Things to do before your head pops off

Tonight

… And You Will Know Us By the Trail of Dead, Bobby Conn

It remains to be seen if the band with the best name in rock will be changed by their attainment of a major-label contract. One thing is for sure, this Austin cute-boy quartet will do its best to be as loud and crazy as ever, so as to lose no cred with the fans. Opener Bobby Conn is a freak, and he’s not faking it either. He’s worth the price of admission alone.

The Blackbird, 3728 N.E. Sandy Blvd., 9:30 p.m., $10, 21+ w/ID

Friday

Sound and Shadow

The PSU Student Film Committee presents night one of their experimental movie and music night. At 6 and 10 p.m. catch ’80s BMX classic “Rad” with new soundtrack selected by Scott Jackson. At 9 p.m. it’s psychotronic classic “The Abominible Dr. Phibes,” starring Vincent Price and featuring a new sountrack by DJ Post Human.

5th Avenue Cinema, 510 Hall St., $5 general, $4 w/student ID

Kid 606, Bold Chains, Nudge

At February’s Binary 2, Kid 606 commandeered his laptop in the second room, steering listeners on a journey through some of the craziest broken, frenetic, electro they’ll ever hear. On this night Dante’s will become a landing pad for the weirdest sound from way out. Also on the bill is electro-rapper Gold Chains and OMCO experimental stalwart Nudge.

Dante’s, 1 S.W. 3rd Ave., 9 p.m., $10, 21+ w/ID

Future Tense Press Benefit

Just because it’s National Poetry Month doesn’t mean you have to go to a stodgy reading in some crowded, over-warm caf퀌�. Go to this reading by Portland hip lit purveyor and Powell’s employee Kevin Sampsell and friends. The atmosphere is more relaxed, and you’ll be helping to keep underground scribes working on their labor of love. And there’ll be lots of music, too!

Disjecta, 116 N.E. Russell St., 8 p.m., $7-10 suggested donation

Saturday

Sound and Shadow, part 2

Local experimental filmmakers team up with local experimental music makers. Look for electro-poppers Mome-Raths to headline with visuals by Ovid.

See tomorrow’s Vanguard for details.

5th Avenue Cinema, 510 Hall St., $5 general, $4 w/student ID

Tuesday

Ben Marcus reading

In his novel “Notable American Women,” Ben Marcus’ namesake documents the Silentist movement. The movement’s pioneer, Jane Dark, encourages silence, the wearing of other people’s skins and proper use of the copulation helmet during seed sends. It makes sense, if you think about it long enough. See www.benmarcus.com for details.

Powell’s , 1005 W. Burnside, 7:30 p.m., FREE