WEDNESDAY 3/18

GEORGE CLINTON AND PARLIAMENT FUNKADELIC, DIRTY REVIVAL
(Crystal Ballroom, 1332 W Burnside) See My, What a Busy Week!

BROKEN WATER, DEFACEMAN, HAVANIA WHAAL
(The Know, 2026 NE Alberta) Read our article on Broken Water.

IMMORTAL TECHNIQUE, TALIB KWELI, NIKO IS, CF, HASAN SALAAM
(Roseland, 8 NW 6th) Any student of hiphop knows that Immortal Technique and Talib Kweli are among the most influential in the canon of conscious and independent rap. Immortal Technique came up underground, passing out his debut album at shows and unafraid to critique American cultural institutions with his pen. The Harlem-born emcee only signed with New York's Viper Records in 2002 when the deal included becoming president of the label. Talib Kweli, also, has historically been at the forefront of activism in hiphop, most recently traveling to Ferguson, Missouri, to support the community protesting the fatal shooting of Michael Brown. On the mic, Kweli is known for smooth and contemplative lyricism. His partnership with Mos Def on 1998's Black Star is among hiphop's greatest collaborations, as the two Brooklyn natives traded verses about their borough, black beauty, and violence. Technique and Kweli sharing the bill makes for a master class in the power of hiphop. MATTHEW B. SCHONFELD Also see My, What a Busy Week!

THURSDAY 3/19

ANVIL, LORD DYING, WERESQUATCH, SUNLORD
(Tonic Lounge, 3100 NE Sandy) See My, What a Busy Week!

HOSMANEK, GLASS KNEES, QUEEN CRESCENT, LKN
(The Foggy Notion, 3416 N Lombard) Read our article on Queen Crescent.

ALL-AGES ACTION PRESENTS: LEE COREY OSWALD, MR. BONES, BLOWOUT
(Anarres Infoshop, 7515 N Alma) See All-Ages Action!

THE WEATHER MACHINE, TANGO ALPHA TANGO, HUMAN OTTOMAN
(Mississippi Studios, 3939 N Mississippi) The Weather Machine routinely gets labeled as a folk or folk-rock band—owing to Slater Smith's early, mostly acoustic music under the Weather Machine moniker—but with the new album, Peach, Smith has thoroughly Dylanized his folksinger roots. He and his band have gone for something bigger, louder, and more dynamic than their debut, and they've never sounded better. Peach is a catchy, well-crafted rock record, with songs more suitable for dance parties than campfires. Pulling out all the stops, the band sounds at moments as though they are trying to out-Typhoon Typhoon. Smith's singing style is often compared to Josh Ritter, which is still a fair comparison. He keeps his voice even and composed throughout, until the seventh track, the Libertines-flavored "Breakup Song," where he opens up and goes all in, casually breaking into a ragged falsetto. Peach does not quite mark a moment of complete reinvention for the Weather Machine, but it is certainly an impressive re-imagining. SANTI ELIJAH HOLLEY

RLLRBLL, ZOUAVES, BLESST CHEST
(The Know, 2026 NE Alberta) It's been a couple of years since freak-rockers Rllrbll dropped their most recent full-length, 4 Corners, but the band has been releasing mind-melting collections of outsider noise since the '90s. The genre-confounding 4 Corners relishes in experimentalism, crafting weirdly catchy art-rock in expanses as varied as syncopated acid-jazz dust-ups (like "Prince Charles in a Can") and bat-shit loony tunes (like the driving industrial track "Cyclops"). The trio's omnipresence in the local live circuit is a testament to the hidden fissures of old, "weird" Portland—an increasingly ostracized faction of the populace who recall when the entire city wasn't one big condo. BUT I DIGRESS. Rllrbll is all kinds of interesting, and really is one of those projects that has something for everyone. RYAN J. PRADO

FRIDAY 3/20

CEREMONY OF SLUDGE: HOLY GROVE, ANCIENT WARLOCKS, DISENCHANTER, OLD LIE
(Tonic Lounge, 3100 NE Sandy) See My, What a Busy Week!

THE LIGHT, CRIME DESIRE, RAW NERVES
(Black Water Bar, 835 NE Broadway) See All-Ages Action!

