THURSDAY, OCTOBER 1
CLASH OF THE TITANS—Sponsored by the caffeine pushers at Red Bull, the Sound Clash is a rare collaborative concert experience in which a pair of local acts—Viva Voce and the Builders and the Butchers—face off on opposite stages and perform in a series of competitive rounds. The audience picks the winning band, while the losing band has to break up, sell their equipment, and move back home with their parents. (Okay, that last part was a total lie.) EAC
w/Bukue One, Ohmega Watts; Crystal Ballroom, 1332 W Burnside, 8 pm, $10, 18+
ARTCRANK—Kick off Oregon Manifest—a month-long festival of local handmade bike builders—in style, with a bike-inspired, classy-ass poster show. Schmooze with the custom bike crafters while drooling over the (actually affordable!) limited-edition prints. SM
The Cleaners at the Ace Hotel, 403 SW 10th, 5-11 pm, FREE
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 2
TRIPLE THREAT—What can't Jeffrey Lewis do? He's the world's leading authority on Watchmen, a noted comic book artist, and a brilliant (anti-) folk singer and lyricist. Tonight he'll be backed by the Junkyard, performing songs from their latest, Em Are I. (Juggling. I bet he's absolutely terrible at juggling.) EAC
w/Shilpa Ray, Jack Lewis & Twigs; Backspace, 115 NW 5th, 9 pm, $7-10, all ages
GAY—Every year, the Portland Lesbian and Gay Film Festival takes over Cinema 21 with a ton of rarely screened films about... well, lesbians. And also gays. Tonight's opening selection, Patrik, Age 1.5, sees a gay couple trying to adopt a baby—but when their new kid arrives, he's a 15-year-old "homophobic juvenile delinquent." AWKWARD. After Patrik screens, there's an opening night party at Crush, with "food, drink, dancing, and lotsa fun." EH
Patrik, Age 1.5 screens at Cinema 21, 616 NW 21st, 7:30 pm, $9 for single film admission, $90-140 for festival pass; PLGFF opening night party at Crush, 1400 SE Morrison, 9:30 pm, FREE, 21+
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 3
FOREST FRIENDS—Mount Hood enviro defenders Bark celebrate their 10th anniversary with a highly eclectic celebrity art show featuring sketches by City Commissioner Randy Leonard, novelist Ursula K. Le Guin, and the Mercury's own Wm. Steven Humphrey. After the art show, there's music at the Someday Lounge by the likes of Blue Cranes, the Physical Hearts, and Summer Ono. SM
Art show at Stumptown Coffee, 128 SW 3rd, 6:30-8:30 pm, FREE; music at Someday Lounge, 125 NW 5th, 9 pm, $10
BACON—Although Baconfest is competing with my personal Steak-umms Fest, enjoying beer, music, merchandise, and bacon-themed events—bacon dance-off, bacon-eating contest—will be more fun than eating microwaved steak in my darkened living room. Proceeds go to the Oregon Food Bank and Outside In. PAC
E 18th & Burnside, 3-10 pm, $5 & two cans of food
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 4
FOUNDING FATHER—Josh Kornbluth looked in the mirror one day, and realized the pattern of his hair loss left him bearing a striking resemblance to Ben Franklin. So he did as any good monologist would and wrote a show in which he investigates the man behind the kite-flying myth: Ben Franklin: Unplugged. AH
Ellyn Bye Studio at the Armory, 128 NW 11th, 445-3700, Tues-Sun 7:30 pm, Sun 2 pm, through Nov 22, $22-45
$$$—Love him, hate him, or love/hate him, there's no denying that Michael Moore is one of the most influential liberal activists in the country. His latest film, Capitalism: A Love Story, is an all-out indictment of the financial religion that America holds so dear; as in Sicko and Farenheit 9/11, Moore makes up for his lack of subtlety with his conviction, earnestness, and... well, correctness. EH
Various Theaters, for showtimes see Movie Times
MONDAY, OCTOBER 5
BOWIE—It's not fair, really, that one man should be born with such disproportionate amounts of talent, but David Bowie's movies are as much of a delight as his records. See two classics back to back—Labyrinth and The Hunger—among fine company at Boxxes' Monday night double feature! MS
Boxxes, 1035 SW Stark, 8:30 pm, FREE, 21+
SELFISH VOLUNTEERISM—Do-gooders need love too! The Wheelies is a fancy-pants award show for stuff that matters, presented by Oregon's own political Mystery Machine, the Bus Project. Come out to support the scrappy activistas making a big difference throughout our great state, with shiny prizes for civic standouts, tireless volunteers, and innovative outreach. JC Gerding Theater at the Armory, 128 NW 11th, 7 pm, $15-30
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 6
ARTY HEARTY—When most musicians dabble in fine art, the results are dog turds (we're looking at you, Ron Wood), but tonight's opening of an art show by the Thermals' Hutch Harris is the exception to the rule. Harris' artwork, which depicts creatures made of meat coming to life on alien landscapes, will be accompanied by spins from DJ KM Fizzy—better known as Thermals bassist Kathy Foster. NL
Tiga, 1465 NE Prescott, 9 pm-midnight, FREE
MANN/LOWE—If there's anyone who can outshine singer/songwriter Aimee Mann, it's the legendary Nick Lowe. He may be tonight's opening act, but the songs from his back catalog of riches are the ones that'll be stuck in your head at the end of the night. NL
Aladdin Theater, 3017 SE Milwaukie, 8 pm, $39.50-42, minor accompanied by parent
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7
FREEWHEELIN'—Everyone knows the real Robert Zimmerman died in a motorcycle accident in 1966. That explains the terrible Will.i.am commercial, right? Conspiracies aside, Bob Dylan might have hit the artistic wall long ago, but he's without question the greatest artist of this generation, so pay your respect. EAC
Memorial Coliseum, 300 Winning Way, 7:30 pm, $39.50-62.50, all ages
COMEDY—The always funny Famous Mysterious Actor Show has a new home at the Curious Comedy Theater, and as usual, the results are suitably bizarre and hilarious. Join Famous and tonight's special guests Darcelle XV, Junkface, and Richard Bain, and don't be surprised if a tetherball game breaks out. WSH
Curious Comedy Theater, 5225 NE MLK, 9 pm, $10
