Friday
Here’s a hard truth for you: 75 percent of all modern indie rock bands sound exactly like Pavement, except they’re either a little tighter, or a little sloppier. Pavement rules because they hit that perfect sweet spot in between. Pavement mainman Stephen Malkmus and his band the Jicks, suffers from guitar-solo bloat, sure, but honestly, that’s kind of allowed. Go see why.
Doug Fir, 9 p.m., $15, 21+
Emcee Abstract Rude, part of the Ryhmesayers camp, makes hip-hop that’s like his name: a little too smooth. His flow is all right, but combined with jazzy beats, his music comes off as more sleepytime than funtime. Local openers Living Proof do better—they got some snap in their step and beats—and they rep local hip-hop hard.
Berbati’s Pan, 8 p.m., $15, 21+
If you like underground hip-hop, you probably like Gift of Gab. The charismatic emcee has been at it for years with a flow as smooth as ice and laidback style that should always make you smile. Also: Bassnectar, Kush Arora and Graintable.
Crystal Ballroom, 9 p.m., $23, all ages
Saturday
While you may disagree with their top 10 “Best New Bands,” and worry about the overabundance of folk and indie-pop in this town, the lineup for Willamette Week‘s showcase is still pretty good. Explode Into Colors, Nurses and White Fang will playing, getting their dubby-dance, noisy-pop and energetic punk on, respectively.
Berbati’s Pan, 9 p.m., FREE, 21+
Speaking of Portland’s best bands, Prize Country should be on your radar. They take strains of The Jesus Lizard, Unsane and other noise-rock greats and mix to maximum effect. You wanna rock? Go here. Just know that it’s gonna hurt a little. Also playing: Traindodge, Front Toward Enemy.
Slabtown, 9 p.m., $6, 21+
The Portland Cello Project may be the most uncreative name in the history of names (and something tells me pointing that out is, in itself, uncreative) but the music they make certainly is not, fusing neo-folk fever and classical arrangements. Members of the group will be performing with the Vagabound Opera and 3 Leg Torso.
Mississippi Studios, 6 p.m. and 9:30 p.m., $15, all-ages and 21+
Sunday
There’s something about softly sung, simple folk music that Portlanders love. If you’re looking for a fix, look no further, here’s Grey Anne. Also: Reclinerland.
Hawthorne Theatre Lounge, 9 p.m., $3, 21+
The sad, sad, sad downer pop of Seattle’s Say Hi has been stuck in my head for weeks now, and it should be interesting to see how the mumbling bedroom musings are translated to a live setting. Also: Cloud Cult and Ice Palace.
Wonder Ballroom, 9 p.m., $15, 21+