FIN DE CINEMA PRESENTS ALICE: WAMPIRE, LITANIC MASK, BRUXA, SICK JAGGERS

(Holocene, 1001 SE Morrison) Ghosts? Witches? Monsters? Pshaw. The creepiest thing around town this Halloween is Jan Svankmajer's Alice, a Czech stop-motion version of Alice in Wonderland that's so unsettlingly eerie, it'll give you nightmares. Fin de Cinema screens the 1988 film with a live score from Wampire, Litanic Mask, and Bruxa, then you can shake off those terrors with a dance party from the Sick Jaggers DJs. NED LANNAMANN

RICHARD THOMPSON, THE WEBB SISTERS

(Aladdin Theater, 3017 SE Milwaukie) I can't think of many artists less Halloweeny than English-born songwriter/guitarist Richard Thompson—to my knowledge he has written zero songs about candy—but the man has been known to do a Britney Spears cover or two. Thompson probably won't be doing too many covers (the musical equivalent of putting on a costume) during his two-night stint at the Aladdin; rather, on this solo acoustic tour, he's revisiting his own back catalog, doing a mini-set of three or four songs from a randomly selected album from his immense discography. Considering how many records the man has put out since leaving Fairport Convention in 1971, that's a lot of ground, and the chances are good for him to play something quite rare—and considering how consistent a songwriter he is, the chances are equally good that it'll be something great. Plus, there will be costumes: Look for an alarming number of middle-aged male disciples wearing Thompson's trademark beret. NL

MONARQUES, GRINGO STAR, BEISBOL

(Bunk Bar, 1028 SE Water) Sure they have a silly band name, but Atlanta's Gringo Star crank out some serious pop songs. These guys should even be taken seriously. "Shadow" from their just-released sophomore LP Count Yer Lucky Stars is a tropical doo-wop number polished to a beautiful sheen by producer Ben Allen, responsible for the big sounds found on the equally goofily named Gnarls Barkley's St. Elsewhere and Animal Collective's Merriweather Post Pavilion. Essentially, it's taken Gringo Star's '60s-inspired pop to new frontiers. While the songs have always been there, Gringo Star's gravestone following an early death could have easily read something like: "Silly Name; Loved the Kinks." Count Yer Lucky Stars has given them a second life. I think these gringos might be around for a while. MARK LORE

Continue reading »

OCTOSSIPPI: NICK JAINA, RYAN SOLLEE, RITCHIE YOUNG, ADAM SHEARER, MATT SHEEHY, LEWI LONGMIRE, DAVE DEPPER, KYLE MORTON AND MINI TYPHOON & MORE

(Mississippi Studios, 3939 N Mississippi) Mississippi Studios has been around for eight years, meaning it's due time to celebrate. Their anniversary event will highlight more than 10 local bands, including Nick Jaina, Matt Sheehy, and a mini version of Typhoon. Also, free burgers until midnight! ALEX ZIELINSKI

HUME, GRANDPARENTS, DUCK LITTLE BROTHER DUCK

(Valentine's, 232 SW Ankeny) I thought I knew my Grandparents. I mean, I love them no matter what, but I was naturally surprised when they totally flipped on me and changed up their sound. You would expect some level of consistency from your Grandparents, right? Well, it took some getting used to, but it turns out my new Grandparents are actually way cooler than the old ones. Even though I miss those nug-sparking Floydian jams, I'm totally down to trade them out for this goo-gazey coupling of Kevin Shields' tape-wrapped whammy with taut, garage-kraut workouts. Grandparents' new EP Sugar Beach documents a band unchained, yet in total control, playing really fucking loud. In fact, it pretty much legitimizes Grandparents as THE number one band to keep an eye on in this town right now. CHRIS CANTINO

WILD ONES, YOUTH, OCEAN AGE

(The Woods, 6637 SE Milwaukie) While it's not formally All Hallow's Eve just yet, this show is within the sprawling realm of Halloween—which apparently spans the entirety of October on SE Hawthorne—and there are few better ways to enliven our dying spirits than by bopping about aimlessly to Wild Ones in an old funeral parlor (and preferably in a toilet-paper mummy costume). If you have yet to catch wind of this band—they've only been playing shows around town since February—you must not deprive yourself any longer. Their first recorded effort, the You're a Winner EP, is a tidy collection of synthpop beatitudes, and the latest track emancipated from the band's vaults, "Need It All," is a fantastic, slightly more mercurial sign of what's to come from their impending debut. Plus, it's their last show in Portland before they strike out on the BFF tour with, well, BFFs Typhoon and Youth, so come and wish the bands well on their way. RAQUEL NASSER

