Sir Mix-a-Lot, My Chemical Romance, Clipse & Aging Rockers

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Sat. Mar. 17, All Day Various Locations FULL LIST St. Patrick's Day Guide GREEN DAY: You know we're not the most religious types over here at Metroactive...except where our drinking holidays are concerned. Over the past year, we've brought you partying guides for every major (and minor) calendar-sanctioned booze fest in the Bay Area and, since St. Patty's Day tops that reverent list as a day when drinking with abandon is rampant, we've compiled a guide to venues around San Jose where our Irish-for-a-day asses will be bending our collective green-clad elbows. Here's the short list and check here for more picks. O'Flaherty's: "Be Irish the entire weekend" as the Irish pub hosts a two-day Irish party, beginning at midnight in Ireland on St. Patrick's Day (4pm, Friday, March 16). Fri-Sat, Mar 16-17, opens at 11am. 25 N. San Pedro St, San Jose. 408.947.8007. Mission Ale House: With Irish menu specials daily through St. Patrick's Day, plus 24 beers on tap and more beginning Friday at 4pm (midnight on Saturday in Ireland). Wed-Sat, Mar 14-17. 97 E. Santa Clara St, San Jose. 408.292.4058. Britannia Arms San Jose: Two days of Irish cheer, with corned beef and cabbage, Irish stew, the Turco School of Irish Dance and Los Gatos-Monte Sereno Police Pipes & Drums. Fri-Sat, Mar 16-17. 173 W. Santa Clara St, San Jose. 408.278.1400. Teske's Germania: For a German restaurant, Teske's goes all out on St. Paddy's with music from the Internationals, traditional Irish food, Irish dancers and more. Sat, Mar 17, 7-11:30pm. 255 N. First St., San Jose. 408.292.0291. Patty's: A parking lot party, including corned beef and fixings, bag pipers, live music from Jerry Sauceda, the Miller Lite Girls and Skyy Vodka Girls and more. Sat, Mar 17. No cover. Montgomery and San Fernando, San Jose. 408.998.4566. For a complete list of St. Patrick's Day events click here.

Wed. Mar. 14, 9pm VooDoo Lounge 14 S. Second St., San Jose 408.286.8636 $5

Novice NEXT STOP INTERMEDIATE: Screaming emo-tinged and alternative punk rock hits the VooDoo Lounge tonight with four outfits that'll rock without the doomsayer makeup props of many other bands on the scene. Headlining this Wednesday night fest is Novice--from Hollister--who rip with a road-tested pop-punk style full of catchy hooks and kid-gloved angst. Also on the bill are Phoenix Rising, Alabaster and the Moderna Complex and, since the cover equates to about a buck a band, there's no reason not to join the fray.

Wed. Mar. 14, 7pm The Catalyst 1011 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz 831.423.1336 $24 BUY TICKETS

Chevelle TRICKED OUT METAL: Fast cars and loud guitars, Chicago's alt-metal trio Chevelle comes to the Catalyst, and you can bet your Fender that they're gonna rock Santa Cruz harder than the '89 quake. Aggressive guitar riffs matched with searing vocals by Pete Loeffler have made this band one of the top hard-rock acts in the country. Bring your earplugs and get ready for some gut-wrenching decibels that'll set your eardrums ringing. Opening acts include indie rocker's Kingfield and Red.

Wed. Mar. 14, 7pm Concourse Exhibition Center 620 7th St., San Francisco 408.998.TIXS $25

Taking Back Sunday WHERE DID IT GO: Emo rock sensation Taking Back Sunday brings their melodic hardcore to the main stage for their '07 North American Tour, "Underoath Armor For Sleep." Angst-ridden vocals from lead singer Adam Lazzara and the driving rhythms of drummer Mark O'Connell combine to form an energetic whirlwind of sound that is both dark and uplifting. The band's latest album, Louder Now, released in 2006, reached No. 2 on the Billboard charts, propelling Taking Back Sunday into mainstream success. So squeeze into a pair of tight jeans, dye your hair black, and head out to the Councourse for a night of emotional headbanging. Opening is hardcore quartet Armor for Sleep.

