You Will Rock
Friday, Nov. 19
Libretto record release show w/ Cool Nutz, Boom Bap Project
Doug Fir, 830 E. Burnside
$10, 21+
Portland’s Libretto is finally getting his own. After getting blown away by his 12" ILL-OET in October, you can celebrate this amazing Portland MC in person. This could be your last chance to say, "I was there before his shit exploded." Libretto, along crewmates the Lifesavas, is finally pushing our lovely little burg to the top of the hip-hop pile. With an intelligent and, dare I say, positive delivery and a street flow, Libretto is a welcome addition to the movement bridging the gap between the traditions of native tongue and West Coast grit. Don’t miss out on your chance to see him while he’s humble. -Choncy Jones
Lecture: Hoffman Hall, PSU, 6:30 doors, $10, $5 w/ PSU ID,
Show: Berbati’s Pan, 10 S.W. Third Ave., 8 p.m., $15, $8 w/ PSU ID, 21+
KPSU is giving you two chances at hip-hop history tonight. First, the Grandmaster is at PSU giving a firsthand recount of the history of turntablism. From his time with the Furious Five forward, Grandmaster Flash wasn’t just watching hip-hop happening; he was making it happen. What better perspective could you possibly have on the evolution of the turntable as instrument? And if his lecture isn’t convincing enough then you can hit Berbati’s afterward and catch the man in action. Only 30 schools in the country get this opportunity, and thanks to KPSU we’re one of them. -CJ
Saturday, Nov. 20
Roseland Theatre, 8 N.W. Sixth Ave.
$18, all ages
Yes it’s nearly 20 bucks, yes it’s sponsored by ESPN videogames and yes it’s crawling with the youngsters. abut c’mon – it’s fucking DEL! Since ’91 Del has been blowing heads and with Aceyalone and Mikah 9 this is like the gods of backpacking tour. Give over to ’95-style handclaps, sunny California beats and Mary Jane’s love. Go see Del. -CJ
Pinback, Neil Hamburger, the Advantage
Bossanova, 722 E. Burnside St.
$14, all ages
Indie rock and stand-up comedy. Rad. -CJ
Sunday, Nov. 21
Pink Mountaintops, w/ Plan R
Porky’s, 835 N. Lombard St.
21+
If the name Pink Mountaintops is a reference to large boobs then it must be a slippery slope down to the dark dampened crevice to the subject that is their rock ‘n’ roll heart: humpin.’ Pink Mountaintops play a road-influenced classic rock song, short on glitz and long on patient rhythm and filthy words. Head Mountaineer Stephen McBean’s lyrical writings include ejaculating onto blouses, the gift of groupies and, of course, fucking mountains. The music has a find-a-hook-and-stay-with-it-for-three-minutes-and-14-seconds feel to it. Simple and correct. Oddly, McBean’s deep howl reminds me of a whiskey-drunk Eddie Vedder driving a big rig, but that’s a good thing, as in not the bad Eddie Vedder voice and in an American truck.
These mysterious Canuckians (Vancouverans) roll into town Sunday for a surely crust-ridden show at Northeast Lombard punker outpost Porky’s. It’s either poor booking (Porky’s is merely a dive bar) or a perfect match. It’s one of those shows were I’m really curious what the band is like in person. Will they look like their music? Will anyone show up? Who’s their fan base? With a total catalog of one album (seven originals and a cover of Joy Division’s "Atmosphere") it’s sure to be an interesting Sunday. -Bradley Carroll
Monday, Nov. 22
Le Tigre, Robosapiens, Lesbians On Ecstasy
Roseland Theatre, 8 N.W. Sixth Ave.
$15, all ages
There was a time when Kathleen Hannah was viable. With Bikini Kill she introduced the world to the punk feminism of Riot Grrls, and with Julie Ruin she showed them they could use a sampler. When Le Tigre came along Kathleen showed the world that feminists could meld from electro geeks to, well major label electro sellouts. All right! Feminism is safe in the hands of boring, insipid, pop music at last! Helen Reddy lives!! -CJ
Tuesday, Nov. 23
Well, Avril Levigne is playing tonight so you could go see that, or you could start cooking for Thursday. Or better yet, you could come over here and give ol’ Choncy a back rub. That shit would be awesome!
Wednesday, Nov. 24
Smog, Holy Sons, The Double U
Meow Meow, 320 S.E. Second Ave.
$12, all ages
Smog is the type of songwriter that makes you want to get in your car and drive. First you stop at your childhood home, then you stop by your ex’s house, then you hit the liquor store and go sit in the football field of your high school. It’s like godblessing America but in reverse. Imagine suddenly realizing every bad thing that ever happened in your life was your fault. That’s what Smog’s music is like, except pretty and funny. -CJ
IQU, Gold Chains
Berbati’s Pan, 10 S.W. Third Ave.
$10, 21+
Forget IQU, those K Records electro twee-poppers. Sure they’re good and oh-so-cute, but BLAH!
Gold Chains is all about beats, broads and coke, Cali-style. Finally a little glamour up in this motherfucker! Put on those tight pants and get to work, son, it’s cold out. -C
Thursday, Nov. 25
Turkey, blah blah. Genocide, blah, blah. Do something different. Buy a bottle of Jack, play "Harvest" by Neil Young or "Nebraska" by the Boss over and over again and write me 500 words on what this country means to you. -CJ
