THURSDAY 8/25

BRITT DANIELS, NORFOLK & WESTERN, POINT JUNCTURE, WA
(Dante's, 1 SW 3rd) See My, What a Busy Week! pg 15

REBECCA GATES, JEN WOOD TRIO, THE SWALLOWS
(Doug Fir Lounge, 830 E Burnside) Former front-lady for Portland singer-songwriterly pop group the Spinanes, Rebecca Gates' recording career has fallen mostly dormant for the better part of this decade—the seven song Ruby Series disc (her single post-Spinanes release) resting comfortably on the shelves for the past four years. Still, her previous achievements ensure that she remains in that strange class of indie ladies gone solo who—in spite of their lax schedules—can usually fill up a room. Also, similarly styled Seattle soloist (hurrah for superfluous alliteration!) Jen Wood—billed here with the misleading parenthetical "of Postal Service"—performs songs that easily transcend the need to ref a few Braff-baiting guest spots she dropped over two years ago. ZAC PENNINGTON

SHELLAC, SCOUT NIBLETT
(Berbati's Pan, 10 SW 3rd) See Music, pg 17

SUNBURNED HAND OF THE MAN, MAGIK MARKER, YUMA NORA, WORLD
(Loveland, 320 SE 2nd) See Music, pg 19

SWIMMERS, CRIMSON SWEET, HOWIE & THE HOT KNIVES
(Slabtown, 1033 NW 16th) Real estate zombies might be gobbling up Manhattan's brain, but as long as scruffs like Crimson Sweet prowl the Bowery, some grime will remain un-spit-shined. This trio has been kicking cans down the gutter for about five years now. Their latest, Eat the Night (Shake It), is really more about drinking, cheap glam riffs, and singer Polly Watson's rummy ruminations. While her Lower East Side may be swelling with squares whose idea of eating the night include dainty amounts of mango chutney, Watson and Co. still know where to find the best alleys to pee in. ERIC DAVIDSON

JASON WEBLEY, MONSTERS OF THE ACCORDIAN
(Red & Black Café, 2138 SE Division) Seattle's Jason Webley plays the sound of souls sold in New Orleans voodoo shops, with lyrics about sailors playing "blackjack with their lives" in the belly of a "ship of maniacs" and skeleton bands steel drumming out Caribbean funeral marches. It's boozy (but heady) back alley stuff, odes to the devil and moody tales of existential blues. Jason stomps and shouts and hollers and makes even the snootiest (read: insecure) hipsters dance. His new record, Only Just Beginning, is out now. Also check out his great, Against the Night, which is pure societal decay as transcribed by evil-faced organ grinder monkeys. Fuck it, check out EVERYTHING he's done; it's all great. ADAM GNADE

Z-TRIP, BLACK SHEEP, DJ GOLDEN CHYLD
(Wonder Ballroom, 128 NE Russell) A member of Phoenix's Bombshelter DJ crew, Z-Trip is an innovator of the mashup. Better than most decknicians, Z knows that rock has been an essential hiphop nutrient from the get-go: Both "Rockstar" and "Rockstar Part II" are cleverly woven mosaics of hiphop songs with "rock" in their lyrics and a panoramic sampling of classic hard-rock passages. One of the few underground turntablists cashing major-label checks, Z-Trip recently issued his Hollywood Records debut, Shifting Gears, a typical "let's try everything" production debut (including a dope Jethro Tull sample) with loads of guest MCs. The disc reveals Z's populist/rock instincts and love for old-school rap, but it sometimes seems like the product of compromise (case in point: the track with Chester Bennington). All of which is moot when Z mans the decks live, where his adrenaline-stoking abilities are unimpeachable. As for Black Sheep, they're the missing link between De La Soul and Digable Planets. With DJ Golden Chyld. DAVE SEGAL

FRIDAY 8/26

BLIND BOYS OF ALABAMA, SUSAN TEDESCHI
(Oregon Zoo, 4001 SW Canyon) The gospel group Blind Boys of Alabama have been around forever, but in the last half dozen years they've harnessed new energy. Their most recent couple of albums dip into an increasingly wider, secular songbook that includes Tom Waits and Joe Henry. Of course, it doesn't matter what they apply their harmonies to; everything sounds soaring, sorrowful, and divine when they're through with it. While the Boys' recent albums are fantastic, nothing beats the power of their live performances. Even atheists say hallelujah at their shows. NATE LIPPENS

HUSTLER WHITE, BUSINESS LADY, PUSSY GUTT, ROMANTEEK
(Food Hole, 20 NW 3rd) In the upcoming Great Band Name Olympics, Business Lady is at the very least a silver metal contender. Based out of the San Diego punk pad the Mustache House, Business Lady makes fun of themselves while making noise, and makes it fun while keeping it noisy. (Following me?) A singer costumed as a snow elf (or is it a snow ape?) shouts and coughs and declares, while keyboards honk and snaggle around each other. The band deconstructs dance music and hardcore into a glorious, trashy mess that feels better than finger painting and/or punching somebody while you're drunk COMBINED! Oh, and they've got a split seven inch with Portland's own Hustler White out on Hello Asshole records which took the gold mofuggin' medal in last year's Great Label Name Winter Olympics. AG