IAN PAIGE, SPECTRUM CONTROL, MAGIC GARDENS, STAR CHILD
(Mothership Music, 3611 NE MLK) When he isn't hosting his fine show Headbanded on XRAY, Ian Paige explores the world of psychedelia and new age music via his engrossing duo Planets Around the Sun and in his own solo guitar compositions. In each case, the goal is to bring about a beautiful trance state in the listener, the kind that leaves you feeling tingly and warm in all of your extremities. Paige is sadly saying farewell to our fair city with this performance, which finds him playing solo and collaborating with Dewey Mahood, the former Eternal Tapestry axeman who now seeks similar mind-altering musical experiences with his project Spectrum Control. ROBERT HAM

RASHEED JAMAL, BIG MO, LANG, NATURALLY GROWN MISFITS, DRAE SLAPZ
(Kelly's Olympian, 426 SW Washington) Tonight, Portland rapper Rasheed Jamal celebrates the release of his latest full-length, Sankofa. According to Jamal, the title is an Akan phrase meaning "looking to the past to solve present issues." While echoes of his past in Central Arkansas bubble to the surface, both stylistically and thematically, the ultimate effect is more cosmic than nostalgic. Interstitial vocal samples stitch seams between 13 wildly unique tracks, creating a multifaceted reality that shoots for the stars and finds the exploded ashes scattered. Seattle rapper Lang brings his inimitable wavy style south on a bill already bursting with Big Mo on the mic and a Drae Slapz beat set. Naturally Grown Misfits, the young duo of Portland emcees Daelonz and 5EyedJedi, are bold lyricists with a gleeful, defiant irreverence that's just plain ol' buck-wild fun. RYAN FEIGH

SATURDAY 3/21

XRAY.FM'S 1ST BIRTHDAY PARTY: MINDEN, HOLIDAY FRIENDS, SECRET DRUM BAND
(Mississippi Studios, 3939 N Mississippi) See My, What a Busy Week!

CEREMONY OF SLUDGE: DIESTO, SERIAL HAWK, A VOLCANO, TSEPESCH
(Tonic Lounge, 3100 NE Sandy) See My, What a Busy Week!

THE DECEMBERISTS, THE MINUS 5
(Keller Auditorium, 222 SW Clay) Read our article on the Decemberists.

THE GASLIGHT ANTHEM, NORTHCOTE, SAMMY KAY
(Wonder Ballroom, 128 NE Russell) I'll never forget the way the Gaslight Anthem seemingly stormed out of nowhere back in August 2008. That was the month the New Jersey punk-rock quartet released their rousing sophomore album, The '59 Sound. The record's release timed up perfectly with the cross-country road trip that carried me to Portland, and the album's blend of nostalgia-drenched heartland rock and feverish punk energy made it one of the few albums in the car that everyone could agree on. Picking up on a new call-out or reference with each spin turned the experience into a musical scavenger hunt, and frontman Brian Fallon's sincere, straight-shooting lyrics were quickly etched into my memory. Subsequent albums have had similar high points, and while they haven't ever hit quite as hard, the Gaslight Anthem's quick ascent from New Brunswick basements to sizable clubs and theaters feels both refreshing and merited CHIPP TERWILLIGER

OREGON SYMPHONY, JAMES EHNES
(Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, 1037 SW Broadway) In revolutionary 1917, while the Bolsheviks in his country were busy overthrowing a tsar, Sergei Prokofiev penned his first violin concerto—a quirky, angular composition that sports a greased lightning scherzo sandwiched between two larger, quietly paranoid outer movements. Prokofiev's music will be performed live this weekend by Portland's biggest unplugged band, and the event is a serious treat made even more sweet by Mr. James Ehnes flying in to be the orchestra's guest soloist. I've been lucky enough to witness this Manitoban-turned-Floridian fiddler play with our orchestra twice before, and both times the sheer force of his violin virtuosity proved almost unnerving. If you are able to catch the show tonight or tomorrow, be prepared to have your ears repeatedly struck by the cool brilliance and unstoppable technique of a tuxedoed Mr. Ehnes armed with an utterly miraculous 300-year-old Stradivarius. As if that weren't enough bang for your buck, Toshio Hosokawa's meditative Blossoming II (2011) and the bombastically fantastic Symphonie Fantastique (1830) from Hector Berlioz round out the super-fine program. BRIAN HORAY

FUZZY DICE, BREAKER BREAKER, CRUSH HAZARD
(Bunk Bar, 1028 SE Water) For those of us who've been wondering when Portland was gonna get a real rock 'n' roll band, I am proud to say the day has finally arrived, and Fuzzy Dice is what they're calling themselves. Don't let their plush moniker fool you; there's nothing soft and cuddly about what these boys are shoveling. We're talking tough, hard-nosed, blues-driven, foot-stomping rock that can be held up to the likes of Nazareth, early AC/DC, and Rose Tattoo. These licks are good for any switchblade-toting, hard-strutting hooligan looking for a fight or some fast action. It looks like Fuzzy Dice means to wave the flag of true rock proud and high in Portland, and I for one salute them. ARIS WALES

MILLION BRAZILIANS, THE TENSES, GEIST AND THE SACRED ENSEMBLE, BIRCH COOPER, HISHAM MAYET
(High Water Mark, 6800 NE MLK) This could be your last chance for a while to lose yourself in the sounds of Million Brazilians. Two of the group's founding members, Suzanne Stone and Grant Corum, are trading one Portland for another, moving to Maine for a stretch to find inspiration on the Atlantic coast. They will be sorely missed as their ritualistic performances of Sun Ra-inspired psychedelic jazz rumblings provide a kind of psychic cleansing that can only come from dancing wildly to pounding percussion and basslines that gently thrum your spinal column. Joining them for this epic farewell party are Smegma offshoot the Tenses, MSHR member Birch Cooper, and Sublime Frequencies co-owner Hisham Mayet, who will spin rare world-music gems between sets. RH

SUNDAY 3/22

EAR CANDY: SNOWBLIND TRAVELER, GRAND LAKE ISLANDS, ROBIN BACIOR
(Mississippi Studios, 3939 N Mississippi) See My, What a Busy Week!

