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Volume 1, Number 42 - February 21, 2007 - San Jose, CA



The Dan Band, E-40, DJ Spider, High on Fire, FTB & TV Winners

PICK  WED  THU  FRI  SAT  SUN  MON  TUE  UPCOMING

editorialpick
cold war kids
Fri. Feb. 23, 9pm
Great American Music Hall
859 O'Farrell St., San Francisco
415.885.0750
$15

Cold War Kids

INDIE ROCK STEW: Easily one of the better bands to make a name for themselves in the last year, So-Cal indie rockers the Cold War Kids artfully blend a mash-up of blues, soul and garage rock that's at once familiar enough to be timeless and experimental enough to be wholly original. Their stripped down style at first glance might seem simplistic, but after extended listening to the funky down home goulash beats driving the minimalist guitars and high-tone vox, you realize that the musical stew is borne from a deep pot and tastes better than just about anything else you'll find on the commercial airwave buffet. It's rumored that this show at GAMH, with Delta Spirit, is sold out, so if you can't catch the infectious sounds of the Cold War Kids tonight, they're hitting the Attic in Santa Cruz Saturday night at 6pm.

 
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the dan band
Wed. Feb. 21, 8pm
Great American Music Hall
859 O'Farrell St., San Francisco
415.885.0750
$26

The Dan Band

SWEARING BY KARAOKE: You may remember the Dan Band from a little movie entitled Old School where the tuxedoed karaoke junkies from LA cussed their way through traditional chick songs on Frank the Tank's glorious wedding day. Since that turn on the big screen (and numerous ones on the small), the Dan Band has been dubbed the "hottest ticket in Hollywood" and, really, who could argue with that sentiment when these guys are selling out major venues while basically ripping out renditions of other people works...and they do it really f*cking well. Unfortunately, however, for all of you that would like the Dan Band at your nuptials, the wedding circuit was a one-time gig, so you might as well catch 'em in the City.

the struggle
Wed. Feb. 21, 8pm
VooDoo Lounge
14 S. Second St., San Jose
408.286.8636
$5

The Struggle

LOCAL METAL LORDS: Straight metal mayhem invades VooDoo tonight with locally grown screaming metal outfit, the Struggle, ripping up the stage. Members of the Struggle have been kicking around the San Jose live music scene for years--drummer Mando was a founding member of San Jo's Insolence--and have now coalesced into one tight and sick metal outfit that will definitely get your blood running. The Struggle plugs in tonight with another heavy local outfit, Stagnant pulling opening duties.

down and durdy
Wed. Feb. 21, 9pm
The Blank Club
44 S. Almaden Ave., San Jose
408.292.5265
No Cover

Down & Durdy w/ FTB & Relapse

FUNKIN' RIGHT: A more appropriate band name has yet to be exploited by any amp junkie before and probably after, Down & Durdy kicks out a chunky, grinding funk-rock sound that forces even the stodgiest of listeners to, well, get down. Hailing from San Jose and ripping it up three strong, Down & Durdy sonically rips you out of your everyday doldrums with their infectious sound. Tonight you can catch them hitting the Blank with fellow local funksters FTB and Relapse all for the unbelievable price of...nothing. Seriously, Down and Durdy, FTB and Relapse without a cover, if the week ended tonight, we'd be perfectly content.

San Jose Sharks
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featuredpick
the chop tops
Thu. Feb. 22, 9pm
VooDoo Lounge
14 S. Second St., San Jose
408.286.8636
$12

