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Picks for the week of May 16-22, 2007


Metro editors' picks: Nikki McKibbin Modest Mouse Flogging Molly

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editorialpick
modest mouse
Wed. May 16, 8pm
San Jose State Event Center
7th and San Carlos Sts.,
SJSU Campus
408.998.TIXS
$35
buy tickets

Modest Mouse

MOUSE TRAP: A band? A cult? An intellectual socialist group? Just what exactly Modest Mouse is seems to elude even the most informed music buffs, but one thing's for sure--outlandish personalities and an unmistakable sound have made their name synonymous with indie-rock itself. Case in point: appearing in the two "you've-made-it-to-the-top" positions of the music industry: MTV and car commercials. But still, one has to wonder: why the astounding success? Well, for one, they make some damn good music, appealing to a worldwide fan base of emo-kids and Generation X-ers fed up with the glam-pop and hip-slop pouring out of FM radio these days. Let's just say P-Diddy can only hold so much allure for suburb Sam, and the N'sync-ers are sick of getting picked on in gym class. Thankfully, a new emergence of sentimental alt-rock has surfaced upon the shoulders of bands like The Shins, Death Cab for Cutie and the Flaming Lips. So forget trying to figure the band out, just focus on Isaac Brock's brooding melodies and lyrical quirks--it's only a matter of time before you catch on to the cynical brilliance of Modest Mouse. (Garrett Wheeler)

 
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the devil himself
Wed. May 16, 9pm
The Blank Club
44 S. Almaden Ave., San Jose
408.292.5265
$3

The Devil Himself

DARK LORD: No, these guys don't don red capes and horns onstage (Mick Jagger already pulled that one), but their music does resemble the fiery inferno of satanic sound that the Devil probably listens to on his iPod while going about his daily grind of torturing the souls of the damned. Unless, of course, he's into classical, but that would just be weird. Dual guitars converge to create a thundering maelstrom of heavy metal madness, while screaming vocals and apocalyptic lyrics invoke pain and frustration. Sound grim? Good, because that's what death metal is all about, and this San Jose quartet's got an open casket overflowing with sinister melody. The Devil Himself will rock-eth into the depths below tonight at the Blank Club.

blowfish sushi
Wed. May 16, 10pm
Blowfish Sushi
355 Santana Row Ste. 1010, San Jose
408.345.3848
No Cover

Bumpty Hump

BEATS TO DIE FOR: The Asian fusion cuisine at Blowfish Sushi to Die For isn't the only thing that's drawing people to Santana Row. The nightlife at The Row has always been popular, and now that summer has pretty much arrived, it's ideal for enjoying dinner on one of the patios, and then sticking around for some cocktails. Blowfish definitely steals the Row's spotlight by bringing in rotating DJs every Wednesday night. Tonight, Kayvan and DJ Reminisce are accompanying house DJs MJ Gamez, DJ Denise and Adam Cova for the Wednesday night Bumpty Hump. Many of these DJs are favorite spinners on weekends downtown, so why not see them without the cover charge in an atmosphere without cops lining the streets. Bumpty Hump has a get-down party atmosphere all night with house music and a little bit of everything else.

colin hay
Wed. May 16, 9pm
Red Devil Lounge
1695 Polk St., San Francisco
415.921.1695
$25

Colin Hay

VEGEMITE SANDWICH: If the name sounds familiar but you just can't put your finger on why, it's because Colin Hay has one of his beautifully uplifting acoustic songs featured on the Garden State soundtrack album. Or it's possible you know him as the former lead singer of Men at Work. Now with his first album in five years, Are You Lookin' At Me?, Colin Hay is bringing his acoustic and experimental compilations on tour to small venues around the nation courtesy of VH-1 Classic. His illustrious voice makes each of his songs unique in its own right, but lyrically and musically he continues to set himself apart from other contemporary artists. The Red Devil Lounge is anintimate venue in which fans can be as up-close as they can get without sitting on Hay's lap. Hay is performing Tuesday and Wednesday with Rykarda Parasol and Clay Bell--both shows are sold out, but if you can get tickets, you won't be sorry.

