THURSDAY 5/24

PATRICK WOLF

(Lola's Room, 1332 W Burnside) See My, What a Busy Week!, pg. 15.

BRIGHT RED PAPER, THE PORTLAND CELLO PROJECT FEATURING PETER BRODERICK AND LAURA GIBSON

(Holocene, 1001 SE Morrison) Tonight, Portland's collaborative scene overlaps with the current move toward playing classical music in "nontraditional" venues around town. The Portland Cello Project's repertoire includes songs as diverse as Barber's "Adagio for Strings" and Salt-n-Pepa's "Push It." For this show, the group of classically trained cellists will feature their own arrangements of two songs by fellow Puddletown musician Laura Gibson, who will join them, sans guitar. The show's combos will also include team-ups with Peter Broderick (of Horse Feathers) and Bright Red Paper, plus the debut of their own arrangement of Elgar's "Cello Concerto in E Minor." I'm personally holding out for an arrangement of "Brand New Funk" by DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince. JIM WITHINGTON

PRIESTBIRD, PIT ER PAT, ELECTRIC ILL, ALAN SINGLEY & PANTS MACHINE

(Dante's, 1 SW 3rd) Arisen like a phoenix out of the ashes of Tarantula A.D., Priestbird are descending to claim the throne as your rock 'n' roll savior. Containing the same core members, Priestbird finds this New York trio moving away from the progressive melodies of Tarantula while adding vocals into the mix, and going more for a straight rock sound, one which ensures some serious head-banging awesomeness. Don't fret though—the experimentation of Tarantula A.D. is still lingering around, enough so to make sure Priestbird does not get lost in the flood of bad stoner-rock. ROB SIMONSEN

THE BLACK ANGELS, VIETNAM, FEDERALE

(Doug Fir, 830 E Burnside) If the Black Angels aren't the darkest, and best, purveyors of paranoid noir-country in operation today, I eagerly await the moment when the dark lords of music lead me toward my latest compulsion. With Fader-approved Brooklynites Vietnam supporting, it's guaranteed that the mood will be heavy and the smoke will be thick—even if it's only spilling from the bands' vans. Plus, the audience will get an entire evening to debate which band admires the Velvet Underground more. So don't be surprised if a minor mutual admiration society breaks out during the Angels' "The First Vietnamese War." But don't smile too hard, the drone machine knows where you live. TRISTAN STADDON

FRIDAY 5/25

SPOON, HYPATIA LAKE, DJ DANTRONIX

(Doug Fir, 830 E Burnside) See My, What a Busy Week!, pg. 15.

BAD BRAINS, FITZ OF DEPRESSION, MONKEY TRICK

(Berbati's Pan, 10 SW 3rd) See My, What a Busy Week!, pg. 15 and Music, pg. 17.

CONVERGENCE 13: SKINNY PUPPY, ZOMBIE GIRL, DEATHLINE INTERNATIONAL

(Crystal Ballroom, 1332 W Burnside) After a dozen years of wearing black—and nothing but black—the annual gothic-industrial festival Convergence hits lucky year number 13. For three solid days, you can lace up that corset and get your goth/industrial/Victorian on, as the festival has brought together a staggering bill of talent which ranges from Skinny Puppy and Frontline Assembly to Olympia's dramatic Two Ton Boa. Also, visiting goths can marvel at our town's cemeteries (might I suggest Lone Fir Cemetery, it's extra spooky at night), haunted bridges, lack of sunlight, and the scariest place of all: The city of Gresham, where meth-zombies will steal your very soul. Be afraid, be very afraid. EZRA ACE CARAEFF

ACEYALONE, CLEVELAND STEAMERS, SANDPEOPLE, MY-G

(Roseland, 8 NW 6th) As a member of the seminal hiphop act Freestyle Fellowship, Aceyalone (and his fellow emcees) once claimed, "We will never fall the fuck off, we promise." And while P.E.A.C.E., Mikah 9, and Self Jupiter didn't quite stick around for the long haul, Aceyalone has proven himself to be one of hiphop's greatest players. Covering everything from the weird (A Book of Human Language) to rocking the party (Accepted Eclectic), Aceyalone keeps getting better with age, solidified by last year's RJD2-produced Magnificent City. Having been relevant for over 15 years, it's pretty safe to say he was correct in his claim of not falling off, and the hiphop community is all the better for it. RS

