I totally understand the instinct to hibernate for the winter— but there’s so much interesting stuff going on this winter in Portland. I whole-heartedly encourage you to get out there and contribute to the winter rowdiness.

FRIDAY:

When folks are really focused on being funny (me at Hecklevision), it’s easy to come off as trying to hard. The only way to avoid that is to have ecstatic, ridiculous fun (me at Hecklevision)— and I gotta say the crew from The Whitest Kids U Know seem to be enjoying what they are doing. I didn’t get into many of their skits, but this dinosaur video is entertaining and this one about Hitler is chuckle-worthy in my happy little world. Hawthorne Theater, 3862 SE Hawthorne * 8 pm * $18 – 20 * all ages

Oh, the memories… Being from Memphis, I have so many reality-shaking memories of Three 6 Mafia‘s amazing rise to national prominence and Grammy gold (teeth). I remember wrapping Christmas hams with a rowdy bunch of black folks to this song… I saw them live twice, once at a former fish restaurant turned honky tonk off I-40 outside Memphis. They got a bunch of white girls up on stage and didn’t just grind on them— those dudes had one skinny white leg over their shoulder humping to the music while the lucky lady did her best to keep balance on the other foot. Three 6 shook up my suburban majority-white reality big time— and isn’t that what good art is supposed to do? Roseland, 8 NW 6th * 8 pm * $25 * all ages 

SATURDAY:

If I wasn’t going to this ridiculous private party / rave Saturday night, I’d probably go rock it at Holocene with synthy dance band The Beat Connection from Seattle (try “In the Water” at the link). Holocene, 1001 SE Morrison * 9 pm * $5 

So war ewe from? The Alabama Shakes make me think of cicadas and fireflies and hot Southern summer nights… Doug Fir, 830 East Burnside * 9 pm * $9 – 10 

If you like to dance, you should definitely be a fan of Jujuba, Portland’s 11-piece afro-beat band. 80 percent of the folks in the Goodfoot will be dancing, and even if you don’t know much about afro-beat and it’s revolutionary roots— it’s a good time. Goodfoot, 2845 SE Stark * 9 pm * $8