FRIGHTENED RABBIT, PLANTS AND ANIMALS, BAD VEINS(Wonder Ballroom, 128 NE Russell) While the angst-ridden Scots in Frightened Rabbit are justly respected for their albums—2008's lacerating Midnight Organ Fight, 2010's marginally more cheerful The Winter of Mixed Drinks—it's their live shows that seal the deal. Frontman Scott Hutchison sings every song like it's the first time, and the sheer force of his emotional will invariably moves the audience right along with him, from giddy exuberance to—when he busts out that acoustic cover of "Poke"—tears. (Want to see an emo dude cry? Ha! Trick question.) Yes, the name is dumb. Get over it—Frightened Rabbit is quite simply one of the best bands around. ALISON HALLETT
ROSS AND THE HELLPETS, THE CONTESTANTS(The Waterheater, 750 N Fremont) Ten years ago Ross and the Hellpets played their first show at the LaurelThirst, opening for some band that time forgot (called the Decemberisms or something). A decade later the delightful Ross Beach & Co. are still churning out addictive little pop songs and celebrating a run that few bands can match. If you are unsure what to get the band for this anniversary—tradition dictates tin or aluminum—and don't want to give them a can of beer and a tinfoil hat, just make your presence known at this free, all-ages show at new North Portland showspace the Waterheater. EZRA ACE CARAEFF
FROG EYES, DEER OR THE DOE, HERE COME DOTS(The Woods, 6637 SE Milwaukie) God bless Carey Mercer, and god bless the weird, operatic, majestically frenzied music he makes with Frog Eyes. Hailing from nearby Victoria on British Columbia's Vancouver Island (not to be confused with the city of Vancouver, which is farther north on Canada's mainland), Frog Eyes makes elemental sounds that tug fiercely at your heart, even if you have no idea what the fuck Mercer is singing about. Paul's Tomb: A Triumph carries forward their flawless string of albums, and it's a ferociously gorgeous record, finding and exploiting the flaws that make their songs sound so delightfully off-kilter. The initial reaction to hearing Frog Eyes is, "Whoa, this sounds weird." Each subsequent reaction is how weird everything else sounds in comparison. NED LANNAMANN
Climber, Mark Sultan, and the Led Zeppelin Cover Night at the Doug Fir, as well as a list to the complete show listings, after the jump!