portland
saturday 4
Dead Moon
Portland has long been home to garage punk rock, starting with the recordings of "Louie, Louie" by the Kingsmen. Dead Moon is one of the best of these bands, but missed out on any real commercial success. Timing is everything. Popular in Portland during the pre-grunge days, members of legendary grunge groups Mudhoney and Nirvana claim Dead Moon as an influence and Pearl Jam occasionally covers the band's songs in concert. After a twelve-year hiatus, husband and wife Fred and Toody (now grandparents in their mid-sixties) and drummer Andrew Loomis reunite. Poison Idea and P.R.O.B.L.E.M.S. open. Crystal Ballroom. 8 pm. $20.
tuesday 7
Pickwick
While Dead Moon are old guys radiating young man's defiance and spunk, Pickwick are young guys who radiate old soul. They have exploded after releasing their full-length debut, Can't Talk Medicine, in March of 2013, to excellent reception and featuring a phenomenal guest appearance by Sharon Van Etten. Lost Lander, the catchy pop band with the charm of Vampire Weekend and Fleet Foxes harmonies, open. 9 pm. Doug Fir. $3 with RSVP.
seattle
saturday 4
Surfer Blood
Cranking the reverb on new-wave alternative surf rock, Surfer Blood is a Florida group formed with the goal of being on tour forever. They've played what feels like every music festival across the country in their unique style of Joy Division, meets the Strokes meets the Trashmen. The Wild Ones and Cock & Swan open. 9 pm. Sunset Tavern. $10.
thursday 9
Jerry Springer: The Opera
When infamous talk show host Jerry Springer is shot on the set of his white-trash provoking television show, he is forced to host a special episode, IN HELL. Combining the lowest of low (tap-dancing Ku Klux Klan members) and the highest of highbrow (it's still an opera in three acts!), Jerry Springer: The Opera received 55,000 complaints when it was aired on BBC. The easily offended need not attend. 7:30 pm. The Moore Theatre. $17.50.