INCREDIBLY STRANGE WRESTLING, 3 INCHES OF BLOOD, NO RED FLAGS, THE CIVIES

(Outlaws Bar & Grill, 722 E Burnside) Despite my best efforts, the powers that be at this paper refuse to let me have a weekly wrestling section. So tonight's Incredibly Strange Wrestling event—a rare visit to our town from this demented San Francisco troupe—will have to be covered in this section. Granted, there is music interspersed throughout the wrasslin', but the real treat here is seeing the brutal (and hilarious) Lucha Libre combat. Feel free to heckle your favorite (or least favorite) wrestler, some of whom sport names such as El Homo Loco and Klu Klux Klown. Authentic? Nope. Stupid? Yes, very. But it's a Friday night, and if you can think of a better activity than getting drunk and throwing corn tortillas at a guy in a mask, I'd like to hear it. EAC

ZOLAR X, THE PUNK GROUP

(Dante's, 1 SW 3rd) Did Free Geek book this show? Nerdy, smart, and quite electronic, the Punk Group feature David Byrne-esque vocals, Ramones-y guitar, speedy drum machines, plus some matching outfits as well. Thank Mothersbaugh, the Punk Group isn't kitschy or trying too hard to be ironic, they just know what they are going for, and execute it flawlessly. Los Angeles' "glam-glitter-space-rock" band Zolar X—originally formed in 1973 and reunited in 2005—headline the show. JW

SLEEPYTIME GORILLA MUSEUM, SUBARACHNOID SPACE, PLEASEEASAUR

(Aladdin Theater, 3017 SE Milwaukie) This sounds like Disturbed. Wrong reaction, I know, but that is all I can ever think of when listening to Oakland's Sleepytime Gorilla Museum. While I admire the whole Dadaistic slant and the skewed live performances, Sleepytime's music is oftentimes terrible and wouldn't sound out of place on The Family Values tour alongside Korn. Granted, they'd be the greatest band ever to be sandwiched between Staind and Flyleaf on a package tour, but is that something to really be proud of? It's a horrible insult, I know, but the visual effort and artiness will only get you so far; at the end of the day you need to produce some quality music, and that is something Sleepytime just does not do. EAC

LUOMO, STRATEGY, M. QUIET

(Holocene, 1001 SE Morrison) Sure, Luomo's latest album may not have been the best, but this show is guaranteed to do one thing, and one thing only—bring the party to the dancefloor. One of the many monikers of Sasu Ripatti (also better known as Vladislav Delay), Luomo is his attempt at straying away from his normal ambient electronic music and creating more house-influenced, danceable R&B tracks. Highly regarded as one the pioneers of showcasing soulful aesthetics in glitch, Luomo's sing-able cut up vocals and hard-driving rhythms are the best of what microhouse has to offer. How good is he? Well, his music is enough to make even the most flat-footed of hipsters overwhelmed with the power of dance. RS

SATURDAY 5/26

SASQUATCH! FEST: BJÖRK, ARCADE FIRE, MANU CHAO & more

(The Gorge Amphitheatre, 754 Silica Road NW, George, WA) See Music Feature, pg. 13.

SPOON, THE SHAKY HANDS

(Doug Fir, 830 E Burnside) See My, What a Busy Week!, pg. 15.

DEAD PREZ, HUNGRY MOB, COOL NUTZ, DJ CHILL

(Wonder Ballroom, 128 NE Russell) See My, What a Busy Week!, pg. 15 and Music, pg. 17.

BAD BRAINS, I QUIT, ABSOLUTE RULERS

(Berbati's Pan, 10 SW 3rd) See My, What a Busy Week!, pg. 15 and Music, pg. 17.

CONVERGENCE 13: FRONTLINE ASSEMBLY, ABNEY PARK, SUBMARINE FLEET

(Crystal Ballroom, 1332 W Burnside) See Friday's listing.

