THURSDAY FEB 20

Chrome Waves: A Night of Ride Covers
(MUSIC) Never have I heard of anything quite so ridiculous. A full-blown Ride reunion and tour was hinted at for months, while sneaky publicists disappeared if you tried to pin down when and where. Well, I got your when and where: Ride singer and guitarist Mark Gardener is playing a solo acoustic set, opening for Pinback. Now I ask you, what the fuck is he thinking playing acoustic shoegazer, for god’s sake? You can NOT throw a proper fit of angst to an acoustic version of “Leave Them All Behind.” Thank god for the Crocodile, which is hosting a night of bands covering all the great Ride songs. Watching Black Nite Crash, the Upside Down, Hypatia Lake, Saturna, Fey Ray, and others is as close as we’re going to get to the real thing, because the “real” thing opening for Pinback is a disgrace to all that is shoegazer. (Crocodile, 2200 Second Ave, 441-5611, 9 pm, $7.) KATHLEEN WILSON

FRIDAY FEB 21

The Deadly Snakes
(MUSIC) On their brand new album, Ode to Joy, the Deadly Snakes prove that the third time really is the charm. What started out as a basement band produced by the Oblivians’ Greg Cartwright (who eventually joined, and then left, the band) has become an act that wears a full spectrum of vintage musical styles on its record sleeves. The members incorporate organs, trumpets, and saxophones in romper-stomper rock ‘n’ soul songs that are as influenced by Stax as they are by the Band. This excellent release sounds like Dylan as interpreted by the Dirtbombs; André St. Clair’s whiny vocals slide around well-constructed pop/gospel/rock combo songs. Without Cartwright’s help, the Snakes are down a guitar, but honestly, what they’ve lost in extra rock they’ve made up for in lots of roll. (Crocodile, 2200 Second Ave, 441-5611, 9 pm, $7.) JENNIFER MAERZ

SATURDAY FEB 22

Sound Off!
(COMPETITION) The EMP’s Sound Off! competition comes to an end tonight, with the final round of the monthlong battle of the underage bands. The Spit-Licks, the HollowPoints, and Schoolyard Heroes have all made it to tonight’s final show, where they’ll compete for the grand prize package (which features a gig at Bumbershoot, free studio time, and a bunch of free gear). Show up and cheer ’em on. (Experience Music Project, 325 Fifth Ave N, 770-2742, 8 pm, $7 w/student ID, $10 without.) MEGAN SELING

SUNDAY FEB 23

‘ABC Africa’
(FILM) A success at film festivals from Cannes to Seattle, this documentary from Iranian master Abbas Kiarostami sidesteps his typical concerns about the reflexive natures of cinema and self, turning instead to Uganda, where millions of children have been orphaned by war and AIDS. Not exactly the cheeriest subject matter, but then again, international epidemics seldom are. In the hands of Kiarostami, one of the last true transcendentalists, the tragic story swoons with compassion. (Fri Feb 21-Sun Feb 23, Tues Feb 25-Thurs Feb 27 at the Grand Illusion, 1403 NE 50th St, 523-3935, $7/$4.50 members.) SEAN NELSON

MONDAY FEB 24

I ♥ Shiva
(MUSIC) Ever since Broken Beats’ death seven or so months ago, Monday nights have been somewhat empty. There hasn’t been a special place to go, a scene filled with beautiful people violating the rules of rest and recuperation on the first workday of the week. Though it’s been running for a year at the Baltic Room, I ™ Shiva is certainly the scene to replace our dearly departed Broken Beats. The music the DJs mix and scratch is a fusion of transnational, Indian electronica/hiphop, lush Bollywood scores, and Hindi dub. An excellent sample of this relatively new Indian music is collected on the CD I ™ Shiva Volume 1, which can be found at Wall of Sound or Travelers, or at the Baltic Room on Monday nights. (Baltic Room, 1207 Pine St, 625-4444, 9 pm, $5.) CHARLES MUDEDE

TUESDAY FEB 25

Susie Bright
(READING) Intelligent sluts listen up: multimedia (oh please don’t make me call her a “sexpert”) sexpert Susie Bright was probably somehow responsible for every dog-eared item of “legitimate” erotica (i.e., gang-bang photos not included) you’ve got hidden under the Kleenex under your bed. Playing detective for the 10th-anniversary edition of The Best American Erotica (she edited the entire series), Susie tracked down and interviewed every slut who’s ever contributed to it. How come all the call girls and boys who contributed have attended Ivy League universities? How come the most “outrageous” writers were winners of childhood beauty contests? Catch her live reading tonight and find out! At Toys in Babeland. Where else? (Toys in Babeland, 707 E Pike St, 328-2914, 7:30 pm, free.) ADRIAN RYAN

WEDNESDAY FEB 26

Inkblot
(PERFORMANCE ART) Last December, The Stranger published the much-beloved Strangercrombie & Felch Holiday Gift Catalog, through which a cornucopia of one-of-a-kind gift items were auctioned off to the highest bidders. One of these items was a guaranteed rave review from The Stranger‘s infinitely finicky theater critic Adrian Ryan, purchased by local performance artist/Internet guru Inkblot for $112.50. However, before Inkblot can get a rave review, he’s got to put on a show, and tonight Inkblot’s taking it to the stage at Consolidated Works, with a one-man show that promises to “plumb the depths of society’s ills, mankind’s deepest fears, and the raw intensity of the human experience.” Plus, it’s free, and they’ll be selling booze. Come be a part of the best-reviewed show in Stranger history! (Consolidated Works, 500 Boren Ave S, 8 pm, free.) DAVID SCHMADER