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The Revival Tour
The Blank Club
44 S. Almaden Ave, San Jose
408.29.BLANK
Wed – 9pm; $15
Help yourself to a full plate of stripped-down, rootsy punk rock this evening via the Revival Tour, led by the infallible punk crooner Chuck Ragan, formerly of the post-hardcore band Hot Water Music. In 2006, when that group officially called it quits, he traded in electric guitars and a drummer for an acoustic ax and a harmonica. The shift is natural for Ragan, who still gets plenty riled during his acoustic sets, bellowing and pouring with emotion as he sings songs like the cheers-inducing "Glory" and the rustic "Revival Road." Ragan is joined on the Revival Tour by a host of like-minded singer/songwriters, including Sparta and Sleepcar's Jim Ward, Avail's Tim Barry, Frank Turner and Dave Hause of the Loved Ones. (GW)
Gustavo Arellano
MACLA
500 S. First St, San Jose
408.938.3594
Wed – 7pm; $10
Readers of the alternative press have come to expect a dose of bracing comic reality on a weekly basis from Gustavo Arellano's biting column Ask a Mexican. With a pen sharpened like a scalpel, Arellano satirizes and deflates the fears and phobias of nativists everywhere. In short: Lou Dobbs' worst nightmare. As part of the Latino Authors Series at MACLA, Arellano will answer audience questions, and even provide some insights into that strange, exotic place known as Orange County. (MSG)
Earl Klugh
Montalvo Arts Center
15400 Montalvo Rd, Saratoga
408.961.5858
Thu – 7:30pm, Fri – 8pm; $35/$40
Earl Klugh is more known for his jazz guitar, but he also writes movie reviews. He has a whole system based on strings. He'll write a review and then give it a rating; "six strings," meaning good, all the way down to "flat," meaning avoid it. When it comes to his own accomplishments as a musician, he could probably give himself six strings. He's been doing this for over 30 years and has been hailed as a prodigy, groundbreaker and master guitarist. He received a Grammy in 1981 and since then has received 12 nominations. After recording over 30 albums he still finds the time to tour around the world, and remains one of the finest guitarists working today. (BD)
The Deadliest Catch Tour
VooDoo Lounge
14 S. Second St, San Jose
408.998.TIXS
Fri – 10pm; $20
It's got nothing to do with the TV show, and everything to do with Chali 2na, the former Jurassic 5 MC whose baritone provided some of the group's freshest flows. (I still think their best line was his: "Got people screamin' free Mumia Jamal, but two out of three of y'all will probably be at the mall.") He probably regrets naming himself after the Starkist Tuna mascot—certainly that was the coolest a can of chunk light ever got—but now that the chronically underappreciated L.A. crew has called it quits, he's on his own. And he's headlining this tour, which also features Gift of Gab from Blackalicious, and Mr. Lif. After almost four years, Chali's crazy overdue solo album is finally out, and it's better than J5's swan song, so that's a start. Lyrics Born hosts. (SP)
David Foster & Friends
HP Pavilion
525 W. Santa Clara St, San Jose
408.287.9200
Fri – 7pm; $58-$128
One of the most successful producers and composers in contemporary popular music, David Foster is more than qualified to host an event with a few of his "friends." His résumé includes (deep breath) a stint in Chuck Berry's band, a hit single with his band Skylark, a session keyboardist for John Lennon, Barbra Streisand, Diana Ross and Rod Stewart, writing and producing material for Hall & Oates, Boz Scaggs and Kenny Loggins, a Grammy award for penning Earth, Wind and Fire's "After the Love Has Gone," another Grammy award for Chicago's smash single "Hard Habit to Break" and then three more Grammys for writing Natalie Cole's megahit album Unforgettable. Tonight, Foster's guest list on stage includes Earth, Wind & Fire's Philip Bailey, Peter Cetera, Michael Johns, Charice, Ruben Studdard and Deborah Cox. (GW)
Thunderhorse
Streetlight Records
980 S. Bascom Ave, San Jose
408.292.1404
Sat – 7pm; free
Anyone around here who remembers Janitors Against Apartheid might wonder whatever happened to Pete Rice and Justin Estep from that band. They've stopped skankin' (sooner or later, everyone does) and gone metal with their band Thunderhorse. Not, like, as in they're cowboys and on their steel horses they ride. No, this is fast, heavy, high-energy stuff; almost thrash. Initially instrumental, Rice is now handling vocals along with bassist Ian Manell Menor. They play this show at Streetlight before a half-dozen or so dates around the state. (SP)
Rain Machine
The Blank Club
44 S. Almaden Ave, San Jose
408.29.BLANK
Sat – 8pm; $12/$15
I remember the first time I heard Wes Borland's solo project, Big Dumb Face. It was a 180-degree turn from all his previous works; strange, experimental and all-around great. It wasn't for everyone, more for someone like me, who's always on the hunt for anything that deviates from the norm. Such is the case with Rain Machine. Kyp Malone, better known as the singer/guitarist of TV on the Radio, has basically said the hell with the convention of indie music and cooked up something he can really call his own. This is the kind of music that will find a whole new audience. It's as weird as his Allen Ginsberg look and as beautiful as one of his poems. It's music set to words. (BD)
Mission Chamber Orchestra
Le Petit Trianon
72 N. Fifth St, San Jose
408.236.3350
Sat – 7:30pm; $7-$32
For a program titled "Classic Treasures," our own local classic himself, pianist Jon Nakamatsu, performs Mozart's Piano Concerto no. 23. The rest of the program features Fauré's Pavane, Donizetti's Allegro for Strings, Senturia's Petra and Beethoven's magnificent Symphony no. 8. The Evergreen Valley High School Strings will appear, and Emily Ray conducts. (AR)
Cage the Elephant
The Blank Club
44 S. Almaden Ave, San Jose
408.29.BLANK
Mon – 9pm; $12/$15
It seems like Cage the Elephant went from an obscure retro-rock band to an alt-radio hit in less time than it takes Mick Jagger to strike a rooster pose. In reality they've been worming their way into pop culture for a couple of years now, but they're set to explode after the success of their bluesy single "Ain't No Rest for the Wicked." Their timing couldn't be better—every time electronic bands get big, there's a huge contingent of music fans who start longing for some old-school guitar rock. Cage has the added benefit of being danceable, in that indie-rock kind of way that the Arctic Monkeys almost ruined for everybody. This is yet another perfectly timed booking of a band blowing up for the Blank Club, courtesy Channel 92.3. (SP)
