Oct. 10
Away Sego
Promoting their new EP Long Long Way From The Fringe, L.A. indie pop duo Sego opens for El Ten Eleven at this show. Allegedly slacker punks, they actually sound a lot more ambitious than their self-described genre would suggest. Echoing the carefully crafted casualness of Beck and drawing on such outfits as LCD Soundsystem for inspiration, its bright yet groovy music, eclectic without being undefined, the sound of carefree, but far from indifferent lads looking for grass shoots in the concrete cracks.
El Ten Eleven, Sego, 9 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 10, Wonder Ballroom, 128 N.E. Russell St. All ages. $15 in advance, $17 at the door. Info: 503-284-8686,
wonderballroom.com.
Oct. 11
Nuke juke
Radioactivity is Jeff Burke and Mark Ryan from the Marked Men as well as Bad Sports Daniel Fried and Gregory Rutherford. Together this quartet plays rock n roll that is short, bittersweet and evocative of the best of punk, power-pop and glam. Its no exaggeration to state their second record, Silent Kill, already is shaping up to be one of the best rock n roll releases this year. Some bands just understand that good rock is a series of punchlines delivered by a comic on 50 cups of coffee. Radioactivity brews up sugar-laden cup after cup.
Radioactivity, Low Culture, Divers, 9 p.m. Sunday Oct. 11, Panic Room, 3100 N.E. Sandy Blvd. $8. Info: 503-238-0543,
panicroomportland.com.
Oct. 12
Gill and Gang
Andy Gill, guitarist for the post-punk UK band Gang of Four, wrote First World Citizen in 1985, dealing with a woman who escapes North Korea. He recently dusted off the song and recorded it for Gang of Fours latest album What Happens Next.
I have lost everything/Didnt ask for anything/I would take anything, anything at all/To be a first world citizen, the song goes.
Just as refugees had to then, todays fleeing masses have to jump through all kinds of hoops to flee places like war-torn Syria, sometimes only to be greeted with suspicion, even hostility, in places like Gills Great Britain.
Its exactly the same thing, he says. Its people escaping ultra poverty situations and wars to somewhere maybe they can get a better life.
Gill understands what fuels xenophobia in Britain, he says. When two Muslim immigrants brutally murdered a British soldier on the streets of London last year, he was as horrified as anyone. But the longtime leftist has no plans to join any anti-immigration movement.
Its very, very hard for people not to make massive generalizations, he says. But it would be wrong to do that. You cant tar everybody with the same brush in that way.
As for the Gang of Four, the band rolls into Portland next Monday, sharing a bill with The New Regime, led by guitarist-singer Ilan, whos played drums for Nine Inch Nails as well as Angels & Airwaves.
Gill kept GOF going even after original singer Jon King left in 2012, leaving Gill the sole original member. The current lineup includes Thomas McNeice on bass, John Gaoler Sterry on lead vocals, and Jonny Finnegan on drums. The band has been through numerous reincarnations, but Gill says the collective nature of GOF has allowed the band to adapt to changes. The innovative guitarist and producer says hes always more interested in serving the song, not showing off.
The way that my guitar playing works is it fits in with the other stuff, he say. The high hat, the snare drum, the bass drums they all interweave. Its like a Swiss watch. If you take out a spring and a couple of cogs, it doesnt work anymore.
Gang of Four, The New Regime, 9 p.m. Monday, Oct. 12, Doug Fir Lounge, 830 E Burnside St. $25 in advance, $27 day of show. Info: 503-231-9663,
dougfirlounge.com.
Quick hits
San Diegos The Young Wild combine synth-pop, choral rock, soul, Motown and a certain sense of irresistible joy. Just check out their single Not a One for starters. They open for ZZ Ward and Marc Zibilia at 8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 8, at the Roseland Theater, 8 N.W. Sixth Ave. All ages. $25. Info: 971-230-0033, roselandpdx.com.
Brooklyn indie-folk trio The Lone Bellow are heavy on the three-part harmonies and heartfelt emotions and have released two critically acclaimed records, including their most recent, Then Came the Morning. You can see them at 8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 8, at the Aladdin Theater, 3017 S.E. Milwaukie Ave. $20. Parent/guardian must accompany minor. Info: 503-234-9694, aladdin-theater.com.
Buzzy Portland psych-popsters The Hugs bring their tres groovy epic rock to The White Eagle, 836 N. Russell St., for a 9 p.m. show Friday, Oct. 9, along with The Hoons and Daisy Death. We really like The Hugs latest offering Feelings of Life, which would appeal to fans of Oasis, Ash and other Britpop types. $8. Info: 503-282-6810, mcmenamins.com.
Daby Touré is based in Paris, and originally hails from Mauritania with family roots in Senegal. Tourés music combines African folk melodies and desert blues, to jazz, pop, reggae, funk and soul. Promoting his new album, Amonafi, he plays at 8 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 14, at the Alberta Rose Theatre, 3000 N.E. Alberta St. $22 in advance $26 at the door. Parent/guardian must accompany minor. Info: 503-719-6055, albertarose
theatre.com.