Friday, Oct. 22
Ben Lee, Pony Up
Roseland Theatre, 8 N.W. 6th Ave.
$8
21+
I remember so fondly the first time I heard Ben Lee’s upstartyoung punk band Noise Addict. The songs were full of unpretentiouscharm and unapologetic anecdotes missing in a world where jadedindie rock was becoming the norm.
“I wish I was him” lamented, with both sarcastic and endearingearnestness, the ambition and fame of being Evan Dando, somethingMr. Lee has finally accomplished. He makes easygoing smart popmusic that offends no one and moves few.
Drive By Truckers, Centromatic
Dante’s, 1 S.W. 3rd Ave.
$15
21+
Drive By Truckers and Centromatic both make straightforwardsouthern rock without all the shtick. They are notorious drinkers,good looking in a rugged sort of way and earnest about picking upwhere Skynyrd left off. Regardless of that, don’t let the illusionof 1970s arena rock suck you in; chances are if you request”Freebird” you’ll still get beat down. It’s a pride thing.
Saturday, Oct. 23
The Blow and assorted State’s Rights bands
Holocene, 1001 S.E. Morrison
$5
21+
The Blow is one woman who makes smart, personal, freaked-outpop. Regardless of that, it really kicks ass. One of the highlightsof TBA for me was her performance and tonight she’s celebrating therelease of her new EP, “Poor Aim: Love Songs.” It’s only fivebucks, and since the show’s at Holocene you can be guaranteed thatwhen the indie’s over you can dance your drunk-fool ass off tostupid radio pop songs you’d never admit you love during daylighthours. Win-Win.
Greg Dulli’s Twilight Singers
Doug Fir Lounge, 830 E. Burnside
$10
21+
Come out tonight and enjoy the shiny new elegance of Portland’sofficially new hippest spot. It’s pretty, snobby and expensive.You’ll fit right in! Also…Greg Dulli of the Afghan Whigs willhaul his bloated corpse on stage and bore you to tears. Enjoy!
Sunday, Oct. 24
Interpol
Crystal Ballroom, 1332 W. Burnside
All ages
“Turn on the bright lights” infuriated me. It seemed Interpol,the band people wouldn’t stop talking about, was nothing but asecond-rate Joy Division cover band in suits. I ranted andcomplained about the dull hum of their derivative rock. And thensuddenly it dawned on me. Joy Division is long gone. Ian Curtis islong dead and I’ve played those albums to the point I can’t standit any more. Therefore, Interpol is brilliant. They feed my emptyhole where Joy Division once lived. Sure it’s a schtick and sureit’s half-assed, but goddamn it is fun and it’s all mine!
Monday, Oct. 25
Next Big Thing
Meow Meow, 320 S.E. 2nd Ave.
$8
21+
Parkrose High School sends its best and brightest performers torock it like the big kids do. Finally a venue to see high schoolbands that isn’t the Paris Theatre.
Tuesday, Oct. 26
Metric, Midnight Movies
Doug Fir Lounge, 830 E. Burnside
$10
21+
Metric is pretty and smart. If you don’t believe me check theircredentials; they’re Canadian, sexy as shit and share members withBroken Social Scene. And what better place to enjoy bouncy sexed-uprock than the Doug Fir, full of bouncy sexed-up hipsters? Lovelife! See this show.
Residents DVD release party-
Crystal Ballroom, 1332 W. Burnside
Free
All ages
The Residents are the definition of creepy art rock. Withoutthem you’d have no Idiot Flesh, Sleepytime Gorilla Museum or evenMarilyn Manson. Learn and enjoy.
Wednesday, Oct. 27
Har Mar Superstar, Storm and the Balls, Autolux
Dante’s, 1 S.W. 3rd Ave
$10
21+
Give yourself over to Har Mar…do it. Yes, he’s fat, and yes,he makes new soul as a joke, but goddamnit he’s fat and he makesnew soul as a joke! And he does it well. I wonder if he were abeautiful man if his music would be competing with JustinTimberlake in the bedroom. I love Har Mar, and if you have afucking ounce of taste in your black, loveless, hipster husk youwill too.
Holly Golightly, Mr. Airplane Man
Berbati’s Pan, 231 S.W. Ankeny
21+
As you all know, I hate garage rock. It’s tired, trite andmeaningless. When bands today are biting off bands from 1967exactly and getting hailed as the next big thing I get all crazypissed. Holly Golightly plays garage rock. Only she’s very good,and her music is not derivative. However she still plays garagerock, which I hate. So go see her, and enjoy yourself, but don’tlook for me.
Thursday, Oct. 28
Hayden
Dante’s, 1 S.W. 3rd Ave
$5
21+
Hayden does what M Ward, Mason Jennings, Will Oldham, TheMountain Goats and that fucking overly earnest dude at open mikenight all do. He writes songs and plays them on his guitar, andthen he sings. When Hayden sings however, strange things starthappening. You forget M Ward, you forget Mason Jennings, you forgetWill Oldham, you forget the Mountain Goats and you just enjoywell-written, achingly sad songs. You can’t forget that coffee shopdude, however, because he’s right there next to you scribbling awayin his corny little journal. Kick his ass on the way out.