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Jay Edgar on July 21, 2021
Truly a product of Silicon Valley cultural exchange, Aki Kumar is a San Jose-based bluesman fusing the great American tradition with musical influences from his native India. As a singer and harmonica player, Kumar plays classic electric blues with a little bit of ‘50s rock and pop, and throws that in the blender with the kind of melodies you might hear in classical Indian music or Bollywood film scores. When it all comes together, you get a light, surf-y sound both instantly recognizable and unlike anything you’ve heard before. Continue reading »
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Mike Huguenor on July 21, 2021
San Jose and lowriding go together like drop tops and switches. Not only was Story & King once the West Coast mecca of lowriding, the chainwheel was created here, along with Lowrider magazine and the Homies toys. This Sunday, San Jose’s own StreetLow Magazine invites the community to celebrate its proud history of lowriding with the “Riding With Legends” car show. Musical accompaniment of the day will be provided by legendary Chicano rockers Thee Midniters and KMEL DJ Rick Lee. And to top it all off, there’s a guest appearance by Magic himself, actor Victor Rivers from Chicano film classic Blood In Blood Out. Continue reading »
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Mike Huguenor on July 21, 2021
For the tempestuous and the rosy alike, Hurricane Roses center the eye of the storm on the Willow Den this Saturday. Back in 2015, the moody San Jose/Santa Cruz americana group played what was supposed to be their final show—but this weekend they’re back and bursting with gently twanging tales of love and loss, warm acoustics and heartstring-tugging lap steel. Though 2014’s Home to Haunt You remains the band’s most recent release, the intervening years have lent that album’s alt country rollick a certain mellow vintage, particularly the bobbing, bruised title track. Continue reading »
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Elliott Sky Case on July 21, 2021
Audience members at Art Boutiki this Saturday will find themselves transported to another realm by Starover Blue’s ethereal tapestry of sound. Founding members of the Portland-based band met at SJSU, where vocalist Kendall Sallay studied operatic performance—a background made clear through her gossamer soprano. With dreamlike synth melodies, mellow folk guitar and mathy post-rock rhythms, Starover Blue weave together myriad influences seamlessly. The mythical haze may even inspire some to leave the venue with one of Art Boutiki’s many fantasy comic titles, but a livestream of the set is also available for those who prefer to daydream at home. Continue reading »
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Jay Edgar on July 21, 2021
Those who’ve missed mingling with fellow theatre-lovers now finally have a chance again: Mountain View’s Pear Theatre is throwing a free 20th season soiree for patrons both returning and prospective. Among the festivities (and margaritas), you’ll also get your first chance to subscribe to the upcoming season of terrific productions, the institution’s first under new Artistic Director Sinjin Jones. On offer this year are the world premiere of local playwright Meghan Maugeri’s Mother of the Bride, several double-feature “Pear Pairings,” and the return of the popular Season 12 production of The Tempest. RSVP required. Continue reading »
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Mike Huguenor on July 21, 2021
The annual Gilroy Garlic Festival returns in modified form this year with three separate events centering around the highly aromatic herb. First is the famous Gourmet Alley, where hungry non-vampires can consume a cornucopia of garlicky classics. This year’s Alley is more alley-like than ever in that it is a drive-thru event. Saturday night’s farm-to-table dinner at Fortino Winery meanwhile is a more upscale affair: a four-course meal sourced from local ingredients, paired with local wines and, of course, cooked with local garlic. Then the following weekend at Gilroy Golf Course, there’s the Garlic Festival Golf Classic, where everybody stinks on the course. Continue reading »
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Elliott Sky Case on July 21, 2021
Love tangles, nostalgia, and extravagant dance numbers—Stephen Sondheim’s 1971 musical Follies has it all, and National Theatre Live brings it with a 21-piece orchestra to SJSU’s Hammer Theatre, part of a nationwide screening series of their award-winning live performance recordings. Set in the crumbling Weissman theater as former chorus girls relive their glory days, Follies resonates poignantly in a period where venues across the country have fought to stay open amid the pandemic. Directed by Dominic Cooke and filmed in 2017, Broadway pedants can say they saw National Theatre’s production before Follies’ upcoming film adaptation, also slated to be directed by Cooke. Continue reading »
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Grace Stetson on July 21, 2021
Sometimes you have to make fun of the big boss. Fortunately for the office, there’s a group of local comedians who feel this truth and are bringing their NSFW humor to the South Bay for free this weekend. Produced by Tyler Stannard of SuperStackedComedy, this Thursday will see a group of six comedians—including Austin Carr and Shannon Murphy—unleash their best takes on what makes the office tick (or not). The event is completely free, but make sure to register in advance to confirm your seat, and remember to bring cash for some great grub, courtesy of AbvetheBasics. Continue reading »
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Mike Huguenor on July 21, 2021
Oenophiles be on alert: many great vineyards and wine distributors will be gathering in Cupertino this Thursday. Though Campbell’s limited-capacity Wine Walk sold out well in advance, Cupertino’s Food & Wine Stroll offers South Bay denizens another chance to sup on the move this week. Taking place at Main Street by the former Vallco Mall (RIP), the Stroll features vins and varietals from near and far, including celebrated locals like Vidovich Vineyards and Testarossa, as well as imported favorites from RiBevi Italian Wines and more. Wristbands available for wine and food, or just food. Continue reading »
