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Matei Predescu on August 14, 2019
The legacy of Johnny Cash lives on with the help of singer-guitarist Danny Millsap and the Hennessy Three—together forming The Only Johnny Cash Tribute Band. Millsap credits a 1990 Cash concert in Fresno as a formative moment, sparking a lifelong goal to keep the music and mystery of The Man in Black alive. Millsap also helms a few other country acts, including a band under his own name. With his Cash tribute, he’s performed all over Northern California and the Central Valley, breathing new life into the legendary ballads of the somber singer-songwriter. Continue reading »
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Erika Rasmussen on August 14, 2019
This pair of Los Angeles-based bands takes two distinctly different approaches to video game music. Super MadNES goes hard, crafting shred-tastic heavy metal renditions of classic console and arcade scores. Deploying twin finger-tapping runs and twinkling synths, they rip through netherworldly scales at a blistering pace as they take on tunes from titles like RoboCop and Castlevania III. Extra Lives is no less technical, though they are more laid back. The quartet pays homage to the 1980s and ’90s with jazzier renditions of songs from Super Mario World and Sonic the Hedgehog. Continue reading »
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Matei Predescu on August 14, 2019
San Jose’s seasonal Viva Parks series is back at it—activating Plaza de César Chávez with local bands, food trucks and family-friendly activities. Friday’s 5pm concert features Texas-born songstress Steely Nash and her band, the Cuts. Nash toes the line between country and pop with her soulful, sassy delivery and danceable beats. On Sunday, local alternative band Life Size Models takes to the park for a brunch-hour show starting at 11am. LSM mix earnest, heartfelt lyricism, driving guitar riffs and high-energy drumming, drawing inspiration from groups such as Arctic Monkeys and The Cure. Continue reading »
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Kael Austria on August 14, 2019
When Wicked comes to town, crowds flock to the theater like it’s the Emerald City. This beloved Broadway musical, which premiered in San Francisco almost 14 years ago, tells the story of Elphaba, a bold gal with a mossy complexion—long before she was known as the Wicked Witch of the West in the Land of Oz. Accompanied by a critically acclaimed score, featuring songs such as “Popular,” and of course, “Defying Gravity,” the witches of Oz will spin a radical narrative about their origins, friendships and differences. The show runs through Sep. 8 at the SJCPA. Continue reading »
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Matei Predescu on August 14, 2019
No Strings Attached is no ordinary cover band. Featuring classical musicians from the United Kingdom’s leading orchestras, plus DJs and singers, this chamber orchestra pays tribute to legendary producer, rapper and entrepreneur Dr. Dre. Featuring orchestral arrangements of Dr. Dre’s G-funk opus, 2001, this collaborative and multidisciplinary consortium tears down preconceived genre barriers by incorporating classical instrumentation and musical techniques in the context of a hard-hitting hip-hop performance. Currently on the West Coast leg of their world tour, No Strings Attached has performed across northern Europe, Australia and the East Coast. Continue reading »
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Metro Staff on August 14, 2019
Canadian-born singer and songwriter Leslie Feist has been making music since 1991, and has been an integral member of the sprawling Canadian indie-rock collective Broken Social Scene since its founding in 1999. Both she and Broken Social Scene released full-length albums in 2017. Her solo release was titled Pleasure; the BSS album was Hug of Thunder. Even those not fully plugged in to mid-2000s North American indie rock may recognize her breezy 2007 single “1234.” Featuring both banjo and a swelling brass section—natch—the tune gained mainstream traction thanks in large part to Apple, which used the song in an iPod Nano commercial. Continue reading »
Why do you need to scan my ID, Mr. Dispensary Receptionist Guy? The bouncer at your fancy facility already checked my driver’s license and confirmed I’m over 21. You’re really making this whole “legal weed” buying thing very par-annoying. Yeah! That’s “paranoid” and “annoying” put together because those are the kind of words you come up with when you’re high. So, what gives? Why do I need to be in your database?! I have a job, you know? … A family! Are you going to use this visit against me? Is there a background check I have to pass? Will future employers find this on my record? Shit! I should have never come here! I don’t need weed gummies or pastries. How the hell would I know what types of marijuana strains are conducive to the type of high I prefer? I just wanna get high, man. I don’t want to fill out a form and answer a few questions like, “Is this your first time here?” What are you, a cop?! You can keep your dirty $10-Off-for-First-Time-Customer certificate! I’m going back to my weed guy!
I Saw You is an anonymous “man on the street” column. Email your rants and raves about co-workers or any badly behaving citizens to [email protected], or send to 380 S. First St, San Jose, 95113. Submissions should stick to about 100 words.
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Metro Staff on August 7, 2019
One of the oddest and most transgressive bands America ever produced came out of the South. Go figure. This group of Athens, Georgia, weirdos broke onto the scene in 1978 with “Rock Lobster”—following it up with a bevy of big hits, including “Love Shack” and “Private Idaho.” At first blush, their debut single sounds like a dadaist mash-up of surf-rock tropes, post-punk yawps, new wave synths and doo-wop cooing. But listen closer and you’ll hear the gender-bending themes hiding beneath the beehives. In retrospect it’s clear: “boys in bikinis, girls with surfboards”is a not-so-subtle dig at the toxic machismo of late-’70s surf culture. Continue reading »
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Matei Predescu on August 7, 2019
These hip-hop and R&B superstars first collaborated on their 1997 single “Love is All We Need,” topping the charts with wholesome verses sung by Blige in her trademark soulful tone. The duo linked up earlier this year on another single, “Thriving,” to announce their co-headlining summer “Royalty Tour.” Their vastly influential careers began in the ’90s, with legendary albums like Nas’ Illmatic and Blige’s What’s the 411? Today, the artists are still going strong. Nas’ 11th studio album, Nasir, was released in 2018, and Blige’s The Strength of Woman dropped in 2017. Continue reading »
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Bill Kopp on August 7, 2019
With their unique synthesis of musical forms from the Americas—everything from rock & roll to cumbia to zydeco—Los Lobos are an American treasure. The East LA-based group has long been a favorite of critics. Rolling Stone ranked Los Lobos’ third album, 1984’s How Will the Wolf Survive?, at No. 30 on its list of the greatest albums of that decade. And 1992’s Kiko is perhaps even more highly regarded, earning near-unanimous critical acclaim. The group continues to earn awards and recognition. Their most recent release is 2015’s Gates of Gold. They’re joined at the Mountain Winery by Los Lonely Boys. Continue reading »
