The Beerwalk returns with a holiday-themed stroll in downtown Campbell. Both ugly and pretty sweaters are encouraged this time around as more than a dozen breweries will be pouring at storefronts up and down Campbell Avenue. Taste local pours from the likes of Golden State Brewing and Strike, as well as the latest from the bigger craft brewers—including Coronado and Anchor. There will be hard cider and kombucha tastings as well. Tickets get tipplers access to pours, a custom glass and a brew passport. Kids, dogs and designated drivers get in for free. The event benefits the Downtown Campbell Business Association and the Bay Area Brewers Guild.Holiday Beerwalk
Wed, 6pm, $35
Downtown Campbell

A “sour beer walk” sounds like an unpleasant fraternity hazing ritual, but it’s actually a lot of fun. It’s a chance to sample a variety of tart, acidic beers from several breweries. Here’s how it works: You buy a $5 souvenir glass and go on a tasting tour through a number of watering holes in downtown Campbell. Every location will have 10 ounces of sour goodness waiting for you. Participating establishments include the Boiler Maker, Spread Deli & Bottles, Khartoum and Brown Chicken Brown Cow.Sour Walk
Wed, 5pm, $5
Downtown Campbell

Michael Jackson tribute artist Michael Firestone is coming to Campbell. Donning the iconic sequined glove, Firestone will tackle some of the King of Pop’s biggest hits, like “Billie Jean,” “Man in the Mirror” and the October-appropriate “Thriller.” Sure, there can only ever be one Michael Jackson, but tribute shows are as much about tapping into the magic of collective memories as they are about re-creating details of the past. Firestone and the musicians and dancers who back him up are intent on keeping Jackson’s spirit moonwalking across the stage with I Am King: The Michael Jackson Experience.

I Am King
Sat, 8pm, $49
Heritage Theatre, Campbell

Rumbling onto American stages during the mid-1960s, the Rolling Stones were the dangerous alternative to the bubbly Mersey Beat sound of their contemporaries The Beatles. Anyone who knows anything about The British Invasion knows that. The only question is, whose side are you on? Join in the enduring rock & roll debate as two tribute bands—one saluting The Beatles and the other paying homage to The Rolling Stones—go head-to-head on stage. Stones tribute group Satisfaction play the bad boys, while Beatles carbon copies Abbey Road take on the works of the Fab Four.

Beatles vs. Stones
Sun, 7pm, $35+
Heritage Theatre, Campbell

Well, Halloween is over, and if you’re anything like us, Sunday wasn’t enough time to fully recover from the weekend’s festivities. Whether you’re hungover from sugar, drinks or sugary drinks, we’re happy to provide you with a quick break from the grind. Check out these photos captured by intrepid Metro photog, Greg Ramar, as he braved the creeps and cooks on an epic Halloween pub crawl from Hollister, through Los Gatos and Campbell, and on to San Jose.

Talking to Roger Moorehouse, host and a resident DJ for Foxy Thursdays at the Cardiff Lounge, was like getting a sneak peek into some of the little rooms that make up the house of house music. He broke down the difference between filtered disco and soulful house—and even suggested that “EDM is like cheap liquor, while house music is like…

You started DJ-ing back in ’95. Did you start out with house music?
Well technically yes and no. I started out with buying house records, as well as freestyle/high energy music records.

What is it about that genre that interested you and who are some producers who inspired your technique?
Well I was a big hip-hop head, then I discovered freestyle and house music. I really liked it because it was positive and fun. People say that house music is a feeling and I took that to heart.

As for who inspires me, it’s been a wide range growing up. One is Roger Sanchez from New York. He is good because he can move from soulful house and big room electro house, to even more aggressive house. Another one is Miguel Migs. His album, Nude Tempo One, got me djing again after taking a short break from djing

Obviously, the genre has evolved since you started. What are you thoughts on the current state of house and dance music in general?
House music is in a weird spot right now, it’s a niche scene. Some people will say that it is dying out and not a lot of new people coming in.

House music is something that is not in your face. I think EDM is popular because it’s a harder sound. I feel like EDM is an intro to house music. With EDM you’re get hard bumps and faster beats, it is something you feel on the outside. With something like deep house you are feeling it on the inside.

EDM is like cheap liquor, house is more like red wine. Nothing wrong with it. It is important to remember we all came from the same place – the rave scene.

What excites you most about music now?
Really, it’s seeing people respond to the music. Seeing the crowd react to certain songs. Sometimes it’s expected and sometimes and not, but it’s really seeing the reactions people have that excites me.