THE HUGS, SOCIAL STUDIES, EVEN IN PARADISE

(The Artistery, 4315 SE Division) Before they actually sign to London's 1965 Records (home of UK hypesters the View), local band the Hugs are self-releasing their own album tonight. The self-titled effort by these teenage Anglophiles shows a band wise beyond their years, and one keen on producing bouncy pop songs heavy on the hooks and melody. Spoiler alert! Here is the future of the Hugs, as told by me, the Miss Cleo of indierock fortunetellers. Their powerful British connections make them superstars overseas and darlings of the British press. Soon they develop a row with another band—oh, let's say Razorlight—and someone calls someone else a "bloody wanker." They play Glastonbury and the Carling Weekend, and the whole thing spirals out of control after a trip to Ibiza with Pete Doherty and Liam Gallagher. Enjoy it while you can, boys. EAC

THE KILLERS, LOUIS XIV

(Keller Auditorium, 222 SW Clay) Last week in Colorado, Brandon Flowers left the stage two songs into the Killers' set, apparently due to an aggravated vocal chord that an onsite band doctor warned could've become "detrimental to his musical career." So, uh, hold onto your ticket stubs for this one. Apparently Flowers just had a bad case of bronchitis and he's since been soldiering on, against doctor's orders. Props for that, Brandon. Really. But our advice? Know your limits, big fella. You've got a son due in July and between prepping for that and keeping Louis XIV away from your wife, this tour's gotta be especially wearing. Okay, for the record, Louis XIV doesn't have any songs about lusting after mothers-to-be, just yet. But with a new album only a couple of months off, it's likely just a matter of time. TS

PLANTS, ROLLERBALL, NUDITY, EVOLUTIONARY JASS BAND

(Someday Lounge, 125 NW 5th) It is difficult to describe Plants' music without employing overused terms such as "beautiful" or "ethereal," therefore I will not abstain from their use. The music of Plants—which is led by Mercury contributor Josh Blanchard—blossoms in an eerie mist, pushing up from being grounded as a psilocybin cap offering deadly mesmerizing flesh and a promise of ethereal flight and shimmering beauty. Their new album, Photosynthesis, promises all that spring does—chaos, renewal, life, and verdant texture. LANCE CHESS Also see Our Town Could Be Your Life, pg. 25.

GOLDENBOY, CHRIS MCFARLANE, DIRT JAKE REPLICAS

(The Know, 2026 NE Alberta) Shon Sullivan, the golden boy of Goldenboy, has a much better resume than you or I could ever dream of having. Sullivan has loaned his skills to the likes of Neil Finn, the Rentals' Matt Sharp, the Eels, the late Elliott Smith, and tons more. But enough about his famous pals, it's in Goldenboy, the LA-based band (only in name), where Sullivan really shines as an artist. With his maudlin vocals and dramatic flair with the pen, he comes off more Manchester than LA—but then again, if the Moz can make a home in the City of Angels, Sullivan can fit in there just fine. EAC

SUNDAY 5/27

SASQUATCH! FEST: BEASTIE BOYS, INTERPOL, MICHAEL FRANTI & SPEARHEAD & MORE

(The Gorge Amphitheatre, 754 Silica Road NW, George, WA) See Feature, pg. 13.

ARCADE FIRE, ELECTRELANE

(Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, 1037 SW Broadway) See Music, pg. 17.

THE CLIENTELE, BEACH HOUSE, BOY EATS DRUM MACHINE

(Doug Fir, 830 E Burnside) See Music, pg. 19.

LONEY DEAR, GREAT NORTHERN, THE ONLINE ROMANCE

(Holocene, 1001 SE Morrison) See My, What a Busy Week!, pg. 15.

CONVERGENCE 13: TWO TON BOA, JILL TRACY, FAITH AND THE MUSE

(Crystal Ballroom, 1332 W Burnside) See Friday's listing.

MONDAY 5/28

THE HOLD STEADY, THE HEARTLESS BASTARDS, BLITZEN TRAPPER

(Crystal Ballroom, 1332 W Burnside) See My, What a Busy Week!, pg. 15.

MARIANNE FAITHFULL

(Wonder Ballroom, 128 NE Russell) See My, What a Busy Week!, pg. 15.

