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Alec Adams on December 8, 2021
In the 1998 action comedy movie Six-String Samurai, a Buddy Holly stand-in wields a katana slaying Mad Max pastiches of rock and rolls greatest legends. During a bar fight scene, a band plays with an outlandish look and ferocious style on oversized instruments. You’d think this band would be an invention of the film’s Mad Max aesthetic, but it’s the actual Igor & the Red Elvises! That’s just their brand. They play an eclectic blend of psychobilly, surf rock and funk. They’re impossible to pin down, and they’re bringing the unstoppable party with them to the Ritz Thursday night. Continue reading »
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Aaron Carnes on December 1, 2021
The first time Trans-Siberian Orchestra took the stage in the late ’90s—a sold-out theater in Philadelphia—no one in the band knew what to expect. They had a few platinum records already, but it was orchestral metal Christmas music. Who exactly was the audience for this? Continue reading »
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Elliott Sky Case on December 1, 2021
Though she has seven consecutive Emmy nominations under her belt, actress and Selected Shorts host Jane Kaczmarek was starstruck meeting author George Saunders.
“It really was one of the proudest moments of my career, to just be on stage and hang out and have my picture with him. I can’t tell you how corny that is,” she laughs, recalling an event hosted by New York City’s Symphony Space where she performed a piece from Saunders’ novel Lincoln in the Bardo.
Continue reading »
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Grace Stetson on December 1, 2021
Although it may not snow in San Jose this year, that doesn’t mean the winter holidays aren’t in full force. Take, for example, “Cool Yule,” a classic orchestral twist on the popular holiday tunes from years past. Hosted by SJSU’s Jazz Orchestra, the ensemble will be joined by Valley Christian High School Jazz Ensemble in a holiday performance led by Grammy Award-winning baritone saxophonist and composer Aaron Lington. Not only might there be a revamped and exciting version of “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer,” but this mellow evening out could be the perfect festive start to the holiday season. Continue reading »
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Kyle Martin on December 1, 2021
Zeds Dead—one of the most popular names in electronic music—is throwing an exciting display of booming bass, flashing lights and rapid-fire electro-beats on Saturday. Dylan “DC” Mamid and Zack “Hooks” Rapp-Rovan, the two behind the Canadian duo, started in the electronic world in 2009 and have mashed the gas ever since. With world tours under their belt and a looming discography of music, Zeds Dead is known to slay a crowd with a thrilling show. Whether in a concert hall or a festival’s grass field, the Toronto-based project brings waves of basslines and fast-paced melodies to anyone ready to feel the rhythm. Continue reading »
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Kyle Martin on December 1, 2021
One of the Bay’s favorite radio stations, 99.7 NOW, is throwing a pop music bash with some of the heaviest hitting artists from the Bay and beyond. Local crowd favorites such as Saweetie (“Best Friend”) and 24kGoldn (“Mood”) are gonna rock the stage, alongside an all-star cast of pop superstars like Doja Cat, the Black Eyed Peas, Tai Verdes, Tate McCrae and The Kid Laroi. This kind of showcase has a diverse range of style and talent, and there will be no shortage of dancing, singing and glam to go around. The outfits are expected to stun and the music is expected to slap. Continue reading »
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Jay Edgar on December 1, 2021
Jlin is an electronic producer who has gained a reputation for pushing the limits of footwork, the Chicagoland dance tradition in which she traces her origins. While her records have dabbled in experimental and IDM directions, Jlin has broken new ground by translating Mozart’s famous Requiem in D minor into a footwork extravaganza for Macarthur genius choreographer Kyle Abraham’s dance company AIM. The black box legend’s take on one of Mozart’s more opaque works promises to be a fascinating meeting of cultural traditions, both classical and contemporary, to explore themes of ritual, mourning, and rebirth. Continue reading »
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Jay Edgar on December 1, 2021
Music nerds of all stripes can agree: vinyl is how music is meant to be heard. The gorgeous campus of the East Side’s Mexican Heritage Plaza is set to host a daylong celebration of the most durable format, with a plethora of vendors hawking records across genres, and DJs spinning great hip hop to show the digital natives what’s up. The guest of honor is producer Domino of Bay Area rap legends Hieroglyphics, who will be spinning vinyl himself as well as guesting on a live taping of San Jose’s excellent Dad Bod Rap Pod. Continue reading »
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Grace Stetson on December 1, 2021
2020 would have been Beethoven’s 250th birthday, but real heads are celebrating his 251st (ok, COVID got a little in the way last year). This weekend, internationally renowned conductor John Nelson will lead the Symphony in two performances in their salute to the maestro and showcasing his signature work. Performances will include Leonore Overture No. 3, Piano Concerto No. 4 and Symphony No. 5, with a special piano solo by native Californian Jon Nakamatsu. The team will emphasize Beethoven’s world-reach, incorporating his embodiment to the major and the minor through his signature work. Now for the real question: will there be a birthday cake? Continue reading »
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Elliott Sky Case on December 1, 2021
The portrait—especially the nude—holds a crucial space in the artistic canon, but the form is heavy with baggage regarding whose bodies are displayed, how and by whom. SJMA’s Our whole, unruly selves, which runs through June, explores and questions those complications. A cross-disciplinary group show with work ranging from the 1960s to the present, Our whole, unruly selves features work from POC, queer, immigrant and disabled artists. As groups historically made invisible or fetishized in art, the show aims to include a spectrum of perspectives and to deconstruct the box of “representation” so many artists feel stuck within today. Continue reading »
