IRON AND WINE, THE HEAD AND THE HEART
(Crystal Ballroom, 1332 W Burnside) Sam Beam may have (slightly) trimmed his illustrious beard, but he hasn't trimmed back any of the rich musical potion he concocts with Iron and Wine, which has evolved from a whispery acoustic act to globe-spanning folk fusion. New record Kiss Each Other Clean has Iron and Wine revisiting the '70s soft rock of Beam's childhood. NED LANNAMANN

MAD RAD, WEINLAND, AND AND AND, THE GLOBES
(Star Theater, 13 NW 6th) Dying to know what bands are going to steal you away in September during the 11th year of MusicfestNW? Then come on down to the freshly remodeled Star Theater—no longer just a hobo graveyard—for the free MusicfestNW lineup announcement party. In between sets from a diverse lineup of talent—the transition between the whiskey-drowning sorrows of Weinland to the in-your-grill electro party rap of Mad Rad might make your head explode—the 2011 festival lineup will be unveiled. Spoiler alert: We have it on good authority that this year's lineup will feature a collaboration between Merzbow and Cody Simpson. EZRA ACE CARAEFF

14 ICED BEARS, ORCA TEAM, GHOST ANIMAL
(East End, 203 SE Grand) 14 Iced Bears barely received the recognition for spawning the jangly, jaunty C86 sound that contemporary bands like Vivian Girls, the Pains of Being Pure at Heart, and Comet Gain have warmly embraced. It's a shame because the band, formed in London just over 25 years ago, makes some of the most ebullient indie pop you've probably never heard. Combining frantic Feelies-esque rhythms, delicately distorted guitar chops, and soft-spoken, whimsical vocals about falling in love and running away, 14 Iced Bears should be a household name to current Slumberland Records fans (Slumberland even released In the Beginning, a 14 Iced Bears compilation of singles and Peel Sessions back in 2001). But because they seldom play live and haven't released a full-length of new material in more than a decade, that might explain why they're not playing to the same sizable crowds as their predecessors. No worries, they'll still be my little secret that I always put on mixtapes. TRAVIS RITTER

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DOOM, HELLSHOCK, DEATHCHARGE, RELIGIOUS WAR, RIPPER
(Branx, 320 SE 2nd) After 20-plus years, UK crust pioneers Doom have finally decided to play a few shows in the States. Portland is in the middle of a tour that brings them to two of the most important pilgrimages for DIY punk and metal fans in the US: Maryland Deathfest and Chaos in Tejas. Which is fitting, being that Doom are cornerstones of the scene, and 99 percent of the fans at these shows will be seeing them for the first time—strange for such a hugely influential and accepted band that has been around off and on since 1987. It's also a bit odd considering that Bri Doom and Stick are all that remain of the first incarnation of Doom. Why now? Does it really matter? The volume of anger, desperation, frustration, and urgency in their records is still thick and fresh as ever, and so many crust, metal, and even some grind bands are still trying to capture the feeling that Doom absolutely nailed to the wall over two decades ago. JAY WILLIAMS

WHITE DENIM, WHITE ARROWS
(Bunk Bar, 1028 SE Water) On their brand-new album (simply titled D), Austin's White Denim reins in their whirling punk energy for something even more rewarding: a truly stoney brew of psychedelia that's equal parts Steppenwolf and the Beta Band. NED LANNAMANN

CAT STALKS BIRD, THE RESERVATIONS, BLOOD BEACH
(Valentine's, 232 SW Ankeny) The duo of Cat Stalks Bird moved to Portland from Michigan, and brought with them a unique and arresting version of guitar rock. Drummer/vocalist Nate Weber also holds a guitar in his lap, hammering down chords with one hand while his remaining three limbs keep heavy time. Meanwhile, Jake Early also wields an ax, playing complicated, arpeggiated figures underneath Weber's swampwater vocals. The result is far denser than two ordinary people could muster, but Cat Stalks Bird manage to sound like an army of giants. The group celebrates their first release as a Portland band tonight with the new Vacant Space EP, and they've assembled a dynamite bill of Portland's best, weirdest psych-rock outfits in the form of the Reservations and Blood Beach. NL

LYKKE LI, GRIMES
(Wonder Ballroom, 128 NE Russell) One of the more successful in the recent string of blonde, fashionable pop singers exported out of Sweden (hey, they don't let just anyone shill for Levi's), Lykke Li is back touring on her latest, Wounded Rhymes, another round of moody, bittersweet club numbers. It's sold out, so try your luck at the door or on Craigslist. MARJORIE SKINNER

FITZ AND THE TANTRUMS, LEROY BELL AND HIS ONLY FRIENDS, BUSHWALLA, CAS HALLEY
(Tom McCall Waterfront Park, 1020 SW Naito) When you think of the sounds of the Rose Festival, marching bands and children crying at clowns probably come to mind. Well, no more. The bumping grooves of Fitz and the Tantrums inject some much-needed vintage soul into the annual festival. Prepare for some sweet sounds, and some awkward dancing from suburban folks. EZRA ACE CARAEFF

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SUPERNATURE: E*ROCK, STRATEGY, DJ COPY, DJ ZAC ENO
(Rotture, 315 SE 3rd) Artist, DJ, music videographer, and runner of the Audio Dregs label—I guess it's understandable that E*Rock may have been too busy to release a new record of his own as of late. That changes at tonight's installment of Supernature, where he'll release the long-awaited The Clock and the Mountain. Expect to dance and trip the eff out. MARJORIE SKINNER

ANIMAL FARM, PHILLY'S PHUNKESTRA, AL 1, KP, COOL NUTZ
(Mt. Tabor Theater, 4811 SE Hawthorne) Read our article on Animal Farm.

ALOE BLACC
(Dante's, 1 SW 3rd) Simply put, Aloe Blacc's Good Things is a damn near perfect album. Last year's breakthrough recording for the soulful Cali crooner—who is also an integral part of the afternoon sangria-and-sunshine party the Do-Over—topped many a critic's year-end list, and established lead single "I Need a Dollar" as the omnipresent anthem for the hand-to-mouth underclass. In fact, the entirety of Good Things resonates like a re-imagined What's Going On?, delicately capturing the worrisome reality of youth in modern-day America. Along with Raphael Saadiq, Blacc is at the forefront of the modern soul renaissance, and his unrestricted, medley-heavy live sets only seem to confirm this. Missing this show would be an outright crime. EZRA ACE CARAEFF

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