The Killers, Zion I & The Grouch, Velvet Shop & Adult Star Search

PICK

WED

THU

FRI

SAT

SUN

MON

TUE

UPCOMING

editorialpick

Sat. Apr. 7, 8pm Johnny V's 31 E. Santa Clara St., San Jose 408.947.8470 $5 Rivals & Currency .357 SURE-FIRE BRAIN DAMAGE: When two intense outfits like Currency .357 and Rivals share the same stage, dollars to donuts there'll be some brain damage. The Rivals are one of the best independent punk outfits--locally or not--on the scene today, ripping out three-minute anthems full of set-to-explode energy that's seriously, uh, unrivaled. Currency .357 take a more metal route with their sonic barrage, which only means there's more blazing guitars and less screaming vocals in their amplifier onslaught. Local rock-infused reggae outfit the Dystrict opens.

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

Sik Luv SOUPED-UP ROOTS: One of the best outfits in the Bay Area rockabilly scene, Sik Luv plays classic Americana roots rock at the blistering speed of punk. Sik Luv is finally 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..."

Wed. Apr. 4, 9:30pm First Billiards 420 S. First St., San Jose 408.294.7800 No Cover

Lucky Lucianni MIND TO MOUTH: Rhyming his way through the darkness and violence that hung like a cloud over his former life before the music took hold, Lucky Lucianni is one San Jose indie hip-hopper to keep your eyes on and your ears attuned to. Spitting out dope, fast-flowing lyrics, Lucky hits with insightful and inspirational street poetry that is downright sick in style. Lucky Lucianni kicks it at First Billiards with a few other choice MCs hand-picked by Lucianni, the self-proclaimed "Original Schizo-path."

Thu. Apr. 5, 10pm The Caravan 98 S. Almaden Ave., San Jose 408.995.6220 No Cover

Cobretti vs. Midnight Bombers MUTUALLY ASSURED DESTRUCTION: Normally we don't pit one band against another, but when these two outfits from San Francisco collide at the Caravan, nothing less than a full-scale, all-out sonic f*cking war is bound to happen. When it comes to arsenals, Cobretti and Midnight Bombers are pretty evenly matched--they both approach music like it's something that needs to get beaten into submission through the ample use of distorted guitars and pounding rhythms, drawing from a deep well of trashy punk angst that's hardcore like a bottle to the head. Loud as hell, gritty, nasty licks from a couple of outfits duking it out in a dirty dive bar? Expect destruction of your liver and eardrums.

Thu. Apr. 5, 9pm Crash Nightclub 34 Mason St., San Francisco 877.342.7274 Usual Cover

American Stripper @ Crash THREE AND A HALF STARS: This has got to be the ultimate collision of reality TV and the nightclub go-go dancer fad. Club Vixen and Club Crash present "American Stripper," an event that, as far as we can discern, is a reality-TV-style elimination contest where aspiring adult dancers compete for either a spot at a strip club or just simply for the designation of "The American Stripper"--seriously, the whole gig is kinda vague. Anyway, DJs E-Rock, Seven and Dave Carvalho will be manning the decks for what we can only assume will be throngs of girls doing their best to make daddy proud.

featuredpick

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: Once just a side project between punk stalwarts Darius Koski and Johnny Bonnel of the Swingin' Utters, the Filthy Thieving Bastards strip the storytelling folk-punk mentality of the Utters down to a more basic level, skillfully infusing traditional folk instrumentation with their tested punk chops--think of the Pogues doused with even more punk angst and liquor--to form a punk sound rich with narrative. Basically, they're like Swingin' Utters-lite. The Filthy Thieving Bastards set up at the Blank Friday, April 6. with San Jo punk vets the Forgotten and Girl Band.

Fri. Apr. 6, 9pm Taste Ultra Lounge 87 N. San Pedro St., San Jose 408.885.1016 Usual Cover guest list

The Velvet Shop THE LUCKY 13: Tonight, the longest-running house music DJ throwdown in the Bay Area, the Velvet Shop, celebrates lucky number 13 with a party that'll have bass heads lining up to get into Taste Ultra Lounge. Master DJ Derrick Carter, making his first San Jose appearance in more than a decade, headlines this who's-who night of turntable talent, including Velvet Shop residents M3 and MJ Gamez. Also hitting the decks tonight are Mark Johns, Jimmy B, Mario Dubzz, Goldenchyld and DJ Guzie laying down solid grooves and hot beats for what's sure to be a to-capacity crowd.

