De La Soul, Sevendust, Bobbi Billard, Dwele & Go-Go Pros

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Thu. Mar. 29, 7pm Bottom of the Hill 1233 17th St., San Francisco 415.621.4455 $12 The Phenomenauts YOUR MISSION: Steering their stupid-fast star cruiser loaded with punk, rockabilly and pop into the Bottom of the Hill space station tonight, The Phenomenauts are here to pick up all aspiring cadets for a heavy dose of rocket roll. One of the craftiest bands on the scene, The Phenomenauts have that undeniable concert showmanship--rocking spacesuits, helmets and various other amalgamated flotsam from the future--that so many other bands are severely lacking these days, combined with slick musical chops that make their musical missions to the masses some of the best shows of the year. The Phenomenauts hit the City tonight with the punked-up New Wave of the Epoxies, B-movie thrash necro-punks the Groovie Ghoulies, the Teenage Harlets and Rock N Roll Adventure Kids for an all-ages show that any aspiring teenage punker should hit.

Wed. Mar. 28, 8pm HP Pavilion 525 W. Santa Clara St., San Jose 408.998.TIXS $45.25-$95.25 buy tickets

Josh Groban SMOOTH TALENT: Josh Groban became a household name after an appearance on the season finale of Ally McBeal in 2001. The baby-faced classical and operatic vocalist has since produced three studio albums and two live DVDs. (Judging from said DVD experience only) Groban's live shows are at once both intimate and spectacular, showcasing the range of talent spun from his vibrant baritone. Whether alone onstage or accompanied by a large orchestra, the 26-year-old is able to express varied emotions through his voice and presence, and that's the true indicator of a performer (American Idol contestants, take heed).

Wed. Mar. 28, 9pm Cuccini 72 N. Almaden Ave., San Jose 408.287.1737 Usual Cover guest list

Five Minutes to Freedom LIVE MUSIC STRIDES: Local alt-punkers Five Minutes to Freedom headline the live music action at Cuccini's tonight for the Show Some Skin party. Also on the bill are the hardcore metal licks of Counter Clockwise, along with turntable backup from DJ Jammin J hitting the decks between sets. The live music sets at Cuccini were once seldom, but now they've been hitting a stride and steadily breaching the line between dance club and live music venue, gaining some serious steam to be a contender in the ever-evolving San Jo scene, which, quite frankly, could use all the live music it can get.

Wed. Mar. 28, 8pm The Fillmore 1805 Geary, San Francisco 408.998.TIXS $25 buy tickets

TV on the Radio ANNOINTED INDIE: Receiving accolades from the likes of David Bowie is a musical coup d'etat that few bands could muster, but TV on the Radio has done just that, earning "favorite active acts" props from ol' Ziggy Stardust. Musically, TV on the Radio kick out a genre-spanning mash--with everything from free jazz and doo-wop to electro, rock and trip-hop making sonic appearances--that's garnered the avant-garde NYC indie quintet industry praise to go along with those from a legit rock-god. TV on the Radio's latest, Return to Cookie Mountain,, is their most polished production yet, dropping a funky stew of style that'll get your rump moving. TV on the Radio hits the Fillmore tonight and tomorrow with Noisettes opening.

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-rock with healthy doses of metal and punk fury, the Expendables are hitting the VooDoo tonight on their West Coast tour 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.

Thu. Mar. 29, 8pm Britannia Arms: Downtown 173 W. Santa Clara St., San Jose 408.278.1400 No Cover

My Monster & Europa ALTERNATIVE DOUBLES: With the pressure of their long awaited full-length CD release, In Tune With the Voices in Your Head, behind them, local alt-rock heavies My Monster is doing what great bands do best...hitting the local bar circuit in support. The new tunes from this four-piece are more polished, while still containing the raw emotional power that My Monster has become known for through previous EPs and absolutely killer live sets. My Monster heads up a no-cover double bill with the hard alternative of local rockers Europa.