Thu. Mar. 15, 9pm Taste Ultra Lounge 87 N. San Pedro St., San Jose 408.885.1016 $20

Clipse BEAT BROTHERS: Virginia-based hip-hop duo Clipse is back yo, promoting their latest album, Hell Hath No Fury. Brothers Malice and Pusha-T flow brash, street-smart lyrics over beats created in collaboration with legendary producer Pharrell Williams of The Neptunes. After establishing themselves in '02 with their hit "Grindin'", the group lapsed into a struggle with their record label and failed to deliver a follow-up record until last year. But don't trip, Clipse resolved these issues and, with their latest album, proved that sometimes, you just have to be patient to get the goods.

Thu. Mar. 15, 7:30pm Oracle Arena 7000 Coliseum Way, Oakland 408.998.TIXS $30.25 BUY TICKETS

My Chemical Romance EYELINER WAS ON SALE: On tour with Rise Against and Muse, My Chemical Romance--most commonly referred to as MCR as of late--will be dropping in on Oakland to rock the living daylights out of the Oracle Arena. Playing an amalgamation of post-hardcore and pop ends up plopping MCR right alongside their tour mates in the alternative rock section of your local music store. The band's most recent album, The Black Parade, has gotten plenty of alt. radio airplay, so the show tonight promises to sell out and be packed with the black-hair-dye crowd. MCR, Muse and Rise Against are all great bands to see live--whether or not you can see them from the nosebleed section in the Oracle Arena is another story.

Thu. Mar. 15, 8pm The Fillmore 1805 Geary, San Francisco 408.998.TIXS $35 BUY TICKETS

The Zombies ROMERO'S HOUSE BAND: Although never gaining the prominence of other '60s British Invasion bands, the Zombies scored hits with epic songs like "She's Not There" and "Time of the Season," which were hailed by critics for their sophisticated arrangements, jazz-laced pop and harmonious vocal work. Subsequently, the Zombies' most memorable album, Odessey and Oracle (and, yes, there is a story behind the misspelling), is now considered to be one of the definitive pop-rock albums of the musically rich '60s. Unlike the other two aged rockers that are hitting San Jose this week, the Zombies aren't just clinging to the fame of the past;, this "reunion tour," hitting the Fillmore tonight, is a primer for the upcoming 40th anniversary of Odessey and Oracle.

Thu. Mar. 15, 8pm HP Pavilion 525 W. Santa Clara St., San Jose 408.998.TIXS $55 -$125 BUY TICKETS

Rod Stewart DIVORCE COSTS: Touring to revive his rock career, Rod Stewart will be coming to San Jose to perform songs off his ''06 album, Still the Same... Great Rock Classics of Our Time, which features Stewart singing the great rock songs of others. Songs from Creedaence Clearwater Revival and Cat Stevens are featured on the album that follows three other albums Stewart made of music from the "Great American Songbook," a collection of 1930s and 1940s pop standards. The 62-year-old is on an arena tour through the United States and will be following this tour with one around the U.K. Stewart is one of the best-selling music artists in the world, so the show at the HP Pavilion will be worthwhile for those who have the money to shell out on tickets.

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Fri. Mar. 16, 9pm The Fillmore 1805 Geary, San Francisco 408.998.TIXS $28.50 BUY TICKETS Greyboy Allstars FUNKY BREW: In anticipation of the first Greyboy Allstars release in 10 years, the jazzy, funky soul group plays tonight and Saturday night at The Fillmore. The act's new album, What Happened to Television?, will be released April 17, so the show will be a great preview for those interested in the new cuts from this SD outfit. Greyboy Allstars play music that makes the crowd feel like they're in the middle of a '70s cult movie, getting down on the dance floor. The members of the group have kept their talent fresh by having solo careers in the time between their 1997 A Town Called Earth and the album due in April, but, be forewarned, when GBA hits the stage, your butt will hit the dance floor.

