Live Music

Sept. 26

Gallery gig

Disjecta Contemporary Art Center, 8371 N. Interstate Ave., hosts the first installment of its Book of Scores series at 8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 26. Admission is free to the all-ages event. A reception precedes at 6 p.m.

The Book of Scores is an exhibition of five national and international artists and composers invited to create scores or directions for musical and performative interpretation. The first installment includes a performance by Helga Fassonaki, an all-female vocal ensemble that will perform inside and outside the gallery building, as well as a quartet performing a new composition by Danish experimental musician Johannes Lund.

To learn more, call 503-286-9449 or visit www.disjecta.org.

A jumpin' life

Portland's jumpin' R&B band The Sportin' LIfers is cuttin' loose with a debut CD Saturday night at the Secret Society Ballroom, 9 p.m., 116 N.E. Russell St. Also on the bill will be the Jumptown Aces. The Sportin' Lifers add their modern take to a vintage genre of music — classic late-'40s and '50s R&B. With singer Erin Wallace up front, the band includes longtime local musicians guitarist Whit Draper, Steve "Thousand Dollar" Cleveland on keyboards, drummer Fred Ingram and bassist Don Campbell.

The Sportin' Lifers, 9 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 26, Secret Society Ballroom, 116 N.E. Russell St.; www.sportinlifers.com.

Sept. 27

Human geographer

Seattle’s Valley Maker is led by Austin Crane, a vocalist, guitarist, bassist and singer who’s coming to town to promote his debut 12-song album “When I Was A Child.” Influenced by such songwriters as the late Jason Molina and Townes Van Zandt, as well as Neil Young and Will Oldham, aka Bonnie Prince Billy, his voice sounds a wee bit like Justin Townes Earle, and he favors unorthodox guitar tunings.

“It’s actually kind of a problem for the live shows,” he says with a chuckle. He often tunes a half or full step down from standard tunings, he says, which can take a bit of work when he’s on stage with his revolving cast of accompanying musicians. Nonetheless, the results are worth it, Crane says.

“It kind of gives the songs a minor feel,” he says, adding such tuning allows his compositions to have “a haunted feel.”

“When I Was a Child” was recorded in both South Carolina and Washington state, he adds, noting the album deals with such issues as life and love, faith and doubt, death and time.

“Songwriting is a way to approach unanswerable questions, these experiences that don’t have easy conclusions,” Crane says. “It’s a way to dwell on history and ask these big questions with other people.”

Speaking of other people, the album features vocals by his good friend, Athens, Ga., singer Amy Godwin, who will be here for his Portland gig. You can hear Godwin and Crane duet on such tunes as the plaintive ballad “By My Side” and “Only Friend,” a gentle, yet driving tune that tackles such issues as growing up in the South into a faith that ultimately yields more questions than answers.

It’s clear from listening to Valley Maker that Crane is one serious cat, which is why it’s no surprise he’s pursuing a doctorate in human geography, which examines the relationship between people and their environment. He plans to balance his studies with his music, he says.

“I’m always writing new songs, so I’m sure another album will follow.”

Meró, Valley Maker, Pete Quirk of the Cave Singers, 8 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 27, The Waypost, 3120 N. Williams Ave. $5. Info: 503-367-3182, www.thewaypost.com.

Oct. 1

The other Argentinian

America hosts not one, but two noted Argentinians over the next several days, Pope Francis I and Panda Elliott. The Buenos Aires singer-guitarist-producer sounds like the Latin American grandniece of Pat Benatar, writing danceable ‘80s flavored alt-rock that fans of Gwen Stefani and Pink would likely enjoy. She’s on the road promoting “Forastera,” which includes a cover of The Cure’s “Lovesong.”

The Way Outside, Panda Elliot, 1000 Fuegos, 8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 1, White Eagle, 836 N. Russell St. Free. Info: 503-282-6810, www.mcmenamins.com.

Quick hits

• On the road to promote their reggae-flavored single “Two Hands Up,” off their latest album “Back to Rockville,” indie jam rockers O.A.R.’s play the Crystal Ballroom, 1332 W. Burnside St., with Gabrielle Ross, at 8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 26. $28.50 in advance, $32.50 day of show. Info: 503-225-0047, www.crystalballroompdx.com.

• Energetic San Francisco Irish punk band The Shams play our fair city twice this week, putting in a free 3 p.m. all-ages show at Music Millennium, 3158 E. Burnside St., on Saturday, Sept. 26. Later that day, they headline a bill with Paste and Cascadian Grooves at 9 p.m. at The Panic Room, 3100 N.E. Sandy Blvd. $10 in advance, $12 at the door. 21 and over. Info: 503-238-0543, www.panicroomportland.com.

• Toronto’s Grounders just released the single “Bloor St. & Pressure” a catchy little Kraftwerk-meets-Smiths number that gives psychedelic synth-pop a danceable kick in its auditory keister. You can hear them at 9 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 26, at the White Eagle, 836 N. Russell St. $10. Info: 503-282-6810, www.mcmenamins.com.

• It’s country! It’s bluegrass! It’s Celtic and Appalachian! It’s Arizona’s award-winning Run Boy Run, and they’re coming to town to do a 7 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 27, show with Jackalope Saints at Secret Society Ballroom, 116 N.E. Russell St. $10. Info: 503-493-3600, secretsociety.net.

• Tempo-shifting, eclectic adventurous indie rockers The Dodos released their sixth album “Individ” this year, and open for Mew at 8:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 28, at the Wonder Ballroom, 128 N.E. Russell St. All ages. $18 in advance, $20 at the door. Info: 503-284-8686, www.wonderballroom.com.

• Seminal punk roots band the Legendary Shack Shakers, led by harmonica-player J.D. Wilkes, share a bill with alt-country performer Jason Fletcher at 9 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 29, at Dante’s, 350 W. Burnside St. $10. Info: 503-226-6630,www.danteslive.com.