The Chop Tops, w/ 3 Bad Jacks & others

GREASER SESSIONS: It's a psychobilly showcase at the VooDoo Lounge tonight with four outfits of gassed up guitar slingers and greased back bass slappers for what's sure to be a show full of love, liquor and lost souls in what's being deemed as Return of the Rebels...and, shit, hold on cats and kittens 'cause this is only night one. Setting the fuse for the ever-burning rock 'n roll fires and getting things started tonight, from Oakland, is the three piece pure killer sounds of Switchblade Riot. Up next are two So-Cal outfits full of blazing fury, No Dice from Riverside and Three Bad Jacks makin' there way up I-5 from Hell-A. Headlining tonight--in fact all three nights of greaser heaven--is a band the really needs no introduction, the Chop Tops laying down their brand of blazing sinner rock and f*ckin' roll. Nights two and three of this traveling psychobilly hootenanny hits the Blue Lagoon in Santa Cruz on Friday and the Blue Lamp in Sacto on Saturday.

 
jaguares
Thu. Feb. 22, 8:30pm
The Catalyst
1011 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz
831.423.1336
$47 - $51
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Jaguares

ROCK EN ESPANOL: Highly esteemed Mexican rockers Jaguares tear up the Catalyst tonight. These guys from Mexico City are one of the best crossover bands enjoying remarkable commercial success in both Mexico and the U.S., selling out stadiums across the land. Jaguares, along with fellow Mexican rockers Mana, kick started the Mexican rock revolution and paved the way for other Latin superstars to make the leap to into the target rich American market. A portion of the proceeds from this show go to Amnesty International.

rockstar supernova
Thu. Feb. 22, 7:30pm
Oracle Arena
7000 Coliseum Way, Oakland
408.998.TIXS
$40 - $69
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Rockstar: Supernova

ROCKSTAR WARS: CBS' musical rebuttal to American Idol, Rockstar Supernova threw together former '80s grit and trash rockers Tommy Lee, Jason Newsted and Gilby Clark as a "supergroup" and added a newbie fresh-faced little rockstar wannabe, Lukas Rossi for a frontman--who was finally selected after a rigorous bout with what was no doubt millions of others--to be crowned the rock king of reality television. At least Rockstar Supernova slapped together legit rockers instead of scouring the nation for pop stars and subjecting the musical world to the scourge of another William Hung. And, heck, who knows, maybe something decent will come out of it...we mean, look how well it worked out for INXS.

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featuredpick
high on fire
Fri. Feb. 23, 9pm
The Blank Club
44 S. Almaden Ave., San Jose
408.292.5265
$12

High on Fire

BAY THRASH HEAP: In musical times when crossover quality is sometimes more highly regarded than sticking to your guns, Oakland's High on Fire have never wavered from the well-beaten metal path that bands like Motorhead, Slayer and Sabbath have laid before them. And like those prior metal gods that have come before, High on Fire rips out a steady dose of screaming guitars and pounding rhythms with menacing guttural vocals that could either send a chill down your spine or induce plenty of violence. High on Fire headlines the Blank tonight with opening work from local screaming metal outfit El Buzzard.

 
drunken public
Fri. Feb. 23, 9pm
Johnny V's
31 E. Santa Clara St., San Jose
408.947.8470
$5

Drunken Public

SOBRIETY'S OVERRATED: Although you'd think they'd be a much more loud and raucous outfit, San Francisco's Drunken Public and their alt brand of rock is a tad mellower than the name would imply, which really doesn't intuit anything about the band's possible affinity for communal inebriation. Booze habits aside, Drunken Public kick out three-chord alternative anthems with plenty of melody to get lodged in your head and set up for an extended stay. Seriously though, this three piece is good and like all good alt rockers, Drunken Public has range from harder punk infused riffs to the indie jams and their sound may be habit forming.

dj spider
Fri. Feb. 23, 9pm
Fahrenheit Ultra Lounge
99 E. San Fernando St.,
San Jose
408.998.9998
$15

DJ Spider @ Blend

WEB OF BEATS: Straight outta the club scene in LA, DJ Spider runs the mash-up game on the decks so it's apropos that he's hitting Fahrenheit's Blend party tonight. Although most mash-up DJs take various genres and blend them through the turntables, DJ Spider almost exclusively sticks to hip-hop and, in the process, hits with some major jams to keep the club masses rocking. And, just like any Los Angeles DJ worth his decks, Spider has mixed tunes for TV and film, and, of course, in the process has become one of the most sought after DJs on the scene.