Thu. Mar. 29, 9pm Agenda Lounge 399 S. First St., San Jose 408.287.3991 No Cover

Rick Preston @ Agenda: Super FHT THE NEW HOUSE: The dominating turntable skills of Rick Preston head up tonight's Fine House Thursday (FHT) at the Agenda Lounge. One of the original spinners in the San Francisco house music scene, Preston has been keeping bodies moving on the dance floor the world over since before the underground scene even knew what a rave was. Preston takes top billing at FHT with long-time collaborator Paul Leath and FHT residents Les Carter and Marz Faram for a night of deep house and, amazingly, no cover.

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Fri. Mar. 30, 9pm The Blank Club 44 S. Almaden Ave., San Jose 408.292.5265 $10 The Red Elvises PERISTROIKA: Cooler than Siberia in the middle of winter, The Red Elvises play some of the best Americana surf-style rock that you're ever going to hear by some immigrant boys from Mother Russia. The Red Elvises have actually gotten their numbers back up, from a three-piece outfit to a mini politburo of five, through a solid propaganda campaign that includes selling out every venue they play and repeatedly wearing those damn animal-print suits that totally give you vertigo after a few vodkas. Catch this frenzied fivesome setting up at the Blank Friday and ripping out two sets in their one-of-a-kind rock & roll style.

Fri. Mar. 30, 8pm Johnny V's 31 E. Santa Clara St., San Jose 408.947.8470 $5

Kickstarter HAIR'S REVENGE: The next evolutionary stage in retro rocking may not be glam/trash rock, but Kickstarter probably has a few choice words for anyone that thinks otherwise. Melding the late-'70s punk fury and simplicity of the Damned and the Ramones with the pure sleaze of hair-metal superstars like Mötley Crüe and Poison, Kickstarter has a sound that's full of over-the-top guitars, a pounding rhythm section and the perfect vocal complement in the form of the nasally whine of Danny Dee. The rebellious and the nasty sonic grit of Kickstarter could induce booze-riddled debauchery at a church camp. The Grannies and the Corruptors also perform.

Fri. Mar. 30, 9pm Vivid 8 S. First St., San Jose 408.279.4444 Usual Cover

Bobbi Billard @ Vivid CYBER-CONVERSION: We guess if your nightclub is going the celebrity hostess route, you might as well snag one of the most downloaded cyber-babes of all time to pull emcee duties. Bobbi Billard is basically famous for being famous--right up there with other unofficial coronations of celebdom based solely on the hard and fast numbers of a MySpace friends count--which is everything that seems to be needed in our 15-minute obsessed culture. East Bay bad boys DJs Atimatik and Ron Bishop take command on the decks at Vivid while Bobbi presides over the sure-to-be-gawking crowds.

Fri. Mar. 30, 9pm The Claran Lounge 1251 Franklin Mall, Santa Clara 408.248.4682 Usual Cover

C/A/T DANSE MACABRE: The powerful sonics and electro-industrial of C/A/T heads up an all black-clad night of synth-noise at the Claran Lounge tonight. Laying dance club techno, C/A/T assaults the senses with the sort of post-apocalyptic sounds and styles that you usually see in cinematic underground club scenes full of keys, computers, drum machines and vinyl. C/A/T plays tonight with the Operative, Hazing Ritual and Wh0rMon9er with backup on the turntables from DJs Blau and Kyronfive.

Fri. Mar. 30, 9pm Taste Ultra Lounge 87 N. San Pedro St., San Jose 408.885.1016 Usual Cover guest list

Dwele @ Taste: Hollywood Soul THE NEW BARRY WHITE: It's impossible to tell how many babies have been conceived to Dwele's soulful and silky-smooth falsetto voice, but there's no doubt that this is baby-making R&B. It's also light and propulsive enough to dance to, like hip-hop on ecstasy. The Detroit-based singer/songwriter/producer's moniker is actually a Swahili word meaning "God has brought me." Yeah--to help His people procreate. Dwele lets his ultra-smooth lyrical skills flow at the ultra lounge as part of Taste's Hollywood Soul.

