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Metro Staff on March 4, 2020
Last weekend, LVL Up Respawn became the second arcade bar to open its doors in downtown San Jose. A spinoff of Campbell’s original LVL Up, the new bar and eatery features pinball, cabinet games and ski ball. It’s a reactivation of the former Bo Town Seafood Restaurant, which had been vacant since April of 2019. This is the second endeavor by LVL Up co-owners David Ramsey and Josh Schulenberg, who together took over the main floor of the former Gaslighter Theater in downtown Campbell. Stop by this weekend’s grand opening for drinks, games and bites, courtesy of pop-up-kitchen purveyor (and Metro contributor) Matthew A. Close. Continue reading »
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Metro Staff on March 4, 2020
Ben Franklin once said (allegedly), “Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy.” Today, many more might say the same thing about hot wings, a no-doubter in the Pub Food Hall of Fame. On March 7, a Wing Crawl wristband will be good for a sample plate of hot chicken wings at four downtown San Jose venues, along with discounts for beer, exclusive drink specials and souvenirs. Registration is at The Brit in San Jose and the whole thing culminates in a DJ party at the end. Bring walking shoes, clothes that hide sauce stains, and lots of amigos. Continue reading »
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Metro Staff on March 4, 2020
Hot off the release of his two-track Awakening EP, Saymyname rolls through Murphy Avenue for what’s sure to be a highly energetic set. Known to many in the industry as the godfather of hardtrap, the Los Angeles-bred producer has the support of some of the biggest names in heavy-hitting EDM—including DJ Snake and Skrillex. It’s easy to understand why. Saymyname’s penchant is for bouncing between rousing, anthemic melodies and dissonant, screeching drops. He’s come a long way since spinning up a trap remix of the Barney theme song on a lark back in 2013. Continue reading »
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Metro Staff on March 4, 2020
Sunnyvale is about to get a healthy dose of prog and deep house when 3LAU returns to Pure. The Las Vegas producer is known not only for his original music and remixes, but also as the founder of Our Music Festival and Blume—a not-for-profit dance music label dedicated to raising money for educational initiatives. His set is likely to include hits such as “How You Love Me,” “Is It Love,” “Fire,” “On My Mind” and “Hot Water,” as well as cuts from his 2018 debut album Ultraviolet. Continue reading »
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Metro Staff on March 4, 2020
South Bay denizens who occasionally scan the FM dial will be familiar with the region’s many Spanish- and Spanglish-speaking radio stations. These broadcasters typically trade in traditional Mexican folk—like banda, ranchera and mariachi—or various iterations of pop-inflected reggaeton and tropical house. Mexican indie rock is less commonly heard by Anglo ears. Mexico City–based band Little Jesus play quirky, guitar-driven tunes with Spanish lyrics for a predominantly Latino audience. They aim to break out in America on their current tour. Continue reading »
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Mike Huguenor on March 4, 2020
“Believe,” the last single by San Jose singer-songwriter Socorra, was a nugget of pure melancholy pop in the spirit of “Dreams,” by the Cranberries. But on Muddy Water, her new EP, the powerful vocalist trades in the alt-rock chord progressions for a bluesy riff pulled straight out of the Mississippi Delta. Has she left pop behind for good? Pick up a copy of the EP at the release show to find out. The Anachronists and Adira Sharkey share the bill. Continue reading »
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Wallace Baine on March 4, 2020
This latest production by TheatreWorks Silicon Valley—a Northern California premiere—tells the story of Jerrie Cobb, an accomplished aviator who might have become America’s first female astronaut, if she had only been given the chance. Inspired by Amelia Earhart, Cobb sought to become part of the Mercury space program in the early 1960s and passed several fitness tests. In 1962, she even testified before Congress on sex discrimination in the space program. But she was unable to convince NASA to allow her to compete alongside male pilots. Much of the play’s dialogue is drawn from reports and congressional hearings. Runs through March 29. Continue reading »
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Wallace Baine on March 4, 2020
Not that anyone needs an excuse to visit the delightfully retro environs of History Park in San Jose. But opening this month is a promising program for anyone interested in California history. As its title implies, Her Side of the Story: Tales of California Pioneer Women features 30 first-person accounts of women who arrived in California in the first years of statehood. The exhibit is based on a ledger that documented women’s stories in California before 1854. It also includes 40 portraits of unidentified pioneer women to create a fuller picture of women’s lives during the Gold Rush. Continue reading »
Through woven sculpture and installation, Bay Area artist Kira Dominguez Hultgren examines her Indian heritage. In “I Was India: Embroidering Exoticism,” the textile artist takes two of the Punjabi phulkaris, or shawls, which she found in her grandmother’s cedar chest. The artist uses these garments, embroidered by her aunt nearly a century ago, as a point of departure—asking the viewer to reconsider “colonial and contemporary exoticism.” These head-coverings typify the material cultural practices of pre-partition Punjab. The exhibit runs through April 12. Continue reading »
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Bill Kopp on February 26, 2020
To listeners who have followed his work over the last few decades, it may appear that guitarist Eric Gales has evolved his technique. While quite good for what they are, the pair of albums he released in 2006 and 2007—Crystal Vision and The Psychedelic Underground—are characterized by what detractors might call overplaying. Continue reading »