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mointain charleys
Thu. May 17, 5pm
Mountain Charley's
15 N. Santa Cruz Ave.,
Los Gatos
408.395.8880
No Cover

Mountain Charley's 35th Anniversary

CANDY MOUNTAIN: Come help Mountain Charley celebrate 35 years of live music, food and drinks. The party starts at 5pm with food catered by CB Hannegans and 180 Restaurant, followed by live music by Sage, Magic Wanda, Drive the Band and Uncle Melvin, some not-so-live music from DJ Uncle Hank, plus some unnamed special guests. Longtime regulars will also be happy to know that staff from as far back as 1972 will be there to celebrate this milestone properly.

crucial crue
Thu. May 17, 9pm
Avalon
777 Lawrence Expwy.,
Santa Clara
408.241.0777
Usual Cover

Crücial Crüe

CRUE FOR YOU: If you thought you had to go to Shoreline or the Pavilion to catch those iconoclastic '80s hard-drinking rockers Mötley Cr7uuml;e, you'd be completely wrong. For less than the cost of a fifth of Jack, you can blaze on into the Avalon and witness the rock spectacle your older sibling warned you about. Crücial Crüe is one of the best tribute bands we've ever seen--their likeness to the original skirt-chasing, hard-boozing, drug-addled rock stars is uncanny. Practice your devil-horn finger salute and prepare for a Theater of Pain.

clay wheels
Thu. May 17, 10pm
The Caravan
98 S. Almaden Ave., San Jose
408.995.6220
No Cover

Clay Wheels

SKATE SCENE: Practically synonymous with the local skate scene, Clay Wheels blend straight skate punk with retro surf rock sounds, and spit it all out through a cranked amplifier. Set to blaze on any stage or half-pipe they may find, these three guys are no strangers to the local live music scene. Featuring the incomparable Jonny Manak on vox and guitar, Ray Stevens hitting bass and vocals and Eric Powers demolishing the kit, Clay Wheels consistently deliver revved-up skate anthems that you don't have to be riding on urethane wheels to appreciate...catching them tearing up the Caravan is like punk-rock utopia.

tech n9ne
Thu. May 17, 7pm
The Catalyst
1011 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz
831.423.1336
$25
BUY TICKETS

Tech N9ne

N9NE TO FIVE: Kansas City rapper Tech N9ne has a clean-cut new look--his trademark bright red spikes are gone --but his lyrical style remains poignant and twisted. Easily one of the most prolific rappers in the underground scene, Tech N9ne hits hard on every track. He returns to the Bay Area tonight at the Catalyst in support of his latest album, Everready, which includes several tracks produced by Northern California heavyweight Rick Rock, with lyrical appearances by E-40 and Brotha Lynch. Tech N9ne hits the stage tonight with Kutt Calhoun, Big Krizz Caliko and Sincere.

whiskey avengers
Thu. May 17, 8pm
Britannia Arms: Downtown
173 W. Santa Clara St.,
San Jose
408.278.1400
Usual Cover

Whiskey Avengers

LONG LIVE SKA: Ska is not dead...still. The Whiskey Avengers' lovable mutation of punk and reggae will give your soul a little late week revival if you hit Britannia Arms tonight. Seriously, a little booze and some uplifting, riotous tunes from these local hip-hop, ska punkers and you'll be good as new with your liver more than prepared for an extended weekend. Hailing from all parts of the Bay and veterans of other bands, The Whiskey Avengers are a tight outfit that blends the old-school island stylings of roots reggae and Jamaican ska and a positive but edgy attitude that just simply rocks.

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penthouse at the vault
Fri. May 18, 9pm
Vault Ultra Lounge
81 W. Santa Clara St., San Jose
480.529.7239
Usual Cover
guest list

Penthouse Lingerie Fashion Show @ Vault

PENTHOUSE SWEET: Some of the hottest ladies in the Bay Area have signed up to put on a lingerie fashion show for the elite partiers at the Vault tonight. June 2006 Penthouse Pet Shay Laren will host the event along with VIP hosts from the San Francisco 49ers, Brandon Moore and Keith Lewis. Resident DJs will be on hand to keep the party vibe going all night with house, hip-hop and dance music. Make sure to look your hottest for the live photo shoot and live video shoot that will be going on throughout the night. There will be free lingerie giveaways until 10:30pm, so forget about arriving fashionably late and get some free goodies.

