The Stranger Suggests
November 19 - November 26
Of Montreal
Music
In support of their brilliantly bizarre new album, Skeletal Lamping, Of Montreal are touring with the most ornate, out-of-this-world indie-rock show this side of the Flaming Lips (and with better songs, too!). At an early tour stop in NYC, the show included: centaurs, satyrs, people in animal masks, simulated nudes, giant roller skates, an evil pope, a sexy nun, some amorphous gold idols, a saloon brawl, a paramilitary raid, a hanging, a resurrection, and a live motherfucking horse. Expect to see more or less everything except the horse. (Showbox Sodo, 1700 First Ave S, 628-0888. 8 pm, $20, all ages.)
See what else is happening Wednesday »
'Septembers'
Film
Because incarceration is one of the most interesting things ever, I am slightly obsessed with Lock-up on MSNBC, a medium-exploitative documentary series about the scary U.S. prison system. The film Septembers is also about prison, but it's about Spanish prison, which means it is toootally caliente! The Spanish prisoners fall in love (coed prison), get married, wear fancy outfits, eat prison wedding cake, sunbathe, sometimes cry, and sing lonely, sad songs to people on the outside. Because, yes: Prison is sad. But next time I commit a crime, I'm doing it in Spain. (Northwest Film Forum, 1515 12th Ave, 829-7863. 9 pm, $9.)
See what else is happening Thursday »
Personal Injury
Reading
Some of the most entertaining and hilarious stories revolve around OPP: other people's pain. Tonight, three writers and a singer-songwriter tell stories about injuries. Local author Ryan Boudinot—who wrote The Littlest Hitler, a book of short fiction about cruel children, terrorist clowns, and child abuse—is joined by essayist Sallie Tisdale and sociologist Richard Rodriguez on the Hugo House stage to share stories about whiplash and heartbreak and other accidental injustices. Laura Veirs will sing original songs on the theme, too. (Hugo House, 1634 11th Ave, 322-7030. 7:30 pm, $15–$25.)
See what else is happening Friday »
Party at the Henry
Art
Because it's fun to drink at the museum and see art at night. Because the new show Adaptation is new. Because the oldish show Richard Misrach: On the Beach is all photographs taken from a single hotel balcony in Hawaii. Because Liz Magor's reverse taxidermy is down in the basement waiting for you. Because there's music by a DJ who bothered to name himself "Freddy, King of Pants." (Henry Art Gallery, 4100 15th Ave NE, 543-2280. 8–11 pm, $10.)
See what else is happening Friday »
'Love Person'
Theater
Love Person is a new play about translating ideas and emotions. As the three characters flirt and fight in sign language, Sanskrit, and English, we quickly realize the real problems with loving across borders of language: The ambiguity of translation leaves plenty of wiggle room to lie, cheat, and generally act like an asshole. As the weather becomes more malevolent, it's a pleasure to duck into a theater and watch a play that's both unabashedly romantic and undeniably intelligent. (Live Girls! Theater, 2220 NW Market St, 800-838-3006. 4 and 8 pm, $5–$15.)
See what else is happening Saturday »
Vivian Girls
Music
Vivian Girls' recently rereleased debut (the 500-copy first pressing sold out almost immediately) is 22 minutes of indie pop and punk bliss, perfectly splitting the difference between '60s girl groups, C86 jangle, and the Ramones. Every concisely catchy song is a joyride of clattering drums; fuzzed-out guitars; and dreamy, droning vocal harmonies speeding headlong around dead man's curves and crashing gently into one sweet, soft chorus after another. It is 22 minutes you will want to listen to on indefinite repeat. With Love Is All and Nodzzz. (Nectar, 412 N 36th St, 632-2020. 8 pm, $10, 21+.)
See what else is happening Sunday »
El Guincho
Music
El Guincho is the alias of Spanish musician Pablo Díaz-Reixa, also of the band Coconot. El Guincho's recordings absorb elements of tropicália, Afrobeat, and psych-pop, and synthesize them into something else entirely—a trippy, swirling, sampledelic sound anchored to 4/4 club thump and syncopated steel drum and hand percussion, like Animal Collective at their most giddy and uplifted. Live, Díaz-Reixa sings, controls loops, and plays keyboards, backed by another musician triggering rhythm and bass. With Copy and DJ Kid Hops. (Nectar, 412 N 36th St, 632-2020. 9 pm, $10, 21+.)
See what else is happening Monday »
'Animal Logic'
Reading
Richard Barnes is not a household name but probably should be. Remember those cold views of the Unabomber's cabin in FBI storage? The clumps and clouds of starlings stalking fascist architecture in Rome? Those were by Barnes. His new show at Howard House is from his ongoing investigation behind the scenes of natural-history museums. It's not an original perspective in photography—for various reasons, natural-history museums are playgrounds for contemporary shooters—but Barnes comes out of it with some strange beauties. (Howard House, 604 Second Ave, 256-6399. 10:30 am–5 pm, free.)
See what else is happening Tuesday »
'Milk'
Film
American gay-rights-hero Harvey Milk has already been the subject of one brilliant film: 1984's Oscar-winning documentary The Times of Harvey Milk. But thanks to the world-class artistry of director Gus Van Sant and star Sean Penn, the Hollywood version of Milk's life story holds its own with the existing classic. Packed with lovely performances and the type of freaky plot twists you cannot make up, Milk will make you laugh, cry, and consider sending Penn a thank-you note. (See movie times, www.thestranger.com, for details.)
