eugene
saturday 16
Huey Lewis and the News
Best known for their cheeky late '80s MTV hits ("Hip to Be Square," "Heart of Rock and Roll"), Huey Lewis and the News is a surprisingly earnest and quality R&B band. So much more than a novelty act squeezing out money from reconstituting their decades-old hits, the band not only has lasted 35 years, but has matured its catchy yet complicated R&B songs during that time. Storied soul songwriter Leroy Bell opens. 7:30 pm. Aug 16, Cuthbert Amphitheater Eugene. $37.50-$60.
portland
through sept 2
Dinosaurs Unearthed
About as close to Jurassic Park as a mortal can hope to get: robotically reconstituted dinosaurs! These are not your grandpa's crappy robotic reincarnations. The dinosaur skins are hand-stitched! (Of course, it is Portlandia.) A two-story-tall T-Rex swings his tail and gnashes his teeth, and moves his eyeballs searching for his prey (i.e., you!) in Oregon Museum of Science and Industry's (OMSI) latest impressive display, "Dinosaurs Unearthed." 9:30 am. Tues.-Sun. OMSI, $6.50 children, $8.50 adults.
thursday 21
International Pop Overthrow Festival
While pop music is often conflated with music that is popular, the two don't always go hand-in-hand. The IPO fest aims to give a stage to every worthy performer of pop music, connecting them with fans who appreciate the genre. The festival tour, which travels to 11 cities in three countries, features a mix of musicians likely to appeal to fans of acts as diverse as Blondie, the Beatles, Devo, Paul Simon, Janis Joplin and Babyface. 7:30 pm. Dante's. $10. (Runs Aug. 20-23, various times and locations.)
friday 15
Musicfest NW Parties
With a weekend full of quality acts in Waterfront Park (Girl Talk, Phantogram, Spoon, Haim and so many more) Musicfest NW takes full advantage of all of its 15 minutes with opening parties featuring smaller scale, but still highly entertaining musicians. Killer Mike and Ural Thomas & the Pain bring the old-school funk to Martens Airway during a 5 pm after-work free set and raspy country troubadour Bobby Bare Jr. joins Matt Brown for a later set at the Bunk Bar, 9 pm. $12.
