Created in a lab using the DNA of Bonzo, a mud shark, and Jimmy Page's wizard outfit, Wolfmother are the closest thing we're going to get to Led Zeppelin. The Australian quartet has albums that are five times platinum in their home country, a handful of hit singles, and often play to crowds that look like this. Damn.

Now you can be part of their crowd—albeit much smaller and less Australian—as we are parting with a pair of tickets to see Wolfmother at the Roseland Theater this Thursday. Just comment below on why you deserve the win these tickets, and the best response by tomorrow (Tuesday!) at noon will be the winner. If commenting is too hard, tickets are still available here. Also, if you win (or buy) your way into this show, do not miss openers Heartless Bastards. They are fantastic.

LISTEN:

Wolfmother - "Woman"

Everyone knows that Saul Williams is talented. He's an accomplished poet, singer, actor (he was in K-PAX!), and activist. But did you know that the Brooklyn native is also a deadly big game hunter? Or what about his lifelong friendship with the Ultimate Warrior? Did you know about his stint as a celebrity chef? Or, um, what about this photo of him with a guy and his Ferrari? Basically, Saul Williams can do everything, while all we can do is giveaway tickets.

That said, we are giving away one pair of tickets to see the talented Mr. Williams at the Aladdin Theater on Sunday, November 15th. To win your way into this show—which has some fantastic opening acts like CX KiDTRONiK & Tchaka Diallo and Earl Greyhound—just comment below and explain why you deserve to win. The top comment by Wednesday at 5pm (that's tomorrow) will be the big winner. Good luck.

LISTEN:

Saul Williams - "List Of Demands (Reparations)"

• Built to Spill = Dorks

Boise is a lovely town, but no one famous has ever called it home. Here is a list of the city's three biggest residents: Bill Buckner, the fat guy from CSI, and Howard Hunter, the 14th President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. That is all. Well, except for Built to Spill, who absolutely own the Idaho capital. They are like bearded rock gods in that city, and when Doug Martsch passes on to the other side, Boise will surely give him the Stevie Ray Vaughan statue treatment. But don't worry, Martsch is gonna live forever (he hates helicopters).

In honor of full-length album number seven, There Is No Enemy, Built to Spill is playing two shows at the Wonder Ballroom this week—a family-friendly all-age show on Friday, and a totally dirty 21&Over performance on Saturday night—and we are giving away three pairs of tickets to both shows. To win, just post below and explain why you deserve to see Built to Spill for free.

The best six (!) comments will win their way into the show of their choice (please specify what show you want to see: All-ages, 21&Over, or either). Good luck.

LISTEN:

Built to Spill - "Life's A Dream"

You might know David Bazan as the bearded (former) Christian solider behind Pedro the Lion. Perhaps you know David Bazan as the man responsible for Curse Your Branches, arguably the best record of 2009 not named Bitte Orca. Or maybe you think Bazan was the man behind that song, "Like a Pimp," but you are wrong, that was David Banner. (I could stare at the photo all day long and it will never cease to amaze me.)

Anyway, Branches is Bazan's breakup album with God—if you think Bazan is taking it bad, you should see the other guy—and while it's an emotionally jarring listening experience, the album is truly beautiful and sincere. To celebrate his first Portland show since the album's release, we're offering up a pair of tickets to see Bazan at Mississippi Studios this Friday night.

We'll give two tickets to the best commenter below, just explain why you deserve to go to the show for free. Love David Bazan? Love David Banner? Hate Jesus? Adore 'em all? Make your case by tomorrow (Wednesday!) at 9am and the tickets will be yours. Good luck, and God bless.