 
law abiding tcitizens
Fri. May 18, 8pm
Johnny V's
31 E. Santa Clara St., San Jose
408.947.8470
$5

Law Abiding Citizens

VESTIBULOCOCHLEAR DAMAGE: If all you've got in your pocket is a Jackson to spend for the whole weekend, then the Law Abiding Citizens show is the weekend blowout deal to take advantage of. Playing at Johnny V's tonight with Gargantula, Butterface and Lab Disaster, Law Abiding Citizens headline a punk rock bonanza. Each band is sure to make your ear drums ring for the next few days with garbled riffs, rebellious yells and drum beats that speed up the pulse. Take that Jackson and spend the five bucks at the door ... then you have $15 left to spend on nerve-numbing drinks to go along with your damaged eardrums.

reflectiv
Fri. May 18, 9pm
C&J's Sports Bar
1550 Lafayette St., Santa Clara
408.423.9013
No Cover

Reflectiv

PUNK AND CO-EDS: Get ready to rock out with Opus Dai, Peaceable Jones and Reflectiv tonight at C&J's. Hailing from the not-so-distant Modesto, Peaceable Jones sticks to a no-fail recipe of garage rock rolled up with punk and lit up with classic rock. Opus Dai is a progressive rock band originating from LA, and Reflectiv wraps things up with a final dose of rock & roll. Not only will there be alternative rock, pool tables and a full bar to quench your need for drunkenness, but C&J's is always packed with college co-eds who are liquored up and provide even more entertainment than the average dive bar, and they do it all for free.

ben gibbard
Fri. May 18, 9pm
The Fillmore
1805 Geary, San Francisco
408.998.TIXS
$25
buy tickets

Ben Gibbard

DEATH CAB DRIVER: Death Cab For Cutie frontman Ben Gibbard arrives at the Fillmore tonight for an evening of reflective indie-pop, unplugged. Known for his precocious songwriting ability, Gibbard's knack for constructing quality pop-rock tunes fueled the success of his original solo project, All Time Quarterback. With the sweet taste of victory still lingering on his tongue, Gibbard wasted no time in recruiting permanent bandmates. The results were positive--a chart-topping album and a record deal of a lifetime earned the 31-year-old celebrity status and fat wads of cash. And don't worry about the money going to waste--Gibbard and his bandmates are known for their contributions to veganism and animal rights. Touring alongside the noble crusader are David Bazan (of Pedro the Lion) and singer/songwriter Jonathan Rice.

christine dolce
Fri. May 18, 10pm
Vivid
8 S. First St., San Jose
408.279.4444
Usual Cover

Christine Dolce @ Vivid

TOM'S WANNABES: Once upon a time we had movie stars and rock stars that became celebrities from being in the public eye and arguably having talent. Somewhere along the line, with the advent of reality TV and the Internet, the public started seeing people with absolutely no talent all over their favorite media outlets. This spawned reality TV celebrities and then the worst fake celebrities yet: Myspace celebs. Straight from your computer screen to the South Bay, Forbidden, also known as Christine Dolce--okay, she did Playboy too, but only after she was Myspace-famous--will be making a live appearance at Vivid. Since she really has no talent beyond looking hot, we don't know what she'll be doing at Vivid, but she will be there in the flesh. DJs spinning Top 40, hip-hop and mash-ups all night long get the party going, and bartenders will be slinging drinks to loosen things up. Just don't forget to bring your camera and practice taking pictures of yourself in case you can get Forbidden to be in one with you on your Myspace profile.

hysterians
Fri. May 18, 10pm
The Caravan
98 S. Almaden Ave., San Jose
408.995.6220
No Cover

The Hysterians

ROCKET FUEL: Nothing but suped-up and garage-tested rock & roll hits the 'Van tonight as the Hysterians plug in. These longtime San Jo punkers subscribe to the time-tested sensibilities and sounds of rock, and the Hysterians definitely have the chops to pull it off. The Hysterians sport that certain rock & roll kick you can only get from a boozy garage band coupled with the razor-sharp sting of old-school punk. Of course, with the show being at the grandaddy of local dive bars, the noise and content levels will be pushed to the limits.

