THURSDAY, January 9

RAPPING--Pep Love is one smart cookie. He doesn't mess around with his beats too much. Oh, they're phat, don't you worry about that, but they're simple, mere backdrops for Pep Love to overlay with lyrical mastery. Lines like "My exponential growth expands/ Extra potential both/ Detrimental and essential don't/Brand it candid let your kinfolks/Conceptualize the uprising/Metropolitic enterprising" prove that PL is one of the dopest rhymsters out there. JWS
w/DJ Domino
, Organics, Thunderhut, The Rebelz, Sick Mediks; Fez, 316 SW 11, 226-4171, 9 pm

JOKES--Welcome to the preliminary rounds of the sixth annual Portland Comedy Competition! Twenty of the best local comics will go at it tooth and nail for a $500 cash prize PLUS a week of gigs at Harvey's, Portland's premiere (and only) comedy club. Actually getting paid for doing comedy is a novel thing in Portland, so you can bet these comedians are going to be at the tops of their games! It's sure to be laugh-riffic! JWS
Dante's, 1 SW 3rd, 226-6630 (see comicaffair.com for info on other contest venues), 9 pm, free

FRIDAY, January 10

MUSIC--Styles of Beyond rock the laidback hiphop vibe with way precise, layered, and subtle beats by DJ Cheapshot. MCs Takbir and Ryu rhyme in a super-smooth old school style, and will remind you why West Coast hiphop is the best hiphop. JS
w/Quivah, Madgesdiq, Cheapshot, Identical Strangers (Evil One vs. Wicked), DJ Spark, DJ Sneakers; Fez, 316 SW 11th, 221-7262, ext. 41, 9 pm, $10-12

MUSIC--Here it is, that evening of cathartic indierock you've been waiting for. You'll most certainly get your fill of dramatic angry vocals and calculated but raw guitar from locals 31 Knots, and another dose of sonic exorcism from Check Engine. KS

w/The Joggers;
Blackbird, 3728 NE Sandy,
282-9949, 9 pm, $6

SATURDAY, January 11

DOCUMENTARY--These days there seem to be a plethora of opportunities to learn about hiphop. (Remember how people used to say, "It's not even music?") Breath Control: The History Of The Human Beat Box will educate you about one of the genre's most resourceful and imaginative cornerstones. MS
Guild Theatre, SW 9th & Taylor, 221-1156,
7 pm, $6.50

GOTH SKATE--I'm sorry, but the combination of Goth kids and rollerskating is just ADORABLE! That's why I will happily adorn some thick, dark eyeliner and skate my gloominess away at Goth Skate Night. Music will be provided by the incomparable DJs Retrograde and Retrovirus, and will include "goth, obscure 80's and fun skate songs." Turn that frown upside-down, Grumpy Gus! WSH
Hillsboro Skateworld, 4395 SE Witch Hazel Rd., Hillsboro, 703-8133, 11:30 pm-2:30 am, $6 includes skates rental

SUNDAY, January 12

RODEO--To get the bulls mad--I mean, really, rip-roaring pissed off--the cowboys put a clamp on their testicles. Forget highbrow cinema, skip the symphony, this is real Oregon entertainment! Steer wrestling and roping. Bull riding. Bucking broncs. Good primordial fun. PB
Rose Quarter, One Center Court, 224-4400, 2 pm, $10-$20.75

PALM READING--Palm reading, astrology, psychic powers, miracles, the existence of a higher power; I don't believe in them for sure, but in order to make boring old life seem a little more dynamic, I at least believe in the possibilty. Drink a cup of coffee and learn about sun lines, the most important thing to happen to palms this century. KS
World Cup Coffee & Tea, NW 18th & Glisan, 228-5503, 2 pm (in Japanese), 3 pm (English with Spanish interpreter)

SCRATCH--You'd think there was a war on the way women are shouldering new trades. Sisters In Wax is a monthly gathering for female DJs of all skill levels, teaching and performing in an environment without the "no baby, turn my knobs this way" type of vibe. MS
Held every second Sunday, e-mail
velo@djvelo.ws for location, attendance, and registration information

MONDAY, January 13

READING--Need more ammo to fight your war against repression and right-wing censors? Essays from Michael Moore, Matt Groening, Patti Smith and others make up the insightful new book, It's A Free Country. The book will be discussed by former Portland Asst. Police Chief Andrew Kirkland (who stood up and refused to round up Muslims for the FBI) and ACLU attorney Ralph Temple. PB
Powell's City of Books, 1005 W Burnside, 228-4651, 7:30 pm, free

TUESDAY, January 14

MUSIC--Seriously missing the wacky party steez of early B-52s? Check out The Rogers Sisters (read about them on pg 14). Also, PDX's own Green Circles punch more minimal shine into their darkass post-punk than that guy from Price is Right. JS
Blackbird, 3728 NE Sandy, 282-9949, 10 pm, $7

WEDNESDAY, January 15

MUSIC--More power to the ladies. Two of Portland's most talented hiphop ladies, Toni Hill and Syndel, make up Sirens Echo, and share not only their rhymes, but their beautiful voices from the gut, while you watch in awe. KS
Tonic Lounge, 3100 NE Sandy, 238-0543, 9 pm

MUSIC--Still performing with a backdrop of programmed stuff vs. live instrumentation, the bass, live vocals, and drum pads of Nudge's live show has been going in a seriously (subtly) bumpin' direction, a fact about which we are super stoked. JS w/Rollerball, Nervewheel; Blackbird, 3728 NE Sandy, 282-9949, 10 pm, $6