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Nick Veronin on January 16, 2019
The South Bay’s very own Jackie Gage has been working the live jazz circuit hard for years. A few years back she relocated to New York in order to really be in the thick of things. But Gage has never forgotten where she came from. This weekend, the vocalist plays a special show at City Lights Theater. There, she’ll pay tribute to her home with her newest single, “A Secret Place,” which was recently given a music video treatment. The performance—part of City Lights’ “Lights & Music Concert Series”—will also feature a conversation with Gage and a screening of her video. Continue reading »
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Nick Veronin on January 16, 2019
The San Jose Chamber Music Society presents its first concert of the year—a pair of piano quartets by Mozart and Brahms, plus a string trio by Ernst von Dohnanyi featuring Escher Quartet members and acclaimed local pianist Jon Nakamatsu. In 1997, the St. Francis High School graduate took home the gold medal from the prestigious Van Cliburn International Piano Competition. He was the first American to take home the gold since Andre-Michel Schub claimed the prize back in 1981. Continue reading »
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Nick Veronin on January 16, 2019
Looking for a fun and stimulating evening? That’s what she said! The Britannia Arms Almaden is hosting back-to-back nights of The Office trivia this weekend. Tickets ($10-$30) have already sold out, but there’s always a chance someone has stashed an extra pass in the ceiling or inside a Jell-O mold… or maybe you can buddy up with Toby? Featuring Office-themed food and drink specials, a costume contest and plenty of prizes to go around, it’s bound to be the most exciting paper-related trivia night in San Jose. Continue reading »
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Nick Veronin on January 16, 2019
The third annual Women’s March San Jose descends on downtown this weekend. The march—one of hundreds planned around the country—began as a manifestation of the #MeToo movement and a rejection of Donald Trump’s outright misogyny. The event begins at San Jose City Hall and ends in a rally at Arena Green near the SAP Center. The past two marches, in 2017 and 2018, drew large crowds (in excess of 20,000, according to estimates) to the streets of San Jose. Attendees should register at the march’s Eventbrite page to help organizers track participation. Continue reading »
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Nick Veronin on January 16, 2019
A little bit of alt-country, a little bit of rock & roll, Justin Hambly & The Heavy Hand come to this Willow Glen watering hole from the misty Santa Cruz Mountains. Featuring twangy leads, a jangly, rhythmic swagger, and wide-open choruses, Hambly and his solid crew of players keep the frills to a minimum with their straightforward American rock sound. They are joined by the bluesy and boisterous August Sun. A bit heavier, but no less indebted to the FM classics, August Sun also hail from over the hill. Continue reading »
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Nick Veronin on January 16, 2019
Joseph Chung and Joseph Abella, better known as ARMNHMR, have been hard on the grind the past few years. It would seem that the Los Angeles-based production and DJ duo has been spending more time on stage and aboard airplanes than kicking back in their sunny hometown. Chung and Abella come to Sunnyvale fresh on the heels of their latest single, “Leave it All.” The Luma-featuring track sways from woozy, spaced out verses to an anthemic, fist-pumping, stutter-stop drops, which are a bit reminiscent of Skrillex, minus the harder-edged, noisy squiggles. Continue reading »
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Nick Veronin on January 16, 2019
Three years after his resignation in 1974, Richard Nixon is looking for a way to rehabilitate his public image and legacy. The former president, who resigned from office to avoid impeachment in the wake of the Watergate scandal, agrees to a series of interviews with British journalist David Frost. Though Nixon’s literary agent viewed the interviews as an opportunity for the disgraced Commander in Chief to take control of his own narrative, Frost proved to be a formidable opponent. His challenging, pointed questions ultimately put Nixon on his heels and further cemented his reputation as a crook. Runs through Feb. 10. Continue reading »
Like so many great musical acts, Brazilian vocal group Ordinarius resist classification. But if there is a common thread running through their catalog, it is that they seek to put a distinctly Brazilian spin on everything they touch. Using mostly the human voice, the sextet has interpreted North American pop and instrumental choro music from its own country. Most recently they turned their attention to one of their homeland’s best-known cultural exports—Carmen Miranda. For Ordinarius, it’s all about sharing. “We are very proud of this music and this culture,” says group member Maíra Martins. Continue reading »
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Nick Veronin on January 16, 2019
Local event promotion collective The Come Up is teaming with the San Jose Museum of Art and SJMADE to curate this week’s Sound Scaping. The event features food, drinks and live performances by lo-fi hip-hop producer Knowmadic, indie lounge lizard Mild Monk, R&B chanteuse Kamiko and jazz pianist/vocalist Joy Hackett. While at the museum, check out the exhibits in between sets: “Dinh Q. Lê: True Journey is Return” is the artist’s first major US show in over a decade. In a gorgeous way, Le transforms diasporic themes of exile, memory and global estrangement into a serene experience. Continue reading »
I couldn’t ignore it any longer. The low-tire-pressure light was haunting me. To pay attention with a light drizzle coming down, I had to stop. I drove to the gas station and there you were, hood up, putting water in your muscle car while it was spewing steam. I patiently waited until I couldn’t stand to. Finally, you waved me over and motioned for me to go around your messed-up steaming car. I pulled around in my pretty new ride, and you motioned for me to park closer to get at the air hose. Then you held up the hose and pointed to the tire. A bit confused, I rolled down my window and asked, “Are you going to put air in my tire for me?” You nodded and proceeded to do so. I don’t know if you knew it was going to be all four tires, but it was, and so you filled each one and even asked if the gauge was reading OK. It really started to rain forcefully by the third tire. I had to get out with my umbrella and at the very least shield you while you pumped air. You were already too wet, but you were undeterred. While I stood above you, I asked about your car. You softly said, “It was stolen and then they wrecked the front end.” We talked a bit more, and I thanked you and left you soaking wet with your steaming car in the hard rain. However, you left me with a lump in my throat because you—someone down on their luck—went out of your way in the pouring rain to help a stranger for nothing but a thank you. Damn, you’re a good teacher.
I Saw You is an anonymous “man on the street” column. Email your rants and raves about co-workers or any badly behaving citizens to [email protected], or send to 380 S. First St, San Jose, 95113. Submissions should stick to about 100 words.