luxury sweets
Fri. Feb. 23, 8pm
C&J's Sports Bar
1550 Lafayette St., Santa Clara
408.423.9013
$6

The Luxury Sweets

IT'S NEW, IT'S CALLED RETRO: The Luxury Sweets cut a retro-rock swath straight through the eyelinered bubblegum pop scene kicking out punk tinged rock that would've been right at home rubbing elbows with the rock n' roll harbingers of the '50s mashed together with the original British Invasion. The Luxury Sweets play it loud, fast and melodic with the witty lyrical style and unmatched musical chops that are rarely heard outta 5 regular Joes plugging in at your local watering hole. Catch the Luxury Sweets tonight at C & J's Sports Bar with The Basics and Mystery Lights opening.

taste ultra lounge
Fri. Feb. 23, 9:30pm
Taste Ultra Lounge
87 N. San Pedro St., San Jose
408.885.1016
Usual Cover

Red Light District @ Taste

SAMEDI GRAS: Evidently Mardi Gras has flexible dates because there's a plethora of nightclub parties honoring the before Lent blowout all weekend long. Taste Ultra Lounge is, of course, in the mix transforming the usual Friday night Red Light District party with a Mardi Gras edition twist featuring DJs Kris P and Remedy on the decks. Also on tap at Taste tonight will be a ton of drink specials in the Fat Tuesday tradition and you know it wouldn't be a Mardi Gras party without the addition of beads...lots and lots of beads.

big head todd and the monsters
Fri. Feb. 23, 9pm
The Fillmore
1805 Geary, San Francisco
408.998.TIXS
$25
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Big Head Todd & The Monsters

COLLEGIATE JAMS: Through nearly 20 years of constant touring to every college town and beyond, Colorado based Big Head Todd & the Monsters have built up a solid alt-rock following with their blues based, rocking jam band style live performances. Mainstays at some of the largest outdoor music fests around the world, Big Head Todd & the Monsters can hit both a laid-back style and rock hard with amps cranked full throttle. Big Head Todd & the Monsters hit the Fillmore--recording site of one of their best albums--with venerable local rocker Tommy Castro opening tonight and Reckless Kelley getting the nod for the Saturday show.

blue monkey lounge
Fri. Feb. 23, 9pm
Blue Monkey Lounge
1 E. San Fernando St., San Jose
408.275.6600
$10

Tru Soul @ Blue Monkey

FLOWING SOUL: The last Friday night of each month at the Blue Monkey Lounge belongs to the deep groove turntable stylings of the Tru Soul Collective rocking solidly chill beats on the decks. Tonight DJs CJ-One and Kevin Koga are in residence laying down the soulful house mixes and, as an added bonus for all you bass heads out there, the Collective will be giving away compilation CDs of past spins at Blue Monkey. Oh yeah, 2 for 1 kamis and cosmos will be flowing from the bar like the beats will flow from the speakers.

San Jose Sharks
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featuredpick
vivid nightclub and ultra lounge
Sat. Feb. 24, 9pm
Vivid
8 S. First St., San Jose
408.279.4444
Usual Cover

Metroactive @ Vivid Grand Opening

TWO FOR THE SHOW: The grand opening of Vivid (formerly Studio 8) hits on Friday with guest DJ Beej and Playboy model Lauren Anderson as the celeb MC and the swank festivities continue through the weekend with more DJs manning the decks on Saturday as the host duties fall to 15 minutes of TV fame Cecille Gahr from Beauty and the Geek. Also crowning instant status on Vivid, your pals over here at Metroactive will be on hand giving out freebies and sage clubbing wisdom with our pro photogs snapping pics for the infamous Club Gallery, so get out, get seen and rock the newly renovated posh VIP digs of Vivid with your favorite online info peddlers.

 
the shitkickers
Sat. Feb. 24, 9pm
The Blank Club
44 S. Almaden Ave., San Jose
408.292.5265
$10