SECRET CHIEFS 3, FAUN FABLES

(Aladdin Theater, 3017 SE Milwaukie) You know, uniformity is highly overrated. Secret Chiefs 3 is an ever-evolving instrumental ensemble, spearheaded by former Mr. Bungle guitarist Trey Spruance. As the heirs to such a musically schizophrenic legacy, you might expect some serious genre hopping here, and—by God—you're going to get it. Still, there is a focused motif at work, as Spruance and company paint odd cinematic impressions of the world at large, touching on Bollywood theatrics, spaghetti westerns, and campy surf soundtracks. Faun Fables' unclassifiable, thespian folk aptly rounds out this evening of unruly stylistic rebellions. JOSH BLANCHARD

MANU CHAO RADIO BEMBA SOUNDSYSTEM

(Roseland, 8 NW 6th) In recent months, the introduction of Manu Chao into my musical world has really shaken my original assumptions. Prior to Manu's appearance, I was staunch believer that world music was for burlap-sack-wearing hippies and out-of-touch music lovers. By chance, I overheard some of Chao's newer endeavors and was shocked—the music was actually enjoyable. Chao's deft combination of snappy guitars and well-placed bongo smacks brings a sense of fun and wild energy I hadn't thought possible in my poorly generalized view of world music. NOAH SANDERS

TUESDAY 5/29

CITIZEN COPE, ALICE SMITH

(Wonder Ballroom, 128 NE Russell) I've had the second of Citizen Cope's (AKA Clarence Greenwood) three albums in my iPod for years now. And every so often, when I get that shuffle cranked up, a track from The Clarence Greenwood Recordings pops up on the speakers—and for a moment, I turn away from whatever I'm doing, and I even tap my foot a little. And then, the song ends, the shuffle continues, and I don't listen to Cope again until chance once again intervenes. I find Cope's music more than palatable, and it's even really good at times, with layers of lazy, stony beats and swampy musical arrangements that somehow sound both urban-gritty and back-porch bluesy. And yet, something keeps me from balls-out liking Cope, from making the effort to listen to his latest release, Every Waking Moment, and from giving a flying rat's ass that he's playing a show at the Wonder tonight. I think it's his singing style. He scrunches his face up like a tough ol' bulldog and mumbles half-baked thoughts on hope and redemption and spirituality as if he knows he's supposed to be hopeful and redemptive and spiritual, but can't be bothered to really care beyond the schtick. Most of the time, he undermines his positive message by sounding insincere and mildly pissed off, and like he doesn't give a shit, which makes it hard to give a shit about him. Even though I like his music. I know, it's weird. JUSTIN W. SANDERS

WEDNESDAY 5/30

BROTHER ALI, PSALM ONE, BOOM BAP PROJECT, BK ONE, TOKI WRIGHT

(Hawthorne Theatre, 1507 SE 39th) See Music, pg. 19.

SOUTHERLY, NICK JAINA, MUSEE MECANIQUE

(Doug Fir, 830 E Burnside) Southerly's new album Storyteller and the Gossip Columnist is the good Badly Drawn Boy album we've been waiting for since 2002, chockfull of quiet moments, string swells, and pretty bits of piano. Songwriter and vocalist Krist Krueger's delivery recalls the aforementioned Boy, even in the phrasing of his lyrics, though he also sounds a bit like Josh Caterer of the Smoking Popes at times. There's an atmosphere created here that feels like sitting fireside with a loved one—until the strings and drums crash together and it all becomes a little bit too epic. JW

MOODRING, TRES GONE, SMEGMA

(Towne Lounge, 714 SW 20th Pl) Mike Lastra's excellent film Northwest Passage reminded us that Portland has had a DIY scene longer than most of our current scenesters have been alive. Smegma was doing face-melting guitar noise several years before Sonic Youth began to dream of making it trendy. These local legends are still on top of their game, juxtaposing screaming skull toys and vinyl records from their own catalog with honest-to-god rock 'n' roll riffs and beats. With Dead Moon finally kicking the bucket, you owe it to yourself to see and support the longest standing members of our community. One half of fantastic neo-elder statespeople Rollerball will warm up the night as Moodring. NATHAN CARSON