Fri. Mar. 30, 8pm The Catalyst 1011 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz 831.423.1336 $28 buy tickets

The Mars Volta AURAL EQUATIONS: The Mars Volta combines obtuse lyrics over progressive rock, influenced heavily by punk riffs and Latin beats, for an intelligent, almost mathematical sound like no other band today. These aren't psychedelia-based acid jazzers or prog-poppers, and the comparisons to the venerable Led Zeppelin--in musicianship and cryptology more than sound--are more than accurate. If you're into deep thinking to go along with your drinking and listening, the Mars Volta is worth a trip over the hill.

Fri. Mar. 30, 7:30pm Agenda Lounge 399 S. First St., San Jose 408.287.3991 No Cover w/ Dinner

Anton Schwartz BAD BOY SAX: Whereas some artists consider titling an album another chance to make an artistic statement, Anton Schwartz tends to keep his approach straight ahead. His last album, The Slow Lane, slowed down to a meditative crawl, probing deeper and wider into the spaces in between the notes. His latest, titled Radiant Blue, is clean, effervescent and sitting comfortably in the Top 40 on the jazz radio chart.

Fri. Mar. 30, 9pm VooDoo Lounge 14 S. Second St., San Jose 408.286.8636 $10 guest list

5th Friday @ VooDoo CALENDAR EXCLUSIVE: How often in a year does a fifth Friday actually come along? Well, if you're using the standard Gregorian Calendar, not often, which is reason enough to hit VooDoo Lounge and their 5th Friday DJ throwdown tonight. Three of the South Bay's best--Wen Davis, Cutso and Mpenzi--are rocking the turntables, kicking out old-school jams, neo-soul and bangin' urban grooves for a super-chill night of good drinks, good people and solidly good times.

Sat. Mar. 31, 8pm The Fillmore 1805 Geary, San Francisco 408.998.TIXS $20 buy tickets

JJ Grey & Mofro PORCH PHILOSOPHY: Like kicking back on the front porch and being mesmerized by soulful storytelling, JJ Grey and his band Mofro dispense backwater wisdom in a melodically rocking and funky way that oozes Southern style from every pore. Raised in the swamplands of northern Florida, JJ Grey delivers personal stories through a commanding, sage voice, painting vivid portraits complemented by richly woven blues-based jams, grooving funk and straight-ahead rock & roll. Their latest, Country Ghetto, sees Mofro dishing out more of the same funky, down-home musical stew that has made this Southern indie outfit a mainstay at rock fests since 2001. Catch some Southern charm with JJ Grey & Mofro tonight at the Fillmore. Chuck Prophet opens.

Sat. Mar. 31, 9pm Vault Ultra Lounge 81 W. Santa Clara St., San Jose 408.298.1112 Usual Cover guest list

DJ Nasty Nick @ Vault B-DAY SPINS: It kinda sucks having to work on your birthday, but we suppose that DJs are just a different breed. So, rocking the turntables tonight at the swanky Vault Ultra Lounge--in honor of, uh, himself--is local spinner Nasty Nick, dropping his signature mash of hip-hop, old-school, rock and house on the hipster crowds for his birthday soiree. Also taking their turns on the decks tonight are DJ David Q, giving Double-N a break in the main room, and Vault resident beat scientist DJ Mein, pumping hits in the back room.

Sat. Mar. 31, 8pm Johnny V's 31 E. Santa Clara St., San Jose 408.947.8470 $5

The Muckruckers HALF-PIPE DREAMS: The Muckruckers spit out straight old-school punk licks reminiscent of such stalwarts of the sound as The Clash and The Ramones with more than a tight blend of Nor-Cal legends Operation Ivy, so when these local skate punks plug in, prepare yourself for a journey back to the days of punk when all you needed was a guitar, some friends and attitude. The Muckruckers are stuck in the middle of a great f*cking lineup headlined by Jonny Manak and the Depressives with the Runs, Hit by a Semi and the Poloticians.