Fri. Mar. 16, 9pm Johnny V's 31 E. Santa Clara St., San Jose 408.947.8470 $5

The Cons PRO-RATED: It seems hat pure indie rock has been making a vigorous comeback in the music scene lately, and if there's hope for the future of our airwaves and I-pods, the Cons will be on the front lines. Hailing from San Francisco, the Cons hit the stage with a solid lexicon of alternative rock tunes that cuts a guitar-driven indie line through tired classifications, and lyrical smarts that haven't seen the light of day since the early '90s. Catch the Cons tonight at Johnny V's with hard-edged local rockers FUBAR and the Bane.

Fri. Mar. 16, 9pm Fahrenheit Ultra Lounge 99 E. San Fernando St., San Jose 408.998.9998 $10

Lucid @ Fahrenheit DIRECTED DRINKING: As a pre-St. Patty's Day celebration, Fahrenheit Ultra Lounge glams it up in green on tonight with resident DJ Adam Cova. The special addition of Lucid is one night only and features Cova's selection of the best dance, Top 40, electro, rock and house that the South Bay has to offer. Go green a day early to set St. Patrick's Day partying off right at this exclusive event.

Fri. Mar. 16, 8pm The Claran Lounge 1251 Franklin Mall, Santa Clara 408.296.9558 Usual Cover

The Chop Tops GREASER PUNKS: The Chop Tops, those revved-up rockabilly rebels from Santa Cruz, are hitting an unlikely venue tonight when they set up the stand-up bass, drum kit and Gretsch guitar at the Claran Lounge--Santa Clara's "other" dive bar. The Chop Tops, in one blazing song, can rip you back in their sonic '57 Chevy to times when all you needed was an open stretch of road, a girl by your side and a roadside honky-tonk on Route 66. The Chop Tops' signature rockabilly style is a punked-up blast from the past that adheres to the proven greaser philosophy of cheap booze, fast cars and faster women that'll have you hootin' and hollerin' all night long.

Fri. Mar. 16, 9pm Cardiff Lounge 260 E. Campbell Ave., Campbell 408.374.7477 No Cover

M3 @ Sun Soundz SUMMER BEATS: Spring is already heating things up at the Cardiff Lounge with summer time-inspired beats as DJ M3 gets down and dirty with electro, house and funk all night long. Giving M3 a break on the turntables, DJs Jimmy B. and Mario Dubbz will be taking the party off the hook tonight. As a distinct partying bonus over the Downtown clubs, the Cardiff Lounge has no dress code or cover for this event, making it a great place to head to on a Friday night where club goers don't have to pay to play.

Fri. Mar. 16, 9pm Vivid 8 S. First St., San Jose 408.279.4444 Usual Cover

Chris Clouse SECRET SLINGER: Chris Clouse is no modern-day coffeehouse beatnik folk singer, and as his musical prowess grows, so does his following. Playing everything from fiddle to electric guitar and melodiously blending them with house style break drum beats, Clouse gets his hooks into the crowd right from the first chord. You can catch this local musical guru--who many critics are deeming our best-kept secret--at Vivid tonight with backup on the turntables from DJ DTek.

Fri. Mar. 16, 9pm Blue Monkey Lounge 1 E. San Fernando St., San Jose 408.275.6600 $5

Soul Central @ Blue Monkey Lounge HOUSE GROOVES: This Friday, Blue Monkey comes correct with the Soul Central party, featuring turntable stylings by Jaime Gonzalez with a little help on the decks from renowned S.F. DJ Brian Salazar and DJ Ash dropping beats, making for a night of soulful, groovin' house music. Pop into the Blue Monkey tonight for some serious dancing and drink specials from the little Downtown club that makes up for its lack of space in the chill vibe department.

