SJ Grand Prix, Projekt Revolution, Daft Punk & Tears for Fears

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Sun. Jul. 29, 12:45pm Shoreline Amphitheatre 1 Amphitheater Parkway, Mountain View 408.998.TIXS $25-$70 BUY TICKETS Projekt Revolution Tour LINKIN PARK ZOO: Attempting to start a revolution with a bunch of black-clad dirty-haired kids must be tough. However, something is working for Linkin Park's annual tour in its fourth incarnation. The tour is meant to bring together top names in rock and hip-hop, although this year's lineup is rock heavy. Linkin Park will be joined on the main stage by My Chemical Romance, Taking Back Sunday, HIM, Placebo and Julien-K. Taking the Revolution stage by storm with far more hardcore rock will be Mindless Self Indulgence, Saosin, The Bled, Styles of Beyond and Madina Lake. Linkin Park has also said they will be planting one tree for each person who attends every show of the tour.

Wed. Jul. 25, 7:30pm Mountain Winery 14831 Pierce Rd, Saratoga 408.998.TIXS $50-$80 BUY TICKETS

Gladys Knight SANS PIPS: According to the 2005 Guinness Book of World Records, Gladys Knight is one of the top 20 most successful female musical artists of all time. The spry 62-year-old Knight also has several Grammys under her belt. Knight gained popularity in the '60s and '70s doing many recordings on the Motown and Buddah Records labels with her group Gladys Knight & the Pips. Eventually she moved on to a solo R&B and soul singing career while acting and writing books. The well-seasoned singer is worth an evening at Mountain Winery on Wednesday night.

Jul. 25, 27-28, 20-31 and Aug. 1 The Fillmore 1805 Geary, San Francisco 415.346.6000 $25 BUY TICKETS

Smashing Pumpkins SIAMESE DREAM: Among the pantheon of misheard lyrics, the chorus on The Smashing Pumpkins' first song ("I Am One") on their first album, Gish, is still a bit of a mystery. To my ears, the lyric databases are way off, claiming, for instance, that the vampirish Corgan's vibrating metal coil of a voice is shouting, "See you, don't you just want to/ See you, I am one." Besides the fact that it doesn't make any sense, the line sounds nothing like Corgan's unintelligible wail (he clearly sings, "Sail, downdididdlewahoo/ Sail, I am one"). But like many Pumpkins songs, the occasionally recognizable lyrics are just a cherry on top of emotionally satisfying hard rock songs. Maintaining a subtle space-rock aesthetic throughout the years, the Chicago-based alt-rock band progressively moved away from Corgan's squealing guitar solos and Jimmy Chamberlin's monstrously complex drumming toward a lighter, starry-eyed feel, until the band dissolved altogether in 2000. The Smashing Pumpkins are celebrating the release of their reunion album, Zeitgeist, with a residency at the Fillmore.

Thu. Jul. 26, 6pm Taste Ultra Lounge 87 N. San Pedro St., San Jose 408.885.1016 No Cover

Miss San Jose Grand Prix Swimsuit Competition ANOTHER PRETTY FACE CONTEST: With the San Jose Grand Prix upon us, we can't forget the pretty faces that must be chosen to represent the event. Taste Ultra Lounge has made a night out of the swimsuit competition girls with hopes of becoming the next Miss San Jose Grand Prix. The Miss San Jose finalists will meet and mix with the crowd between 6 and 8pm before getting oiled up and changed for the judging. Once the contest is over, there will be plenty of drinks to go around while Taste's house DJs spin their eclectic mix of dance music.

Thu. Jul. 26, 7:30pm Mountain Winery 14831 Pierce Rd, Saratoga 408.998.TIXS $55-$78 BUY TICKETS

Tears for Fears TEARFUL REUNION: Tears for Fears was huge during the '80s, but Curt Smith and Roland Orzabal, the two musicians who formed the band in 1981, broke it off in '92. However, they were able to overcome their differences and regroup to grow from their break up. In the time the artists worked solo, they each developed a new sound that has left them sounding less New Wave and more Beatlesesque. Tears for Fears is now touring their more adult sound in more adult venues as their fan base has grown up. Thursday night's Mountain Winery show is likely to be many of the folks who listened to the group in the '80s that will appreciate the mature new Tears for Fears.