LISTEN:

David Bazan - "Bless This Mess"

MÚM, HILDUR GUDNADOTTIR, SIN FANG BOUS
(Aladdin Theater, 3017 SE Milwaukie) Múm's brand of quiet, weird intensity doesn't make them a novelty act. They're not miniaturists—"Marmalade Fires" is restrained, but it also soars in the way a symphony orchestra soars. "Sing Along," from the Icelandic group's most recent album, Sing Along to Songs You Don't Know, seems to build into something that could become a raucous explosion, but it just keeps ascending, like an ornate marble staircase that you keep climbing, only to find it leads to a dead-end wall, but on that wall is maybe the most moody, gorgeous painting you've ever seen in your whole life. PAUL CONSTANT

Yeah, that about sums it up. Like their artistic peers on that odd bankrupt (financially, not creatively) island they call home, Múm build precise little monuments of intricate melody and sound that are endlessly rewarding to the listener. Since the band will be making a rare appearance at the Aladdin Theater this Wednesday, we want to give you a pair of tickets to see the show. Just comment below and explain why you deserve to win your way into the loving embrace of Múm. The best comment by Tuesday (that's tomorrow) at 9am will be declared the winner. If commenting isn't your thing, you can still buy tickets right here. Good luck.

LISTEN:

Múm - "Illuminated"

This is a message for: Hardcore DEVOted spuds, casual Devo fans, Jocko Homos, Mongoloids, and those who enjoy the thrill of wearing an energy dome on their head.

We are giving away a pair of tickets to see Devo at the Moore Theatre in Seattle on Sunday November 8th and Monday, November 9th. Two nights of Devo, and we are parting with a pair of tickets to each show. Holy crap!

We seldom recommend road trips to our big sister city up north, but Devo is the exception to every rule. Plus, since we're your favoritest blog ever, we'll toss is this fancy poster made exclusively for these very rare shows. To win tickets, just comment below on why you think you deserve to be top Spud and attend either of these concerts. The best two comments by Monday 9am will win the tickets and a poster. Also, this is very important, please post what day you want to attend (either the 8th or 9th).

If commenting is not your thing, you can purchase tickets here. Good luck.

And now, just because I can, here is my favorite Devo song:
LISTEN:

Devo - "Gates Of Steel"

Oh please, stop trotting around on your indie rock high horse and admit that—deep down—you just want to do nothing but listen to commercial radio, wear JJ Casuals ("The shoes that look like feet!"), and go see the Killers when they perform at Memorial Coliseum this Thursday. While we can't help with the first two, we do have a couple pairs of tickets to see the Killers that are yours for the taking.

The best comment below on why you deserve to attend this show will win two tickets. Comments must be posted by Tuesday at 5pm. Good luck.

To celebrate three years of business—and a rear balcony that refuses to collapse—Rotture is pulling out all the stops next week. Free shows, big names, birthday clowns, but the real treat is how they have somehow talked Clipse into taking the stage on Friday, September 11th (never forget). Clipse at Rotture? Holy fuckballs.

Clipse is big deal. They drive Ferraris, have Pharrell and Kanye on their friends and family plan, and dropped one of the decade's most respected releases in Hell Hath No Fury. In fact, the only thing better than seeing an intimate show from Clipse is doing it for free. That's where we come in.

We have two pairs of tickets to giveaway to this show, so the best two comments below on why you deserve to spend some time with Malice and Pusha T will be declared as winners. Comments must be posted by tomorrow (Friday) at 5pm. If you don't hear from us by this weekend, you might want to try and snatch up the few tickets still available. Good luck.

• Steve Gullick

Soulsavers are the dual production team of Rich Machin and Ian Glover and have blah, blah, blah... MARK FREAKIN' LANEGAN!!!!! Yes, it's true, Soulsavers are touring with the brooding mass of sad/drunken awesomeness that is Mark Lanegan—you might know him from Screaming Trees, Queens of the Stone Age, The Gutter Twins, and my dreams—and we want to give you a pair of tickets to witness it all.

Soulsavers will be in town this coming Sunday (9/6) at the Wonder Ballroom, so comment below with why you think you deserve to attend this show—all posts must be in by 5pm tomorrow (Tuesday)—and our staff of mystery judges will pick the lucky winners. Also, this is a 21+ event, because as everyone knows, Mark Lanegan is not for the children.

LISTEN:

Soulsavers - "You Will Miss Me When I Burn"

• Melani Brown

Instead of acting as a stopgap until the new Menomena album comes out—tentative release date: 2078—the debut solo offering, Intuit, from the band's Brent Knopf (under the name Ramona Falls) is quite superb. To celebrate the record's release we are giving away a pair of tickets to Ramona Falls' first Portland show ever—this Saturday night at the Doug Fir.

