We’ve all (hopefully) had those all-too-rare experiences: When a work of art, a live show, a movie, a book, or whatever else gets you off, simply blows your mind into a million pieces and jolts you out of your mental and aesthetic comfort zone. It can be a nearly spiritual experience, and if you can average one or two of these sensations a year, you’re doing pretty well. The first time I remember this happening was seeing Time Bandits in the first grade; the last time was watching Reggie Watts steal the TBA:07 festival with a jaw-dropping, manic, and uncategorical show at the Someday Lounge last September. As I wrote immediately after seeing the show:

Watts takes the stage spouting nearly indecipherable corporate doublespeak; soon his voice begins to “cut out” like a bad cell phone, drag like a melted cassette, and even loop backwards on itself. Shortly, he’s beatboxing Yma Sumac-worthy ululations into a sampler, flooding the space with cartoony incantations. Watts’ voice is astonishing; it’s sort of Meredith Monk-meets-Mel Blanc, and at parts of this show, it will most certainly blow your mind.

But this only scratches the surface of the performance, which was so fast-moving and densely layered that I’m going back tomorrow night to see it again. Watts incorporates videos about an impending Mayan apocalypse, tofu-based lubricants, and magical wizards: Throw in an amazing hiphop interlude about, among other things, a “fuck-shit stack”; a few unexpected performances that had me leaping out of my chair with enthusiasm; some Prince references; beats thicker than Al Roker’s famous meatloaf sandwich; a little sexy-lady action; and tons of other stuff that my mind hasn’t processed yet, and you start to (kind of) get an idea of what we’re dealing with here.

The point of this blog post and the good news of the day: Reggie Watts is returning to Portland on Dec 6 for Unwrapped: A Benefit for PICA. The catch: Since it’s a benefit, it ain’t cheap: $50-75, depending on your membership status. Of course, the cash goes straight to PICA’s artistic programming, and gets you in to a posh party at Aura that includes Patron cocktails, food, and a silent auction. Not one to forget about their creative siblings in the socioeconomic struggle, they’ll put away all the free food and hooch at 10 pm, and let the plebes in for $10. This second party stretches until 2 am, and features DJ Othertempo. There are no official plans for Reggie Watts to perform at this second show, but maybe if we all chant “Reg-gie! Reg-gie! Reg-gie!” all night (especially if you catch him in the bathroom or getting his mack on in a quiet corner), he’ll give us broke folks a taste of his sweet brilliance.

Unwrapped: A Benefit for PICA, Aura, 1022 W Burnside, Dec 6, 7-10 pm party with food, drink, silent auction, and Reggie Watts performance, $50-75; 10 pm-2 am party with DJ Othertempo, $10