Thu. Jul. 26, 5:30pm Plaza de Cesar Chavez Downtown San Jose 308.279.1775 x42 Free

Brandi Carlile FREEBIE: For anyone who watches Grey's Anatomy, you've probably already heard plenty of Brandi Carlile's moody folk rock. A singer/songwriter from Seattle, Carlile collaborates and tours with the Hanseroth brothers, who make up the core of her band today. Though she's been selling out shows across the nation, Carlile will be gracing San Jose for free at Music in the Park. Take out the lawn chairs or a blanket and bring a picnic basket--Brandi Carlile will set the perfect mood for a nice bottle of wine on a warm summer evening.

Thu. Jul. 26, 8pm Slim's 333 11th St., San Francisco 415.255.0333 $12-$15 BUY TICKETS

Rooney LADIES LOVE 'EM: Rooney is made up of shaggy-haired rockers with cute names like Ned, Taylor and Louie. What's not to love? Droves of girls support the band singing folksy pop rock as the ladies hope that maybe, just maybe, they'll be able to miraculously fall in love at the show and bring one of these guys home. Sounds like a wide open opportunity for guys to get their game on. Rooney has that oh-so-cute innocence that makes you want to pinch their cheeks after a few of their ballads. Opening for Rooney are Big City Rock and Everybody Else.

Thu. Jul. 26, 7:30pm Swedish American Hall 2170 Market St., San Francisco 308.279.1775 x42 $15

Eisley SIBLING HARMONY: It's kind of like the Partridge Family without the parents as four siblings and a cousin make up Eisley. The band began when two sisters decided to write songs in their bedroom and let their younger sis join when she showed she could write a song too. Ten years later, Eisley is still doing the indie rock thing. They recently finished an international tour and are now kicking off an acoustic tour. The show at the Swedish American Hall will be a great opportunity to see how sibling rivalries can turn into sibling bonding over a bunch of unplugged instruments.

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Fri. Jul. 27, 8pm UC Berkeley Greek Theatre Gayley Rd. and Stadium Way, Berkeley 510.642.9988 $48.50 BUY TICKETS Daft Punk DAFT PUNK IS PLAYING IN MY HOUSE: Daft Punk is quite possibly the only house band with an anime film based on one of its albums. Interstella 5555: The 5tory of the 5ecret 5tar 5ystem chronicles the kidnapping of an alien music group and its adventures through outer space ... but enough about Daft Punk's interstellar adventures. The truth is that the Paris natives are probably the most successful electronic duo to date, and with hits like "One More Time," "Digital Love" and "Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger" (which Kanye West sampled in his latest single), that shouldn't come as a surprise. This show is sure to rock--the Rapture, Sebastian and Kavinsky join Daft Punk in the lineup.

Fri. Jul. 27, 8pm The Blank Club 44 S. Almaden Ave, San Jose 408.292.5265 $8

Von Iva HUSKY SOUL: The all-female disco-rock quartet is attracting a wealth of exposure on the local circuit, and for good reason--they've got soul. So much soul, in fact, that the girls from Von Iva systematically turn stagnant audiences into all-out booty shakers by night's end. The single "Not Hot To Trot" from their self-titled EP is a high-energy burst of electro-funk with a swaggering baseline hot enough to melt even the coolest of club-goers. Front-woman Jillian Iva's husky soul singing is equally warm and sexy, reminiscent of her idol Tina Turner. If you've never seen a woman in stilettos take command of a crowd, let the brash and rebellious Von Iva draw you in with a charged performance that will have you asking, "Please, may I have another?"

