WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 13

MUSIC—The Mercury's free, local Ear Candy series keeps comin' back for ya. Tonight: Little Star release their romantic, rockin' new album, Being Close, and they're joined by a pair of amazing up-and-coming Portland bands, the punky and powerful Alien Boy and Drunken Palms. NED LANNAMANN
Mississippi Studios, 3939 N Mississippi, 9 pm, FREE

JANET—Screams of disappointment were heard throughout Portland when Janet Jackson postponed her show at the Moda Center. BUT! Here's the next best thing: Love Lies Deep Within: A Tribute to Janet Jackson will deliver on-point JJ covers, performed by the wildly talented Reva DeVito, Blossom, Chanti Darling, and more. WM. STEVEN HUMPHREY
Holocene, 1001 SE Morrison, 8 pm, $8-10

THURSDAY, JANUARY 14

COMEDY—Greg Proops is the smartest man in the world... well, at least according to the name of his popular podcast. The witty, irreverent stand-up thematically darts between topics like the literal genius of Hedy Lamarr to San Fran's most famous stripper Carol Doda, and Martians to Michael Crichton. Hang on! It's going to be a funny ride. COURTNEY FERGUSON
Helium Comedy Club, 1510 SE 9th, Thurs 8 pm, Fri-Sat 7:30 & 10 pm, $15-32; The Smartest Man in the World podcast taping, Sun 7:30 pm, $20-28

MUSIC—Lupe Fiasco is about to kick-push himself into an exhaustion-induced coma. The ultra-precise Chicago emcee has already Twitter-committed to releasing three full albums this year, which is as many as he released in the half decade prior. That's Lupe's problem, though. All you've got to do is see him rock tonight's show. DIRK VANDERHART
w/the Boy Illinois, Billy Blue, Vinnie Dewayne, & more; Roseland, 8 NW 6th, 8 pm, $26.50-40, all ages

FRIDAY, JANUARY 15

COMEDY—The jokesters at the Siren Theater are at it again with Lone Wolves, featuring solo sketches from some of the funniest performers in Portland. Seriously. The last time I saw a Lone Wolves performance, I almost passed out laughing thanks to Shelley McLendon's eye-twitching prowess. Tonight she's joined by comedy vets like Michael Fetters, Lori Ferraro, and John Breen. MEGAN BURBANK
Siren Theater, 315 NW Davis, 8 pm, $10-15

DANCE—Holocene hosts some of the most righteous dance nights in Portland, and when they introduce a new one, it's cause for celebration. For those who like a sweat, check out Act Right, which promises to feature your fave club bangers, past and present. And with Dimitri, DJ Maxx Bass, and DJ Nathan Detroit on the wheels, you know you're in good hands. WM. STEVEN HUMPHREY
Holocene, 1001 SE Morrison, 9 pm, $5

SATURDAY, JANUARY 16

ROLLER DERBY—Sure, the Timbers were a big deal in 2015, but it was also the same year the Rose City Rollers won the world championships, making them the best roller derby team in the ENTIRE UNIVERSE. Go check out some of the planet's best skaters at the league's home team season opener tonight. It's a double-header of fantastic, strategic, hard-hitting derby. COURTNEY FERGUSON
The Hangar at Oaks Park, 7805 SE Oaks Park, Break Neck Betties vs. Guns N Rollers, Heartless Heathers vs. High Rollers, 6 pm, $18-24, all ages

COMEDY—Lily Tomlin is coming to Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall and is bringing many of her hilarious characters—including Ernestine and Edith Ann—with her. Tomlin has been performing stand-up comedy since the 1960s, earning awards, critical acclaim, and tons of laughs along the way. SHELBY R. KING
Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, 1037 SW Broadway, 7:30 pm, $55 & up, all ages

SUNDAY, JANUARY 17

COMEDY—Comedian Rhea Butcher brought her dry wit west out of Akron, Ohio, and for this, we should all be grateful. Now living the dream in LA, Butcher brings some gravitas to her stand-up. It's a slow burn full of droll, tragicomic observations about the particular sadness of only children who just want to play Hungry Hungry Hippos, and we will all the better for witnessing it. MEGAN BURBANK
w/Goodrich Gevaart; Mississippi Studios, 3939 N Mississippi, 7 & 10 pm, $10

MUSIC—Songwriter Julie Baenziger might be better known as Sea of Bees, but whichever name she goes by, there's no denying the full-body chill her lovely songs deliver with winning melodies and a wide-eyed sense of wonder. Tonight Sea of Bees come through in support of their latest, the upbeat Build a Boat to the Sun. NED LANNAMANN
w/Sunmonks, Ben Braden; Rontoms, 600 E Burnside, 8:30 pm, FREE

MONDAY, JANUARY 18

MUSIC—This past summer at Pickathon, fantastic Americana rockers Langhorne Slim and the Law provided an excellent reminder why their shows aren't to be missed: Alternately raucous and heartbreaking (and sometimes raucous and heartbreaking), their set ended with Slim wading into the crowd, as happy to be performing as everyone there was to be listening. ERIK HENRIKSEN
w/Sawyer Fredericks; Wonder Ballroom, 128 NE Russell, 8:30 pm, $16-18

MLK DAY—Today when you're remembering the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr., treat it as a day "on" rather than a day "off" by giving back to the community with the annual MLK Day of Service. Consider giving some of your time to Meals on Wheels (mealsonwheelspeople.org), donating to homeless LGBTQ youth (hrc.org), or tons of other community-based projects (unitedway-pdx.org). WM. STEVEN HUMPHREY
Various locations and times, FREE

TUESDAY, JANUARY 19

MUSIC—God bless country goddess Dolly Parton, who turns 70 years young today, and god bless Church for throwing her a birthday party—complete with DJs spinning Dolly's finest tracks, Dolly karaoke, and a Dolly cover band. (Approximate number of times you're going to hear "Jolene" tonight: 4,000. Approximate number of times you're going to love it: 4,000.) ERIK HENRIKSEN
Church, 2600 NE Sandy, 8 pm, FREE

READING—Shhhhhhhhh! Bring a book (or an e-reader) but leave your conversation at home at the Silent Reading Party. Sit down with a cocktail for two hours of gloriously uninterrupted reading time in the company of other quiet readers. It's like being at the library, but with beer and ambient music. SHELBY R. KING
w/DJ JMV; Beech Street Parlor, 412 NE Beech, 6-8 pm, FREE