Fri. Apr. 6, 8pm Johnny V's 31 E. Santa Clara St., San Jose 408.947.8470 $5

She He He's PURE BRUTALITY: Rawer than Joan Jett with road rash, the She He He's rip out a mix of punk fury, hard rock hooks and brutal power chords that's as in-your-face as any sonic trash spit out by proto-punks like the Damned or New York Dolls. Heading to San Jose by way of Sacto, the She He He's hit Johnny V's on a minitour that sees the R-rated three-piece setting up at dive bars and garages up and down the coast. Local hardcore punkers Vacant Churches open up before the She He He's kick the usual blatant debauchery at Johnny's up a notch.

Fri. Apr. 6, 9pm Vivid 8 S. First St., San Jose 408.279.4444 Usual Cover

Yvonne Black @ Vivid NIGHTCLUB TRUISMS: After only a few weeks, Vivid's nightclub vision has come to fruition with DJ/ cyber-celeb model Yvonne Black not only pulling hottie MC duties, but dropping some electro-house and trance beats on the decks as well. Anyone have a clue how often nightclub serendipity like that happens? Well, having drank our way through many upswings, downturns and faddish trends in the nightclub world, we can tell you that models can't always spin and spinners can't always model, so consider tonight at Vivid some sort of "alignment of the planets" thing.

Fri. Apr. 6, 8pm The Catalyst 1011 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz 831.423.1336 $18 buy tickets

Zion I & The Grouch FULL CALI STYLE: Continuing to fight evil with an arsenal of dope rhymes, a kick-back lyrical style and mad beats, Zion I and the Grouch--underground hip-hop vigilantes sworn to push the experimental rap envelope--head to the Catalyst for a return trip on their "Heroes in the City of Dope" tour. When most other hip-hop groups produce one or two hot tracks, Zion-I, the Grouch and long-time DJ Amplive have put forth a full experimental rap/ hip-hop album that plays like a street opera with the banging sounds of L.A. and Oaktown. Zion I and the Grouch are arguably one of the best hip-hop MC tandems on the scene today, and whether they're hitting a large venue or a tiny bar, they always come solid.

Fri. Apr. 6, 9pm Vault Ultra Lounge 81 W. Santa Clara St., San Jose 408.298.1112 Usual Cover guest list

Aries Angels @ Vault THE LOUNGE AND EWE: Swank partying with a Zodiac twist for the fairer sex is the theme du jour at the Vault tonight, as Top Notch Entertainment throws the now monthly birthday celebration for all you Aries out there. DJ Slick D takes over the ones and twos, mixing '80s, house and old-school jams all night long. And to make sure the ladies never look like they break a sweat, there will be $400 in MAC makeup giveaways throughout the night, plus chocolate strawberries to indulge in. Aries Angels is all about the ladies at the Vault tonight, so cruise on in to be treated in the manner you may have become accustomed to.

Fri. Apr. 6, 8pm The Fillmore 1805 Geary, San Francisco 408.998.TIXS $23 buy tickets

Mew EERIE ALTERNATIVE: It's not really much of a surprise that the Danish band Mew's lead singer Jonas Bjerre gets his musical inspiration from nightmares. The band's feline namesake sound is less like a fluffy kitten playing with yarn and more like an eerie black cat slinking through the night with glowing eyes. The hollow and echoing melodies of Mew's alternative noise-scapes resemble a soundtrack to a horror film, and not one of those adrenaline-fueled remakes either. We're talking classic and creepy. Mew plays the Fillmore tonight with Oh No! Oh My! opening.

Fri. Apr. 6, 9pm Ruby Skye 420 Mason St., San Francisco 415.693.0777 Usual Cover buy tickets

Chus & Ceballos HOUSE ON THE EDGE: In the house world, DJs Chus and Ceballos are the spinning masterminds behind the Iberian sound--a highly danceable and stylized house proliferating on the Mediterranean club circuit--and have gained worldwide acclaim for their ground-breaking "Dancing on the Edge" sets. This duo is in high demand by top musical artists for their mad remixing skills, but, Chus and Ceballos seem to prefer work on the decks to work in the studio. Their simply mind-blowing sets thoroughly explore every aspect of the house music genre, and create a fusion of styles and sounds that never fails to get the bodies moving on the dance floor.