Fri. Mar. 16, 9pm Cuccini's 72 N. Almaden Ave., San Jose 408.287.1737 Usual Cover GUEST LIST

Whisper II @ Cuccini BE VERY QUIET: The first Whisper was so good that Cuccini had to do it again. The exclusive and elegant party is a pink-and-black affair--get in free before 11pm for wearing pink and black--and offers drink specials for getting there early. DJ Jammin J and a special guest DJ will be keeping the party music hot all night long for those that are ready to get down and dirty. The two floors of Cuccini will have plenty going on with the bar bringing so much sexy back.

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Sat. Mar. 17, 8pm Johnny V's 31 E. Santa Clara St., San Jose 408.947.8470 $5 The F*cking Buckaroos BANJO THRASH: With St. Paddy's Day hitting on a Saturday this year, you know darn well there'll be plenty of places for you to get your drink on; well, here's one that should skyrocket to the top of your weekend partying list. Setting up at Johnny V's tonight is the crashing, speed-folk bluegrass twang of the Fucking Buckaroos from San Francisco, who kick it raw, honest and amped beyond belief; like they just collectively swallowed an oversized jug of whiskey laced with meth. Their frenetic style of punked banjo picking is only tethered by the Buckaroos' extremely high-quality musicianship and commitment rock. They'll be ripping it up with one of the best San Jo bands around, the Wiggle Wagons, who lay down a country thrash sonic assault that threatens to blow you straight off your barstool in a blazing hail of liquor, Southern pride and metal-laced fury.

Sat. Mar. 17, 9pm Vault Ultra Lounge 81 W. Santa Clara St., San Jose 408.298.1112 Usual Cover GUEST LIST

DJ Roctakon MASH-UP MIXER: Straight from the NYC club circuit, DJ Roctakon hits the Vault Ultra Lounge's Diva party tonight. Roctakon rose from the nameless ranks of his native D.C. to become one of the most sought after DJs on the Big Apple scene for his awesome mashes that takes distinct musical genres and blends them together to produce stellar anthems that never fail to get the dance floor moving. He'll be rocking the decks tonight with turntable help from DJs Nasty Nick and David Q in the main room while Vault resident spinner DJ Mein holds court in the back.

Sat. Mar. 17, 9pm The Blank Club 44 S. Almaden Ave., San Jose 408.292.5265 $7

This Charming Band SMITHS' COATTAILS: A couple of months ago, San Jose saw one of the best Smiths tribute bands, Sweet and Tender Hooligans from L.A., rip it up at the Blank Club. Well, now it's time for round two of the mod-Manchester-boy showdown with This Charming Band, from San Francisco, hitting the Blank in all their dystopian glory. While not as worldly popular as STH, This Charming Band does a damn good job in parroting the Smiths in their Queen is Dead/ Meat is Murder heydays. Even though Morrissey, Marr, Rourke and Joyce will never reform as the Smiths, fans of these legendary musical pioneers can rest easy knowing they've now got two tribute band choices that are quite capable of recreating the "strangeways" days.

Sat. Mar. 17, 8:30pm Bottom of the Hill 1233 17th St., San Francisco 415.621.4455 $10

Cold Hot Crash TEMPERATE SLAMS: In honor of Cold Hot Crash's debut CD release, the band will be playing on St. Patrick's Day with Love Like Fire and the Federalists at Bottom of the Hill. As San Francisco natives, Cold Hot Crash plays alternative rock with pop underpinnings that make them sweeter than candy. Love Like Fire is also a San Francisco native band playing indie rock, and from across the Bay, the Federalists haul in their country-influenced alternative indie to please the hoardes. The show in the City will be all-ages, so anyone can enjoy the live music even if they can't enjoy green beer.

Sat. Mar. 17, 8pm The Catalyst 1011 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz 831.423.1336 $18 BUY TICKETS

The Tubes SONIC LOBOTOMY: The original "White Punks on Dope" are going green for St. Patty's Day for the show tonight at the Catalyst, and, if you've ever caught the Tubes before in their long and storied 40-year amplifier war on our collective gray matter, then you know exactly what kind of brain damage you're in for. The Tubes still perform as recklessly as when frontman Fee Waybill paraded around with a TV on his head throughout, well, throughout the Tubes' entire glam-punk career. About as classically subversive an outfit as you're ever going to hear, the Tubes will have every old-school punk from the Bay Area converging in Santa Cruz tonight.