Fri. Jul. 27, 9pm Vault Ultra Lounge 81 W. Santa Clara St., San Jose 408.298.1112 Usual Cover GUEST LIST

Barcelona @ Vault POWERED BY RED BULL: Celebrating a new monthly event night called Barcelona, Vault is rolling out the red carpet on Friday night. Barcelona has been setting the sexy and sophisticated standard for clubs during the past 12 years, and now it's coming to San Jose to spice things up. Some of the hottest Bay Area DJs will be knocking this party off the hook. Look out for DJs Armann the BrainChild, Joey Mazzola, Trevor Simpson, DJ Hanna, Andrew MD and Roger Moorehaus. These guys know hot to get a party going, so make sure to drink your fair share of Red Bull ahead of time.

Fri. Jul. 27, 9pm Johnny V's 31 E. Santa Clara St., San Jose 408.947.8470 $5

Muckruckers OLD AND NEW: In the mood for a good old-fashioned punk rock show? The Muckruckers have enough punk to hold you over for the weekend. Band members Nick Ugly, East Bay Zach, Curt Kokane and Micah T. Overdrive say their band's sound comes from the pioneers of punk rock as well as new, up-and-coming bands, which all amounts to an upbeat, fast-paced show. The Muckruckers have been rocking the Bay Area for about six years now and have a new album due out soon. Catch them before they're too cool to play at small venues like Johnny V's. Slick46 and Clockwork Allen support the Muckruckers in this bargain $5 show.

Fri. Jul. 27, 9pm Vivid 8 S. First St., San Jose 408.279.4444 Usual Cover

Fast n' Furious @ Vivid KING ME: Not many people look good in checkers, but on the San Jose Grand Prix weekend, we'll admit that some chicks can pull it off, and Vivid is probably the club those girls are lookin' to party at. With DJ Beef on the turntables--he sounds tasty--and commercial house, top 40, hip-hop and reggaeton rocking the house, the Fast n' Furious event is more likely to be sexy and special than furious. Whether or not you plan to rock the checkers like it's 1990, Vivid is ready for you.

Fri. Jul. 27, 9pm Ruby Skye 420 Mason St., San Francisco 415.693.0777 $15

Peter Hook of New Order HELLO TURNTABLE: Arthritis be damned--Peter Hook of New Order will be turning 52 next February and has put down his bass and picked up the turntables to spin club-thumping DJ sets. Though New Order was responsible for "Blue Monday," the best-selling 12-inch single of all time, Peter Hook never made his distain for DJs a secret. Maybe he just knew he could out spin the world's best. Whatever is going on with Hook these days, watching a 50-something Brit on the turntables will--at the very least--be something new. Frenchy Le Freak and DJ Mick round out the show.

Sat. Jul. 28, 6pm The Warfield 982 Market St., San Francisco 415.567.2060 $25 BUY TICKETS

Rise Against TRIPLE PLAY: Rise Against, Silverstein, Comeback Kid and Holy Roman Empire bring Canadian- and Chicago-bred rock & roll to the Warfield Saturday night. Rise Against formed only eight years ago and already has four hit singles and four albums behind them, while the fifth is currently being recorded. These guys not only care about the music but are devout PETA members as well, making video tributes to the importance of humane animal treatment. Chicago's Holy Roman Empire sounds like a more vocally appealing indie version of No Doubt, but lead singer Emily Schambra is definitely not "just a girl." Silverstein brings in a little heavy metal to the show with emotionally charged lyrics belted out like a hardcore band from Rob Zombie's basement. Finally, Comeback Kid, originally a side project, has morphed into one of the hottest hardcore bands in the Canadian rock scene. Spread the word, this show is one for rock lovers and mosh pit veterans.

Sat. Jul. 28, 9pm Vault Ultra Lounge 81 W. Santa Clara St., San Jose 408.298.1112 Usual Cover GUEST LIST

Alix Alvarez @ Vault SPIN THE BLACK CIRCLE: After a long day of watching Grand Prix cars go in circles, what better way to unwind than with a hot party at Vault? Visiting San Jose all the way from New York, DJ Alix Alvarez brings his spinning skills to the West Coast. Also spinning top 40, hip-hop and dance music in the main room will be rotating resident DJs Albert Campoy, Richard G, Rated R and Francisco Murguia. In the back room, DJ Mein will be taking care of the mash-ups with classic '80s and '90s tunes.