How would you describe the South Bay house scene?
That is a political question (laughs). Some people say that the  South Bay can be commercial, which can be true. I would say it’s commercial initially, it is definitely important to grab the crowd. Then as the night progresses, I can play something deeper and more underground. The DJ’s job is to grab the crowd and keep them there. We you get crowd then you can play whatever.

You’re the host and one of the resident DJs for Foxy Thursday’s at Cardiff Lounge. Tell us about that party.
I took over the party almost three years now. It has been going for a total of 11 years, coming up this September. I do most of the marketing flyers as well as play there.

It is a party that I am very proud and passionate about. Going on for 11 years, I think it is the most consistent weekly party in the Bay Area. I have seen it grow and go through different things, but it has always been about positive music and a positive environment. We have a good group of DJ’s like Julius Papp, Wen Davis, and Federico Zabala that focus on the quality.

Downtown Campbell has been developing much in that last year, with new restaurants opening up, such as Opa’s and El Guapo’s next door. Have you seen that directly impact the attendance at the Cardiff Lounge? How so?
Yeah I have. I thought it was going to bring a lot more people. But what I have noticed is that it will be packed early on. I do know that Friday and Saturdays it make a difference. It has helped in terms of the beginning of the night. Campbell is a weird spot, I have people asking me to play certain songs and when I say that I can’t, they actually don’t leave. They stay and hang out.

Where else can we find you?
I have residency at WISH Bar in San Francisco every first Friday .

Can you explain a few of your favorite styles of house music?
Filtered disco is disco records with the house floor to floor beat to it. It gives it a new energy.

Soulful house is very heavy on the vocals, kind of like R&B music sped up and with more energy.

Progressive house, or tribal house is dark and ambient. Something for 3 or 4 in the morning. Think repetitive and drawn out.

Groovy funky house is like hard house but more fun and with more familiar samples.

What else are you listening to?
Depending on my mood. Right now, I’m listening to a lot of deep house. I really like Disclosure

I also listen to rock, I like Rage Against the Machine. I also listen to R&B and other artists like Sam Smith and MNEK.

What is your best gig to date?
Wow there have been a lot. Several at the Cardiff Lounge. Most recently, I would have to say 2nd Sunday Party at Cocomo’s in San Francisco. I played the late slot.  It was a big crowd and lot of house heads and dancers getting down. It was nice to look out and see everyone grooving.

If you had free reign to select a venue and line-up of DJ’s, what would you pick?
For DJ’s I would pick Disclosure, Tortured Soul, Miguel Migs, Mark Farina, Louie Vega, Kenny Dope, and Mr. V. The all connect well with the crowd and get the vibe going for a venue I would pick the DNA Lounge in San Francisco.

What do you do when you are not DJ’ing?
Graphic and website design. Watch movies and want to go vacation more.

What are you favorite spots for a late night bite after a gig?
There aren’t many to choose from here, that are open really late. So I would say Denny’s or Jack in the Box. In San Francisco, I would go to Crepes-a-Go Go.

Three places everyone should visit in the South Bay:
Cardiff Lounge, San Pedro Square, Willow Glen

Where is your favorite spot to eat in downtown Campbell? What would you order?
I like El Guapos. I usually get the grilled chicken burrito, black beans. the Tabique is pretty good at Guapos. It has beef, chicken, chorizo, bacon, pastor, bell peppers, onions and cheese.

I also like Sushi Confidential’s, Surf’s Up. It has steak and shrimp tempura. The Edamame Trio is good too.

Mary Axe, Campbell’s long running power pop trio, released their debut album, Straight out of Campbell, last year, a full eight years in the making. Now only a year later, they’re calling it quits. There’s no internal conflict or anything. Their bass player, Daniel Joeston is moving to Utah.

“As our brother and friend, he will be sorely missed, but he has his wife and new baby waiting for him in Utah,” guitarist Alex Pansoy told me recently via email. “It just doesn’t feel right continuing on without him,”

Anyone a fan of Mary Axe’s distinct sound, a potent blend of Cheap Trick, Smashing Pumpkins and Green Day, need not fret—Pansoy and drummer Josh Joesten have no plans to stop making music anytime soon. They just don’t want to do it as Mary Axe without Daniel.

“Josh and I plan to continue on, but hopefully a more focused and strategic approach the next time around,” Pansoy said. “Mary Axe was great, but we made so many mistakes.”

Mary Axe plays their final show this coming Wednesday at the Blank Club. Stop by and wish them well. East Bay’s flamboyant art-punk rockers 100%, opens the show.

Mary Axe Plays Blank Club on Wednesday, May 2. The show starts at 9pm. Admission is free.