The Shitkickers

URBAN COW-PUNKS: The Shitkickers are back and you all know that means loads of booze and rampant uncivilized behavior--but, heck, that's why we love 'em. These urban hillbillies always throw down a rocking hootenanny spitting out banjo licks and singing about drunken infidelity while shotgunning a can of Hamms and, while Shitkicker shows are always a full-tilt, loud and raucous, this turn at the Blank--with Old Bull and Axton Kincaid--should be one for the dive bar record books and just throw another heapin' pile 'o praise to their ever-growing urban cow-punk legend.

good hustle
Sat. Feb. 24, 9pm
Britannia Arms: Cupertino
1087 S. De Anza Blvd., San Jose
408.252.1711
$5

The Good Hustle

SET TO KICK: Chill Afro-beat jazz and funk infused jams usually take way more than three local musicians to find a groove, but the Good Hustle has somehow managed to do musically what sometimes filling the stage 10-strong can't accomplish. The Good Hustle flows with soul laden jams deeply rooted in jazz with a reggae blended dub beat style that's just as comfortable inducing listeners to get up and dance as it is providing a steady drop to more kicked back scenarios. The Good Hustle headlines the Cupertino Brit tonight with Radio Rebelde and Sub Pirate.

equilibrium at agenda
Sat. Feb. 24, 9:30pm
The Cellar @ Agenda
399 S. First St., San Jose
408.287.3991
$10 after 10pm

Equilibrium 2

SUBTERRANEAN SPINS: The Cellar, in the basement of the Agenda Lounge, used to be the Downtown answer to those underground clubs up in SF where screaming DJ talent would rock the decks until the wee hours of the morning. Well, for tonight only, that magic gets relived at Equilibrium bringing the San Jo house, trance, electro and techno underground back into the club light. Equilibrium features one seriously cool venue, two state of the art turntables and five top DJs--Eddie Apostol, Cain, Lexer, Dima and DJ Reminisce--commanding the decks for a throwback night of dancing, beats and drinks; the likes of which Downtown hasn't seen in years.

whiskey sunday
Sat. Feb. 24, 2pm
Thee Parkside
1600 17th St., San Francisco
415.503.0393
$8

Whiskey Sunday, w/ Pidgeon, the Mumlers & others

BENEFIT ROCK: Day two of the Scatterbrain Jamboree raising funds for the San Francisco AIDS Foundation at Thee Parkside is showcasing some serious Bay Area talent with anarchy laden '80s punk of Whiskey Sunday and the garage mash indie rock and punk of Pidgeon. Also on tap at the two-day, all-ages music fest (Friday night sees the likes of Love Songs, the New Centuries, Glass Museum, the F*cking Ocean and the Lovely Public ripping it up) are the Mumlers, Schnade and about 8 other outfits of noise junkies blowing amps and takin' names.

vault ultra lounge
Sat. Feb. 24, 9pm
Vault Ultra Lounge
81 W. Santa Clara St., San Jose
408.298.1112
Usual Cover

Opera House @ Vault

AND NO PHANTOMS: All right, so we seriously don't know where Downtown's best in the ultra lounge biz Vault Ultra Lounge is going with this one, but we'll hang on to those swanky coattails for a Saturday night ride just the same. The premiere of the Opera House party features the direct from LA turntable work of DJ Lynnwood backed up on the decks by Richard G and the all around hip scene that the Vault has become known for. Oh yeah, there's a dress code in effect, but probably not of the coifed wigs, capes, canes, corset and binocular variety that you usually associate opera houses with.

lamb of god
Sat. Feb. 24, 7pm
The Catalyst
1011 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz
831.423.1336
$29
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Lamb of God

