Sasquatch Music Festival, An Oyster Bus and 12 Other Things to Do and See in Portland May 23-29

Where we'll be reliving the Malheur occupation and the best music of 2009 this week.

Wednesday, May 23

Hinds

Via Flickr user Paul Hudson

You could mistake Spain's Hinds for any other catchy garage-rock band if the four-piece's untethered angst weren't so touching. When vocalists Ana Perrote and Carlotta Cosials sing lines like "Was I supposed to know you were also banging her?" with equal parts rage and vulnerability, it cuts to your soul. Wonder Ballroom, 128 NE Russell St., 503-284-8686, wonderballroom.com. 7:30 pm. $16-$18. All ages.

NW Animation Fest

The Pacific Northwest is a powerhouse for animation, whether it's glossy and big-budget or indie and experimental. The eighth iteration of the NW Animation Festival will include showcases of local and international works, sci-fi shorts, video games and a category called "Strange & Sexy." Hollywood Theatre, 4122 NE Sandy Blvd. See nwanimationfest.com for schedule. Through May 27. $9-$68.

Thursday, May 24

03 Greedo

LA's 03 Greedo is one of the most distinctive voices in West Coast rap—his recently released The Wolf of Grape Street manages to sound both classic and forward-thinking. But this tour will be his last before Greedo starts his 20-year prison sentence this summer. Roseland Theater, 8 NW 6th Ave., 855-227-8499, roselandpdx.com. 8 pm. $12. All ages.

Closer

For the final show of its season, Oregon Ballet Theatre is ditching its usual downtown venues for BodyVox's much smaller studio. The intimate setting befits the material—the company will perform three dancer-created, world premiere solo pieces. BodyVox Dance Center, 1201 NW 17th Ave., 503-222-5538, obt.org. 7:30 pm. Through June 3. $55.

Friday, May 25

Sasquatch Music Festival

With neither MusicfestNW nor Project Pabst happening this summer, you're going to have to travel to get your music festival fix. Luckily, Sasquatch remains a beast—and if you're nostalgic for 2009, this year's lineup is your jam, with Bon Iver, the National and Modest Mouse headlining. The Gorge Amphitheater, 754 Silica Road NW, George, Wash. See sasquatchfestival.com for tickets and schedule. Through May 27.

Dear Nora

It's been 12 years since Portland indie-pop pioneers Dear Nora released an album, but in that time, their cult following has only grown. Now, they have a new album that picks up where their sparse, melancholy pop left off. Turn Turn Turn, 8 NE Killingsworth St., 503-284-6019, turnturnturnpdx.com. 6 and 8 pm. $10. Early show all ages, late show 21+.

Saturday, May 26

Lithics

(Thomas Teal)

The weirdest band ever to top WW's Best New Band poll, Lithics emits noisy, nervy post-punk sounds like dance music from a stranger, better world. Tonight, the band is celebrating the release of their Kill Rock Stars debut, Mating Surfaces. Spare Room, 4830 NE 42nd Ave., 503-287-5800, spareroomrestaurantandlounge.com. 9 pm. $10. 21+.

Portland Oyster Bus

It's Memorial Day weekend, which means it's time to go…shuck wild! A "luxury bus" will take you to Chelsea Farm, an oyster farm near Olympia, Wash., where you'll enjoy a tour and a picnic-style lunch. And yes, you're allowed to drink on your way there. USA! USA! Departs from EaT: An Oyster Bar, 3808 N Williams Ave., 503-281-1222, facebook.com/eatoysterbar. 9 am. $100. 

Sunday, May 27

David Byrne

Via Flickr user Fred von Lohmann

Somehow, David Byrne has yet to run out of weird shit to do onstage. Backed by an 11-piece band, his current theatrical tour has a set list featuring Talking Heads classics and cinematic tracks from American Utopia, his first solo album in 14 years. Keller Auditorium, 222 SW Clay St., 800-273-1530, portland5.com. 8 pm. $50-$180. All ages.

Revolt. She Said. Revolt Again.

Alice Birch's whirlwind play pushes up against our limited language for discussing gender through a series of destructive, occasionally violent vignettes. It's bound to be both chaotic and gripping. CoHo Theater, 2257 NW Raleigh St., 503-220-2646, cohoproductions.com. 2 pm. Through June 16. $25-$45.

Monday, May 28

Optimism

Jaren George's new standup showcase features local lineups as lengthy as they are solid. Plus, only five shows in, George has already snagged surprise sets from touring comedians like Shane Mauss and Ron Lynch. White Owl Social Club, 1305 SE 8th Ave., 503-236-9672, whiteowlsocialclub.com. 8 pm. $5 suggested donation. 21+.

Lost City, Living Memories

Vanport flood

On the last day of the Vanport Mosaic Festival, you can catch a screening of short documentaries about former Vanport residents, their memories of their community and the flood that destroyed it. Portland Expo Center, 20260 N Marine Drive, vanportmosaic.org. Festival starts May 23. 4 pm. Free.

Tuesday, May 29

2001: A Space Odyssey in 70 mm

It's become an annual tradition for Hollywood Theatre to screen Stanley Kubrick's masterpiece on glorious wide-format film. A few more screenings were recently scheduled after the rest sold out months in advance, so buy your tickets as quick as you can. Hollywood Theatre, 4122 NE Sandy Blvd., 503-493-1128, hollywoodtheatre.org. 7 pm. $12.

Chosen Country: A Rebellion in the West

For two weeks, writer James Pogue lived with the occupiers of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, who were willing to fight the federal government over—well, what exactly? Pogue explores that question and more in his book about the experience. Powell's City of Books, 1005 W Burnside St., 503-228-4651, powells.com. 7:30 pm.

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