THURSDAY 12/31

For our New Year's Eve flowchart of events, go here.

FRIDAY 1/1

There is nothing to do today but apologize for your behavior last night. You should feel ashamed for what you did.

SATURDAY 1/2

APPETITE FOR DECEPTION, RUSSIAN BRIDES, AMERICAN BASTARD

(Dante's, 1 SW 3rd) See My, What a Busy Week!

THE ROOTS, ORGONE, LILLA D'MONE

(Roseland, 8 NW 6th) See Music.

THE ROOTS AFTERPARTY: ?UESTLOVE, PHILLY'S PHUNKESTRA SOUL ORCHESTRA, & MORE

(2410, 2410 N Mississippi) See Music.

NUCULAR AMINALS, MAGIC JOHNSON

(The Know, 2026 NE Alberta) Nucular Aminals have just released a new 7-inch single, and it's more assertive and bottom heavy than the twinkly pop songs on the nascent band's self-titled release. Both songs on the new single are driven by groaning bass riffs, like the acid-damaged A-side "Ooooh Kill Ooooh," which is the most ominous thing they've done yet. It marries the darkest bits of '60s psychedelia with a Nirvana-esque grunge chorus, tied together with an organ that buzzes and shrieks. Meanwhile, B-side "Mi Primer Juguete" is a goofy cover of a song from '60s Colombian garage-rockers Los Yetis, a tempo-shifting stomp that accelerates line by line before collapsing. The new record shows a darker depth to the Portland pop band, indicating they're not likely to back themselves into a corner anytime soon. NED LANNAMANN

POTLATCH ONE-YEAR ANNIVERSARY: TYPHOON, Y LA BAMBA, TANGO ALPHA TANGO, EAT SKULL, ZOO GIRL

(Backspace, 115 NW 5th) I don't really remember my first birthday party, but I assume there was a lot of crying and pooping involved. Local production company Potlatch Presents turns one today, and to celebrate they're having a free party with a bevy of fine local musical acts—no crying or pooping allowed. There's sumptuous communal soul-folk from Typhoon and spooky voodoo ballads from Y La Bamba. Meanwhile, noir-rock band Tango Alpha Tango has quietly been chugging along as one of the city's most underrated acts, while Eat Skull might be its most overrated. Eat Skull is capable of bluntly powerful garage rock moments, but as their drunken train wreck of a set at the Eagles' Lodge in December proved, on a bad night they're the worst band in Portland. But still, I wouldn't skip this one; the other acts on the bill are consistently excellent and the show is free. NL

SUPERFRESH: GLASS CANDY, ATOLE, MIRACLES CLUB, MAY LING, & MORE

(Rotture, 315 SE 3rd) Superfresh is ushering in 2010 with a multi-day throwdown that will consume both levels of Rotture/Branx. This lineup of stellar dance-positive acts should tip their collective caps—or neon headbands—in honor of tonight's headliners, Glass Candy. Over the past decade-plus, Johnny Jewel and Ida No have cultivated our town's burgeoning underground dance scene, all the while dropping beats and swirling Italo disco in exotic foreign locales (Europe, Montreal, some place called "Hustletown") in addition to establishing a hardwired DIY ethic that would put most punks to shame. EZRA ACE CARAEFF

SUNDAY 1/3

SUPERFRESH: STRENGTH, DAT'R, & MORE (Rotture, 315 SE 3rd) See My, What a Busy Week! and Saturday's listing.

MICHAEL HURLEY, DRAGGING AN OX THROUGH WATER , OPERATIVE, DJ THOR, DJ HERMANITO

(Holocene, 1001 SE Morrison) I imagine some of the perks of slaving away at Holocene include getting full use of the bar chalkboard and taking nudie pictures in the photo booth without being yelled at by staff security. Another advantage? Throwing yourself a mighty birthday show. That's just what Gina Altamura is doing for her birthday (or, if you want a more elaborate title: "The Petite Zarathustran's 23rd Orbit"), as she unwraps an intimate lineup that includes respected folkster Michael Hurley, avant artist Dragging an Ox through Water, plus turntable sets from DJ Thor and DJ Hermanito. After the show, Altamura will move the party next door to Sassy's where everyone—even you—is required to dance for her. It's the woman's birthday, don't you dare question her. EAC

MONDAY 1/4

ALBUQUERQUE BOYS CHOIR, LEONARD MYNX, TREVOR GIULIANI

(Valentine's, 232 SW Ankeny) See My, What a Busy Week!

TUESDAY 1/5

MIA RIDDLE, THEMES

(The Woods, 6637 SE Milwaukie) Here's a riddle for you: What do you get when you cross a sunny California upbringing with a Brooklyn address, Uncle Tupelo's No Depression, and a Rabbit Fur Coat-era Jenny Lewis? You get Mia Riddle (and her band), which might sound as if it should be complicated and contrived, but is very much the opposite. The most recent release from Riddle, Tumble and Drag, is remarkably easy to listen to, each song lolling carelessly about in your head as the speakers fill with Riddle's sweet voice, ample snare, tasteful electric guitar riffs, and a looming phantom banjo; you may not always hear it, but you know it's there. RAQUEL NASSER

WEDNESDAY 1/6

CASIOTONE FOR THE PAINFULLY ALONE, KEY LOSERS

(Backspace, 115 NW 5th) See My, What a Busy Week!

JOHN HEART JACKIE, THE J MINERS, STEVE HEFTER

(Ella Street Social Club, 714 SW 20th Pl) With an EP titled Women & Money, you might expect something a little more gangsta than John Heart Jackie's gentle heartwarming folk. Thankfully, there's nothing in the way of bling in the duo's gorgeously sketched songs, which allow your brain to fill in the blanks—you'll be digging up old memories and inventing new ones to go along with their spare, black-and-white sonic postcards. They've got a firm rooting in old folk traditions, but John Heart Jackie sounds entirely current; while their dust-bowl ballads could have come from decades past, they're also perfectly in sync with what it's like to live in Portland in 2010. This is a band you're going to want to listen to again and again. NL (This show was been moved to Friday, January 8th)