Lovin’ and Listenin’

Thursday, April 12

Junior Private Detective, Rademacher, Great Aunt Ida
The Towne Lounge, 9:30 p.m. Cover, 21+.

I finally got a chance to hear Junior Private Detective (thanks, MySpace!) and I’m getting a real Helium vibe from them. For everyone who has no idea what the heck a “Helium vibe” is, what I mean is that Junior Private Detective has a droll female singer and indie rock songs that sound jagged but poppy.

Friday, April 13

Quasi, The Minders, Pan Tourismos
Wonder Ballroom, 8 p.m. $10. All ages.

The Minders make the kind of indie-pop that even your parents can appreciate, with Beatles-esque chord progressions and sunny harmonies. Plus, there’s the added bonus that they are a married couple in a band that I don’t hate with all my being.

Saturday, April 15

Sunburn Music Festival: Dead Moon, The Hunches, Photo Atlas, Books On Tape, The Robot Ate Me, Quiet Countries
Lewis and Clark College, 5:30 p.m. $5. All ages.

Besides Portland-scene veterans Dead Moon, this show is kind of a mixed bag. North Hollywood’s Books On Tape makes bargain-basement IDM (intelligent dance music), while The Photo Atlas play post-hardcore music that veers way too close to my least favorite musical genre, screamo.

Everyone Orchestra
Crystal Ballroom, 9 p.m. $20. All ages.

Though I’m not a fan of the genre, this is definitely the show to see for jam-band fans. With an all-star cast of jam band who’s who (Karl Denson, G Love, some dude from Phish), this show promises enough noodling to make your head spin.

Monday, April 17

Snakes, Argumentix and Ghost to Falco, DJ Nate C
Tube, 8 p.m.

This show will be crazy psych weirdness since Portland ambient group Argumentix is collaborating with the Portland post-rock stylings of Ghost to Falco. In layman’s terms, think weird, spacey music that sounds amazing when you’re really baked.

Tuesday, April 18

Eisley, Simon Dawes, Brighter
Wonder Ballroom, 8 p.m. $12. All ages.

Eisley are four home-schooled Christian siblings from Texas who make moody-sounding indie rock that bores me to tears. However, the girls in the band are incredibly cute, so if you’re male and can justify spending $12 to see some hot girls, then this show is for you. Just don’t wear a raincoat.