by
Elliott Sky Case on February 23, 2022
Indie-rock outfit Enjambre calls Zacatecas their original home, but the band has lived, developed and flexed their infectious sound in Southern California and Mexico City over the last decade. When the group was unable to tour their album Próximos Prójimos in either country due to the pandemic, frontman Luis Humberto Navejas decided instead to begin writing an EP in English. Ambrosia’s single, the power-poppy “Delorean,” evokes a smooth and bright ’80s nostalgia fitting to the song’s title. San Francisco synth-rockers Kavarzee open, matching the retro-future tone with dark, dancey bilingual jams.
Continue reading »
by
Jay Edgar on February 23, 2022
Mexico’s flavor of pro wrestling, lucha libre, is known for its eye-popping acrobatic stunts and focus on high-flying choreography—as well as the masked personas that participating luchadors take on. Pro Wrestling Revolution has been bringing the magic of lucha to the States for a while now, and this week’s card is looking real good, with current PWR champion and legendary Japanese luchador Ultimo Dragon defending his title against the hated La Migra faction. The day also includes Mexican television wrestling stars like Psicosis and Dr Wagner Jr., as well as local indie favorite Vinnie Massaro.
Continue reading »
by
Alec Adams on February 23, 2022
In a few short years, La Santa Cecilia has gone from playing SoCal coffee shops to becoming “the voice of a new bicultural generation.” The LA-based act is often described as a rock band, but effortlessly pulls in bossa nova, cumbia, rumba and tango into its identity without compromising any part of their sound. Their success since the release of 2013’s Grammy-winning Treinta Días has even led to an appearance on a Disney soundtrack. Their captivating songwriting and silky smooth guitar licks will ensure that the vibes at this year’s San Jose Jazz Winter Fest are in peak form.
Continue reading »
by
Alec Adams on February 23, 2022
Culture Night Market has been ongoing for just about two years now, having started in the early stages of our current pandemic-centered reality. When the local scene for arts and culture was on its back foot, Culture Night Market aimed to “empower small business, local entrepreneurs, and artists,” a goal just as urgent now as at any point since 2020. On Saturday they return to Eastridge Loop with a stacked lineup of artists punctuated by Philthy Dronez, who specializes in fusing modern DJ production with classic cumbia music, incorporating a mix of live musicianship and dancey electronics to breathe new life into the folk style.
Continue reading »
by
Mike Huguenor on February 23, 2022
Once a duo, Chicago’s Flosstradamus is now solely DJ Curt Cameruci, aka Autobot. The EDM artist and early trap innovator is known for dancefloor-igniting remixes of Major Lazer, Young Thug and Fetty Wap (among others), but the real youngsters might remember seeing them perform “The Peanut Butter Stomp” with Nickelodeon’s Yo Gabba Gabba. In 2016, Josh Young (aka J2K) split from the group to pursue his solo career, but now Cameruci carries the delphic mantle, bringing enough beats, drops and trap hi-hats to keep Friday night going well into Saturday morning.
Continue reading »
by
Jay Edgar on February 23, 2022
Grammy-winning, genre-bending pianist Robert Glasper has built a reputation for collaborating with all-stars throughout the worlds of hip hop, R&B and jazz, and as a member of jazz supergroup The Dinner Party with Kamasi Washington, Terrace Martin and 9th Wonder. But he’s probably best known for his contributions to Kendrick Lamar’s seminal To Pimp a Butterfly. Glasper’s newest record, Black Radio III, coming out the day of the show, promises a historic lineup of features, with lead single “Black Superhero” featuring the talents of rappers Killer Mike, BJ the Chicago Kid, and Big K.R.I.T.
Continue reading »
by
Grace Stetson on February 23, 2022
It looks like the Grand Ole Opry has found its way to Mountain View. This weekend, the Smuin Contemporary Ballet troupe will perform their tribute to the late-great American country icon Patsy Cline. Known for tunes like “Walkin’ After Midnight” and “Crazy,” Cline built a mystique over her short eight-year career that still influences today’s younger starlets to combine the twangs of country music with pop stardom. The troupe—led by choreographer Gina Patterson and dancemaker Amy Seiwert—will take those influences to the stage for each two-hour performance.
Continue reading »
by
Addie Mahmassani on February 23, 2022
Acclaimed beat-maker MNDSGN translates the emotions of everyday life into a soothing flow on his latest record, Rare Pleasure. The LA-based producer and songwriter grew up in New Jersey, breakdancing to hip hop, playing the organ and sharing beat tapes with friends online. This background led him to a solo career on the iconic indie label Stones Throw, as well as to collaborations with other experimental hip hop artists like Pink Siifu and Tyler, the Creator. Blending jazz, samba, exotica and even vintage radio jingles with reflective lyrics, MNDSGN welcomes San Jose listeners into his endlessly innovative sonic world this Wednesday night.
Continue reading »
by
Grace Stetson on February 23, 2022
A picture tells a thousand words but the work of a master can tell so, so much more. Opening this Wednesday at the Cantor Arts Center is an exhibition documenting the work of the late Gordon Parks. The African-American photographer—best known for using his camera to confront racism and discrimination during the Civil Rights era—began taking pictures in Kansas when he was just eight years old. Over the course of his career, his photographs would be featured in Life magazine and he would go on to receive more than 20 honorary doctorates, including a NAACP Image Award in 2003.
Continue reading »
by
Elliott Sky Case on February 16, 2022
Poet and educator Angel Dominguez’s newest book, Desgraciado: The Collected Letters, concerns a fire: specifically, the fire ordered by Spanish friar Diego de Landa which, in 1562, burned several Mayan texts in the Yucatán Peninsula in an attempt to destroy the language and the “idolatry” of the Maya religion.
Continue reading »
