WATAIN, GOATWHORE, BLACK ANVIL
(10:30 PM)
(Branx, 320 SE 2nd) Rotture's downstairs neighbor Branx has expanded in a huge way. The big room is now a full-time, 600-capacity venue. To kick things off this weekend, tonight's double-header features a late-night performance by the evilest band on earth, Watain, and tomorrow they bring in the one and only Biz Markie. EZRA ACE CARAEFF Also, read our article on Watain.
JUNIP, SHARON VAN ETTEN
(Doug Fir, 830 E Burnside) The Swedish guitarist with the Argentinean name, JosÉ GonzÁlez is best known for his whisper-quiet covers of the Knife and Joy Division. But he's also part of the band Junip, which just released the excellent Fields album, a collection of darkly tinted, propulsive folk-rock with groovy jazz overtones. NED LANNAMANN Also read our article on Sharon Van Etten.
AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY BENEFIT: MONO/POLY, YUK, HERU, DEVONWHO, GRAINTABLE, BROWNBEAR
(Whiskey Bar, 31 NW 1st) Portland's Dropping Gems collective is hosting a benefit for the local chapter of the American Cancer Society. They've invited a couple of likeminded musicians from Los Angeles' thriving beat scene, including the brash and overtly political Mono/Poly, who is as influenced by Noam Chomsky as he is by time spent at LA's eminent Low End Theory night. Also appearing is Yuk, whose tape collages merge calming organic sounds with swells of layered elegance that you can't help but compare to Flying Lotus. Throw in a chance to check out a handful of obscure but inspired local electronic musicians and the fact that 100 percent of the door money goes to a testicular cancer grant research project at Oregon Health and Science University, and you have somewhere to be tonight. AVA HEGEDUS
Pomegranates and Velella Velella, as well as a link to the complete show listings, after the jump!