If winning is your thing, just comment below on why you think you deserve to attend the show. The finest comment by tonight at 5pm will win the tickets. Good luck.

LISTEN:

Ramona Falls - "Melectric"

Tickets are still available to witness the mighty Amon Tobin take the stage Friday night TONIGHT at the Roseland Theater. Or you can just win a pair from us. Comment below on why you think you deserve to take home two tickets to see the man behind the triphop classic Adventures in Foam (plus a whole lot more).

The best comment by tomorrow at 9am today at 5pm will win the tickets. Good luck.

Photo: Vid Cousins

If you've had "Children's Story" stuck in your head since 1988 then you're going to want to see The Ruler himself, Slick Rick, tomorrow night at the Roseland. Lucky for you, we have a pair of tickets with your name on them.

Here comes my Ron Popeil moment: But wait, there's more. If you enter this contest right now, we'll throw in opening acts Rahzel and the Beatnuts. The "Survival of the Illest Tour" is as legendary of a hiphop bill you'll find this side of Rock the Bells, although, to be fair, Rahzel is great and all, but the dude can't make a pug beatbox. Just saying.

Anyway, to win your way into this show, strap on your eye patch and comment below on why you think you deserve the tickets. The response that best knocks 'em out the box by 5pm today will win a pair of tickets to tomorrow's show. Good luck.

LISTEN:

Slick Rick - "Children's Story"

Hark! Over the past few months we've kept you updated on every single morsel, tour date, video, and drunken Tweet from ye olde Decemberists. Now we are giving away a few pairs of tickets to their Sunday, July 19th show at Edgefield. The band's two night stand in Troutdale—with stellar openers Andrew Bird and Blind Pilot—will be their first hometown performance in support of The Hazards Of Love.

To win, just comment below and explain why you should attend this show. The best posts by Wednesday at 5pm will win a pair of tickets. Good luck.

Photo: Autumn DeWilde

Tori Amos is playing tomorrow (that would be Saturday) at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, and for some reason we have been given a pair of tickets to giveaway... right this very second. Like right now. The first person to email me will win the tickets. Now is your chance to sob gently to "Silent All These Years," good luck.

***Update***
Wow, that was quick. We have our winner. Now please stop emailing me about Tori Amos.

The ticket giveaway madness continues! If our other contest wasn't your cup of tea—surprisingly, militant hiphop isn't for everyone—then you'll want to win a pair of tickets to witness to gorgeous music of Azure Ray. Now back together, the duo will perform their first Portland show in about five years this Friday (that's tomorrow) at Mississippi Studios.

Here's the preview from this week's paper:

AZURE RAY, WHITE HINTERLAND
(Mississippi Studios, 3939 N Mississippi) Splitting at the most inopportune moment—following the release of their stellar Hold on Love recording, and shortly after working with Moby (back when he was still relevant, or at least still lingering in the public consciousness)—the return of Azure Ray is a welcome surprise. The duo of Maria Taylor and Orenda Fink were the stable anchor to the Midwest emo theatrics of the Saddle Creek scene. They lacked the gushing diary prose and navel-gazing of their label brethren, instead crafting an opulent and patient sound of intertwined voices that seldom rose above a delicate whisper. With no new record to sling—although one is supposedly in the works—tonight's show will be a warm-up for the duo's welcome return.

To win these tickets, just comment below and explain why you deserve to attend this show for free. The best comment by tomorrow at noon will be the lucky winner. Good luck.

LISTEN:

Azure Ray - "November"

The last time Dead Prez brought their fuck-a-cop-hiphop to the Pacific Northwest, this happened. While I can't promise their Portland show—this Friday at the Roseland Theater—will feature an overturned police cruiser, or Evergreen students that try to "grab guns from deputy holsters" (!), you know that this will be a memorable evening.

The Brooklyn duo of M1 and stic.man have battled "the man," plus countless inept record labels, in order to release an impressive catalog of militant hiphop that is committed to self-discipline, community building, staying positive, and kicking ass like a goddamn warrior (when called for). When they are on—which they definitely are on their new DJ Green Lantern mixtape, Pulse Of The People—few modern musical acts, hiphop or otherwise, are as important as Dead Prez. Don't miss this.