ozma
Fri. May 18, 8pm
Slim's
333 11th St., San Francisco
415.255.0333
$15
BUY TICKETS

Ozma

AWESOME-A: Indie dance-rock act Ozma takes to the stage at Slim's on Friday, following the release of their third full-length album on Tuesday, appropriately named after the group's hometown, Pasadena. The five-piece disbanded for a year and a half but reunited (and it feels so good) in early 2006, switching out longtime drummer Patrick Edwards for Kenn Shane, and headed out on tour with the also-reunited Rentals. Named after the character in the L. Frank Baum books, the quintet often uses goofy metaphors in its lyrics, like comparing a doomed relationship to a baseball season's end ("You and I were members of the best team in baseball") or to a video game being over--and it works. Ozma, oft compared to former tour mates Nada Surf and Weezer, but with keyboards and the occasional flute, plays its heart out onstage, inducing dancing, singalongs and even some flashing of horns (\m/) from its die-hard audiences. William Tell, Kaddisfly and New Year's Day open.

tyrese
Fri. May 18, 9pm
Mezzanine
444 Jessie St., San Francisco
415.640.6484
$30 - $40

Tyrese

BLACK-TY AFFAIR: Just in case you're not on top of the hip-hop name-change game, Tyrese is now two separate "egos"--he may not be the first to do it (Eminem vs. Marshall Mathers)--but he could be the most bipolar. Ego number one is Tyrese, a sensitive R&B artist; the alter ego, Black-Ty, is a badass rapper. As far as we can tell, this means that the show at Mezzanine will be Tyrese performing his R&B pieces, but watch out because it seems possible that his alter ego may appear at any time. Instead of fully reinventing himself, Tyrese just added new material, kept the old stuff and drew a line down the middle so people would know the difference. What really matters is that he's still ripped and makes the ladies swoon regardless of what his name is.

pimpsticks
Fri. May 18, 8:30pm
Hedley Club @ Hotel De Anza
233 W. Santa Clara St.,
San Jose
408.286.1000
No Cover

The Pimpsticks

STRAIGHT PIMPIN': Locally grown jazz and blues swingsters The Pimpsticks bring their unique retro sounds to the swanky Hedley Club for a dirty night of juke joint riffs and copious amounts of booze--these guys would feel right at home kicking it with Dino, Sinatra and the boys. The Pimpsticks have been playing together and in other local bands for years, their sound is tight and when these fellas get together for a jam session, rest assured the joint is gonna be jumpin'.

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odyssey at cardiff
Sat. May 19, 10pm
The Cardiff Lounge
260 E. Campbell Ave., Campbell
408.374.7477
No Cover

Odyssey

CAMPBELL'S SOUP: Make sure to arrive early for this one. Campbell's hottest nightclub, the Cardiff Lounge, is throwing a Saturday night extravaganza that's going to be off the hook, and no doubt the entire Bay Area wants in. The party is called Odyssey, and will feature some of the most talented club DJs on the West Coast. DJs Patrick Wilson, Joey Webb, Mario Dubbz, Frankie Jr. and Atimatik spin the deepest house music for your bumping and grinding pleasure. With a long list of special guest hosts and an impeccable DJ lineup, Odyssey is going to be one party you don't want to miss.

insolence
Sat. May 19, 9pm
The Blank Club
44 S. Almaden Ave., San Jose
408.292.5265
$10

Insolence

UP IN SMOKE: Directions: mix elements of hip-hop, reggae and hard-core rock, roll into a fatty, and light. Get ready to inhale San Jose's own rebel rockers, Insolence, as they make their way back to the town where it all began for a Saturday night showdown at the Blank Club. Though their latest stuff is moving further into dub and reggae, these local boys still throw down the goods that fire up any crowd. With a Damien Marley meets Korn sound (yes, they CAN meet) that is mellow reggae one moment and heavy metal the next, Insolence proves that sometimes the genre line is better off vanishing in a cloud of smoke.

bjork
Sat. May 19, 7:30pm
Shoreline Amphitheatre
1 Amphitheatre Pkwy.,
Mountain View
408.998.TIXS
$26.50 - $70.50
buy tickets

