GROUP DOUEH, DUSU MALI BAND @ Mississippi Studios, June 30, 2011

Group Doueh are on their first North American tour and we’re lucky enough to get them here in Portland (thanks to the Beloved Festival)! From the former colonial Spanish outpost of the Western Sahara they share Saharawi music sounds influenced by western music like Jimi Hendrix and James Brown. Bummed I’m gonna be out of town, Doueh is a master of the electric guitar and this is not to be missed!

THA RETURN OF HOLD ON 2 YR BUTTS @ Langano Lounge,

Seems as though a lot of good dance parties and loud music sessions happen in, on top of, or in this case below, Ethiopian restaurants these days. Tonight check out New Dadz DJs bringing back Hold On 2 Yr Butts at Langano Lounge. Get ready to dance! and drink! $3 gin and juice all night.

B.Y.O.R (Bring Your Own Records) @ Record Room,

Ever been to a listening party? Everyone brings records that they have been dying to share and we all listen and chat about the music or… whatever. It’s a great way to learn about new music and spend an evening with friends old and new. Tonight, check out the Record Room‘s listening party and bring your own vinyl

Chicken Dinner @ Tastebud, June 29, 2011

The Tastebud dining room will be closing for the month of July, so tonight is your last chance for the Wednesday Chicken Dinner until further notice. What is the Wednesday Chicken Dinner at Tastebud you say? Well, it starts out with Lauretta Jean‘s biscuits served with butter and raspberry jam, buttery, flaky, so damn good, you’ll be begging for seconds. There are delicious, seasonal, cold salads to munch on while your 1/2 chicken, served in two or three ways, roasts to perfection

Kelly Blair Bauman, Old Light @ Bunk Bar, June 28, 2011

I met Kelly Blair Bauman in graduate school while duking it out in a philosophy of education class; impressed by his intellect and curls, it was only later that I made the connection that I’m also impressed by his songs. Check him out tonight at Bunk Bar’s weekly free show with Old Light. You may remember the WW describing their sound in the Best New Bands 2011 article, as “one that kicks back to chilled-out melodies laced with intense Beach Boys harmonies; one that gets Crazy Horse as fuck on swamp-rock anthems and throws down on quick improvised interludes.” Damn.

Hunx and His Punx, Shannon & the Clams, Guantanamo Baywatch @ Doug Fir,

Killer line up: Hunx and His Punx, Shannon & the Clams, and local favorite Guantanamo Baywatch. This is the kind of show that’s going to have you making out midcentury style afterward (perhaps looking for a lovers lane? More likely in the blocks south of Doug Fir). Enjoy!

Blonde Redhead, Nosaj Thing @ Doug Fir, June 27, 2011

Blonde Redhead‘s album In an Expression of the Inexpressible was transformative for me. I was 16, had worn Portishead’s Dummy ragged and needed something tough and fresh, cus I was tough and fresh (or at least that was what I was going for). After that, I devoured La Mia Violenta then Fake Can Be Just as Good and when Melody of Certain Damaged Lemons came out in 2000, I was in ecstasy

The Reservations, Nightmoves, Fox & Law @ Rontoms, June 26, 2011

So it’s basically summer which means that at Rontoms’ ping pong is getting even livelier, the deck is getting slammed, and babes you’ve never seen before are out in shorts. Go hit up their free music Sunday night with The Reservations – made up of Marshall (mattress), C + T Hoganson (Leather Tom & The Dirty dudes), & Matt Dawson (former Of Montreal), who are good. fun. and playing with Nightmoves and Fox & Law. xo

Animals and Men, Psychic Feline, Cat Fancy @ Tonic Lounge,

I love themes and I love cats. And after this weeks double treat of Animals and Men, I think we’re all gonna love them (if you didn’t already). Don’t miss this show since its the last one ever (that I know of). With Portland bringers of the good times, Psychic Feline and Cat Fancy

2011 Risk/Reward Festival @ Artists Repertory Theatre,

For the last three years the Risk/Reward festival has hosted some of the most exciting performers working throughout the Pacific Northwest. This fourth year they’ve got a snazzy new venue, The Artists Repertory Theatre downtown, and a snazzy line-up of dancers, musicians, actors, puppeteers, and others not so easy to define.