THURSDAY, July 4
FIREWORKS—So what if the atheists have taken the Pledge of Allegiance
out of our schools? They’ll never take away our fireworks displays! (Two of
the best, by the way, will occur tonight at the Waterfront Park Blues Fest,
and at Oaks Park in Sellwood. Don’t bother with the one in Vancouver… the
yahoos will drive you crazy.) God bless America, and fuck you, atheists! WSH
Tom McCall Waterfront Park, Front Street, and Oaks Park, base of Sellwood
Bridge, free
MUSIC & CHILI–Today, Johnny X and the Groadies celebrate their sixth birthday
with their third annual chili cook-off. Bring on your best mix of black beans,
stewed tomatoes, Tabasco sauce, and… (ooohhh nooooo, wait a minute, I won’t
reveal all of my secret ingredients). For more about the birthday band
and their friends (The Unsounds, Spaceboy, Punishment for the Bad), see Music.
PB
Fast Forward, 6616 NE MLK Blvd, starts around 4 pm, free
FRIDAY, July 5
FREE FLAGS!—Our blind worship of America continues at the Northwest
Film Center & Mercury‘s Summer Movie Megathon! Tonight, President Harrison
Ford and Commie terrorist Gary Oldman beat the crap out of each other aboard
Air Force One, in a movie appropriately titled Air Force One. Yes, there
will be beer and yes, 150 free American flags will be given away to wave whenever
the Prez kicks a terrorist in the nuts. WSH
Guild Theatre, 829 SW 9th Ave, 221-1156, Bar opens at 10:30, Film at 11,
$5
MUSIC—Call me crazy, but I love shows at Disjecta. The room
is huge and airy, and you can escape the music to comfortable couches. This
show is a perfect match for the kitschy space. +/-, with members of Versus (they may even bust out some Versus songs), plays floaty Grandaddy-esque
music, with loads of extras, crazy drumming, electronic samples, and overdriven
guitar fuzz that’s warm and tropical, but still rocks. KS
Disjecta, 116 NE
Russell, 8 pm, $7
DANCE—Americans always copy what’s hot in our national grandpappy
land, England, so jump on this before it becomes (sniff) mainstream. Bassism7
is a dance night with DJs spinning the break-heavy, R&B boogies that
are the next revolution in clubbing. MS
Fez, 316 SW 11th, 221-7262 ext. 41,
10 pm, $6
SATURDAY, July 6
GRANDMASTER— All hail the grandfather of hiphop and breakbeats, Grandmaster
Flash! And while this pioneering turntable technician rarely tours, you can
catch him tonight promoting his new “Essential Mix” CD, and spinning great tunes
from hiphop past and present (and surely, old standbys such as “The Message”).
And no standing against the wall, stump-ass. Remember, you are here to dance.
WSH
w/DJ Izm and Berlin; Ohm, 31 NW 1st Ave, 224-TIXX, 9 pm, $14-17
SUNDAY, July 7
ELVIS LIVES—Extreme Elvis is exactly what his name suggests; a dude
who sings Elvis songs, with an extreme twist–like he promises to shit and puke
and fornicate on stage. Rumor has it he doesn’t always live up to the promise,
but check it out for yourself. KD
Dante’s, 1 SW 3rd Avenue, 226-6630, 9 pm, $6
FUTBOL–This is probably the best soccer game that you’ll see all year (and,
yes, I know that the World Cup just ended and that was fairly exciting). Live
in Portland, Chivas of Guadalajara–Mexico’s most popular team–rumbles with
Cruz Azul–Mexico’s most powerful and unflinchingly ruthless squad. PB
PGE
Park, 1844 SW Morrison, 553-5400, 1 pm, $30
MONDAY, July 8
GREAT SHOW—Holy shite. First, punchy B.C. rockers Hot Hot Heat sweatify
your nervous beat-punk antics; next, the incredible Volta Do Mar amaze
with guitar-nerd prowess, dizzying time signatures, and the occasional shouted
vocals; finally, NYC’s SEXY Gang-of-Four-on-the-dancefloor punkers Radio 4 turn on the booty machine with politics and tight rhythms. AND IT’S FREE! I think I’m gonna pass out. JS
Blackbird, 3728 NE Sandy, 282-9949, 9
pm, free
TUESDAY, July 9
MOVIE—To attain a balanced life, one must counteract the self-deception
and premature wrinkles of happiness and sunshine. Lord love the French and films
like The Town Is Quiet. A stiff shot of junkies, prostitution, and betrayal
oughta round you out. MS
Hollywood Theatre, 4122 NE Sandy, 281-4215, 7, 9:40,
$5
WEDNESDAY, July 10
READING–Indie cultural critic Paul Krassner’s new book is called Murder
at the Conspiracy Convention, and is chock full of interesting thoughts
on topics such as Timothy McVeigh and John Lennon. Krassner is here as part
of the zine symposium, so if you miss him at Powell’s, catch him next weekend.
KD
Powell’s City of Books, 1005 W Burnside, 228-4651, 7:30 pm, free