Workin’ for the weekend

Friday
Like a punked-up Motorhead plowing through your consciousness, Zeke has been at it for years, releasing album after album of fastidiously skuzzy rock. If you find yourself with an excess of leather clothing, a beat-up Harley and a bad attitude, this is where you need to spend your Friday night. Also playing are similarly inclined punksters The Dwarves. With the new smoking ban, expect an even more frenzied pit, because nicotine addicts without their fix are, like, gnarly man.
Dante’s, 9 p.m., 21-plus, $15

Saturday
Combining the considerable emceeing talents of locals Josh Martinez and Sleep, The Chicarones create some of the oddest hip-hop in this great city. The duo is releasing a new EP of their hook-filled indie-hop, Swine Country, and will likely appease the crowd with some head-nodding power juice. Sleep’s rapid-fire yet smooth delivery meshes well with Martinez’s soulful singing, creating a sound that is accessible and original at the same time. Also on the bill are locals Braille, Raise the Bridges, Nightcrawlers, Jon the Baptist and Erd.
Berbati’s Pan, 9 p.m., 21-plus, $10

For fans of atonal noise (me!) Saturday night brings a brilliant show of heavy, heavy anguish. Local doomsters Trees screech and throttle through their slow and low version of metal, with a little bit of psychedelic nastiness thrown in as well. Black Elk (who released my favorite Portland album of last year, natch) will also be on hand to deliver their propulsive blend of noise-rock and unnerving anger. Finally, touring metallic droners ASVA are headlining. Imagine an Ennio Morricone score as performed by people who just realized “Shit, we’re all going to die” and don’t know how to turn down their amps. Depressing, yeah, but LOUD.
Someday Lounge, 9 p.m., 21-plus, $8

For the more traditionally indie-rock inclined amongst us, Portland vets Quasi will be playing a set of their organ-inflected tunes Saturday night. You can’t deny that this formerly married, now divorced, duo writes some catchy tunes. Opening up are recently Vanguard-profiled bands Eat Skull and The Golden Bears.
Doug Fir Lounge, 9 p.m., 21-plus, $13

Sunday
Stay at home and listen to Biggie’s Ready to Die, Nas’ Illmatic and Wu-Tang Clan’s Enter the Wu-Tang. Maybe a concentrated dose of amazing hip-hop will the stave off disappointment in next week’s lackluster bio-pic Notorious.  Or get brainy with a documentary about minimalist composer Phillip Glass at the Northwest Film Center. Whitsell Auditorium, 4 p.m., $7

Monday
Pissed off about the weekend being over? Find a forum for your whining at one of these open mic nights: Twin Paradox Café (8609 S.E. 17th Ave.), Goodfoot (2845 S.E. Stark St.), Twilight Cafe & Bar (1420 S.E. Powell Blvd.), Pub at the End of the Universe (4107 S.E. 28th Ave.), Ash Street Saloon (225 S.W. Ash St.). Maybe you’ll even have an audience. (Not me, I’m an asshole!)