Thursday Oct 25

MUSIC--Even though I know they're toasted, I pray for the return of Pavement everyday. So instead, I'll get my fix from the Preston School of Industry--the new project of Pavement guitarist Scott Kannberg. Try to ignore the dumb name, and appreciate their lazy day, matter-o-fact, folk-on-ice twinged style. KS

w/ The Shins, The Standard; Berbati's Pan, 231 SW Ankeny, 224-TIXX, 9 pm, $10-12

Friday Oct 26

HAUNTED HOUSE--This haunted house is being put together by a bunch of scrappy kids in a dwelling that is usually scary anyway--due to its dilapidated nature and strange performance/visual arts goings-ons. And now it's even scarier. PS What's varietal haunted house is rumored to involve scary science experiments, creeped-out fortunetellers, and people in cages. Check it. KD

PS What?, 1968 SW 5th Ave, 10/26, 10/27 6 pm- midnight, 10/28 6-10 pm, $5-7

FEAR & GORE--Dead Alive is supposed to be the goriest film ever made, but I would argue that Audition's real-life premise and grueling suspense adds to its skyscraping gross factor. You'll be gripping your seat, guaranteed. JS See Review pg 35

Cinema 21, 616 NW 21st Ave, 223-4515, 7, 9:20 pm, $6

Saturday Oct 27

MUSIC--I know, I know... "Math rock" makes your head hurt--but not 31Knots! Though the boys suffered through some accusations early-on of being "shoe-gazers," their latest shows have proven they can most certainly RAWK. Join the boys for the release of their new EP (joined by Ibobuki and The Intima), and by all means, read their fascinating interview on page 19. WSH

Blackbird, 3728 NE Sandy, 282-9949, 9 pm, $6

ROCK STAR FANTASIES--Besides Halloween, what other day of the year are you given unfettered license to be someone else? And what compliments that fantasy better than karaoke? Providing that chance to be a rock star for one brief shining moment, BarFly hosts its Pre-Halloween Hellraising with Karaoke From Hell. PB

Eagles' Lodge, 4904 SE Hawthorne, 813-9999, 8 pm, $5

HELLA FRESH FEST--Lots of awesome NW hiphop happens underground, and if you don't always feel like seeking it out, you might not know it exists. That's why KBOO is putting on this all-day-long fest of NW hiphop, which you can hear by turning on the radio--way easier than having to drive anywhere. KD

KBOO, 90.7 fm, noon-midnight

Sunday Oct 28

MUSIC--The explosive-yet-controlled anger (and prodigious fame) of "Cannonball" both made and broke the Breeders in 1993. With their most extensive tour in years, the band's love/hate relationship with fame continues. Over the past few years, they have been gathering new angst, collecting tales from rehab, and learning new ways to pound their drums. PB w/ Pedro the Lion

Berbati's Pan, 231 SW Ankeny, 224-TIXX, 9 pm, $15

Monday Oct 29

MUSIC--Things aren't going well. Gun sales are up, cocaine and powdered donut sales are down. Luckily, making problems pretty are the Pernice Brothers' specialty. They've shaken off the music critics, and they're coming to town--so come out from under the bed, already. MS

Berbati's Pan, 231 SW Ankeny, 248-4579, 9 pm, $8-10

Tuesday Oct 30

MUSIC--Okay! If you've been meaning to catch the ass-burning hard rock stylings of Seattle's Murder City Devils, it's time to poop or get off the pot, 'cuz this is their last show EVER in Portland. That's right, the band is going kaput, so it's very likely that the Devils are going to pull out all the stops tonight--and if you've witnessed any of their past performances, you'll know exactly what I'm talking about. In other words, don't you dare miss it! WSH w/ Botch, American Steel

Crystal Ballroom, 1332 West Burnside, 225-0047, 9 pm, $10-12

READING--Attention rebels, radicals, deviants, and diehards! "Armed and dangerous" ex-Weatherman Bill Ayers' mugshots have been in Newsweek AND Time! Fugitive Days chronicles his trail of false identity and life spent running, in case you don't know what you're getting into. MS

Powell's City of Books, 1005 W Burnside, 228-4651, 7:30 pm, free

Wednesday Oct 31

COVERS--Maybe we should refrain from plugging our own, but wait--why the hell not. Merc. employees Wm. Steven Humphrey, Julianne Shepherd, and Aaron Beam play Gang of Four cover songs in the (Dave Allen, We Love You) Band--it's their perfectly tailored Halloween disguise. Other featured costumes will be the Psycho 78s as the Misfits, Captain vs. Crew as The Cure, The Vespertines as The Cars, and Rally Boy as New-freaking-Order. Better than a bag of Milky Ways and a canker sore anyday. KS

Blackbird, 3728 NE Sandy, 282-9949, 8 pm, $3

METAL--What says Halloween better then a big horse pill of metal--oh, and a big horse pill of something else. Check out The Brooklyn Solipsist Society, Legerdemain, Hail, Soriah, Popewyrm and Nyarlathotep. KS

Satyricon, 125 NW 6th Ave. 243-2380, 9 pm, $6