THURSDAY, March 6

QUEERS--Love to dance... even on a weeknight when you're not hopped up on E? Love to be queer or be near the queer? Does this describe you: "I love to shake my groove thing to hits from the '80s, hiphop, breakbeats, ska, riot grrrl, and even international grooves!" Well get down to the Cobalt, the new home of Queer to the Bone's dance-travaganza. You won't be sorry. KS
Cobalt Lounge, 32 NW 3rd, 225-1003, 10 pm, free

MUSIC--Like wine--or, perhaps more appropriately--like a motherf**king black leather jacket, The Pretenders just seem to improve with age. And, like their leather outfits, their punk anthems continue to be sturdy and sneering, yet somehow surprisingly soft and sexy. PB
Schnitzer, 1111 SW Broadway, 248-4335, 8 pm, $28.50-43.50

FRIDAY, March 7

GOOD MUSIC--As I write this I'm listening to Laura Veirs' new album, Troubled by the Fire, for about the fifteenth time in the last three days. Her lo-fi countrified ballads are so warm and cozy, her vocals so sweet and clear... she's got me wrapped around my headphones. And what's that you say? She's playing at her CD release party tonight with my favorite Portland alt-country rockers Richmond Fontaine!? Skies above, there is a God! JWS
w/Jesse Sykes; Satyricon, 125 NW 6th, 243-2380, 9:30 pm, $6

MUSIC--What's the only thing better than Norwegian death metal? Norwegian electronica! Röyksopp have gotten big enough to scrape up the change and bring their live show to the States for the first time. Don't miss this rare, chic, and foreign opportunity to shake it to the reigning champs of dance music. MS
B Complex, 320 SE 2nd, 235-4424, 9 pm, $12

SATURDAY, March 8

EVERYBODY CUT, EVERYBODY CUT--Here's another reason to feel proud you live in Portland. Tonight, two local guys are staging a live version of the classic film Footloose. Starring all their friends. At Lola's. With lots of bizarre original choreography. And with a live backup band called Tiger Beat. This is the best idea I've heard in awhile, and wish I'd thought of it first. WSH
w/ DJ Uptight, DJ Teenage; Lola's Room, Crystal Ballroom, 1332 W Burnside, 225-5555, ext. 8811, 8 pm, $5

MUSIC--Let's not get all deep tonight, baby. No more noise art this weekend, okay? Let's not smoke any more salvia, I'm fine existing on this plane for one evening. Let's just go see Visqueen's fun-ass, dancy pop punk. Plus, the lead singer is a hot babe with a voice that goes from all sweet to Kathleen Turner like that. KS
Dante's, 1 SW 3rd, 226-6630, 9 pm

SUNDAY, March 9

MUSIC--The next time you see one of those terrible major label punk bands like The Used bitch about how hard their upper-middle class American lives are, why don't you think about Dominatrix? These Brazilian girls not only create passionate punk music, but do it in a society where both their gender and art face constant oppression. They are also supplementing their American tour with a series of lectures regarding feminism in Brazil. It does not get more punk than that. CM
w/The Haggard, Pom Pom Meltdown, Discharge Information System;
Meow Meow, 527 SE Pine, 230-2111, 8 pm, $5-7

MONDAY, March 10

PIGEONS--These birdies are sometimes adored and fed, and sometimes reviled as the vermin air force. Why Pigeons? is an audio/slideshow exhibit celebrating their role in our urban lives. That's so cute! But get this--you can use your frigging cell phone to control it!! Holy gadgetry! MS
PDX Window Project, 612 NW 12th, 24 hours, free

HIPHOP SUMMIT--This is unbelievable: it's the entirety of the Living Legends crew--including newest Def Jux signee, Murs--along with Eyedea and Abilities (aka the best DJ I've ever seen live), and 2Mex, featuring my favorite emcee of all time, the speedy-mouthed and word-bending Busdriver. WTF? JS
w/Oldominion; Crystal Ballroom, 1332 W Burnside, 224-4400, 8 pm, $14-18

WEDNESDAY, March 12

MYSTIC--Starting out as the only lady at MC battles in L.A., the cool lady Mystic was discovered by Hieroglyphics, GoodVibes, and the world, in that order. This is great for you and me, cause her smooth, caulk-like vocals ring with authority and street wisdom. Plus: bounce! JS
Ash Street, 225 SW Ash, 8 pm, $8

MUSIC--The Sea and Cake are in fact the indierock version of D'Angelo's brilliant Brown Sugar record. Let's face it, it's music to get your freak on to. We all get laid, just not as much as we want, and there is no better soundtrack to hittin' that shit than the tumbling drumming of John McEntire, the jangling guitar of Archer Prewitt and the smooth-ass croon of Sam Prekop. CM
w/Califone; Aladdin Theater, 3017 SE Milwaukie, 233-1994, 8 pm, $14