[September 3rd, 2008]

Talk about supporting your candidate. Available in red, navy and royal, undie designer Andrew Christian’s Obama low-cut boxer brief ($30, UnderU4Men, 507 SW Broadway, 274-2555 and other locations) features Barack’s stylized mug next to the basket, and a big “08” taps the backside.

BABY YR A BARACK STAR

No Star, a local purveyor of really cool T-shirts, has turned that whole Jesus + Homeboy = Coolsville thing on its head with the “Obama Is My Homeboy” T-shirt. Only $24 (nostarclothing.com). No Star says on its website: “Barack Obama is like a latter day JFK, but way more accessible.” Riiight.

MILE-HIGH KNEE-HIGHS

Carrie Atkinson, of PDX’s Sock It to Me Socks (sockittomesocks.com), has teamed up with Red Light Clothing Exchange (3590 SE Hawthorne Blvd., 333 SW 10th Ave.) for women’s Barack Obama knee-highs. Only 1,200 pairs of the $15 socks (navy blue with “Obama” emblazoned down the calf in red) have been manufactured, so get a pair now.

AIR OBAMA

Jordan, beware. The Obama Force One sneaker makes its world debut on Thursday at Portland’s own Tyson Space Gallery (625 NW Everett St., No. 114). Designed by Jimm Lasser and Clarence Ford, the sole of the left shoe bears the phrase “A black man runs and a nation is behind him.” Does the right one say: “Watch out, Whitey”?

^HEADOUT PICKS

WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 3

J Mascis won’t be sitting behind the skins, but that shouldn’t deter anyone from witnessing the edgy, heavy blues-metal of Vermont’s Witch, just about the best thing to come from the state since maple syrup. East End, 203 SE Grand Ave., 232-0056. 9 pm. Cover. 21+.

THURSDAY, SEPT. 4

[TBA] [b]BLANK PLACARD HAPPENING

PICA’s Time-Based Art fest kicks off with an invite to all locals to march (in all white, with blank signage) from Jamison Park to the fest’s eastside “Leftbank” HQ to protest against (or lobby for) anything they damn well please. Meet at Jamison Square Park, Northwest 11th Avenue and Johnson Street. 8:30 pm. Free. See TBA preview, page 29.

[MUSICFESTNW] M. WARD, CALVIN JOHNSON, ESKIMO & SONS

For M. Ward’s first hometown appearance since last fall, he asked our favorite indie-pop septet Eskimo & Sons to open, which frontman Dhani Rosa compared to “playing Madison Square Garden.” Crystal Ballroom, 1332 W Burnside St., 225-0047. 8 pm. $20. All ages.

SATURDAY, SEPT. 6

[SPORTS] GREG ODEN LOVE FEST

He’s back. A certain Trail-Blazing center will host “Greg’s Summer Slam: A Celebration of Team ODEN.” The afternoon of kid-friendly activities includes video karaoke, inflatable bounce rooms, Guitar Hero and (we kid you not) Dance Dance Revolution. Rose Garden Arena, 1401 N Wheeler Ave. 11 am-3 pm. Free.

[CLASSICAL] L. SUBRAMANIAM

Aretha may be the queen of Soul, but this venerated master of sinuous classical South Indian (Carnatic) music has been proclaimed—by an Indian governor, no less—“emperor of violinists.” NW Neighborhood Cultural Center, 1819 NW Everett St., 531-7266. 7 pm. $17-$35.

[MUSICFESTNW] KILL ROCK STARS SHOWCASE

Last year former Olympia label Kill Rock Stars relocated to town, and it’s not a surprising choice considering many of its most revered acts call Portland home. Where else can you see the backwoods folk of Horse Feathers, Panther’s dance-punk steez, and Portland’s best rock band the Shaky Hands share a stage? Holocene, 1001 SE Morrison St., 239-7639. 9 pm. $12. 21+.

[DRINK] WIDMER OKTOBERFEST

The bros with the brew are hosing down the streets again for the 4th Annual Widmer Bros. Oktoberfest. German food will be consumed and bevvies will be flowing while bands, like Those Darn Accordions, bring down the house with a rousing rendition of the “Chicken Dance.” 929 N Russell St. Gates open at 3 pm. Free. 21+.