PDX POP NOW!: HOCKEY, JOGGERS, WAMPIRE, GUANTANAMO BAYWATCH & MORE (Rotture, 315 SE 3rd) See yesterday's post.
3 LEG TORSO (Alberta Rose Theatre, 3000 NE Alberta) The music of 3 Leg Torso is designed to be confounding—is it jazz? Is it klezmer? Is it classical? Is it pop? (The answer to each of those questions is a resoundingly chipper Yes!) With instrumentation led by accordion and gypsy violin, and augmented by vibraphone and double bass, it often sounds like the off-kilter soundtrack to a particularly energetic and surreal cartoon. It's also a little difficult to harness onto record—their latest release, Animals and Cannibals, that goes from a woozily yearning lament to a choppy klezmer to a seasick middle ground, often within the same song. Live, however, the music stakes out its own territory, and tonight's CD release show at the handsome, spacious, new Alberta Rose Theatre should provide ample room for 3 Leg Torso's particular brand of morbid whimsy, far beyond the confining limitations of your stereo speakers. NL
PDX PUNK ROCK COLLECTIVE, PURE COUNTRY GOLD, THE HICKMANS, THE FOOD, BAD AT BEST (Centaur Guitar, 2833 NE Sandy) Ain't no party like a Centaur Guitar party cause a Centaur Guitar party don't stop... 'til 7 pm, that is. One of the most bitchin' guitar stores in town is now in their fourth year of throwing free parking lot parties (nearly) every Sunday that showcase local musicians. It's like getting samples at Costco, but so much more hip. Today's show includes the PDX Punk Rock Collective, a group of punk enthusiasts who cover classic punk tunes and encourage anyone who might be so inclined to join their ranks. If you've got a guitar and an idea for a wicked cover, this may be your gig. MARANDA BISH
Also, yesterday I wrongly thought Reporter was playing. They play Sunday. My bad.
As always, you can find our complete live music listings here.