THURSDAY, MARCH 26

Kieran Hebden, the mastermind behind Four Tet, mixes and samples from a wide variety of musical forms to make his lilting soundscapes, which have been fondly referred to as "folktronica." Despite being only one man and some DJ equipment, he whips up quite a show. KP

w/Gulls; Holocene, 1001 SE Morrison, 9 pm $10-12

Holcombe Waller has wandered far and wide since cutting his teeth in the Bay Area folk scene. With Into the Dark Unknown: The Hope Chest—a multimedia spin on the typical coffeehouse gig—it's safe to assume Waller hit a couple Best Buys in his travels. Tonight he brings his hardware to the Imago, where his earnest tales will break your heart, in glorious hi-def. AS

Imago Theatre, 17 SE 8th, Thurs-Sat, 8 pm, Sun 2 pm, $15

FRIDAY, MARCH 27

Multi-impresario Will Oldham wears his Bonnie "Prince" Billy cap tonight to sing pretty folk ballads about love. Most could have been lifted out of an earlier decade, when you could mention "free love" without being called an icky hippie. All the love, minus the ick. MS

w/Pillars and Tongues; Crystal Ballroom, 1332 W Burnside, 9 pm, $18-20, all ages

Portland's brawniest beauties, the Rose City Rollers, take a rare detour to nerdsville with the release party for their second glossy comic book, Doppelganger at the Hangar. Read the comic to prep for Saturday night's epic roller bout: Portland versus Seattle! SM.

Release party at Cosmic Monkey Comics, 5335 NE Sandy, 7-9 pm, FREE; Bout at Portland Expo Center, 2060 N Marine, Sat March 28, 5:45 pm, $14-20

SATURDAY, MARCH 28

If you've ever thought you and your significant other have problems, tonight's screening of John Cassavetes' heart-wrenching A Woman Under the Influence will make you reconsider your definition of the word "problems." MV

NW Film Center's Whitsell Auditorium, 1219 SW Park, 7 pm, $8

Pigeon John is a damn good rapper, but he doesn't take himself too seriously: He's known for his signature pigeon dance and will freely admit that his friend's mom came up with his rap name. His songs are packed with flashy style and the wits to match, but he shies away from rap clichés, managing to produce positive hiphop that doesn't sound like an after-school special.

w/Rootbeer, Who Cares, the Buttermilk Baby Makers; Someday Lounge, 125 NW 5th, 9 pm, $8-10

SUNDAY, MARCH 29

Far more intimidating than the pouched sea bird with which they share a name, Pelican has honed a precise instrumental sound that dismantles the very foundation of post-rock and metal. Freshly signed to the mighty Southern Lord label, Pelican are proof that you can do without the most annoying component of any good metal band: the lead singer. (With the lone exception being Ronnie James Dio, of course). EAC

w/Wolves in the Throne Room, Tombs; Hawthorne Theatre, 1507 SE 39th, 8 pm, $13-15, all ages

Hey, would-be soapbox heroes/accidental homicides! Before swallowing dust on the Learning Curve, be sure to eat the $100 entry fee for this year's Portland Adult Soapbox Derby. There are only 39 slots open and it's "first come, first served," so get there extra early. AS

Sign up at Beulahland, 118 NE 28th, 8 am, $100, application at soapboxracer.com

MONDAY, MARCH 30

Forget that scissor-hands guy, Pee-wee's Big Adventure is the flat-out strangest film Tim Burton has ever made. As for Paul Reubens... well, poor Paul Reubens. MV

Pix Patisserie, 3901 N Williams, 8:30 pm, FREE

Put on your tightest skinny jeans and biggest sunglasses—Ratatat's in town! Even though their newest album is light on the dance beats, heavy on the space laser sounds, the innovative Brooklyn electro duo are always a good time. SM

w/Despot, Think about Life, Atole; Crystal Ballroom, 1332 W Burnside, 8 pm, $20, all ages

TUESDAY, MARCH 31

To call Donald Ray Pollock's writing "powerful" is to understate its impact. The often brutal, often tawdry stories in Knockemstiff, all set in a hopeless Ohio town, land like blows to the stomach that just might leave you dry heaving. AH

Powell's City of Books, 1005 W Burnside, 7:30 pm, FREE

I know it seems weird to actually care about the Portland Trail Blazers this late in the season, but holy beard of Oden, this team is about to make the playoffs! But before the Blazers arrive in the post-season, the team has to battle for a spot against their hated divisional rivals, the Fightin' Mormons known as the Utah Jazz. EAC

Rose Garden, 1 Center Court, 7 pm, $10 & up

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 1

Portland's newest comedy venue has been biding their time for a few months now, and tonight they open the full floodgates of hilarity with the five-day Curious Fools Festival, featuring acts from New York, Seattle, and Portland. (Don't miss headliner Joe Raiola, senior editor of MAD magazine.) AH

Curious Comedy Theater, 5225 NE MLK, full schedule and tickets at curiouscomedy.org

Two bands bring some awesome weirdness factors to the Wonder Ballroom tonight. For Stereo Total, it's French and German lyrics set to an electronic, new-wavey sound. For Leslie and the Ly's, it's Leslie Hall's gem sweaters and ph/fat raps. Both will rock your socks off. KP

w/Gregory Miles Harris; Wonder Ballroom, 128 NE Russell, 9 pm, $13.50-15, all ages