THURSDAY 12/30

BONE THUGS-N-HARMONY, TRAGEDY, MIKEY VEGAZ

(Berbati's Pan, 10 SW 3rd) See My, What a Busy Week!

LISSIE

(Doug Fir, 830 E Burnside) Lissie's 2009 debut EP, Why You Runnin', was one of those five-song floorers, filled with willowy reverb and breaths of fresh air. Even in its agonizing brevity, it established the soulful wails of a young woman and an old Telecaster, ringing out over the heads of so many demure songbirds and cutting right through you to the head of the line. So while it's safe to say 2010 has found Lissie in good spirits, with reputable label support and a solid debut long-player in Catching a Tiger, perhaps it's best if we help send her into 2011 with even more of the promise she deserves. RAQUEL NASSER Also see My, What a Busy Week!

DATURA BLUES, DANA BUOY, DAVE LINDENBAUM

(The Knife Shop at Kelly's Olympian, 426 SW Washington) The alchemy of Portland experimental psych ensemble Datura Blues is loaded with disparate sonic bases that meld together Eastern European jazz, bits of improvisational noise, transitioning instrumental post-rock, psychedelic rock freakouts, and haunting ambient textures. Their multi-colored tapestry is stitched together with threads similar to those that have been used by Akron/Family, who share members with supporting band Dana Buoy. What Dana Buoy sound like, I have no idea, but you'll probably be better off puffing that doob in the alley before hitting the show. TRAVIS RITTER

OH DARLING, CLIMBER, BRYAN FREE

(Mississippi Studios, 3939 N Mississippi) Oh Darling is what might be called a fair-weather band. The group established themselves with buzz and acclaim as a solid pop act right here in the Rose City—highlighted by the saccharine vocals of Jasmine Ash and tight instrumentation of bassist J. Marie Hall and drummer Jake Endicott. Yet mere months after the foursome made a video where they frolicked in the snow of 2008's Arctic Blast, they left us for the sunnier climes of Los Angeles. Oh Darling have found a place in Echo Park's indie rock scene, and licensed several songs for TV—most recently "Prettiest Thing," which was featured in a Lucy Liu movie on Lifetime. So you ditched us. We forgive you, as long as you always make your way back. MARANDA BISH

FRIDAY 12/31

See our comprehensive guide to New Year's Eve events.

SATURDAY 1/1

X

(Roseland, 8 NW 6th) See My, What a Busy Week!

MAHMOUD AHMED

(TA Event Center, 300 NE Multnomah) Read our article on Mahmoud Ahmed.

AND AND AND, ARCHERS, FOREST PARK, THE OCEAN FLOOR, SEACATS

(Backspace, 115 NW 5th) Local promoter Potlatch Presents is saying goodbye, but for their final show they've put together a fantastic bill for New Year's day. Archers and And And And are probably neck and neck right now vying for the crown of best new band in town, and the chance to see them on the same bill should be more than enough to rouse you out of that post-New Year's hangover coma. And And And released roughly six billion albums in 2010 (well, not really—two full-lengths and two EPs), all of them boasting monumental tracks alongside sillier throwaways. Archers have a much shorter track record but perhaps a higher batting average: Their lone release of the year was a four-song 7-inch single, but each of those four songs is crystal perfect. This show isn't going to help you get over that terrible headache, but these bands are absolutely worth it. NED LANNAMANN

RAMADANMAN, LINCOLNUP, BEN TACTIC

(Holocene, 1001 SE Morrison) A look at the last few releases from David Kennedy (AKA Ramadanman and Pearson Sound) shows the diversity of the London-based producer's sound: slowed-down drum and bass for New York imprint Offshore Recordings; a sexy club jam rework of Jahcoozi for Berlin eclectic electro label Bpitch Control; and a collaboration on Aus Music with his Bristol dub techno counterpart Appleblim. That's not to mention work on his own Hessle Audio, which Kennedy formed with a couple classmates during their time at Leeds University a few years ago. Oh, and Ricardo Villalobos champions his music too, which in the dance music world is pretty much like getting endorsed by the president. AVA HEGEDUS

LUDICRA, CHRISTIAN MISTRESS, ATRIARCH

(Mississippi Studios, 3939 N Mississippi) Since the dawn of metallic times, word of mouth and grueling tour schedules have been the only way to let the fans out there know your band exists. For some, the arrival of the internet made that task a bit easier, but for Olympia's Christian Mistress, technological advancements weren't something they needed in order to start themselves a buzz. Instead of sacking up with MySpace or Facebook, Christian Mistress embraced the ways of old and made a gritty demo tape. That was enough to land them a deal with 20 Buck Spin and get their name rolling off the tongue of the notorious Fenriz from Darkthrone. Much like their promotional style, CM's sound follows suit with heavy metal's yesteryears. Christian Mistress is a modern band, but the spirit that drives them seems to have been trapped in a mossy cave since 1980. ARIS WALES

SUNDAY 1/2

THE GIT RIGHTS GOSPEL REVUE

(Kenton Club, 2025 N Kilpatrick) See My, What a Busy Week!

MONDAY 1/3

TYPHOON, WAMPIRE, BREAKFAST MOUNTAIN, THE RESERVATIONS

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

TUESDAY 1/4

WOLVES IN THE THRONE ROOM, THEE CASUALTY COMPANY, WILDERNESS, DRUDEN

(Branx, 320 SE 2nd) I always picture the hours leading up to a Wolves in the Throne Room show being like the moments before the evil carnival in Something Wicked This Way Comes rolls through town. The entire city is swallowed whole by a sinister dark shadow, women gather their children and take them inside, and somewhere a lone tumbleweed dances through the vacant streets. Makes sense, since the evolved metal of Wolves in the Throne Room is about as subtle as a buzzsaw to your skull. Fresh off a date at All Tomorrow's Parties alongside their peers in Neurosis and Godspeed You! Black Emperor, the Olympia band is bringing the darkness down the I-5 for a night of pure unrelenting evil. EZRA ACE CARAEFF

WEDNESDAY 1/5

WHITE HINTERLAND, NEAL MORGAN, SPORTING

(Holocene, 1001 SE Morrison) See My, What a Busy Week! and read our article on Sporting.