The Stranger

(MUSIC) One of the hardest things to do in music is to make quiet rock compelling. Most bands of this ilk come off as meek whiners with feeble chops. However, you can count the Clientele as masters of this style. Their music engenders a sublime intimacy, a hushed splendor; imagine Galaxie 500 tackling the mellower tunes off Love's Forever Changes. Yes, that amazing. The Clientele prove that few things are sweeter than capturing romantic ache in song. (Chop Suey, 1325 E Madison St, 324-8000. 9 pm, $10 adv, 21+.) by Dave Segal

Link  |  Post Comment (0)

(FURIOUS LEFTIES) For more than a year now, the Center for Constitutional Rights has had articles of impeachment written and ready to go, intended for use against President Bush in the event Democrats regain control of the House or Senate this November. But why wait for that still hypothetical moment to get up to speed on the case against the president? This cross-country impeachment road show promises to answer all your revolutionary questions, including: Do we really want a President Cheney? (Elliott Bay Book Company, 101 S Main St, www.articlesofimpeachment.net. 2 pm, free.) by Eli Sanders

Link  |  Post Comment (0)

(SILENT FILM) The last movie in Paramount's summer adventure series is a sequel to The Three Musketeers, with Douglas Fairbanks taking his final bow as the most ravishing swashbuckler of the silent era. Thrill as offscreen cymbals clang with every onscreen clash of swords! Swoon to the dulcet melodies of organist Dennis James! Plus, there's a dorky but often scandalous lecture on film history to kick things off. (Paramount Theatre, 911 Pine St, 292-2787. 7 pm, $9—$12.) by Annie Wagner

Link  |  Post Comment (0)

(MUSIQUE) About 100 years ago, a British jackass named EV Lucas wrote that "Americans are people who prefer the Continent to their own country, but refuse to learn its languages." The French Project calls bull-merde on that by playing songs (from Serge Gainsbourg to Prince) completement en français. Featuring Erin Jorgensen (marimba, accordion), Charles Smith (autoharp), Basil Harris (bass), and Sara Edwards (guitar), it's a little sleazy and a lot romantic, and je m'appelle totally looking forward to it. (Re-bar, 1114 Howell St, 233-9873. 9 pm, $5.) by Brendan Kiley

Link  |  Post Comment (0)

(ART) Artist Jesse Paul Miller has spattered the wall of Wall of Sound with a barrage of spontaneous drawings, rudimentary contemporary cave-painting images burned on driftwood, collages and conglomerations—including a tiny neon pile of sticky price tags—and drippy "action" paintings made on records while they spin. There are those who believe that music is only music until it's recorded, at which point it becomes a recording; Miller's concentrated output is live. (Wall of Sound, 315 E Pine St, 441-9880. 11 am—7 pm Mon—Sat, noon—6 Sun, free.) by Jen Graves

Link  |  Post Comment (0)

(ART TALK) What's happening in Portland? Is what's happening in Portland better than what's happening here? Can our art beat up their art? Tonight, curator Stephanie Snyder talks to a bunch of Portland artists about their work, including Kevin Abell, Dana Dart-McLean, Alex Felton, Jessica Jackson Hutchins, Kristan Kennedy, MK Guth, and Storm Tharp. (Henry Art Gallery, 15th Ave NE and NE 41st St, 543-2280. 7 pm, $5 general, $3 members, free for students.) by Christopher Frizzelle

Link  |  Post Comment (0)

(JAZZ) In our current cultural climate, the word "civilized" is not popular. But the word does have a meaning and use. For example, the rapper Method Man is not civilized, whereas the Canadian jazz pianist Oscar Peterson certainly is civilized. The difference is this: Oscar Peterson's art is the product of long study, years of practice, a lifetime of labor. He is a total master, and the piano obeys all of his musical commands. Method Man does not have the depth, the tradition, the grounding of Peterson. (Dimitriou's Jazz Alley, 2033 Sixth Ave, 441-9729. 7:30 pm, $80.50—$95.50.) by Charles Mudede

Link  |  Post Comment (0)