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.

Wing Crawl
Sat, 3pm, $22+
Downtown San Jose

If you grew up loving Jimmy Eat World, Weezer and Foo Fighters, this party is for you. San Jose-based The Last Decade is turning the clock, and the radio dial, back to the late ’90s and early ’00s. Back then, Tom DeLonge was still in Blink-182, Panic! At the Disco had yet to metastasize into the Brian Urie show, and Live 105 was still Live 105. From “Semi-Charmed LIfe” to “Flagpole Sitta,” TLD breathes new life into the songs you listened to on the way to school. So welcome 2019 by remembering the good old days—you know, when bands still put live drums on tape.

Throwback Thursday
Thu, 9pm, Free
Britannia Arms Almaden, San Jose

Last Wednesday, the Britannia Arms Almaden held a private event celebrating its 25th anniversary, a huge accomplishment considering that 25 years is a lifetime in the restaurant and nightclub industries—and the Brit has managed to be successful in both arenas.

Back in 1988, when the place opened, it was serving a much more limited, strictly British menu—and for nightlife brought in bands that played traditional British and Irish music. Today, the menu has expanded to include American food, and the entertainment includes rock bands and DJs that spin hip-hop and Top 40. “There were a lot more Brits in the Bay Area when we first opened,” says co-owner Michael North. “We still have a lot of Brits, but we appeal to everybody.”

The Brit still fills a niche for Bay Area British ex-pats by serving common British pub food that’s not so common in the States, like shepherd’s pie, bangers, sticky toffee pudding and, of course, steak and kidney pie. “Because of trends in foods, not a lot of British pubs [in the United States] serve steak and kidney pies anymore. That’s one of the things that people drive miles for,” North says. There are a handful of other Britannia Arms in the South Bay, Capitola and Monterey, which are loosely affiliated, with some overlap in ownership and similarity in terms of menu and nightlife.

The club currently hosts live music every Friday and Saturday night, with karaoke on Wednesdays and Sundays, and DJs every Thursday. Tuesdays are reserved for a more distinctive British pub tradition: trivia night.

Some people know the Britannia Arms as the go-to location to watch soccer, hockey and other sporting events. During the World Cup or a Sharks home game, the Brit can get filled to capacity, and then some. What is truly remarkable is the way the club has given back to the community. For the past 15 years, for instance, the Brit has given turkeys to people around Thanksgiving and toys to children around Christmas. The club’s response to 9/11 was by far the most amazing. The Saturday after the tragedy, they raised $50,000 for Red Cross through sales and donations by patrons.

Britannia Arms
5027 Almaden Expwy; San Jose

Barbara Wahli has a talent for turning her birthday into an event. A few years ago, the South Bay “Barb Rocks” promoter had the tables turned on her when one of the bands she had booked, Point Three, figured out she knew the words to Dramarama’s “Anything Anything,” which they covered. They made her sing it when they played it on stage, and instantly a birthday tradition was born.

The next year, Death Valley High got her to sing a Joan-Jett-inspired cover of “Crimson and Clover” that went straight into “Bad Reputation.” The next, Golden Hour convinced her to sing Pat Benatar’s “Hit Me With Your Best Shot.”

This year, her birthday show—tonight at Britannia Arms Cupertino—will take things one step further, however. This time one of the bands, the Trash Pop Icons, have actually written a song about her, “Barb on the Rocks,” which they’ll debut at the show. As for her now-traditional performance, she had decided not to do it this year, but then Mike Duell of the Driftwood Sin (and formely of Undergone) asked her to do an acoustic number. She actually got as far as picking one out, but whether it happens or not will be a game-time decision as they have had a hard time finding a moment to practice it.

One of the things Wahli is most excited about is that this show will also double as the CD release show for local band Cadent.

“I’ve been waiting for that Tabula Rasa CD for over a year now!” says Wahli.

The band will also debut the video for their single “Like Tonight” at the show. Cadent’s bass player Nate Skelton is also in the band Manjo and the Bandolins, who will also perform, along with a reunited Far From You.

“In general, I’m just excited about celebrating my birthday with great friends, doing what I love most,” says Wahli, “which is be around good live music.”

The BARB ROCKS BIRTHDAY BASH will be held Saturday, June 30 at Britannia Arms Cupertino, 9pm; $5.