SACRIFICIAL CHORDS: Pure American metal screams into the Catalyst tonight with Lamb of God set to kick some serious ass, so drop your Big Gulp and Playstation controller and head over the hill to get sonically assaulted by the legit scions of thrash metal. Whether you're into speed metal licks or not, Lamb of God rips out some simply awesome stuff that shreds the line between orchestral or prog metal and the rawer, hard-hitting sounds of thrash and, no matter where you catch this quintet from Virginia, they always cut straight to the bone. Metalcore thrashers from Walt Disney World--uh, we mean Orlando, Florida--Trivium open.

my former self
Sat. Feb. 24, 8:30pm
Bottom of the Hill
1233 17th St., San Francisco
415.621.4455
$10

My Former Self

TOURING PAYS OFF: One of the hardest working bands in the local scene, My Former Self sets up at Bottom of the Hill tonight for an all-ages performance with Ours, Once Over and Michetons. After breaking out of the San Jo music scene in 2005--and subsequently heading out on the road for a relentless tour that included select dates on the Warped Tour and pulling opening duties for Yellowcard and Fall Out Boy--My Former Self is gaining the attention this local outfit definitely deserves. Their debut album, All We Can Ask for Is the Truth, is full of witty pop-punk anthems replete with an infectious energy and lyrical hooks that have made My Former Self a must-see on the tour circuit.

scooter and lavelle at crash
Sat. Feb. 24, 10pm
Crash Nightclub
34 Mason St., San Francisco
877.342.7274
Usual Cover

Hard Eight @ Crash feat. Scooter & Lavelle

2x4 BEATDOWN: Masters of the four turntable sonic attack, DJs Scooter and Lavelle hit the Hard Eight party at Crash Nightclub tonight for a session of purely original house beats interlaced with scratches and loops that have made this dynamic duo the hot set for the dance floor crowds. Resident spinners at some of the biggest clubs, Lavelle throws down progressive house beats while Scooter mixes in scratches, loops and riffs to meld four different sounds into one danceable cut that never fails to get the clubbers moving. Also on the bill tonight are Drummer KC, DJ Trevor Simpson, DJ Mick and DJ Meikee Magnetic along with the red-hot Surreal Devil Girls...yowza.

meathammer at johnny v's
Sat. Feb. 24, 9pm
Johnny V's
31 E. Santa Clara St., San Jose
408.947.8470
$5

Meathammer

SONIC TENDERIZER: If you're planning on hitting Johnny V's tonight, there's a little something you should do before presenting yourself openly for the rampant, unmitigated musical carnage that's sure to ensue; invest in some soul saving measure. Why, you ask? We'll tell ya why, because ripping up the stage tonight is the hardcore punk-metal of Meathammer along with the Law Abiding Citizens and Perfect Machines. Hardcore licks for a hard drinking crowd and, hey, we couldn't think of a better way to spend a Saturday night than drinking with friends and listening to the loud-ass musical fury of some of San Jo's, uh, finest.

metroactive
e 40
Sun. Feb. 25, 7pm
The Catalyst
1011 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz
831.423.1336
$35
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E-40

GHOSTRIDE THE COAST: The Ambassador of the Bay and the keystone to the hyphy movement, E-40 rolls his signature rapid-fire lyrical style over the hill tonight for a gig at the Catalyst. Almost single handedly responsible, along with the legendary Hieroglyphics Crew, for putting the Bay Area on the hip-hop map, E-40 is probably one of the most recognized rappers in the scene having thrown down comps with nearly every West Coast rapper in the biz and a slew of top notch DJs while still maintaining his underground and on the street rep in true Bay style. Hell, not only has he reclaimed the Bay Area as an epicenter of hip-hop but, without E-40, the Urban Dictionary would have only like one page.

cartel
Sun. Feb. 25, 7pm
Slim's
333 11th St., San Francisco
415.255.0333
$17
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Cartel w/ Cobra Starship

ON THE TEEN BEAT: The new waves of power pop have taken over and Atlanta based Cartel is directing the teenage musical flow. That's not to say that Cartel doesn't have some catchy hooks in their guitar driven pop lexicon, it's just that after you've been the most requested band on MTV's TRL for a bazillion weeks running, the top of the teen beat heap is rightfully yours. Cartel hits an all-ages, of course, show at Slim's tonight with likeminded power poppers Cobra Starship (who incidentally are responsible for one of the worst theme songs ever made for one of the most trite movies--although it makes for one hell of a drinking game--of 2006, Snakes on a Plane) and Boys Like Girls.

