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Jay Edgar on September 1, 2021
At the end of an intense summer, many may be reaching for that trusty “chill beats to study and relax to” playlist—but they should really be finding some warm beats to vibe out on. A classically trained pianist, MitiS keeps piano central to his bass music production and creates just that: a “new age classical music” that is warm and flowy and often veers toward the melancholy. Picture the ideal soundtrack to the last day of summer camp. The audience will be vibrating on another frequency when the audio sunset hits the Civic. Continue reading »
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Mike Huguenor on September 1, 2021
Puerto Rican singer Rauw Alejandro catapulted to pop stardom in 2018 with the release of “Que Le De,” his infectious hit with Nicky Jam. Melancholic yet bouncy, the yearning reggaeton banger lined up perfectly with Rauw’s nimble croon. Since then, he’s only gotten bigger, with his recent Weeknd-like single “Todo de Ti” racking up over 300M views on YouTube in just a matter of months. At El Puro Party, he’s joined by Puerto Rican rapper Guaynaa, the man behind 2019’s “ReBoTa,” as well as the Original Rude Girl herself: the one and only Ivy Queen. Continue reading »
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Mike Huguenor on September 1, 2021
Though it is only roughly the size of Connecticut, Jamaica’s influence on world culture is impossible to overstate. This week, Jamaican artist Ebony G. Patterson’s stunning mixed-media exhibit wraps up at San Jose’s Institute of Contemporary Art, and to celebrate the run, San Jose Jazz hosts “Reggae Warrior” Winstrong out front in their roving Boombox Truck. The mighty singer takes influence from genre-melding artists like KRS-One, and mixes dancehall, hip hop, roots and reggae into an inspired whole. He’s got a conscious message, too, as heard on his evergreen dub single “Save the Environment.” Continue reading »
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Alec Adams on September 1, 2021
The mood has been dour but there’s no need to cower, because now is the hour for Tower of Power. One of funk’s most storied acts, the Oakland-natives bring their legendary horn ensemble and inspired bass playing to Mountain Winery this Friday. They’ve been in the game for five decades, and though the line up has changed often, they stick to their guns when it comes to delivering the hits. Plus, science says that it is physically impossible to refrain from dancing once these guys get going. This is a show best enjoyed with a glass of wine and good company. Continue reading »
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Grace Stetson on September 1, 2021
It can be hard to find an art exhibition for everyone in the family, but Kaleid is trying. Opening this Friday as part of San Jose South First Fridays Art Walks, the gallery hosts two new exhibitions from local artists. Santa Cruz-based Karen Carlo Salinger’s SHIFT demonstrates the changes of humanity through sculpture, while San Jose native’s Sarah Loyola’s A Little Peace examines a year in the life of three San Jose parks through mixed media. One of many great art shows opening this Friday, both shows run throughout the month of September. Continue reading »
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Kyle Martin on September 1, 2021
This weekend, giggin’ is the norm and rap is the form, as two Bay Area heavy hitters—Mac Mall from the V and Frisco’s own San Quinn—drop into San Jose’s LVL Up for a one-night only First Friday show. Whether a real hip hop head or just a music lover looking for a true Bay experience, these two sucka-free rappers know how to make a show smack. Both rappers have been dropping underground anthems since 1993, like Mall’s “Ghetto Theme,” which had a video directed by none other than Tupac. A love letter sent from the Bay right back to sender. Continue reading »
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Kyle Martin on September 1, 2021
Metal, gasoline, crashes, crazy launches, smoke and monsters—add it all together and it’s the Monster Truck Jam at the SAP Center. This year’s Jam features the infamous black and green Grave Digger, driven by Brandon Vinson, long a favorite of monster truck rallies, as well as many other classic machines like El Toro Loco (driven by Armando Castro) and the otherworldly Alien Invasion. All weekend long, the Jam brings treacherous stunts, perilous speed and menacing driving for the whole family. This exhilarating show rages through the weekend, and then the jam hits the road again. Continue reading »
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Jay Edgar on September 1, 2021
Coriolanus is fairly unique among Shakespeare’s tragedies, and perhaps the most rarely produced; protagonist Caius Marcius’ tyrannical worldview and lack of soliloquies make him both unsympathetic and opaque. But the travails of the Roman general-turned-politician-turned-traitor have offered a terrific window into the soul of societies undergoing great political turbulence, and have inspired terrific reimaginings like Bertolt Brecht’s posthumous labor-oriented subversion. Ken Kelleher’s Cry of Curs, is the latest entrant in this small but mighty canon, updating Marcius to a present-day politician, and mixing filmed sections with live onstage acting. Continue reading »
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Grace Stetson on September 1, 2021
Led by vocalist Dick Valentine, Electric Six is perhaps best known for their 2003 singles “Danger! High Voltage” and “Gay Bar”—but those songs are just the tip of the iceberg in a discography that includes more than a dozen studio albums, two rarities collections and a live album. This week, the Ritz hosts the Detroit-based six-piece, marking the band’s 25th anniversary of bringing cheeky, disco-inflected garage rock to the masses. Missouri indie rockers Me Like Bees kick off the show, setting the tone for a night sure to be full of grooves. Continue reading »
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Katie Lauer and Metro Staff on August 25, 2021
It doesn’t take much animation for the swirling blues, vibrant yellows and captivating blacks of Vincent van Gogh’s paintings to come to life, as they organically encapsulate movement through unblended, determined brushstrokes and boldly complementary hues.
While that effect can be achieved by ingesting magic mushrooms at home on a Saturday afternoon—or at least, so legend goes—now South Bay residents averse to psychedelics can find the next best thing at “Beyond Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience” in downtown San Jose. Continue reading »