Sat. Mar. 31, 10pm Angels Ultra Lounge 400 S. First St., San Jose 408.885.9588 Usual Cover

Lure @ Angels SURVEY SAYS: It's like a go-go dancer pro-am at Angels Ultra Lounge tonight with the Lure party presenting an open casting call for all girls wanting to break into the latest nightclub fad to sweep through the scene. We're not sure exactly how all this is going to play out--although we believe that audience participation has to be part of the decision-making process--but, the potential for some solid eye candy is certainly there. DJs Huski and Billy Ruckus take care of the mash-up, rock and Top 40 beats at Lure with the Sugar Beats Group, Jessica Rae and the Desired Temptations putting the go-go pro in the pro-am auditions at Angels.

Sat. Mar. 31, 9pm Ruby Skye 420 Mason St., San Francisco 415.693.0777 Usual Cover buy tickets

Charles Feelgood HOUSE OF REPRESENT: Becoming legendary in D.C. usually takes political scandal or governmental grandstanding, but Charles Feelgood gained that status through turntables, introducing house music to the Washington D.C. and Baltimore areas. Laying down a funky blend of hard house and disco beats, Feelgood mixed his way to growing international stardom on the dance club circuit for his turntable dynamism. Charles Feelgood hits the decks at Ruby Skye tonight for a CD-release show for his latest beat-thumping and booty-shaking soundtrack, Charm City Hustle.

Sat. Mar. 31, 10pm The Rockit Room 406 Clement St., San Francisco 415.387.6343 $15

The Devil Himself @ Emergenza SHOUT FOR THE DEVIL: The second-round battle of the band match-ups continue at the Rockit Room tonight with local hardcore metal rockers the Devil Himself setting their sights on making it to the next round of the worldwide Emergenza Music Festival. Ripping out solidly progressive metal anthems that break new ground with every chord, the Devil Himself play straight, brutal and honest hard-ass metal that induces rampant headbanging during their live sets. Catch 'em at the Rockit Room as they represent the local scene in the City.

Sat. Mar. 31, 9pm Fahrenheit Ultra Lounge 99 E. San Fernando St., San Jose 408.998.9998 Usual Cover guest list

Vain @ Fahrenheit MIRRORS NOT INCLUDED: Exclusivity hits the high-water nightclub mark tonight as Fahrenheit Ultra Lounge kicks off the Vain invite- and guest-list-only party. There will be a limited number of walk-ups allowed into the posh digs of Fahrenheit tonight, but the best way to ensure that you're part of the action is to sign up for the guest list, where you'll be treated to complimentary cocktails--two words that sound better together than just about anything--for the early part of the evening with DJs Danny C and Solarz dropping the smooth house, dance and Top 40 beats.

Sun. Apr. 1, 7pm The Fillmore 1805 Geary, San Francisco 408.998.TIXS $25 buy tickets

Blue October SONIC CONNECTIONS: Indie rockers Blue October know how to build a fan base. Hailing from Houston, the quintet's songs play out in thematic anthems chronicling the tribulations of all Blue October's members, most notably those of lead singer/songwriter Justin Furstenfeld, that make expressed connections with their listeners. From hit songs like "Hate Me" and "Into the Ocean," Blue October's melancholic style and honestly emotive substance transcend curt musical genres to tap into the innermost feelings of myriad fans worldwide. Catch the soulful indie rocking of Blue October tonight at the Fillmore with Dropping Daylight opening.

Sun. Apr. 1, 6pm The Saddle Rack 42011 Boscell Rd., Fremont 510.979.0477 $35-$45

Eddie Money TWO TICKETS TO...FREMONT: After a brief stint as a New York police officer in the '70s, Eddie Mahoney dropped his badge--and the "ah" from his last name--and picked up a microphone. Flash forward to the late '80s, and the Money Man was plastered all over the Top 40 with a slew of platinum albums. Apparently 20 years and a few compulsory trips to rehab (as he tells the audience every year at the Boardwalk) make you "wanna go back." And with the shaggy 'do, pulsing hips and ridiculously catchy tunes, Eddie Money still has the goods to back it up. Ask Hinder, the swearing, tight-black-pants-sporting rockers who brought Eddie onstage in L.A. for their slightly harder-core "Take Me Home Tonight" cover. He kept right up. Sort of.

