by
Elliott Sky Case on June 30, 2021
Fireworks will start while the sun is still high in the sky with a melting pot of sound and sensation at Les Play House’s tour-kickoff daytime party. Bay Area battle veteran Miles Medina spins his award-winning blend of danceable house beats, pop classics and R&B cuts for a pure California mood. Virginia dreamweaver Lakim—claimed by LA’s eclectic DJ collective Soulection—brings spacey synths, hip-hop influence and ethereal vocal samples to keep bodies swaying through the afternoon. With support from BZAR, Yurimagination, Rieta and The Modes (Anselmode & Hideemode), the all-day chill vibes blow Hot Girl Summer into full effect. Continue reading »
by
Grace Stetson on June 30, 2021
What better way to enjoy a beautiful Saturday afternoon than a pool party? This Saturday, the team at Corinthian Grand Ballroom opens the historic space for a true 21st century event, with DJ and record producer Harry “Choo Choo” Romero spinning poolside all afternoon. Romero last DJ’ed in the space back in 2019, and is sure to send some electric sunshine vibes out across the expansive party space with classic party tracks like “Where Do We Go?” and the millennial dance hit “Just Can’t Get Enough.” Food and drinks available for purchase, and pink swimsuits highly encouraged. Continue reading »
by
Dan Mitchell on June 30, 2021
The country as a whole has made up its mind about cannabis: the broad consensus is that it should be legal at the federal level. Prohibitionists in Congress, however, are still mucking up the works.
While Democrats generally favor legalization and Republicans generally oppose it, both support and opposition are bipartisan, an unusual situation in today’s highly polarized Washington. While it seems likely that pot will be legalized sometime in the coming few years, the outlook remains murky, especially in terms of the timing. Murkier still is the reasoning—if that’s what you can call it—of the prohibitionists in Congress. The reasons they give for their continued censoriousness make less sense with each passing day.
Continue reading »
by
Jay Edgar on June 30, 2021
Though he is a longtime stand-up and comedy writer, Gareth Reynolds is probably best-known as co-host of the subversive history podcast The Dollop. And though that show is known for tackling under-told stories from US history from an acerbic and unapologetically left-wing perspective, maybe don’t expect a lot of history talk from Reynolds, who infamously learned Ben Franklin was never POTUS on the show. Instead, the Milwaukee-born comedian quips his way through topics like the perfect story to tell on Jeopardy, and being raised in Wisconsin by British immigrants. Continue reading »
by
Mike Huguenor on June 30, 2021
Two weeks ago, in a nondescript stretch of pavement in industrial San Jose, 2,000 hardcore fans gathered for one of the most unexpected music events to hit the South Bay in years: RBS (Real Bay Shit).
“It was legendary,” says Bailey Lupo, bassist of show-opener Scowl. “We soundchecked at 4pm, two hours before it started. We played one measure, and people were already running to the front and moshing.”
The packed, completely word-of-mouth event (see page 17 for full coverage) showed why San Jose is, in KQED’s words, “quickly becoming the epicenter of the country’s hardcore scene.” It also proved there is a pent-up hunger for live music in the South Bay. That’s good, because what few live music venues San Jose had before the pandemic are still reeling from it’s effects.
Continue reading »
by
Elliott Sky Case on June 30, 2021
Summer travel is picking up, but for those still in the city, a bit of New Orleans flavor comes to Art Boutiki, San Jose’s comic store/indie venue/gem for finding all things outside the box. Led by the vocal harmonies of sisters Abigail and Glori Cosio, Bon Bon Vivant lays out boisterous cabaret bops and soulful ballads, carrying the audience from Saturday night’s bourbon-soaked black lace to sweating out sin on Sunday morning. This livestream/live audience hybrid will have tickets for in-person revelers and worldwide broadcasting for the housebound, cautious, hungover and out-of-town, bringing a sultry Southern evening to their bedrooms. Continue reading »
by
Mike Huguenor on June 23, 2021
Like the unstoppable bass drum of D-Beat, The Ritz’s long-running Punk Rock Flea Market returns to downtown right on time. Though this year’s event takes place on the patio space at the nearby LVL Up, it still comes with merch, music, clothing, and plenty more for today’s discerning punk. To ring in the return, San Jose’s hometown heroes of heaviness Sunami headline a hardcore lineup that includes brutal locals like Extinguish, Connoisseur, and Lead Dream (with members of SJ’s other hardcore heroes Gulch). It’s sure to be a lovely Sunday on the veranda, my dear punks. Continue reading »
by
Jay Edgar on June 23, 2021
Songstress Trish Toledo spins some gorgeous chicano soul, tapping into an oft-overlooked SoCal musical tradition dating back to the 1960s with acts like Cannibal & the Headhunters. Today, the Southern California “souldies” scene remains a fixture for those in the know in LA and Orange County. Toledo has put out a couple EPs of silky smooth, old school love songs, and a few 45s with souldies frequent collaborators like rapper Baby Bash on “Do You Love” and Thee Sinseers on “Thee Only One.” By the time the brass begins to swell, hearts will too. Continue reading »
by
Jay Edgar on June 23, 2021
As the pandemic hopefully enters our rear view mirror, now is the perfect time to heal from a traumatic year through the universal values of Peace, Love, Unity, and Respect. Electronic music collective The Smile High Club has the South Bay covered with a whole day of future funk and house in LVL UP’s very cool patio, with DJs like Bzar, Rieta, and Sokyo. And while getting in touch with their own internal oneness, showgoers can check out local favorite vendors like Plant Lush and Second Hand Hustle to cop some jawns to reflect the right post-quarantine vibes for home or person. Continue reading »
by
Mike Huguenor on June 23, 2021
In early 2020, Boulder Creek dwelling folk-rockers Wolf Jett were just about to record their first full length when the pandemic hit. No longer able to travel to the recording studio, they built their own in their house up in the Santa Cruz mountains. Then, in August, the CZU lightning complex burned the whole thing down. The story is memorialized in the band’s cathartic & Seger-like single, “Garden of Pain,” complete with a video shot on location in the remains of the drummer’s former bedroom—a song the band is sure to rip through during their free livestream from Art Boutiki this Saturday. Continue reading »