OREGON SYMPHONY, JAMES EHNES
(Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, 1037 SW Broadway) See Saturday's preview.

CHRISTIAN MISTRESS, SONS OF HUNS, RIP, MOONDRAKE
(Rotture, 315 SE 3rd) The spirit of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal is alive and well in the Pacific Northwest with Christian Mistress spreading the riffs of Judas Priest and the gospel of Satan. Even Kanye has been touched by the Portland four-piece, as the egomaniacal rapper was recently accused of copping a symbol the band's been using since they formed in 2008 (of course, said logo is a 13th-century religious symbol). The attention can't be all bad. In October, Christian Mistress are set to release the follow-up to their excellent 2012 Relapse debut Possession. Then again, by the time the music comes, all this will be forgotten anyway. Or will 2015 be the year Satan and Yeezus finally return for epic battle? MARK LORE

HURRAY FOR THE RIFF RAFF, ADIA VICTORIA
(Aladdin Theater, 3017 SE Milwaukie) In an age when you can't swing a banjo without hitting at least 15 modern folk singers, Hurray for the Riff Raff is a breath of fresh mountain air. What began as a solo musical outlet for Alynda Lee Segarra has grown considerably—into a full band, a collective, and a force for social good. Segarra is an advocate for LGBT rights and women's empowerment, and she has no qualms about using her music as a vehicle to address difficult subjects, be it the killing of Trayvon Martin with"Everybody Knows," or with "The Body Electric," where she responds to the glorification of violence against women in the murder-ballad tradition. Nevertheless, Hurray for the Riff Raff's latest album, Small Town Heroes, is not just another folk protest album; it is equally influenced by blues, New Orleans zydeco, and Stax-inspired soul. Supporting act Adia Victoria has been getting some notice with her first (and so far only) released track, a swamp blues tune called "Stuck In the South." But if she continues to write songs like this, she'll be in good shape in the days to come. SEH

MONDAY 3/23

RED BARAAT
(Mississippi Studios, 3939 N Mississippi) See My, What a Busy Week!

BAD RELIGION, OFF!, RENDERED USELESS
(Roseland, 8 NW 6th) See All-Ages Action!

THIS WILL DESTROY YOU, CYMBALS EAT GUITARS
(Doug Fir, 830 E Burnside) For a long time, I was hesitant to give Cymbals Eat Guitars any credit. Their first record, Why There Are Mountains, struck me as little more than a painfully hip bastardization of seminal indie rock bands like Pavement and Superchunk. I first came around watching their performance of "Hey Jealousy" with Tim Kasher of Cursive for the A.V. Club's Undercover series, where they transformed the Gin Blossoms' classic from an ebullient, misunderstood radio hit marred by unfortunate early '90s production into the heart-wrenching, (pr)emo masterpiece it essentially is. And last year's Lose quelled my misgivings definitively—it's a great, sincere album totally deserving of the blogosphere's stamp of approval, drawing from a pool of influences including the aforementioned indie-rock lodestars, post-punk, Cap'n Jazz, and Elliott Smith—a synthesis best exemplified by dramatic, dynamic opener "Jackson" and the rollicking, echo-laden '80s-pop time capsule "Warning." Either Cymbals Eat Guitars got a lot better or I'm just not an asshole anymore. MORGAN TROPER

THE DONKEYS, AND AND AND, BUBBLE CATS
(Holocene, 1001 SE Morrison) Over the last 10 years, the Donkeys have emerged as torchbearers of the breezy pop kingdom. Adept in the sort of sprawling rock 'n' roll foundation exemplified by dexterous second-wave rock groups like the Byrds and contemporary throwbacks like Dr. Dog, the Donkeys are a potent if overlooked band. Their 2014 release, Ride the Black Wave, is a vivid panorama of sun-kissed, home-fried rock, giving legs to groove-heavy tunes by way of cheeky lyrics on the vanities of SoCal girls and drinking beer on wharfs. The band took part in several dates this winter with Portland's And And And, whose recent album The Failure is one of the city's best of 2015. Throw in the explosive Bubble Cats and this is a can't-miss bill. RJP

TUESDAY 3/24

TURQUOISE JEEP, VINNIE DEWAYNE, MAZE KOROMA
(Mississippi Studios, 3939 N Mississippi) See My, What a Busy Week!