Mon. Apr. 2, 8pm The Fillmore 1805 Geary, San Francisco 415.346.6000 $25 buy tickets

Lily Allen BRIT BABE BARBS: Lily Allen started uploading her demo songs on MySpace way back in 2005, so the 21-year-old British pop tart's first U.S. album, Alright, Still, seemed sort of like old news when it came out this January. But that didn't stop it from reaching the No. 20 spot on the Billboard charts, or Allen from popping up as the Blender "Number One Reason to Love '07." Maybe it was the rhyming, biting songs (Google the lyrics to "Smile") or maybe it was her controversial, choice words for artists like Kylie Minogue and Bob Geldof that has us in stitches here stateside. The Bird and the Bee also perform, and trying to make sense of their MySpace claim of sounding like "A futuristic 1960s American film set in Brazil" is worth showing up early for.

Tue. Apr. 3, 8pm Ruby Skye 420 Mason St., San Francisco 415.693.0777 $25 buy tickets

De La Soul PROGENITORS: The 20-year anniversary is fast approaching for one of hip-hop's most creative and influential acts, and they're finally getting to milk it. Just last year, Nike made a De La Soul version of their popular "Dunk" style shoes, which were made to look like the yellow, flowery cover of their platinum debut, Three Feet High and Rising. De La Soul also finally snagged a Grammy for their collaboration on the Gorillaz' ridiculously catchy "Feel Good, Inc.," the song Steve Jobs deemed hip enough to grace the box of millions of iPods. They never did finish the three-record series that began with Art Official Intelligence: Mosaic Thump, but they put out Grind Date in 2004 and something called Impossible Mission: TV Series, Pt. 1.

Tue. Apr. 3, 7pm The Fillmore 1805 Geary, San Francisco 408.998.TIXS $22.50 buy tickets

Sevendust SCIONS OF THRASH: Sevendust rips out alt-laced metal that owes more than just a passing nod to hardcore thrash. Although Sevendust's new album, Alpha, explores a slightly mellower sound--well, as mellow as driving metal is likely to get--the Atlanta five piece is still known for the heavy riffs, pounding rhythms and angry vocals that's made these guys the new harbingers of speed-metal fury and probably one of the best outfits of a genre that needed a serious infusion of fresh blood. Sevendust tears up the Fillmore tonight on the West Coast leg of the Alpha tour with Red, Diecast and Invitro pulling opening duties.

coming up

Wed. Apr. 4, 9pm The Blank Club 44 S. Almaden Ave., San Jose 408.292.5265 $3

Sik Luv SOUPED ROOTS: One of the best outfits on the Bay Area rockabilly scene, Sik Luv spits out classic Americana roots rock at the blistering speed of punk. After grinding it out for a while, Sik Luv is getting some well-deserved props, so it probably won't be too much longer that you can catch Nana and Lonewolf laying down sexy and sizzling revved-up tunes like "Till Death Do Us Part," "Hot Rod From Mars" and "My Sick Love" for three bucks on a Wednesday. Cruise on down to the Blank so you can say "I saw 'em when..." with some damned conviction.

Fri. Apr. 6, 9pm The Blank Club 44 S. Almaden Ave., San Jose 408.292.5265 $10

The Filthy Thieving Bastards BRAGG ON A BENDER: What was once just a side project between punk stalwarts Darius Koski and Johnny Bonnel of the Swingin' Utters, the Filthy Thieving Bastards take the storytelling folk-punk mentality of the Utters down to a base level, skillfully infusing traditional folk instrumentation and stylings with their tested punk chops--think of the Pogues dosed with liberal amounts of punk angst and liquor--to form a sound storytelling in scope, but all punk in feel. The Filthy Thieving Bastards set up at the Blank with San Jo punk vets the Forgotten and Girl Band.

--This week's newsletter by: RO, DB, MC & CT

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