Björk

FROM REYKJAVIK, WITH LOVE: Everyone's favorite Icelander is out on tour in support of her new album, Volta. Reviews of her performances at Coachella and other festivals are coming up roses, thanks in part to her new material. Volta begins with a song called "Earth Intruders," an oblique lamentation on modern warfare built around a marching drum circle beat. Leftover tribal juice from her vocally based 2004 release Medulla? Perhaps, but it's a politically charged start to an album that includes the overtly countercultural "Declare Independence." Full of lush orchestration, jittery electronic noises and Björk's soaring, ecstatic voice, Volta somehow deepens her voraciously expanding oeuvre. Now if she'll just put out a folk album, and maybe call it Björk on Fölk, her takeover will be complete. Wünderkind pixie-siren Joanna Newsom, who could teach Björk plenty about folk and how to make it weird, opens.

flogging molly
Sat. May 19, 12pm
Great Meadows in Fort Mason
Corner of Laguna & Bay Sts., San Francisco
415.989.6222
$15 - $50
more info

Flogging Molly

EMERALD GREEN: Guinness anyone? Mixing a pint of Irish folk with a shot of punk rock, you'd be hard pressed to find a better act to headline this year's Oyster and Beer Festival than the dizzying ruckus that is Flogging Molly. True, the Irish have always been experts in drinking music, but this seven-piece outfit takes it a step further by infusing a rowdy style of rock & roll with the traditional ballads of the Emerald Isle. Raising eyebrows since the late '90s, the band gained a local following in L.A. with its exuberant live performances and unorthodox approach. Frontman Dave King actually grew up in Dublin--explosive vocals often recount his childhood days in the rough-and-tumble city. Perplexing instrumentation, including the fiddle and an accordion, creates a unique sound that is as rousing as it is strange. So gather round, ye drinkers and eaters of oysters, and Flogging Molly will caress your beer-soaked soul. (Garrett Wheeler)

my monster
Sat. May 19, 8pm
Britannia Arms: Cupertino
1087 De Anza Blvd., San Jose
408.252.7262
$5

My Monster w/ Currency .357

YOUR OWN PERSONAL MONSTER: In a music industry rampant with uncreative and untalented wannabes, My Monster stands about a million miles apart. Live performances leave audiences in an awestruck stupor, as if their unique sound is some kind of rock & roll hypnosis. But you're not dreaming--these guys (and gal) are for real. With a dual vocal attack (and dual gender, too), hard-driving guitar riffs and a musical style that crosses the often impenetrable boundary of '80s and '90s alternative rock, My Monster is one of the South Bay's hottest indie bands. Catch them live tonight at the Brit for a lesson in How To Rock 101, sans Jack Black. Also playing tonight are militant metal-heads Currency .357, from L.A. Opus Dai and I-Six.

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sik luv
Sun. May 20, 8pm
Johnny V's
31 E. Santa Clara St., San Jose
408.947.8470
Usual Cover

Sik Luv

PUPPY LUV: One of the best outfits on the Bay Area rockabilly scene, Sik Luv spits out classic Americana roots rock at the blistering speed of punk. After grinding it out for a while, Sik Luv is getting some well-deserved props and they're giving back to their die-hard legion of greased-up fans, shooting a live video at Johnny V's. It probably won't be too much longer that you can catch Nana and Lonewolf laying down sexy and sizzling revved-up tunes like "Till Death Do Us Part," "Hot Rod From Mars" and "My Sick Love" at the local dive, so cruise on down tonight so you can say "I saw 'em when..." and have the video evidence to prove it.

bone thugs n harmony
Sun. May 20, 7pm
The Catalyst
1011 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz
831.423.1336
$23 - $27
buy tickets

Bone Thugs 'N Harmony

GANGSTA POETS: One of the best-selling rap groups of all time, known just as much for their fast-paced gangsta-tinged stylings as for their vocal harmonies, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony--after a tumultuous hiatus--are back, aiming their quintuple lyrical attack at a new generation of poseur MCs. After getting picked up by Swizz Beatz' Full Surface label, Bone Thugs are running the collaborative circuit, dropping dope rhymes and beats for Kanye West, Lil' Jon, Timbaland and Big Boi. The Cleveland fivesome are taking on the Man again with Bone 4 Life, soliciting lyrics for new cuts from imprisoned member Flesh-N-Bone and enlisting miss whacked-out diva herself, Mariah Carey, for some iffy vocal work.

