LOW DOUGH, GO!--The Mercury Thrasher Low Dough shows heats up the fun again tonight, with a cheap, but killer lineup. Get up with the get-down thanks to The Kingdom's mad-style indie pop, Man Man (who sound like a third-grade electronic gypsy jazz band--in a good way), as well as Invisible and Recall-Seven! Damn fine fun! WSH
Dante's, 1 SW 3rd, 9 pm, Only $5
CYCLES--Tonight is about cycles: Motorcycles, scooters, and bicycles. The Mercury sponsors a symposium to talk about how the city can better appreciate motorcycle and scooter riders. Meanwhile, across the river, Club XV hosts a bike messenger appreciation night--which equates to DJs, hot n' filthy cyclists, and 50-cent pints of Pabst! PB
Symposium at Amnesia Brewery, 832 N. Beech, 7-9 pm; Messenger party at XV, 15 SW 2nd, 4-9 pm
FRIDAY, MARCH 25
DOLL RODS--Faithfully churning out beef-and-potatoes, all-American rock music, the Demolition Doll Rods do it like they own it. Hot chick singer: check. Underwear as stage costume: check. Guitar worship: check. Detroit: check. That's pretty much every all-American rock clich, huh? Maybe they really do own it. MS
Sabala's, 4811 SE Hawthorne, 9:30 pm
FUNNY--Put on your chuckle face, sourpuss, because tonight marks the opening of That's Entertainment?, the new show from local sketch comedy giants The 3rd Floor! Billed as "a hundred-year comedy revue," the event features newly written material in the styles of Abbot and Costello, Monty Python, Jack Benny, and many other influential performers from the last century. JWS
Miracle Theatre, 525 SE Stark, Fri-Sat 11 pm, $10
SATURDAY, MARCH 26
HEARTBREAK--Sure it sucks, but without it, perpetual sad man Lou Barlow wouldn't have a song to his name, let alone an amazing career. His latest album Emoh continues beautifully the melodic, melancholy rock he pioneered with Sebadoh, Folk Implosion, and all the other side projects you know and love. And for that, we should all be very, very happy. JWS
Doug Fir, 830 E Burnside, 9 pm, $10
FAMOUS MYSTERIOUS--Portland's most hilarious late-night talk show parody, the Famous Mysterious Actor Show, hits another high point tonight with special guests such as delish drag queen Poison Waters, and the Mercury's own Katie Shimer (who is seeking revenge after a FMA member kicked out her car window… for reals)! Don't miss the fireworks! WSH
Comcast Cable Channel 14, 8 pm
SUNDAY, MARCH 27
MUSIC--Exponentially more interesting than their garage-biting, hype machine debut, the Kills' No Wow delivers a surprisingly lean reevaluation of their sound--taking adjectives like "minimal" and replacing them with similar (and infinitely cooler) descriptors like "stark" and "mechanical." Good call, Kills. ZP
w/Sights, Volumes; Doug Fir Lounge, 830 E Burnside, 9 pm, $12
MONDAY, MARCH 28
MUSIC--Pair minimal electro with a bombardment of rhythm and you not only have something unique, but you've got Parts and Labor. A band that's archaic, experimental, and accessible, this is the show rock fans and electro nerds can enjoy in harmonious union. KS
w/Yume Nora, Secret Puppets; Berbati's Pan, 10 SW 3rd, 248-4579, 9:30 pm, $6
TUESDAY, MARCH 29
CELEBRATION--It's hard to believe that until the Motel Gallery first opened, there weren't really boutiques in town fully committed to stocking artful, homemade, local wares. Celebrate Motel's b-day tonight, "Sweet Sugar, We're 2," with free Voodoo Doughnuts, raffles, and dancing. MS
w/DJs Snow Tiger, Sea City; Holocene, 1001 SE Morrison, 7 pm, free
POP GOODNESS--I know that "singer songwriter with a guitar" is synonymous with "NyQuil" at this point, but you'll forget all about that once you hear ex-Noise Addict member Ben Lee. If Lee's sweet, smart, and lightweight pop goodness doesn't make your heart swell and your toes tap, then nothin' will. Yeh hear me?! NOTHIN'! EH
Dante's, 1st SW 3rd, 9 pm, $10
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 30
MUSIC--Holy crap. This show is the best show to come to Portland in my recent memory, so don't miss it. Theatrical math metallers the Oxes will blow your goddamn mind, and art punk outfit These Arms are Snakes give their blood, sweat, and tears to make sure you leave amazed. Pair these two with the rock assault of Big Business and it's like Jesus has smiled on Portland. KS
Solid State, 911 SE Pine, 7:30 pm, $8
MUSIC--Now stretched precariously across the left coast (one half in Seattle, the other back in the Bay), Xiu Xiu casually continue their bid for the title of greatest band in the whole goddamn world--and with surprising marksmanship. Also tonight, be sure not to skip the wondrous sounds of the newly re-vamped Dead Science line-up, whose awe-inspiring sophomore record is due later this year. ZP
w/Ida; Loveland, 320 SE 2nd Ave, 8 pm, $10
