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Jay Edgar on January 19, 2022
At any age, Friday night is time to party and DJ Frappugino, “your girl’s favorite DJ,” knows how to keep the party going. This Friday, Frappugino kicks off the weekend at FUZE Night Club in San Jose’s SoFA district, spinning his combination of steamy R&B, high energy hip hop and (if you’re lucky) some bouncy reggaeton. Gino hits the perfect combination between fun and sexy, current and throwback to a late ’90s/early ’00s sound. He’s got the perfect soundtrack to fall in love to—even if it’s just for a night.
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Elliott Sky Case on January 19, 2022
In a career spanning over half a century, Katharine Hepburn made history as an icon of stage, screen and style. Kate, the Unexamined Life takes a more intimate look at the Hollywood legend, luminously channeled by Janis Stevens in this one-woman show. Playwright Rick Foster wrote the role with his longtime collaborator in mind, and Stevens has since performed Kate at theaters around the country to rave reviews. Set on New Year’s Eve of 1999, the play captures Hepburn at 92—four years from the end of her life—reflecting on the pinnacles and struggles of her career, her loves, and her legacy.
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Grace Stetson on January 19, 2022
There may be nothing funnier than a man in a suit destroying his comedy audience with straightforward and honest one-liners. Ronny Chieng—perhaps best known for his role as a correspondent on The Daily Show with Trevor Noah—delivers that time and time again, and this Friday he brings his sharp comedic style to the San Jose Civic. The 36-year-old star will bring his experiences from renowned blockbusters (Crazy Rich Asians), comedy specials (Asian Comedian Destroys America), The Daily Show and more to his set, while getting audiences excited for all that’s to come from Chieng’s career.
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Alec Adams on January 19, 2022
Artists in every realm had to find a way to adapt to life over the past two years. Filmmakers and musicians had ways to cope, but comedy as a genre has had to adapt the most. Luckily, the already emergent platform of TikTok was right there to give comedians new ways to reach us. The tiara-rocking Pinky Patel is a huge part of the new class of comedians to thrive in this ecosystem—her acerbic delivery is devastating and refreshingly off-hand. Patel’s online following skyrocketed into the millions almost effortlessly, and she kicks off her first ever on-stage tour in San Jose.
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Jay Edgar on January 19, 2022
Ever since Stevie Ray Vaughan, blues rock has proved itself one of the most enduringly catchy sounds in the country. St. Louis guitarist Mike Zito has been a fixture on the blues circuit for over a decade, honing a slick, string-bendy Texan blues rock that’s earned him collaborations with the likes of Joe Bonamassa, Walter Trout and Eric Gales. After releasing the aptly titled LP Quarantine Blues in summer of 2020, which endeavored to strike a hopeful tone in a chaotic and scary time, Zito followed it up with Resurrection, a return to form of cool boogies and massive licks.
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Aaron Carnes on January 12, 2022
Kayla Renelle will always remember something her brother asked her about Voluntary Hazing, her 12-piece ska band.
“You have talented musicians,” he began. “Some are classically trained. So why are you playing ska?” Continue reading »
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Grace Stetson on January 12, 2022
Everyone deserves a sweet treat—and the chocolatey goodness of Willy Wonka hits just the right spot. Opening this Tuesday, the Center for Performing Arts hosts the new musical Charlie & the Chocolate Factory, a wacky journey of delights through Wonka’s illustrious factory. Performances will include hit Broadway songs from the original film (shout-out to Gene Wilder), including “Pure Imagination” and “I’ve Got a Golden Ticket,” as well as a new score from the songwriters behind Hairspray. Continue reading »
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Mike Huguenor on January 12, 2022
Not many bands land their biggest hit on their ninth album, but REO Speedwagon proved the rare exception with 1980’s Hi Infidelity. Released at the tail end of the year, it became the biggest selling rock record of 1981, landing the band a #1 hit in the arena-sized power ballad “Keep On Loving You.” This sound would come to define the band, equally noticeable in their second #1 hit, the very, very ‘80s sounding “Can’t Fight This Feeling.” Tender piano intro? Check. Big, wet drums? Check and check. Soaring guitar solo? Buddy, don’t get me started. Continue reading »
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Jay Edgar on January 12, 2022
As self-described proprietors of “disgusting music from Tokyo,” Kruelty have perfected a righteous combination of heavy hardcore and death doom, possibly the most “skull t-shirt” combination of four words one could put together. The band is definitely heavy as hell, with sinister growling vocals over bluesy chord progressions and a relentless double bass kick. Joining them on the penultimate date of their US tour are San Jose/Taipei-based death metallers Ripped to Shreds, whose own brand of heavy old school death metal inspired by East Asian history has emerged as the South Bay heavy sound to get hip to. Continue reading »
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Kyle Martin on January 12, 2022
In a night full of emotion and celebration, Hawaiian legends Keola Beamer and Henry Kapono bring good times, crisp vocals and legendary island music to Saratoga’s Montalvo Arts Center. The two Oahu natives sing love ballads, play classic slack key hits and have long been heavy hitters in the Hawaiian music scene. Beamer, now 70, is renowned as a master of traditional slack key guitar, and Kapono, now 72, rips just as hard. On Saturday, they perform da kine music, bringing aloha and mana to the sistahs and braddahs of the South Bay. Hana hou! Continue reading »