Sat. Mar. 17, 9:30pm Taste Ultra Lounge 87 N. San Pedro St., San Jose 408.885.1016 $20 GUEST LIST

Saturday School @ Taste PLAID SKIRTS & COCKTAILS: There probably couldn't be a more serendipitous nightclub party hitting Downtown tonight than the Saturday School St. Patty's Edition at Taste Ultra Lounge. Seriously, what could be more sublime than a monthly that encourages hotties to wear sexy schoolgirl outfits landing on St. Patty's Day? Well...okay, probably nothing. DJs Kris P and Big Boy will be dropping the beats and a live video remix show, so don some green and head to Taste, and try to avoid any duplicitous leprechauns along the way.

Sat. Mar. 17, 9pm Great American Music Hall 859 O'Farrell St., San Francisco 415.885.0750 $22

The Radiators PARTY MOB: One of the best live party bands around, the Radiators roll their funky jazz mob into the Great American Music Hall tonight for a little St. Pat's Day throwdown in the classic spirit that has kept this New Orleans outfit at the top of the festival circuit since their formation in '78. Influenced by classic jazz, blues and early rock &'n roll, the Radiators have more than 300 original songs in their on stage repertoire, so there's never a repeat riff when these five bayou boys hit the stage. While most other venues looked high and low for Irish-infused acts that may or may not rock tonight, GAMH brought in the Radiators, instantly turning the ever-present "what do we do tonight" question into a veritable no-brainer.

Sat. Mar. 17, 5pm VooDoo Lounge 14 S. Second St., San Jose 408.286.8636 Usual Cover

Trigger Renegade READY, AIM, CHUG: Sometimes in life, you just long for the carefree partying days of high school, listening to loud-as-hell metal, getting ripped and scoping some babes. Well, grab your favorite Metallica T-shirt and your beer bong because 107.7 The Bone is hosting the St. Patty's Day rager at VooDoo with those roaring head-bangers from Santa Cruz, Trigger Renegade. But hard-driving metal from Trigger Renegade isn't the only attraction on tap at this party. Tons of hot rocker chicks will be at VooDoo competing in the finals to become the new Bone Rock Girl.

Sun. Mar. 18, 8pm Red Devil Lounge 1695 Polk St., San Francisco 415.921.1695 $20

Sir Mix-a-Lot BEEPERS, BENZ & BOOTY: We like Sir Mix-a-Lot and we cannot lie. The hip-hop wizard from the Emerald City brings his signature Seattle rap sound, deep bass, Benzos and affinity for uniquely large female posteriors to S.F.'s Red Devil Lounge for a second night of Sir Mix-a-Lot's electro-infused West Coast take on Miami bass hip-hop. While some might say that Mix is getting a little long in the tooth, no one can deny the power of his jams that distinguished themselves from those of other rappers of his day, focusing largely on humorous takes on sex and cars while his contemporaries glamorized gangsta rap violence. Night one of Mix-a-Lot's posse was on Friday, but we prefer the Sunday show because when he drops "Baby's Got Back" it'll probably stick in your head the whole week, effectively creating the foundation for endless workplace hilarity.

Sun. Mar. 18, 9pm Johnny V's 31 E. Santa Clara St., San Jose 408.947.8470 $5

The Ian Fays DIVE BAR MUSES: Definitely hitting a lo-fi indie-rock vibe with electronica and alt-folk influences, the Ian Fays' soft-spoken vocal and guitar work are reminiscent of the days when Tanya Donelly, Kim Deal and Julianna Hatfield ripped up the alternative-rock scenes and made all the boys stand up and take notice. The Ian Fays walk a delicate line between sweet crooning and acoustic strumming to deeper, emotive tracks that range from the loving to the angry with a change of a chord. The S.F. foursome--originally from Arcata--set up tonight at Johnny V's with metal garage rockers Stereo Chromatic and A.L.R.T.

