Headout Picks 6/25/14

DIRTY WATER: On a hot Sunday at this year's What the Festival, San Francisco-based "weird house" label Dirtybird hosted a "pool party"—though "soaked bacchanal" might be a more appropriate name. Two large wading pools were packed with jerking, face-painted, inflated-orca-riding ravers, all either scantily clad or not clad at all. Label boss Claude VonStroke, decked out in a Ducks hat, snorkel, goggles and floaties, wiggled onstage to his labelmates' bubbly house jams while waiting for his headlining slot. J.Phlip, in particular, proved that dirty Bay Area basslines can make it from NorCal to Berlin and back stateside.

WEDNESDAY JUNE 25

AMBROSE AKINMUSIRE
[MUSIC] The new face of jazz trumpet isn’t afraid to buck tradition: His first album featured breakbeats and opera singers, and his latest, The Imagined Savior Is Far Easier to Paint, owes more to Radiohead and Debussy than it does to classic swing. Jimmy Mak’s, 221 NW 10th Ave., 295-6542. 7:30 pm. $15 general admission, $20 guaranteed seating. 7:30 pm. All ages until 9:30 pm.

THURSDAY JUNE 26

J.A.W.Z. THE MUSICAL IN 3D
[THEATER] Back in January 2013, Portland’s Saloon Ensemble began transforming Jaws into a live-stage musical. From that lone sketch grew an evening-length adaptation, suitable for all ages, that features a neurotic shark with shades of Woody Allen, video-art projection and musical numbers. Alberta Rose Theatre, 3000 NE Alberta St., 719-6055. 9 pm. $15-$20.
DEAN WAREHAM
[MUSIC] The dream-pop genius’s first solo record doesn’t veer far from his seminal outfits Galaxie 500 and Luna: These are elegiac, funny and warm songs, filled with his undeniable guitar playing and atmospheric production courtesy of My Morning Jacket’s Jim James. Bunk Bar, 1028 SE Water Ave., 328-2865. 10 pm. $15 advance, $17 day of show. 21+.

MONDAY JUNE 30

BLACK MILK
[MUSIC] Motor City MC-producer Curtis Cross is a traditionalist at heart, eschewing trap rap in favor of classic boom-bap beats. He’s no mere throwback, though: Glitches in the Break, his latest EP, crackles with dark energy, setting his laid-back flow among a labyrinth of vinyl pops and ghostly soul samples. Alhambra Theater, 4811 SE Hawthorne Blvd., 610-0640. 9 pm. $12 advance, $16 day of show. All ages.

TUESDAY JULY 1

NERD NITE: THINKY & THE BRAIN
[LECTURE] Two big-deal academics talk about the brain. One will discuss animal emotions, and the other will frighten you with accounts of how traumatic brain injury affects the frontal cortex—in turn damaging your ability to think rationally. Meanwhile, you’ll down a few pints and experience some neural impairment of your own. Clinton Street Theater, 2522 SE Clinton St., 238-5588. 7 pm. $8-$10.
POWERPOINT KARAOKE
[COMEDY] Five comedians have been tasked with creating silly PowerPoint presentations. At the event, the slide shows are reassigned. Thought you were going to discuss conspiracy theories? Time to talk astrology. If all goes according to plan, these will be the best worst TED Talks you’ve ever seen. Holocene, 1001 SE Morrison St. 239-7639. 8:30 pm. Free.

WWeek 2015

Willamette Week’s reporting has concrete impacts that change laws, force action from civic leaders, and drive compromised politicians from public office. Support WW's journalism today.