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—The Band's farewell concert that Martin Scorsese turned into an acclaimed rockumentary—turns 35 this week. To mark the anniversary, 50 Portland musicians pay tribute by re-enacting the music and drama of that memorable Thanksgiving night. We asked the brains behind the project, Jeff Rosenberg (who, in the interest of full disclosure, freelances for
), how he matched locals with their roles.
"I told Holcombe the cocaine booger was optional for the Neil Young number. Holcombe has one of the most exquisite voices in Portland. It's such a beautiful, keening ballad that will suit his voice so well."
Michael Dean Damron for Muddy Waters' "Caldonia"
"Mike is an amazingly powerful performer and personality, and I am just so delighted to give the man a song to sing where he's not seething with rage."
Adam East for Neil Diamond's "Dry Your Eyes"
"Adam East is not averse to performing in a sport coat and sunglasses. It's a really interesting Neil Diamond song because it's sort of part sincere folk-rock and part Neil Diamond. Adam has both of those. He's a little bit schmaltz and a little bit rock and roll."
Eric Schweiterman for Ronnie Hawkins' "Who Do You Love"
"He's a big ol' guy with a big voice and a big hat. The dude played football for Purdue, for God's sake."
Jeff Rosenberg for Van Morrison's "Caravan"
"I haven't been known as a performer so much in the last five years, so there are some people who haven't seen me onstage. Boy, are they going to see me this time. Somebody had to put on the polyester jumpsuit and get ready to do the high kicks. I'm hoping the pants will remain intact."
SEE IT: The Next Waltz is at the Alberta Rose Theatre, 3000 NE Alberta St., 719-6055. 8 pm Saturday, Nov. 26. $17 advance, $20 day of show. Minors allowed with parent or guardian. Proceeds go to the Jeremy Wilson Foundation and the Oregon Food Bank.
Headout Picks
WEDNESDAY NOV. 23
The Muppets
[MOVIES] It's time to play the music. It's time to light the lights. It's time to watch Jason Segel restore Jim Henson's legacy...maybe. Our own Statler and Waldorf, Aaron Mesh and AP Kryza, heckle here. Locations include Roseway Theater, 7229 NE Sandy Blvd., 282-2898.
THURSDAY NOV. 24
Prost!'s Free Thanksgiving Dinner
[FOOD] Yup, you read that right: Mississippi Avenue German pub Prost! is serving up Thanksgiving dinner for the low, low price of zero dollars. There will be 100 pounds of roasted and smoked turkey, along with mashed potatoes, stuffing and cranberry sauce on a first-come, first-served basis. Diners are encouraged to BYO sides, and I'd encourage you to BYO person who would enjoy a warm meal and good company. Prost!, 4237 N Mississippi Ave., 954-2674. 6 pm-2:30 am. Free.
FRIDAY NOV. 25
Portland Baroque Orchestra
[MUSIC] Strings are the thing at this concert, which stars Dutch cellist and viola da gamba master Jaap ter Linden playing music by Luigi Boccherini, J.S. Bach and Georg Philipp Telemann. First Baptist Church, 909 SW 11th Ave., 205-0715, pbo.org. 7:30 pm. Friday and Saturday, Nov. 25-26. $18-$61.
SATURDAY NOV. 26
Portland Men's Roller Derby
[SPORTS] Yeah, dudes do roller derby now, too. No one knows why. Go heckle these guys in their match against the Puget Sound Outcasts and maybe they'll stop. Indoor Goals Sports Arena, 16340 NW Bethany Court, Beaverton, stumptownderby.com. 6:30 pm.
The Battleship Potemkin
[MOVIES] It will never be possible to relax and enjoy Sergei Eisenstein's 1925 silent classic—dialectical montage is the original "If you're not outraged, you're not paying attention"—and, yeah, you'll probably spend the majority of the film waiting for the Odessa Steps sequence. But for all its pushiness, Potemkin has the power to rouse (look at good ol' Vakulinchuk, still keepin' it real for all us sinners). NW Film Center's Whitsell Auditorium, 1219 SW Park Ave., 221-1156. 7:30 pm Saturday and 4:30 pm Sunday, Nov. 26-27. $6-$9.
TUESDAY NOV. 29
Pterodactyl
[MUSIC] Many a band has tried and failed in meshing the Beach Boys with '90s-era Sonic Youth. Brooklyn's Pterodactyl succeeds. Mississippi Studios, 3939 N Mississippi Ave., 288-3895. 9 pm. $8 advance, $10 day of show. 21+
WWeek 2015