Nearly every musician dreams of one day playing for thousands of fans, but for every 100 hopeful stars, there are one or two to whom music is an art, meant to be refined in small doses. Currently, one of the most prominent members of the latter group is Portland's Liz Harris, who records and performs music under the name Grouper. » Read More

Previews of Absolute ZERO, Roger Waters, Monterey Jazz Festival and the Mexican Heritage Festival. The SubZERO Festival in downtown San Jose in June wasn't just an event, it was a statement. It played to all of the city's strengths-innovative and multicultural, with a mix of artistic traditions and new technologies, it was equal parts style and substance » Read More

The Limousines unleash the undead for their new video. Disappointed in George Romero's latest? Rolling your eyes at the trailer for the new Resident Evil sequel? The best zombie movie this summer may be a music video, one from Campbell's own breakout band, the Limousines. » Read More

When former San Jose resident Pat Tillman was killed in action in Afghanistan on April 22, 2004, he became a symbol: first of America's fighting spirit, then of the sinister manipulation of the Pentagon. In the new documentary The Tillman Story, director Amir Bar-Lev (My Kid Could Paint That) interviews Tillman's parents-his mother, Mary, a former teacher who lived in the Almaden Valley, and his father, Pat Sr., a lawyer. » Read More

Just before the stylistic revolution of the French New Wave struck with Breathless, French director Marcel Camus took a jaunt to Brazil to create the magical feature Black Orpheus (1959)-a film that seems entirely sui generis, beholden to no one except perhaps Cocteau's own hot-house revisioning of the Orpheus myth. » Read More

Metro's Movies and TV blog hosts a wide-ranging discussion about new movies, cult films and classics, DVD releases, TV shows past and present, filmmaking in Silicon Valley, local film festivals and all aspects of the art of cinema. Richard von Busack, Michael Gant, Steve Palopoli and others will be posting critics' picks, next-day reviews and commentary. » Read More

Silicon Valley residents can count themselves lucky to be surrounded by leading theater companies. Here's a roundup of the fall's most promising theatrical productions. » Read More

FOUR OF eight works heard during the second weekend of the Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music took a decidedly retrospective look back that-big surprise-seduced audiences long used to confronting the avant-garde's cutting edge. » Read More

AMERICANS crave efficiency. We esteem cars that burn less gas for each mile driven, jobs that generate the most money per hour and mobile phones that pack the most capabilities into the smallest possible package. In short, we want bang for our buck. But we skimp on efficiency when it comes time to eat, because we just can't resist meat. According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, Americans consume 275 pounds of animal flesh every year, more per capita than nearly any other populace on earth. (Floss, anyone?) » Read More

At Wednesday's zombie crawl in downtown San Jose, the Dead Che, the Sleep Apnea zombie and the zombie Captain America would have taken the three-way prize if I were handing it out, if it weren't for my total favorite, Helado-zomb. As in the case of other costume parties, there are always those who use the opportunity to show a little skin: sexy nurse zombie being a costume of choice for a few, as well as roller disco zombie. » Read More

Beginning two years ago, the Soccer Silicon Valley Community Foundation (SSVCF) began staging annual fundraising dinners to help sponsor its numerous projects throughout the valley. The next dinner takes place on Friday, Sept. 17, 6-9pm, at History Park. Just like the two previous nosh-ups, it will be a celebration of numerous philanthropic endeavors. » Read More

I saw you in Marie Callender's last week. You acted like you were the Queen of Sheba as you ran the waitress about for one trifle at a time and then complained about your fettuccine alfredo after you had gobbled down over half of it. After you conned the manager for a discount and a free dessert, you left the restaurant but didn't leave a tip. » Read More