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blank club
Mon. May 21, 9pm
The Blank Club
44 S. Almaden Ave., San Jose
408.292.5265
No Cover

Union Jack Off Karaoke

GOD SAVE THE QUEEN: This is one of the slowest Monday nights in San Jose we've seen for a while, but the good news is it gives everyone a chance to re-discover those old standbys. The Blank Club is there for your drinking needs (do these guys ever close?) even on Monday night with the weekly Union Jack Off Karaoke that brings Brit-pop, New Wave, glam and punk rock to life. Forget trying to sing "I Will Survive"--because you won't with that song--and head in for cheap Pabst, no cover and questionable warbling from local drunkards.

solillaquists
Mon. May 21, 8:30pm
Bottom of the Hill
1233 17th St., San Francisco
415.621.4455
$10

Sol-iLLaquists of Sound with DJ J. Storm

LOQUACIOUS INTELLECTUALS: Affecting social change through the power of song, Orlando's Sol-iLLaquists of Sound come to San Francisco to give the City by the Bay a little taste of urban consciousness in the form of hip-hop music. Fusing elements of jazz, blues and soul to create a sound that is musically fresh and lyrically insightful, the East Coast quartet leads the revolution, televised or not. Standing in direct opposition to the bland redundancy of bling rap and gangsta crap, these progressive hip-hoppers are nothing short of intellectual. Subject matter concerns post 9-11 politics, self-awareness, and the struggles of life in the inner city--all accompanied by the intricate grooves of turntable maestro DJ J. Storm. Changing the world one ear at a time, Sol-iLLaqusits of Sound's artistic genius lies in their optimistic vision of a future guided by action. Also bustin' rhymes tonight in Frisco is Florida's Grey Matter.

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nikki mckibbin
Tue. May 22, 8pm
Little Fox
2209 Broadway, Redwood City
650.369.4119
$25

Nikki McKibbin

IDOL CHATTER: This summer, the South Bay is getting the best of the best and the worst of the best from recent and past seasons of American Idol. Taylor Hicks just made his way through San Francisco last week, Kellie Pickler visits the Shoreline Amphitheatre on tour with Brad Paisley on Friday, Elliott Yamin performs at Slim's on June 12, and Carrie Underwood is coming semiclose to the Bay Area in July, making a stop in Dixon (off 680 on the way to Sacramento, for those not in the know). The original Idol, Kelly Clarkson, brings her My December Tour to the HP Pavilion July 17, and the American Idols Tour, featuring this year's Top 10 (including the winner crowned next week), also takes the stage at the Pavilion on July 24. This week, Season 1 third-place finalist Nikki McKibbin makes the first of two South Bay appearances, heading to the Little Fox theater in Redwood City on Tuesday. The brazen-haired rocker also performs at Avalon in Santa Clara on Thursday, May 24. Now if only Diana DeGarmo had another lead role with American Musical Theater San Jose this summer, there might be cause to cite some cosmic conspiracy. (Claire Taylor)

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metroactivecoming up
phenomenauts
Sat. May 26, 9pm
The Blank Club
44 S. Almaden Ave., San Jose
408.292.5265
$8

The Phenomenauts, Sik Luv, Jonny Manak & The Depressives

BLAST OFF: Like a bat out of hell,The Phenomenauts fly into San Jose from Oakland to tear apart the Blank Club. The band melds together pop-punk, rockabilly and New Wave with rock into a style they lovingly call "Rocket Roll." The Phenomenauts could pack the club by themselves, but Sik Luv will also be contributing psychobilly-charged rock to the night that may or may not quickly turn into drunken debauchery. Jonny Manak and the Depressives are joining the bill as openers with their raucous punk rock. If you had to pick one show to go to in San Jose all month, this would have to be it. It's going to be balls-to-the-wall rock from three of the best Bay Area rock bands...and now you know ahead of time so there's no excuse to miss it.

----Capsules that were taken from the Metroactive Club Newsletter were written by: RO, AL, GW, MC & CT


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