WEDNESDAY, MAY 14

ANIMATION—Your average collection of animated shorts might be a little hit and miss, but the NW Animation Festival is a very well curated look at the innovative magic making happening across the region. (For serious.) And there's a full week of it, too, with panels and after-parties, so pencil that biz in. MS
Hollywood Theatre, 4122 NE Sandy, through Sun May 18, screenings $5-15, fest pass $60, nwanimationfest.com

FASHION—It's the last night of Open Season—the Mercury fashion show celebrating 10 years of Portland style and design. Tonight's fun runway show will be in the comfortable, boozy confines of Rontoms, spotlighting the highly respected Portland Garment Factory, and their in-house line HouseLine—clothing that's light and feminine, with surprisingly unexpected draping. It's rare to see these guys on the runway—so get your tix quick! WSH
Rontoms, 600 E Burnside, 6 pm, $5 at merctickets.com, $8 at the door

BASKETBALL—Round two of the playoffs certainly hasn’t gone the way anyone wanted, but that hope still glimmers. Gather at your favorite bar to watch as the outcome of Blazers vs. Spurs either (a) allows that hope to stay burning, or (b) asks you to douse that flame with a couple beers’ worth of mourning. BR
Broadcasting on TNT, 6:30 pm, FREE

THURSDAY, MAY 15

HUMP!—Even if you're a fan of the HUMP! amateur porn fest (or just HUMP!-curious), it's unlikely you've seen every HUMP! film. (Did you know the festival was originally Seattle-only for years before coming to Portland?) Luckily the HUMP! tour has rounded up some old favorites for a traveling best-of edition. It's here now, and it's on! MS
Cinema 21, 616 NW 21st, Thurs-Sat, $18, see Film Times

MUSIC—Local singer Liz Vice certainly spreads the gospel with her warm, impassioned take on Southern soul on her spectacular album There's a Light. It's not just that the vintage R&B trappings are note-perfect; Vice's deeply felt devotion and generosity of spirit make her sermon worth hearing, no matter what your religion. NL
w/the Breaking Yard, Valley Maker; Mississippi Studios, 3939 N Mississippi, 8 pm, $6-8

FRIDAY, MAY 16

MUSIC—If you haven't noticed, the rise of Compton-based rapper YG has been meteoric. Bouncing onto the scene in 2008, YG's breakout really got hopping with "Toot It and Boot It" (with LA's Ty Dolla Sign), and now Def Jam has released his debut album, My Krazy Life—whose lead single "My Nigga" is a bumping and wicked tribute to his... umm... you know. Needless to say, YG is on the real. WSH
w/DJ Mustard, Easy McCoy; Roseland, 8 NW 6th, 8 pm, $25, all ages

MUSIC—The great progressive bluegrass (some people call it "newgrass," which I refuse to do, because I am not an idiot) trio Nickel Creek have been MIA since 2007, but they're finally back and they have a new album—and tonight, they're playing the Crystal. Due to the whole "seven-year hiatus" thing, it sold out fast—but c'mon. There are ways. EH
w/the Secret Sisters; Crystal Ballroom, 1332 W Burnside, 8 pm, hunt down tickets, all ages

SATURDAY, MAY 17

ROLLER DERBY—Wanna see some top-notch, A-plus, slamma-jamma roller derby? Duh—it's girls hitting the shit out of each other for blood sport. The hometown honeys on the Rose City Rollers' all-star team, Wheels of Justice, take on the derby do-gooders of Montreal's New Skids on the Block, who prove Canadians aren't always that nice. CF
The Hangar at Oaks Park, 7805 SE Oaks Park, 7 pm, $14-20, all ages

COMEDY—Did you know hilarious Mercury contributors Alex Falcone and Bri Pruett host a hilarious late-night talk show? This Late Night Action features comedian Zak Toscani, internet madman Andy Baio, and singer/songwriter Adam Shearer (from Weinland). Worth your money. DVH
The Secret Society, 116 NE Russell, 9 pm, $10

MUSIC—The last time Bon Jovi came to Portland was in 2006. I was fucking there, and it was glorious, but 2006—2006—was a long time ago. Too long. So thank the rock gods for Bon Jovi tribute band Steelhorse, who, tonight, will light up the Doug Fir's stage in a blaze of glory for all of us who've been keeping the faith. EH
w/One from Many; Doug Fir, 830 E Burnside, 9 pm, $15

SUNDAY, MAY 18

MUSIC—This shoegaze-heavy night of gorgeous-sounding Portland bands—including the Ghost Ease, Focus Troup, and Bed.—is going to make the end of the weekend a gossamer trip on moody, guitared wings. The dream-pop extravaganza kicks off the release of Vortex music magazine, and based on this lineup, they have good taste. CF
w/Half Shadow; Holocene, 1001 SE Morrison, 8:30 pm, $7

FILM—It's wise to be skeptical of American remakes, which is—technically—what Godzilla is. But the cast is great (Bryan Cranston! Elizabeth Olsen!) and the trailers are creepy and ambitious. Indie director Gareth Edwards (Monsters) might turn this remake into one of the best movies of the summer. AH
Various Theaters, see Film Times, and read our review

MONDAY, MAY 19

MUSIC—The string-laden, candy-colored wonderlands of music that violinist/looper Kishi Bashi creates in his intoxicating songs are full of pure, childlike delight. His new album, Lighght (it's spelled that way on purpose), is a celestial orgy of sparkly, chirpy orchestral pop beamed straight down from the heavens. NL
w/Plume Giant; Wonder Ballroom, 128 NE Russell, 8:30 pm, $15, all ages

MUSIC—There's nothing inherently punk rock about Mondays, but don't tell that to Lola's Room—their free weekly punk showcase is a high-energy antidote to the shittiest day of the week. Tonight, the Bugs promise efficient, no-fuss garage punk—plus, the girl-fronted power rock the Suicide Notes. AH
Lola's Room, 1332 W Burnside, 8 pm, FREE, all ages

TUESDAY, MAY 20

MUSIC—There's much more to '70s songbird Anne Murray than her anemic hits. Her 1968 debut album What About Me is a expertly crafted country classic—which makes it worthy of this month-long cover show, What About Us: An Anne Murray Tribute. Featuring members of Sallie Ford, Viva Voce, and Point Juncture, WA (and tonight's guests Emily and Jamie from Great Wilderness), it's Anne Murray like you've never heard her! WSH
LaurelThirst Public House, 2958 NE Glisan, Tuesdays through May, 9 pm, FREE

FILM—Mel Gibson is batshit insane. This is known. The only thing more known is that he originated the role of Max Rockatansky, a vengeful cop with a badass car. 1979's Mad Max is must-see big-screen viewing, not just for the way George Miller's post-apocalyptic Australian wasteland swallows audiences whole, but also to watch Gibson's gas-huffing descent into madness. BR
Academy Theater, 7818 SE Stark, see Film Times, $4