EDWARD SHARPE AND THE MAGNETIC ZEROS, LULACRUZA(Wonder Ballroom, 128 NE Russell) Having shot to fame a year ago with the release of their debut album Up from Below, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros return to Portland for two nights, with a complex sound that's a little psychedelic '60s, a little boho-rock '70s. CAMILLE PANDIAN
GULFSONGS GULF COAST BENEFIT: CHRIS ROBLEY AND THE FEAR OF HEIGHTS, BUOY LARUE, RACHEL TAYLOR BROWN, LEONARD MYNX(Mississippi Studios, 3939 N Mississippi) Between economic woes, faulty levees, the bloated head of Haley Barbour plastered on TV news, and BP's never-ending stream of oil, the Gulf of Mexico region has become the epicenter of nearly every major catastrophe this country has endured in recent memory. With their goal to "increase awareness of the human and environmental impact of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill," Gulfsongs Oregon understands this. Tonight will be your opportunity to donate to various gulf nonprofits by taking in a night of fine local music, capped by a performance from Chris Robley and the Fear of Heights, a warm-up show before they celebrate the release of Ghosts' Menagerie later this month. Consider this your good deed of the day, but unlike other noble deeds, you can drink during this one. EZRA ACE CARAEFF
THE PROTOMEN(Mt. Tabor Theater, 4811 SE Hawthorne) Not many bands have played both Bonnaroo and the Penny Arcade Expo—indeed, Nashville's Protomen might be the sole recipient of that honor. With hearty doses of chiptune and '80s rock, the Protomen sing epic jams about the tribulations of Nintendo hero Mega Man, his creator Doctor Light, and his foe Doctor Wily—and in adapting our eight-bit hero from the world of classic gaming to that of concept albums, the Protomen also throw in a post-apocalyptic tale of ruinous robotic domination. (How jokey is all of this, you ask? It's probably best to let the choral hymns of "There will be light!" that're arranged alongside Ennio Morricone-ish refrains speak for themselves.) Videogame music can be a tricky thing, often relying more on nostalgia for retro-style bleeps and bloops than genuine talent and inventiveness, but the Protomen manage to have it both ways: This'll be a solid rock show for all, and one that'll be even better for those carrying DSes in their pockets. ERIK HENRIKSEN
As always, you can find our complete live music listings here.