TU FAWNING, AAN, BILLYGOAT
(Doug Fir, 830 E Burnside) Read our article on Tu Fawning.
SUFJAN STEVENS
(Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, 1037 SW Broadway) The Age of Adz—a spectacular departure from Sufjan Stevens' strummy, effervescent, and bookish Illinois—is a spiral of regret, confusion, and lost love, coated in a swirl of synths and glitchy electronica. Adz is a breakup record. Or, as Stevens told the New York Times, the sound of "my physical body, my feelings, touch, the nerves, anxiety, the chemistry of the brain and the spinal fluid." It appears as if, since the release of Illinois in 2005, Stevens came close to cracking up, both personally and creatively. The resulting Adz (pronounced "odds") is chilly, blunt, raw, and often devastating. It takes time to get used to. But by God, Adz is also brilliant, and establishes Stevens' artistic range as infinitely wider and more intriguing. Here's hoping it brings him the same catharsis as it does me. ANDREW R TONRY
THE PARSON RED HEADS, JAMES APOLLO, HUNTER PAYE
(The Woods, 6637 SE Milwaukie) While the band is so new to Portland that they probably still can't properly pronounce "Willamette," the Parson Red Heads are adjusting just fine. They've kept their ginger heads to the ground, working diligently on their as-of-yet untitled full-length, which was recorded in both Los Angeles with pedal steel player Raymond Richards (he's recorded Local Natives) and North Carolina with former Big Star collaborator Chris Stamey (he's recorded Whiskeytown). Place your future bets for 2011 pop dominance on the Red Heads. Until then, just enjoy this headlining show from the band. EZRA ACE CARAEFF
K'Naan, Cattle Decapitation, and Clorox Girls, as a well a link to the complete show listings, after the jump!