THE MINIBOSSES, THE NECRONAUTS
(Ground Kontrol, 511 NW Couch) See My, What a Busy Week! pg 15

MIRAFLORES, TRUCKLESS, ENCHANTED FOREST, DJ NOFADER
(Slabtown, 1033 NW 16th) In this city of 500 bands, it's understandable that many acts are rarely, if ever, given the critical attention they deserve. To me, Miraflores seems to be one of the most underrated and talented bands that you (yes, even you) have probably never heard of. Why? Because, their blend of R.E.M. jangle rock and Jonathan Richman-esque charm is quite at odds with our city's prevailing taste for all things avant, electro, and experimental. That's not to say the latter aren't worthwhile too—it's just that, every once in a while, it's nice to go to a club and hear 10 really good songs that you'll be humming for a week. KIP BERMAN

SHAKEDOWN MUSIC FESTIVAL FEATURING MEDESKI, MARTIN, & WOOD, SAGE FRANCIS, GALACTIC, BIG ISLAND SHINDIG, AND MORE
(Columbia Meadows, Hwy 30, St. Helens) Get your neo-hippie a-goin' this weekend, with an entire weekend of trustafarian tunage at the Shakedown Music Festival. Friday's highlights include Sage Francis, one of the few spoken wordists who doesn't make me want to claw my eyes out, as well as Medeski, Martin, & Wood and the New Orleans jazz-funk outfit Galactic. Saturday features, among many acts, the always rockin' roots trio Jerry Joseph and the Jack Mormons, plus Michael Franti and Spearhead. Sunday's got Sound Tribe Sector Nine and Keller Williams. Not bad, considering the enormous amount of white dreadlocks that will be at this thing. Not bad at all. JUSTIN WESCOAT SANDERS

SHELLAC, SCOUT NIBLETT
(Berbati's Pan, 10 SW 3rd) See My, What a Busy Week! pg 15

SMALL WORLD CAFÉ CLOSING PARTY FEATURING ESCAPE FROM KEYBOARD ISLAND, SHAKY HANDS, NARWHAL, OLD TIME RELIJUN, AND MORE
(Small World Café, 722 N Sumner) After making an admirable go of it, North Portland breakfast staple Small World Cafe is throwing in the towel. Not surprisingly, owner Stacy Kunesh is capping off her stint serving up healthy food and no-nonsense attitude with a closing rock 'n' roll bash. Hillbilly ageists Old Time Relijun are on board (who seem to be busting down the I-5 corridor every week these days) as well as friendly locals like Narwhal and Escape from Keyboard Island. These days, when everyone in NoPo is bitching about gentrification, it's too bad to see a business go under that seems to hang with its community so well. Good luck to you Stacy! JOSH BLANCHARD

SATURDAY 8/27

AWESOMEFEST FEATURING BELIEVING IN JUNE, INKED IN BLOOD, COUNTDOWN TO LIFE, THIRTY3, EMBERGHOST, WET CONFETTI, AND MORE
(Loveland, 320 SE 2nd) See Once More With Feeling, pg 29

CATCH THAT BEAT! FEATURING CALVIN JOHNSON, THE BLOW, E*ROCK, MT. EERIE, PANTHER, EXTREME ANIMALS, AND MORE
(Shivley Hall, Astoria, OR) See Destination Fun, pg 13

KILAUEA, GRIEVOUS, ROANOKE, BONES OF GIANTS, EL CERDO
(Ash Street, 225 SW Ash) I don't know why Ash Street gets such a bad rap. The friendly staff, cheap drinks, and excellent sound system have made this a viable music venue for years. Sure, the inconsistent booking keeps it from being a seven-nights-a-week hotspot like Tube, but honestly if you can drag your ass down to Berbati's on the weekend, you're already on the block. And I'd much rather get shot in front of Ash Street than Dante's. Besides, what other downtown club will reserve a Saturday night for this much up-and-coming Northwest stoner metal? Observe the grinding sub-sludge of Seattle's Grievous, the classic proto-doomrock of Kilauea, and three other volume-abusing acts. Plus Lenny Smith, the one-man "king of black noise" (aka Behalf) debuts his new post-hardcore/doom quartet El Cerdo. Get there early and buy me a Rolling Rock damnit. NATHAN CARSON

THE SHAKEDOWN MUSIC FESTIVAL FEATURING MICHAEL FRANTI & SPEARHEAD, JERRY JOSEPH & THE JACKMORMONS, SKERIK'S SYNCOPATED TAINT, AND MORE
(Columbia Meadows, Hwy 30, St. Helens) See Friday's listing.