Sat. Jul. 28, 6:30pm The Cave MACLA, 510 S. First St., San Jose 408.998.2783 $10

This Son of Yours DARK MATERIALS: Death metal has always found a home in the Bay Area, but consider San Jose a hotbed. The rebellious, blood-curdling and always pissed-off hardcore sound that was once limited to the garage is now slowly wriggling its way into the mainstream, one Ozzfest at time. Local metal addicts will surely get a buzz off Saturday night's Cave Productions show at MACLA, which features This Son of Yours and A Boy and His Gun as headliners. The two acts are some of the brightest--err, darkest--in the area and will no doubt unleash a fury of distorted thrash and screaming mayhem upon their audience. These guys rock & roll with double kick bass drums, drop-tuned guitars and one helluvah sinister attitude. Be a part of the carnage.

Sat. Jul. 28, 9pm Club Cuccini 72 N. Almaden St., San Jose 408.287.1737 Usual Cover GUEST LIST

Little Red Corvette @ Cuccini PRINCELY PASSION: In honor of the San Jose Grand Prix this weekend, Cuccini is hosting an ultra fabulous party, filling both floors, the hookah lounge and the outdoor patio. The Bay Area's legendary DJ Big Willie will man the turntables along with Purple Passion and Iceman. There will be tons of hip-hop, top 40 and downright delicious dance music to get down to all night. Be careful not to throw out a hip when you're pop, lock and dropping it because you'd hate to have to miss the continuation of the Grand Prix on Sunday.

Sat. Jul. 28, 3pm Discovery Meadow Guadalupe River Park & Gardens San Carlos St. and Woz Way, San Jose 408.277.6290 Free

Stroke 9 3.2 BILLION AND COUNTING: It's really not Stroke 9's fault that "Little Black Backpack" was played on the radio 3.2 billion times (official count, check Wikipedia), but with a new album released last month, the band has some more awesome material for a rocking live show. The Last of the International Playboys, which includes "The One," holds true to Stroke 9's original sound but incorporates enough new flavor to keep the music fresh. Don't miss the CD-release party at the Red Devil Lounge.

Sun. Jul. 29, 7pm Little Fox Theatre 2209 Broadway, Redwood City 650.369.4119 $16-$18

Chanteuse Soiree LADIES' NIGHT: Catch three of the Bay Area's top female jazz vocalists in one extraordinary evening at the Little Fox Theatre in Redwood City. Wendy Waller, Jennifer Lee and Juliet Green perform jazz standards and original compositions, as the three songstresses showcase their unique perspectives on the jazz tradition. Waller's uncanny vocal abilities have earned her the adoration of numerous jazz critics, while the sophisticated style of Jennifer Lee continually brings audiences to life. Originally from Maui, Hawaii, Juliet Green began teaching music in Portola Valley before joining the award-winning a cappella group +4db, and later the jazz quintet Moodswing.

Sun. Jul 29, 9pm Splash 65 Post St., San Jose 408.993.0861 Usual Cover

Therapy @ Splash SUNDAY SOIREE: It's about time that Splash got down to serious business... serious partying business, that is. And all the better that they're doing it on a Sunday night when most of downtown closes early. MJ Gamez and Mark Johns are bringing it back to Spalsh with house music downstairs spun by Jeno, Rick Preston and MJ Gamez himself. Taking it to the next level--literally, upstairs--Garth and Mark Johns get things groovy with electro, disco and funk. Splash makes a splash in the San Jose gay and lesbian scene every night, with two levels, an outside patio and wooden dance floors.

