¡Ay, caramba! ¡Eat our shorts!WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30
PARTY JAMS—Is your liver too pink and healthy? Toughen up that wussed-out organ with Mean Jeans' hard-partyin' jams. Take a shot and move those feet, as tonight is made of hooks and bopping. Party bonus: Headliners White Fang will close out the night with an explosive soundtrack of fun. CF
w/Charts; Doug Fir, 830 E Burnside, 9 pm, $10-12
BOOKS—New York Times reporter Jo Becker's book Forcing the Spring will take you deep inside the fight against California's gay-marriage ban. It's a fascinating and timely tale, but did Becker callously leave the real pioneers in the gay-rights struggle out of the picture as some have suggested? Ask her tonight. DVH
Powell's City of Books, 1005 W Burnside, 7:30 pm, FREE
THURSDAY, MAY 1
COMEDY—The Holly Golightly of contemporary stand-up—if Holly Golightly had a really good joke about babies born in toilets—Natasha Leggero delivers razor-sharp social commentary with a brilliantly affected, glammed-out demeanor. AH
Helium Comedy Club, 1510 SE 9th, Thurs 8 pm, Fri-Sat 7:30 & 10 pm,$20-32
MUSIC—Band name aside, Warpaint typically operates in either subtle, striated watercolors or bold ink lines (of sound!), offering a moody and variegated version of dreamy, somnambulant rock. The LA four-piece brings their paintbox to the Wonder tonight, where you'll be lulled and rocked in equal doses. NL
w/James Supercave; Wonder Ballroom, 128 NE Russell, 9 pm, $18-20, all ages
FRIDAY, MAY 2
FILM—As the world prepares for the umpteenth reiteration, Hollywood Theatre reminds everyone why Godzilla mattered in the first place with a 60th anniversary digital restoration of Ishiro Honda's original. It's a frightening example of an entire culture trying to cope with the fact they paid the cost for the world's nuclear ambitions. BR
Hollywood Theatre, 4122 NE Sandy, see Film Times, $8
MUSIC—It's the Mercury's super fun (and FREE) music night Ear Candy—and it's gonna get even super funner with two good-time bands from Seattle! You'll flip over BOAT's balls-out goof pop (which reminds me of the Cure having a very good day), and the Comettes, whose cockles-warming rock reminds me of the Velvet Underground... also having a very good day. WSH
Mississippi Studios, 3939 N Mississippi, 9 pm, FREE
SATURDAY, MAY 3
HORSE RACE—Of all the arbitrary occasions to binge drink, the Kentucky Derby, may be the most random. And yet the julep-soaked hours surrounding the "most exciting two minutes in sports" have more pomp and panache and horses than the rest combined. So revel in it. DVH
Viewing parties: Mission Theater, 1624 NW Glisan, 1-4 pm, FREE; Portland Derby at Leftbank Annex, 101 N Weidler, 10 am-6 pm, $40-60; Portland Meadows, 1001 N Schmeer, 11 am-4 pm, FREE, all ages
CITY FAIR—Why wait for the state fair when we have goats right here? The Portland City Fair & Exposition not only has a "goat appreciation area," but a dunk tank, food carts, performances from bands like Typhoon, giveaways, and Blaze the Trail Cat! Bonus: It benefits the ability-inclusive Harper's Playground. MS
Mississippi Studios, 3939 N Mississippi, 11 am-8 pm, FREE, all ages; live music at 5 & 8:30 pm (w/Typhoon, Big Haunt, the Morals), $20, 21+
SUNDAY, MAY 4
MUSIC—The Pains of Being Pure at Heart are set to release their third album, Days of Abandon, on May 13, so expect to hear a bevy of new fuzzed-out songs from the New York band. Sad-voiced Kip Berman evokes the late '80s heyday of jumped-up jangly guitars, while laying thoughtful waste to any retro comparisons. This is indie-pop at its very finest. CF
w/Fear of Men, Ablebody; Holocene, 1001 SE Morrison, 8:30 pm, $12-14
FESTIVAL—Cinco de Mayo is like St. Patrick's Day for Mexican Americans. In the old country, it's hardly more than a cultural blip. But in the United States? It's become an excuse to drunkenly pay fleeting attention to Latino culture. Don't do it that way. Spend a few hours at this year's 30th annual fiesta respectfully absorbing cultural offerings like mariachi and handcrafts in between carnival games. DCT
Tom McCall Waterfront Park, 1020 SW Naito, Sat-Mon 11 am-11 pm, $8-14, all ages
MONDAY, MAY 5
MUSIC—Celebrate Cinco de Mayo away from the sports bars with this decidedly hot Latin dance party. The soulful, party-down sound of Minden will be in attendance, along with the gorgeous Mexican folk songs of Edna Vazquez (backed by a live mariachi band!), and the fun cumbia band Orquestra Pacifico Tropical, who are so hot, they'll leave blisters on any exposed skin. (Bring salve.) WSH
w/DJ Michael Bruce; Holocene, 1001 SE Morrison, 8:30 pm, $5
FILM—This is the sequel to the reboot of the movie based on the comics about a guy who gets bit by a spider, makes some awesome jammies, and fights crime while doing stand-up. The Amazing Spider-Man 2 adds a couple villains to the mix, reveals the answers to a couple mysteries, and pulls down Paul Giamatti's track pants. Nothing says fun like Paul Giamatti in his boxers, right? BR
Various Theaters, see Film Times
TUESDAY, MAY 6
RELEASE PARTY—Tin House magazine knows that sometimes you have to look backward to look forward. Tonight, they celebrate the release of a "memory" themed issue with a release party and readings from poet Samiya Bashir, novelist Ginger Strand, and memoirist Justin Hocking, plus music and vintage clothing vendors. AH
w/Houndstooth, Lubec; Holocene, 1001 SE Morrison, 8 pm, $5
MUSIC—Red Bull Sound Select has put together another fine night of great music, with Russian Circles topping a full-volume bill that also includes Witch Mountain and Gaytheist. Tonight also marks the release of Gaytheist's Live from the Banana Stand album (you might have seen the billboard). NL
Mississippi Studios, 3939 N Mississippi, 9 pm, $12 ($3 w/RSVP at redbullsoundselect.com)