Sun. Mar. 18, 7:30pm HP Pavilion 525 W. Santa Clara St., San Jose 408.998.TIXS $55.50 -$125 BUY TICKETS

Eric Clapton AT THE CROSSROADS: We here at Metroactive are all for legendary musicians making appearances in our humble San Jose digs on their latest big-bucks-generating tours, but with Rod Stewart rolling through town earlier in the week and the incomparable Eric Clapton plugging in tonight--both courting federal deficit levels in ticket prices--a choice has to be made. And, since writers need to adhere to a strict budget (lest we ingest nothing but ramen), we're placing our hard-earned dollars in the Slowhand of Clapton. There's really nothing new to relay about Clapton's guitar prowess that you probably haven't heard before, but when musical-god push comes to wallet-raping shove, we'll take the man that plays (mostly) his own tunes over a sestagenarian, shock-haired crooner karaoke-ing other people's work any day.

Mon. Mar. 19, 9pm Johnny V's 31 E. Santa Clara St., San Jose 408.947.8470 $5

The Last Chordz 3-CHORD THROWBACKS: The Last Chordz hit Johnny V's tonight for a retro punk set with these hardcore local rockers. Mondays at Johnny's have been marked by a low-key vibe that flirts with the dangerous, but when the Last Chordz set up here to start the week, well, let's just say, get there early, get your drink on and get ready for a little sonic ass kicking. Lately the Last Chordz have been making some serious waves in the punk rock circles with their '80s-style DIY mentality and throwback riffs that recall those hardcore heydays of old before pop-punk infiltrated the amp-junkie underground, the record companies found out they could make some money and every suburban wannabe subversive thought that some torn jeans and a faux-hawk made you punk.

Tue. Mar. 20, 7:30pm Slim's 333 11th St., San Francisco 415.255.0333 $16 BUY TICKETS

Plain White T's AVAILABLE TAGLESS: Remember the good ol' days of pop-punk with the Plain White T's who come to San Francisco with Boys Night Out, Lovedrug and Mayday Parade. The T's are now on a major label--Fearless--after years and years of touring around the world to get their name out, and their debut, Every Second Counts from '06, ironically produced even more touring for these road warriors. Each of the bands on the bill play their own version of catchy pop-punk that will never go away and never get out of your head but will make you want to buy their T-shirts and head for home more happy than when you left. These four outfits should rip out one of the best shows Slim's has seen this year because sometimes pop just rocks.

coming up

Sat. Mar. 24, 9pm The Blank Club 44 S. Almaden Ave., San Jose 408.292.5265 $10

Agent Orange SKATE-PUNK TIME MACHINE: Arguably one of the most influential bands in the So-Cal punk scene, doing it longer and stronger than the rest, Agent Orange, tear up the Blank tonight with the Razorburns and Bad Samaritans. Hard to believe, but Agent Orange released their first album in '81, immediately cementing their status as one of the best hardcore skate-punk bands around. While a couple of decades have passed since that defining moment in surf-laden skate punk, Agent Orange still retains the same energy and adolescent discontent as they did oh-so-many years ago.

Thu. Mar. 29, 8pm VooDoo Lounge 14 S. Second St., San Jose 408.286.8636 $10

The Expendables GENRE STEW: Kicking out a Nor-Cal blend of rock, reggae and surf with healthy doses of metal and punk fury, the Expendables are hitting the VooDoo tonight on their West Coast tour, along with fellow penitent disciples of the musical mash arts, 880 South and the Starving Millionaires. The Expendables rip like the swells in their hometown of Santa Cruz, with full heads of heavy beats and blazing guitars, continually blowing the roof off any joint they set up in. The Expendables are perennial local faves and, legit battle of the bands champs, and top our own lists for best bands to catch for a sonic summer beach party that always leaves you wanting more.

--This week's newsletter by: RO, AL, GW & MC

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