined by guest David Shields, author of Reality Hunger: A Manifesto, to discuss the state of contemporary fiction. AH
First Congregational Church, 1126 SW Park, 7:30 pm, $15-20

FILM—After collecting nearly 600 votes, the Hollywood Theatre kicks off a new series, "This Is Your Theatre," with visitors to the Hollywood's website picking a movie that's shown for one-night only. First up: Terry Gilliam's great, surreal, damning 1985 sci-fi comedy Brazil! See it on the big screen, by popular demand. EH
Hollywood Theatre, 4122 NE Sandy, 7 pm, $8

SUNDAY, APRIL 6

MUSIC—Dum Dum Girls—fronted by the inimitable Dee Dee Penny—have been putting some new-wave spit shine on their catchy and fuzzy brand of daring power pop. Exhibit A is the Girls' most recent full-length, Too True. Penny's raw edges may have been salved with a bit of production unguent, but it's some of her most moving work yet. DCT
w/Blouse, Strange Babez; Doug Fir, 830 E Burnside, 9 pm, $15

MUSIC—You never know when Neutral Milk Hotel might slip off the face of the planet and go into indefinite hiatus again. So you might want to do everything in your power to catch Jeff Mangum & Co. on their jaunt back through town. They're playing tonight and tomorrow, loaded with songs from 1998's classic In the Aeroplane Over the Sea. Best get in somehow. CF
w/Elf Power, the Minders; Crystal Ballroom, 1332 W Burnside, Sun & Mon, 8:30 pm, sold out (but hunt around), all ages

MONDAY, APRIL 7

SKATE-A-ROKE— Karaoke's great, but sometimes it's hard to slather a patina of retro authenticity on your "It's Raining Men." The Mercury gets it, so we're helping the Rose City Rollers' all-star team raise funds by sponsoring a return of our beloved Skate-a-Roke. Sing, skate, and succeed at the city's finest roller rink, and ensure roller derby girls can hit each other well into the future. DVH
Oaks Park Skating Rink, 7805 SE Oaks Park, 7:30 pm, $10-50, all ages

FILM—One of the movies that made Jackie Chan into... well, Jackie Chan, 1978's Drunken Master is directed by Yuen Woo-ping, the guy behind every awesome fight scene in The Matrix, Kill Bill, The Grandmaster, and more. Together, the two create some astounding action sequences—and set the stage for the even better Drunken Master II, which you should totally watch. EH
Laurelhurst Theater, 2735 E Burnside, see Movie Times, $4

TUESDAY, APRIL 8

MUSIC—Washington, DC's Dead Meadow want to slip you something psychedelic. They're pushers of the highest order of trippy stoner anthems, mixing the best of Sabbath, mind-melting spacescapes, and guitar-driven freedom rock. They're touring their newest album, Warble Womb, so wobble on down to tune in and drop out. CF
w/Grandparents, Billions and Billions, Still Caves; Hawthorne Theatre, 1507 SE César E. Chávez, 8 pm, $13-15

EAR CANDY—Once again, the Mercury and Mississippi Studios bring you—for free—the best music Portland has to offer... meaning it's very, very good. Tonight? Check out the Ghost Ease's fuzz-dipped Northwest rock, which turns from languid to gnashing at turns, and the wide-eyed, far-out rock 'n' punk from Marriage + Cancer (formerly Nucular Aminals). NL
Mississippi Studios, 3939 N Mississippi, 9 pm, FREE