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kurt elling
Mon. Feb. 26, 7pm
Kuumbwa Jazz Center
320-2 Cedar St., Santa Cruz
831.427.2227
$25

Kurt Elling

JAZZ HANDS: A perennial winner of Down Beat critics and Jazz Times readers' polls, Kurt Elling was also artist in residence at the 2006 Monterey Jazz Festival. The four-octave baritone jazz vocalist includes original compositions and modern interpretations of standards in his repertoire, and all of his CDs have been nominated for Grammy awards. Thriving on free expression, his lyrics include themes of life, love and loss without succumbing to cliches. In a lovely melding of poetry and music, he has also written compelling lyrics to well-known instrumental solos by artists Wayne Shorter, John Coltrane and Dexter Gordon, to name but a few. In addition to his jazz performances, Elling has written and directed works commissioned by Chicago's Steppenwolf theater, including a multidimensional study of Beat poet Allen Ginsberg and John Clayton's Red Man-Black Man, which premiered at the Monterey Jazz Fest.

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wwe world wrestling entertainment
Tue. Feb. 27, 6:45pm
HP Pavilion
525 W. Santa Clara St., San Jose
408.998.TIXS
$20 - $55
BUY TICKETS

WWE Smackdown

BEEFCAKE: Call us what you will, but we here at Metroactive will so be at this show because if you thought that fake wrestling was good on TV, you really haven't lived until you've seen it live. Seriously, at any WWE event you've got nearly everything you could ever want or need out of life: cheap beer at expensive prices, fireworks, loud music, babes in revealing clothing, expensive food that tastes cheap, screaming fans, choreographed mayhem, wrestlers getting hit with chairs, tables, ladders, fists, boots, heads, bodies hitting the mat and the buffest grandpa we've ever seen in one Vincent Kennedy McMahon--we could go on, but we have to prepare our posterboard signs and obscene gestures for WWE, dammit, at the HP Pavilion (Pavilion, pavilion, pavilion)!!!!!

San Jose Sharks

metroactivecoming up
my monster
Fri. Mar. 2, 9pm
The Blank Club
44 S. Almaden Ave., San Jose
408.292.5265
$10

My Monster

ALTERNATIVE FREQUENCY: The long awaited full-length CD, In Tune With the Voices in Your Head, from local alt-rock heavies My Monster is finally here and this show at the Blank is your chance to get your little paws on a copy. But, not only will My Monster be ripping out a full set of fresh tracks for your listening pleasure, but a ton of other hitters in the local rock scene will be making appearances in support of this killer local four-piece. Special guests at the My Monster CD release show include: Jade of Days, Otto, Atomic Mint, Point 3, the Shoguns and, it's rumored that Kung Fu Vampire will swoop in for the festivities.

cinequest
Sat. Mar. 3, 9pm
Tres Gringos
83 S. Second St., San Jose
408.278.9888
No Cover
BUY TICKETS

Metroactive Mindbenders Bar Crawl

DRINKING FILMS: We know this is a few weeks away, but we feel compelled to get the word out early so all of our loyal Metro and Metroactive readers can gear up for a little bar crawling and movie watching at this year's Cinequest film festival. We'll be hitting Tres Gringos starting at 9pm on Saturday, March 3 and then moving the whole party over to the Blue Monkey Lounge before cruising to Camera 12 Cinemas--and hopefully not stumbling too bad--to catch the Mindbenders shorts series starting at midnight. Drinks and indie flicks with your buddies at Metroactive...what could possibly be better?

--This week's newsletter by: RO, AL, MM & MC


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