Mon. Jul. 30, 7:30pm Mountain Winery 14831 Pierce Rd., Saratoga 408.998.TIXS $50-$85 BUY TICKETS

Lyle Lovett & k.d. lang GENRE BENDERS: At first glance, it might seem like pairing Lyle Lovett and k.d. lang together for a joint tour is a little questionable, but when you consider the place the two genre-bending musicians inhabit in the world of adult-contemporary music, it makes perfect sense. First, take Lovett. The Texas-born singer/songwriter was initially tagged a country act, but that label never really fit him. Borrowing from '70s songwriters like Randy Newman and Guy Clark, Lovett's quirky yet frequently sophisticated lyrics defied the genre's simplistic nature and yee-haw attitude. Similarly, k.d. lang diverged from the country mold with her androgynous look and edgy rock & roll sound. Like all great artists, breaking tradition came as a natural step toward achievement, and both lang and Lovett benefit from their refusal to conform.

Mon. Jul. 30, 8pm Slim's 333 11th St., San Francisco 415.255.0333 $15 BUY TICKETS

Unwritten Law SOCAL PUNK: SoCal rockers Unwritten Law, Bullets and Octane, and Bangkok Five join up to play Slim's in San Francisco on Monday night. For 14 years, Unwritten Law has rocked audiences with their emotionally in-tune Southern California style of rock, and have enjoyed great success. Touring since 2000, Bullets and Octane hails from St. Louis and re-located to Southern California to blast their gritty punk rock across North America and Europe. Bangkok Five plays this show as well, bringing their Misfits attitude and death-obsessed rock along for the ride. With all of the pop-punk rock bands that seem to be polluting the music scene today, it's refreshing to know that SoCal rock can still be quality music worth spending a few bucks to see.

Mon. Jul. 30, 7:30pm Bottom of the Hill 1233 17th St., San Francisco 415.621.4455 $10

Suburban Legends STUFF OF LEGENDS: Orange County's ska rock band Suburban Legends bring their bubbly and downright lovable selves all the way to Bottom of the Hill Monday night to show what keeps ska alive for them. The guys formed their band in high school and have now been playing together for more than five years. Suburban Legends does covers and humorous, funk-friendly songs that you can't help but bob your head to, and their choreographed dance moves and humor are a unique treat. Joining the Orange County golden boys on Monday night, Maldroid, Zolof the Rock & Roll Destroyer, Patent Pending and Jet Lag Gemini make this show a bonanza of fun.

Tue. Jul. 31, 9pm Fahrenheit Ultra Lounge 99 E. San Fernando St., San Jose 408.998.9998 Usual Cover GUEST LIST

Fashion Club @ Fahrenheit TOO SEXY FOR MY SHIRT: Only for the sexy, baby--and fashionable, of course. Fahrenheit Ultra Lounge in San Jose heats up on Tuesday nights with Fashion Club, where indie, electro, '80s and hip-hop music please the dance floor. This industry night is packed with all the right people if you love fashion, are working in the fashion industry or just love chic party people. Curtis Vodka and Flufftronix mix it up this week as the special guest DJs. Be sure to drop in a little early for a sweet happy hour and complimentary appetizers. Fashion Club is glamorous and trendy, so if fashion is your thing, this party is one stop you should make on your downtown rounds this week.

coming up

Fri. Aug. 3, 9pm Mezzanine 444 Jessie St., San Francisco 415.625.8880 $30-$40

Tyrese HOTTIES: In a world of starlets getting arrested on DUI and drug charges, it's good to see that hip-hop and R&B artists like Tyrese are keeping it together. Tyrese is doing so well in his career that he plans to release a new rap album this summer, Black Rose, after releasing his Alter Ego album earlier this year. His smooth style and hot body got his career started before he moved to music and singing, but now that he's a musical artist, there is an army of women who appreciate seeing him live. Opening for Tyrese at the Mezzanine show is Jimmie Reign, a good-looking girl from the Bay Area singing R&B. Advance VIP tickets are available to get up close and personal with Tyrese and Jimmie.

--This week's newsletter by: RO, DB, SL, AL, GW, & MC

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