Sat. Apr. 7, 8pm Britannia Arms: Cupertino 1087 S. De Anza Blvd., San Jose 408.252.7262 $5

Point 3 w/ OTTO & Luxury Sweets ROCK TUMBLER: It's rock across the board tonight at the Cupertino Brit, with straight-ahead rock from Point 3 and some of the heaviest hard rock ever from Otto heading up a four-band lineup that includes retro garage rockers the Luxury Sweets and the screaming, ambient punk of Nothing Left. Sure, the show's way out in the Coop, but you should never let an insignificant stretch of road stand between you and a scarily amazing rock show like this one. Plus, it's healthy to get out of your normal digs for a show or two once in a while; believe me, after you've been thoroughly rocked to the bone by these loud-ass noise peddlers, you'll thank us for the clue-in.

Sat. Apr. 7, 8pm The Catalyst 1011 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz 831.423.1336 $21 buy tickets

Eek A Mouse WORKING ON LEGEND: In the early '80s, Eek-a-Mouse--born Ripton Hilton--got his start in Jamaica, bringing reggae to a Bob Marley-deprived world. Eek-a-Mouse made a name for himself with his singjaying, which amounts to a combination of reggae-style scatting and singing all rolled together. The Mouse still tours all over the world and plays about 200 shows a year to faithful reggae lovers. There's no better time to see the world-famous reggae star than this show at the Catalyst with a crowd that surely loves the Jamaican lifestyle for the green as well as the music.

Sat. Apr. 7, 9pm Great American Music Hall 859 O'Farrell St., San Francisco 415.885.0750 $20

Dredg SONIC LABORATORY: Not quite prog-rock and not quite metal, Dredg is the local scene's gift to complex and cacophonous rock on the harder side, but with a distinct symphonic and orchestral bent. Dredg skillfully navigates rock's experimental waters, continually pushing their sound further into uncharted musical territory. Hot on the heels of their latest offering, Live at The Fillmore, Dredg continues their experimental hard-rocking ways with an all-ages show at the Great American Music Hall tonight.

Sat. Apr. 7, 9pm Vault Ultra Lounge 81 W. Santa Clara St., San Jose 408.298.1112 Usual Cover guest list

Andy Caldwell @ Vault BAY BEAT DOWN: One of the premiere DJs on the house circuit, Andy Caldwell hits the swanky Vault Ultra Lounge tonight to drop a little beat science on the San Jo crowds. A fixture in the changing Bay Area underground club scene, Caldwell has been packing the dance floors of clubs around the world since '94 and his mixes have never been tighter than they are right now. Catch Andy Caldwell spinning all night in the Vault's main room with turntable support from DJ Mein flowing chill house in the back room.

Sat. Apr. 7, 6:30pm Bill Graham Civic Auditorium 747 Howard, San Francisco 408.998.TIXS $38.50 buy tickets

The Killers VEGAS BABY: The Killers rose out of the Vegas in 2004 and haven't stopped their New Wave-y garage-band alt-rocking since. The startling success of their first album and subsequent touring gained the Killers worldwide acclaim for their takes on the mainstream and all it entails. The sophomore effort, Sam's Town, offers a witty and introspective deconstruction of modern values set to the Killers impressive alt-rock riffs. Nonstop touring must be in their desert blood--well, we guess it has to be if you're one of the hottest bands on the current scene--because it seems as if this Vegas four piece has been on the road nonstop since 2004's Hot Fuss slapped the music biz upside the head.

Sat. Apr. 7, 6:30pm The Warfield 982 Market St., San Francisco 408.998.TIXS $20 buy tickets

Hellogoodbye SACCHARINE SETS: Sweet as sugar, Hellogoodbye take their oh-so-cute powerpop indie behinds around North America for "The Two Months of Spring Break Tour '99!" We don't know why it has a date from eight years ago, but it's probably because they're trying to be ... well, cute. The boys will be touring with other indie-pop outfits Boys Like Girls and the Hush Sound for shows sure to be filled with too-skinny boys in their girlfriend's jeans. Regardless, Hellogoodbye always puts on an energetic show for those in the audience.

Sun. Apr. 8, 8pm VooDoo Lounge 14 S. Second St., San Jose 408.286.8636 Usual Cover

Patryk de Rosa METAL SERMONS: One of the better guitarists playing today, Patryk de Rosa and his band storm into the VooDoo Lounge tonight to lay down some screaming metal-laced instrumental sounds for the masses. Patryk de Rosa is so skilled on the six-string that he's gotten legit praise from nearly every guitar authority around today, already leading many critics to draw comparisons between de Rosa and the likes of Joe Satriani and Steve Vai; seriously, de Rosa is worth more than an extended listen. Descending Forth and Certus Fatum also perform.

