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Jay Edgar on July 7, 2021
Those still looking to get hyphy after Mac Dre Day on the 5th can’t do much better than seeing San Francisco underground rap legend and Mac Dre collaborator Andre Nickatina—the killa whale—bring the party to South Side SJ’s Branham Lounge. Often spoken in the same breath as both the Thizz Entertainment founder and E-40, the artist formerly known as Dre Dog has been steadily releasing West Coast underground classics for the past three decades, and even rapped over a sample of “Juicy” a year before Biggie. He might be “The Most Hated Man in ‘Frisco,” but he’ll be feeling the love in San Jose. Continue reading »
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Mike Huguenor on July 7, 2021
In just a few short years, Oakland musician Xavier Amin Dphrepaulezz, aka Fantastic Negrito, went from busking in a San Francisco BART station to collecting his first, second and then third Grammy for Best Contemporary Blues Album. Among other accomplishments, surely 2020’s Have You Lost Your Mind Yet? was the first Best Contemporary Blues Album winner to feature E-40 on a track. In April, the fantastic Mr. Dphrepaulezz also released “Root City,” a funky new theme song for Oakland Roots Sports Club celebrating soccer’s power to bring people together featuring the inclusive lyric: “I always remember that we’re all from The Town.” Continue reading »
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Mike Huguenor on July 7, 2021
Known for his Infectious energy, down-to-earth humor and muscles to rival Kumail Nanjiani, comedian Preacher Lawson was a fan favorite on season 12 of America’s Got Talent, and then a Grand Finalist in America’s Got Talent: The Champions. Though he never quite won the televised contests, he did win over a lot of fans with his inspiring story, perseverance and one-liners like: “I don’t have a thing for white women, I just live next to Trader’s Joe’s.” The vegan comic makes the Improv his home for the weekend. Praise Lil Jon 3:16. Continue reading »
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Mat Weir on June 30, 2021
On Saturday, June 19, in a San Jose parking lot surrounded by car stereo garages and physical therapist businesses, over 2,000 people swarmed for the underground renegade show RBS—“Real Bay Shit.”
The event featured stars of the nationally renowned San Jose/Santa Cruz hardcore scene like Gulch, Sunami and Drain, along with similarly brutal acts from Southern California. Within a week, videos of the show went viral on YouTube, and media outlets ranging from KQED to Brooklyn Vegan picked up the story. Continue reading »
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Jay Edgar on June 30, 2021
San Jose’s downtown restaurant scene has weathered a lot over the past year, but its comeback story continues with Dine Downtown throughout the month. Participating restaurants—including everything from the fine Oaxacan dining room Mezcal to third-wave coffee stalwarts like Academic Coffee and Paper Moon Cafe—are offering special dishes only available until July 18th. Additionally, some of the city’s finest offerings, including the Michelin-rated Little Portugal phenom Adega, are offering special prix fixe tasting menus. Twenty-seven restaurants in all are participating, including first-timers The Good Spot, Petiscos, Scott’s Chowder House and The Shop by Chef Baca, all of which opened during the pandemic. Continue reading »
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Mike Huguenor on June 30, 2021
This Fourth of July, the Poor House Bistro is celebrating sixteen years of blues, brews, and flavorful cajun food with a blowout to remember. The event is sure to be the last anniversary held at their original location on Autumn St., as the entire Bistro, 100-year old Victorian and all, is about to relocate to Little Italy to avoid the path of Google development. The party begins at 4pm with a parade from nearby Diridon Station. Once it gets back, Jefe and the Family Band kick out the jams and keep them coming til the sun goes down. Continue reading »
With their capacious patio, LVL Up arrived in downtown San Jose just in time for the warmer months. For their Fourth of July Block Party, the barcade/venue presents an afternoon of hip hop and indie rock with Turn Me On Dead, 3 Headed Dragon, and Dox Black, whose new album Enigma is some 408 hip-hop to bump. Along with music comes a variety of vendors and food, but the real jewel is the Street Fighter II tournament. Who will have what it takes to rise to the top? You must defeat Sheng Long to stand a chance. Continue reading »
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Mike Huguenor on June 30, 2021
Featuring four hours of live entertainment ranging from folklorico to circus performance, a car show, two San Jose Bike Party rides and a bike decorating contest, ‘Rose, White & Blue’ is surely the most bang for your zero bucks this Sunday morning. The family-friendly event is presented by the Alameda Business Association and Shasta Hackett Park Neighborhood Association, and draws inspiration from the Fiestas de las Rosas, San Jose’s bygone parade from a century ago, which once rivaled Pasadena’s famed “Rose Parade” in floral regard. Parade begins at Lincoln High and ends at Westminster Presbyterian, where the festivities continue. Continue reading »
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Mike Huguenor on June 30, 2021
DJ Snake once commented that 4B was the “next big thing” in EDM, and the reptile has a point. 4B’s massive dance tracks gather and swell ominously, then explode into white hot dubstep freakouts. When the beat finally drops in 2015 hit “Pop Dat,” it slams with the same lunatic intensity as DJ Snake’s own “Turn Down For What,” jagged melodies popping and locking all over the cavernous subs. The Jersey club producer is one of the earliest performers to drop in at the newly reopened Pure Nightclub in Sunnyvale, who also recently opened a club called (wait for it) YOLO. Continue reading »
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Grace Stetson on June 30, 2021
Downtown Mountain View may seem stiff in the daylight—but on Saturday night, the Opal Event Center and Social Club is the place to be. Come Saturday, the club will host its third weekend of “Lit Saturdays,” a hip-hop and reggaeton dance party for fans from across the Bay to get their groove on into the early morning. This weekend will feature sets by DJ Frisko Eddy—known for salsa, cumbia and moombah—and DJ Marroquin, who runs the turntables for Latino 95.5 FM in Sonoma County. Clubbers who arrive before 11 pm get free admission. Continue reading »