pizzazz! talent show

(Aladdin Theater, 3017 SE Milwaukie) See Destination Fun, pg 13

RUFUS WAINWRIGHT, BEN FOLDS, BEN LEE
(Roseland, 8 NW 6th) With reluctant enunciation and a fancy for brocade and baroque, Rufus Wainwright is a newer, gayer folk-heir hero of the 21st century. Pretty, soothing pop with a flair for quiet drama and so-innocuous-you-might-miss-them forays into politics (see "Gay Messiah" off his latest full-length Want Two, for example) have made giddy fans out of such pop icons as Elton John. He co-headlines with Ben Folds without his Five. Though with the mellow intimacy of this piano man's shows, it's doubtful you'll be missing them. MARJORIE SKINNER

SUNDAY 8/28

EXTREME ANIMALS, HOOLIGANSHIP, E*ROCK
(Food Hole, 20 NW 3rd) See My, What a Busy Week! pg 15

HELLA, BLUES GOBLINS, THE TASTEFUL NUDES
(Holocene, 1001 SE Morrison) See My, What a Busy Week! pg 15

SHAKEDOWN MUSIC FESTIVAL FEATURING SOUND TRIBE SECTOR NINE, KELLER WILLIAMS, EVERYONE ORCHESTRA, JACOB FRED JAZZ ODYSSEY
(Columbia Meadows, Hwy 30, St. Helens) See Friday's listing.

MONDAY 8/29

HOME RECORDING PROJECT
(Food Hole, 20 NW 3rd) Home Recording Project's songs are like a child trapped in a well—fingernails broken and bloodied from trying to claw to the light with a voice—weak and hoarse from screaming for help. In a word: brutal. Not unlike latter-day Swans/Angels of Light, HRP lay bare both the parched hopelessness of a lonely and booze-infused modern life via sparse, surprising arrangements on guitar, harmonium, cello, drums, and world-beaten vocals. HRP construct their songs as rickety but stately vehicles to carry you into the heart of darkness—and they hail from the Windy City, itself no stranger to harsh living and rivers of alcohol. SAM MICKENS

THERION, FALL OF THE BASTARDS
(Loveland, 320 SE 2nd) I'm going to reveal my age here and admit that I bought the first Therion album Of Darkness on vinyl around the time it came out (1991). Therion was a decent thrashy death metal band from Sweden and though I found the record satisfying, I never followed their career closely. When I have casually checked in on Therion over the last decade plus, I got this sketchy gothic-industrial/opera-metal vibe, and steered clear. In many ways, I'm glad I waited 'til now to renegotiate my relationship with Therion, because although composer/guitarist Christofer Johnsson is the only original member, his vision has taken the band to creative extremes that include recording a new double album with over 170 musicians contributing. Maybe because of all the light/dark dichotomy of my Opeth collection, or my fondness for fantasy acts like Blind Guardian, I'm ready for the Therion of 2005. It's unlike any music being made in America, and more importantly, I believe Johnsson is putting his music first. All the lame Euro metal acts with female singers and string sections are glam copies of what this guy has been doing all along. NC

TUESDAY 8/30

CHICAGO, EARTH, WIND, & FIRE
(Rose Garden, 1 Winning Way) Before you begin rattling off disparaging comments like, "What, is it 1972 or something?" or, "Does the Rose Garden have a senior discount?," or, "Does the ticket come with a free zoot suit?", hold your tongue! In spite of some of their more trying pop songs (namely, "Does Anyone Really Know What Time It Is?"), Chicago is a band that continues to fill stadiums for very good reasons. The band is—and always has been—about substance over style. The band has taken horn sections and jazz into previously uncharted zones—and continues to explore new territories of R&B, soul and, yes, even rock. Joined with the endearing and mellow funk pioneers, Earth, Wind, and Fire, this is a concert that will wow you with the amount of solid, unpretentious talent. Heck, add up the number of years that the bands members have played and you probably have a millennium! PHIL BUSSE

TAJ MAHAL TRIO, LEROY BELL
(Aladdin Theater, 3017 SE Milwaukie) Let's get one thing straight: I don't like the blues. And yet, I like Taj Mahal, known best for his revitalization of traditional acoustic blues. This is most likely because I haven't heard his early albums—stripped-down innovations on the blues sound that are loved by music snobs (meaning they're boring)—but only his later albums, when he started to incorporate an encyclopedic knowledge of musical forms and style from around the globe. Let's get one thing straight: I don't like that "world music" that all the neo-hippies dig these days. But combine it with the blues, as Taj Mahal has, and presto! It becomes pretty darn groovy. Sometimes two wrongs DO make a right. JWS

WEDNESDAY 8/31

2 LIVE CREW
(Sabala's Mt. Tabor, 4811 SE Hawthorne) See My, What a Busy Week! pg 15

BRIAN WILSON'S SMILE
(Arlene Schnitzer, 1037 SW Broadway) See Music, pg 17