Sun. Apr. 8, 8pm Slim's 333 11th St., San Francisco 415.255.0333 $12 buy tickets

Sick Puppies LOVE FROM DOWN UNDER: Those familiar with YouTube might remember the Free Hugs Campaign video with a guy who just wanted to brighten people's days with hugs, featuring Sick Puppies' single "All The Same." It ended up winning the website's Most Inspirational Video award, but the Sick Puppies' alternative indie-rock is about more than a hugging dude. The emotion in their music is rampant--try 3 Doors Down and Chevelle updated--and is what everyone needs to end their Easter Sunday. But, remember, crying at the show is a major downer.

Sun. Apr. 8, 9:30pm Blowfish Sushi 355 Santana Row, San Jose 408.345.3848 No Cover

Mixture @ Blowfish Sushi WEEK-ENDER: Looking for a chill spot to wind down after a full weekend of partying? Well, look no further than Blowfish Sushi in Santana Row as they present the very first Mixture tonight. Groove to deep and funky house beats, courtesy of DJs Homero Espinoza, Ernesto Cruz Ash and Akil Taylor dropping sounds on the hipster crowds noshing on some killer sushi and Blowfish's signature sake-based mixed cocktails.

Mon. Apr. 9, 8pm Bill Graham Civic Auditorium 747 Howard, San Francisco 408.998.TIXS $35 buy tickets

Muse IF YOU CAN'T BEAT 'EM: San Francisco is the second to last stop on Muse's tour before they head overseas to continue it worldwide, but do not fear a tired performance, for Muse has won the Brit Award for Best Live Performance, and as we will attest, they put on a jaw-dropping show without fail. Muse plays a stunning mixture of indie rock, classical, metal and electronica, making their musical masterpieces impossible to outright hate by anyone except Radiohead fans, who know that Muse's muse starts with the words Thom and Yorke.

Tue. Apr. 10, 9pm Taste Ultra Lounge 87 N. San Pedro St., San Jose 408.885.1016 Usual Cover guest list

DJ Rated R @ Taste: Tasty Tuesdays THEMATIC NOTES: You shouldn't have to wait an entire week to begin partying in Downtown, and Taste Ultra Lounge knows that. That's why every Tuesday night at Taste they throw the aptly named Tasty Tuesday party featuring $2 cocktails, $2 tacos with a slate of local talent hitting the decks and pumping out straight hip-hop, house and dance tracks to get you moving on the dance floor. Tonight features the turntable stylings of DJ Rated R.

coming up

Fri. Apr. 13, 9pm The Blank Club 44 S. Almaden Ave., San Jose 408.292.5265 $8

Security LOCAL METAL'S BACK: One of the sickest metal outfits on the scene today and definitely in the Top 5 so far as local San Jo bands go, the ass-kicking rock lords of Security rip it up at the Blank tonight with four other hard rock/ metal noise pushers. Security is back after a needed hiatus and has been finding their solid groove again at several shows around the Bay. This intense four-piece rocks the hell out of joints and blows crowds away with their full-bore sound. OTTO, Modern Ruinz, Mudface and Weapons also perform for a show that any hard rock junkie has to see.

Sun. Apr. 15, 8pm The Warfield 982 Market St., San Francisco 408.998.TIXS $30 buy tickets

Wolfmother LUPINE DREAMS: Still riding high on being designated by Rolling Stone as a band to watch in 2006, Australian hard rockers Wolfmother continue to deliver. For anyone that's been living under a rock for the past two years, Wolfmother plays music that harkens back to the glory days of psychedelic/ hard rock. Starting in '04 in Sydney, guitarist/ vocalist Andrew Stockdale, bassist Chris Ross and drummer Myles Heskett caught break after break tearing up several high profile music festivals down under and in Europe before hitting LA in early '05 to begin their systematic hard rock takeover of the United States.

Thu. Apr. 19, 8pm The Warfield 982 Market St., San Francisco 408.998.TIXS $45 buy tickets

Iggy Pop & The Stooges THE ORIGINATOR: Copied, mocked and revered but never matched, Iggy Pop and the Stooges are some of the most important innovators in rock. Often called the "Grandfather of Punk," Iggy Pop is almost single-handedly responsible for popularizing not only a sound but a style that's been imitated by nearly every band since the Stooges first hit in 1969. If you've ever wondered where stage dives and other uncivilized onstage behavior originated, you needn't look any further than Iggy.

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

search upcoming music events

metroactive club gallery

music calendar picks

bay area tickets