IN THE CREMATORIUM II: DJ COOKY PARKER, THE ANGRY ORTS, THIS CHARMING MAN

(The Woods, 6637 SE Milwaukie) There's no better place to spend Halloween weekend than a former funeral parlor, so thank the spirits that the Woods is hosting their second In the Crematorium dance and costume party, a spooky good time with DJ Cooky Parker spinning '80s hits, plus live Smiths covers by This Charming Man. Wear your best for the costume contest, and be ready for the giant pumpkin piñata! NED LANNAMANN [NOTE: The video above has little to do with the dance party tonight, I just wanted to post it.]

JEFF BECK

(Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, 1037 SW Broadway) Rolling Stone ranked Jeff Beck at number 14 in its "100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time" list. So, see you at the show. You want more? Okay, Beck, now 67, catalyzed the Yardbirds' explosive and cosmic garage-psych attack in the '60s with artful distortion, fuzz, and feedback, and then went on to lead some fantastic bands throughout the '70s and add mercenary six-string firepower for Stevie Wonder, Kate Bush, Roger Waters, and other millionaires. Beck is a mercurial embellisher of blues, rock, funk, and heavy-metal tropes, but his peak came with "Beck's Bolero," the 1967 B-side to "Hi Ho Silver Lining." There, he reconfigured Ravel's classical standard into a grandiloquent rave-up, an obelisk of the most sublimely coruscating guitar tones. It's one of the greatest recordings ever. DAVE SEGAL

MANCHESTER ORCHESTRA, WHITE DENIM, THE DEAR HUNTER, LITTLE HURRICANE

(Wonder Ballroom, 128 NE Russell) The past five months have been good to Atlanta "alternative" (read: just a little emo) rock band Manchester Orchestra, given the rather rampant success of their third full-length, Simple Math. Curiously enough, Simple Math is a concept album rooted in autobiography, with lead singer Andy Hull paring down his life story from a bramble maze of 100 tracks to a mere 10. If nothing else, Hull's songwriting has reached its evocative peak, and the band as a whole is fully capable of lifting those impassioned songs right off the page. Joining Manchester Orchestra on this rather massive tour is Austin's White Denim, whose recent EP, Takes Place in Your Work Space, is brimming with catchy, circuitous guitar riffs and the kind of Texas charm you can only find in the state's heathen city. RAQUEL NASSER

Continue reading »

PBR PRESENTS THE 1980s
(Mississippi Studios, 3939 N Mississippi) Travel with us back in time to the awesomest, most tubular decade ever when PBR Presents the 1980s! Some of Portland's funnest bands—including Casey Neill, the Eastsiders, the My Oh Mys, Jim Brunberg, and many more—cover your '80s faves in this FREE show! (And if there's no Kajagoogoo? I'll jump onstage and do it myself!!) WM. STEVEN HUMPHREY

MR. GNOME, BOATS, PAPER UPPER CUTS
(Doug Fir, 830 E Burnside) Read our article on Mr. Gnome.

KING TUFF, THE SUICIDE NOTES, GUANTANAMO BAYWATCH, STILL CAVES
(East End, 203 SE Grand) Most dudes are lucky to be in one great band; Kyle Thomas of Brattleboro, Vermont, has been in at least four. You've heard of Witch—that's the metal band J Mascis plays drums for—and you might have heard of Happy Birthday, who released an overlooked record on Sub Pop last year. You also might have heard of Feathers, the freak-folk collective that released a far-out debut on Devendra Banhart's label in 2006 and then floated into the ether. But the name you need to concern yourself with right now is Tuff—King Tuff, that is, Thomas' alter-ego of scuzzily sweet garage and flower-power psych. There's a fucking phenomenal full-length released by Tee Pee in 2008 called King Tuff Was Dead, and a recent split 7-inch with the Hex Dispensers, plus a bunch of tracks littered over the internet. They all have one thing in common: the potential to be your next favorite song. With groovy jangle, indestructible power-pop structure, fuzz-mop guitars, and Thomas' dopey, grinning voice, King Tuff's shag rock is almost too easy to love. NED LANNAMANN

Continue reading »