To win this pair of tickets just comment below on why you think you deserve to attend this show. The best response by tomorrow (Thursday) at 6pm wins their way into the show. Good luck, RBG gangster.

LISTEN:

Dead Prez - "$timulus Plan"

It seems like we were just talking about this show—oh yeah, we were—and now here we are, giving away a pair of tickets to see the Flaming Lips and Built to Spill, performing on Thursday, August 20th at Edgefield.

There will be giant hamster balls, aliens, people in furry costumes... and that's just at your mom's house before the show.

Um, anyway, the Flaming Lips are probably the single greatest live band on this planet—or Mars—as Wayne Coyne and pals have cemented their legacy as one of the most inventive, and just plain fun, musical acts around. (Plus, little known fact, Built to Spill's Doug Martsch has been continually guitar soloing since 1993.)

To win these tickets, just comment below on why you think you deserve to attend this show. Get creative, beg and plead, talk about the band's 90210 performance ("I don't usually like alternative music, but those guys rock!"), or whatever you see fit. The top comment by Thursday at 5pm will be the proud owner of a pair of tickets.

And just in case you fail to win this contest, you can beat the on-sale rush by clicking on this very special pre-sale link this Friday at 10am (the password is MCMENAMINS). The pre-sale will end at 5pm that day, but all online orders will receive "a digital bundle of three songs from the upcoming album, three b-sides, and the live Edgefield show." Yay.

Want to gaze into the eyes of Alaska/California indie rock outfit Port O'Brien? Well, here's your chance to win two spots to their show at the Doug Fir this Friday, June 19. We assure you, they have the kind of sea-swept, dreamy eyes that you can get lost for days inside. Oh, and the tunes are good too.

LISTEN:

Port O'Brien - "I Woke Up Today"

We should also mention that Papercuts headline the show, who are none too shabby themselves, and the bill is opened by excellent Portland troubadour Leonard Mynx. It's a solid triple play, and to win, all you have to do is leave a comment, telling us why you best deserve the pair of tickets. (You must be logged into the site with a valid email address in order to win.) The contest closes Thursday, June 18 at 3 pm, and we'll pick the winner at that time. Get commenting!

There are ticket giveaways and then there are ticket giveaways, and today we are offering up the mightiest of all contests:
Win a pair of tickets to see PJ Harvey and John Parish next Wednesday, June 17th, at the Roseland Theater.

Holy crap! PJ Harvey! John Parish! Wednesday! Okay, maybe the day of the week is not that exciting, but still, this is one helluva giveaway. Totes BFFs, Harvey and Parish just released the splendid A Woman A Man Walked By, which we talk about in this week's issue. Oh, and it gets better, we have four (!) pairs of tickets to part with, so your odds of winning are pretty high.

LISTEN:

PJ Harvey & John Parish - "Black Hearted Love"

To score your way into this show, just comment below on why you think you deserve to be the winner. Your post can be a desperate plea, an outright bribe, or something more creative like a link to a homemade YouTube video that makes your case. The top three comments by Friday at 5pm (that's tomorrow) will be the winners. Good luck.

By now you should be quite familiar with the gorgeous sounds of The Portland Cello Project, so it's no surprise to you that this ensemble has a new record on the way. Out today courtesy of Kill Rock Stars, The Thao And Justin Power Sessions is the finest work of the PCP, as it balances their swelling arrangements with a pair of talented voices: Local gent Justin Power, and Thao Nguyen (Thao & The Get Down, Stay Down). Want to have a listen?

LISTEN:

The Portland Cello Project - "Tallymarks" (Featuring Thao)

You're totally right, that really is a great song.
To celebrate the release of this record, the PCP (plus Justin Power and Thao) will be throwing a "CD Release Extravaganza" at the Aladdin Theater this Friday night, and we want you and a guest to go for free. But that's not all, we'll also toss in a copy of the The Thao And Justin Power Sessions CD as well. That way you can learn all the songs in advance and scream out the words loudly while the band performs. (Please do not do this.)

To get these tickets, and your copy of the CD, just comment below with why you deserve to be the glorious winner. The best comment by tomorrow (Wednesday) at noon will be the winner of the two tickets. Good luck.

