Four day weekend! OK, sorry, not really-- but there's so much music to take in over the next four nights that we're declaring the weekend to begin tonight (and you can tell your boss we said so).
If you want to e
ase your way into the fray, you might try spending some quality time with former Red House Painters and current Sun Kil Moon head Mark Kozelek tonight at the Aladdin Theater. He recently issued Sun Kil Moon's first effort in almost six years with April, a (for Kozelek) typically mesmerizing, if sometimes demanding, collection that goes well with a rainy night in Portland. Former Pedro the Lion frontman David Bazan, he of the forthcoming solo album on Barsuk, opens up. On the slightly less sedate side of things, Tegan & Sara return to the area with a performance at Salem's Elsinore Theater. As you may recall, the duo released their latest just last year, the Chris Walla-produced The Con. Even less sedate? Southern Culture On the Skids play the Doug Fir Lounge (more on that here). We're just warming up....
Self-described Dirty Old One Man Band Scott H. Biram makes his return to Portland tomorrow night on a bill at Dante's that also includes Hillstomp, Michael Dean Damron, and Thee Loyal Bastards. About all you need to know about Biram is that he took to the stage at Austin's Continental Club a few years back one month after the vehicle he was driving was hit head-on by an 18-wheeler. He played the show with two broken legs, a broken arm, a broken foot, less lower intestine than most of us, and an I.V. dangling from his arm. Oh, that's also what his music sounds like, in a good way. Elsewhere tomorrow, Ani DiFranco plays a sold out Crystal Ballroom, The Wood Brothers play the Doug Fir Lounge in support of their recent second full-length, Loaded, along with opener Carsie Blanton, and Scotland Barr & the Slow Drags play the CD release show for their All the Great Aviators Agree at the Mission Theater on a bill that includes fellow Portlanders Tony Smiley and James Low.
Saturday's highlight is a tough call. Maybe it's the homecoming of local heroes Blitzen Trapper, who play Holocene with Au and the much talked about Fleet Foxes. BT continues to ride the rather large wave created by last year's Wild Mountain Nation, while Seattle's Fleet Foxes just released their Sun Giant EP on Sub Pop. Then again, Saturday's big ticket could be Rilo Kiley at the Roseland Theater, 
whether or not you liked last year's Under the Black Light, and the fact that guitarist Blake Sennett is the lastest rock & roll boyfriend of a famous klepto-actress (not that there's anything wrong with that). Or, you might consider one of a couple of release shows featuring Portland's own: The Dimes issue a new EP with a 10pm show at Mississippi Studio
s, while Amelia celebrates the release of their long-awaited return A Long, Lovely List of Repairs at the Aladdin Theater with opener Richie Young of Loch Lomond. Finally, if you don't mind the drive, Death Cab for Cutie begins to fire the machine back up in anticipation of next month's Narrow Stairs with a show at Eugene's McDonald Theater that also features The Cave Singers. In case you missed it, frontman Ben Gibbard recently talked fame (and the lack thereof), Jack Kerouac, and the new Death Cab song, "I Will Possess Your Heart," in an essay for Paste.
Also this weekend, the April version of the McMenamin's Great Northwest Music Tour continues with three performances from New York's Wiyos, including tonight at the Kennedy School in Portland, Friday night at McMenamin's Sandtrap in Gearhart, and Saturday at the Grand Lodge in Forest Grove. The opbmusic-sponsored shows are free, all-ages and begin at 7pm.
Plus, don't miss our in-studio session with Thao & the Get Down Stay Down on Saturday night's edition of In House. opbmusic's David Christensen chats with the band, and we'll hear songs from this year's fine debut, We Brave Bee Stings & All. Hear it Saturday night beginning at 9 on radio, online and HD-- you can also stream the session in its entirety here.
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