Photo: Tarina Westlund

Sebastien Grainger is best known as the singer/drummer for Canadian dance-punk twosome Death From Above—the band that was the recipient of the coolest tribute (via a song title) ever, "Let's Make Love and Listen to Death From Above"—but the man has also launched a mighty respectable solo career as well. He'll be performing, along with the unstoppable force that is Metric, at the Wonder Ballroom tomorrow night.

Wait, isn't that show totally sold out? Yes, it sure is. But we have two pairs of tickets to giveaway, courtesy of the Cornhuskin' Midwesterners at Saddle-Creek. How kind of them.

Comment below on why you think you deserve to attend this show, and the best two posts by tomorrow (Friday) at 11am will walk away with a pair of tickets in their hands. Everyone else will be a complete loser, unloved, and destined to die alone. Don't let that be you, enter now.

LISTEN:

Sebastien Grainger - "American Names"

Once again we are giving away two tickets to see Great Northern. This time around the excellent—and sexy as all get out—Los Angeles pop act will be supporting Canada's The Dears (plus, opening the show is the very underrated Eulogies) on Tuesday, May 26th at the Doug Fir.

Touring in support of Remind Me Where the Light Is, the band has been featured on Grey's Anatomy (this is bad), performed with the likes of Silversun Pickups and Spoon (this is good), and has been known to put on one epic live show (this is true). See for yourself when you comment below and explain why you deserve to win these tickets. The best comment by tomorrow (Friday) at noon will win their way into the show. Good luck.

LISTEN:

Great Northern - "Story"

Tuesday May 26

What is left to say about Mos Def? Dude was in Black Star and a Jack Black movie. He has been nominated for both Source Awards and Tony Awards, and even won something called an Obie. (I don't even know what that is, but it sounds cool.) Plus in addition to his stacked trophy room, Mos Def is about to drop The Ecstatic on June 9th, which seems like it might be his best solo work since Black on Both Sides.

"The Mighty Mos Definite" is rolling through Portland and we are giving away a pair of tickets to see him at the Roseland Theater this Friday, May 22nd.

If you want to rock it on to the tip-top and see half of the best alliance in hip-hop (sorry, Talib), just comment below on why you think you deserve the tickets. The best response by tomorrow (Wednesday) at 5pm is the winner. Good luck.

LISTEN:

Mos Def - “Casa Bey”

Photo: Peggy Sirota

If you have ever been so fortunate to witness a concert from the mighty The Avett Brothers, you'll understand why we're so excited to be giving away a pair of tickets to their Saturday, May 23rd show at the Crystal Ballroom.

Portland and the Avetts have a close relationship, as this city of ours caught on to the North Carolina trio—thanks to a now-legendary Pickathon performance—long before the rest of the country came around. Their upcoming two-night stand in town will feature all the hits from Emotionalism (and beyond), plus some new numbers from the Rick Rubin produced I and Love and You, which will be out August 11th.

To win two tickets into the loving Avett embrace, just comment below on why you think you deserve to go to the show. The finest comment by tomorrow (Tuesday) at noon will be declared the glorious winner. Good luck.

LISTEN:

The Avett Brothers - "Paranoia in B-flat Major"

Photo: Melissa Madison Fuller

Viva Voce prizes. Pug not included.

The fabulous members of Viva Voce were kind enough to gift us with four signed copies of their upcoming album, Rose City. Instead of cherishing them forever and ever, we have decided to give them away to our loyal and attractive End Hits readers.

Hey, that's you!

Next week is a busy week for Viva Voce and Rose City. Most importantly, the record will be released. It's their first as a quartet—they literally doubled in size—and the band's finest work to date. They also filmed a video—never has handholding looked so creepy—for their lead single, "Octavio." To celebrate the record, the premiere of the video, and the birthday of the late André the Giant (seriously, he would have been 63 years old), the band is having a record release "soiree" (that's French, just like Andre) on Tuesday May 19th at Mississippi Studios. It starts at 8, is totally free, and will be your first opportunity to get your paws on this CD.

That is, unless you win this contest. Instead of our usual comment wars, we're making this one easier: Just email me and explain why the CD should be yours. The top four emails (before 6pm today) will be declared winners. Good luck.

LISTEN:

Viva Voce - "Octavio"