The Cramps, Avenue D, Monkey, Snoop Dogg & Pirate Booty

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Sat. Oct. 28, 8pm Cow Palace 2600 Geneva Ave., Daly City 415.567.2255 $20 BUY TICKETS		Exotic Erotic Ball FLESH FOR FANTASY: Probably the most anticipated Halloween event, now in its 27th year, were it's pretty much mandatory to let out your inner sexed up wild self is the Exotic Erotic Ball hitting the Cow Palace tonight in all its leather, lace, vinyl and rubber glory. A few years ago E! Entertainment Network dubbed the EEB as "the world's wildest, sexiest party" and if you've ever ventured into this Caligulan evening of blatant debauchery, then you know just how true that assessment is. The 2006 Exotic Erotic Ball--and all around flesh fest--features George Clinton, Thomas Dolby, Naughty By Nature, Flavor Flav, St. John, Sandra Collins, Drummer KC and just about anyone else involved in the international house, club and adult film scenes. If you haven't gotten all of the hedonism out of your system when the Exotic Erotic Ball shuts down around 2am, head over to the Official EEB After Party at Crash Nightclub (34 Mason St., San Francisco) that keeps the ball gag rolling until 6am.

Wed. Oct. 25, 7pm The Catalyst 1011 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz 831.423.1336 $30 BUY TICKETS

Xzibit PIMP MY CONCERT: West Side rapper heavyweight Xzibit is wrapping up his Nor-Cal stint with a show at the Catalyst tonight and, if all you've seen of him is through your plasma screen, run over the hill tonight to see the king of outlandish car restoration shows in his natural onstage habitat. Xzibit made a name for himself by hitting turns in the studio and high profile appearances with Snoop Dog and Dr. Dre--and, of course, his ride with Cube in the lackluster XXX: State of the Union--this current solo tour fronts for his ambitious Full Circle album.

Wed. Oct. 25, 8pm The Warfield 982 Market St., San Francisco 408.998.TIXS $25 BUY TICKETS

Gomez NO, NOT ADDAMS: Experimental indie rock is making a comeback and Gomez is on the forefront of the bourgeoning Brit scene. Known internationally for blurring the lines between musical genres and kicking out a wholly original sound that refuses to be pinned down by critics, but celebrated by fans, Gomez is running through the last legs of their North American tour for latest, How We Operate, on which the bands influences from Nirvana to Woody Guthrie to classic Motown and even barbershop quartets can be heard with the muffled clarity reserved for aural chemists.

Thu. Oct. 26, 9pm Cuccini's 72 N. Almaden Ave., San Jose 408.287.1737 Usual Cover

Tipsy Halloween Party @ Cuccini WOBBLE, BUT DON'T FALL DOWN: The usual Thursday night Come Get Tipsy party at Club Cuccini gets the old Halloween makeover tonight with DJ David Q manning the decks and the Cuccini crew throwing down drink specials all night long. There'll be $300 up for grabs in the costume contest and if you can't scream by tonight, Club Cuccini will be running the sequel on Saturday night with an $800 prize for the best costume and more drink specials than you can shake a severed limb at.

Thu. Oct. 26, 7pm The Fillmore 1805 Geary, San Francisco 408.998.TIXS $35 BUY TICKETS

India Arie ACOUSTIC BREAKS: If you're looking for a respite from the usual Halloween nightclub mayhem, neo soul songbird and guitarist--and certified Grammy magnet--India Arie plays The Fillmore tonight on her Testimony Vol. 1, Life & Relationship tour. Both live and in the studio, India Arie amazes listeners with her vocal range and musical chops--she's only been writing songs and making music for a little over five years--with sounds that meld the best of classic Motown and R&B with contemporary themes and musical idiosyncrasies.

Thu. Oct. 26, 9pm Abyss Nightclub 146 S. Murphy St., Sunnyvale 408.732.2977 Usual Cover

Fright Nite @ Abyss BEAT TREATS: For the unable to drink, but still want to go clubbin' set, the Abyss Nightclub tonight presents the Fright Nite Halloween party with the hip-hop, old school and mash-up DJ stylings of Nasty Nick on the turntables. Of course there'll be an over 21 section at this little pre-weekend throwdown, but opening up to the 18+ crowd is quite noble because there comes a time in every teenager's life when hanging at home, eating popcorn and watching scary movies while dad snores on the couch during Halloween gets to be a bit lame.

Fri. Oct. 27, 9pm The Blank Club 44 S. Almaden Ave., San Jose 408.292.5265 $10

Monkey SKA-LLOWEEN: It's a full-blown chunky funk ska fest at The Blank tonight getting you amped up (okay, and boozed up) for the Halloween weekend. South Bay ska legends, Monkey, who have been at the forefront of both the ska and live music scenes in San Jose for well over a decade headline with their upbeat, rockin' dub, six-strong sonic blast full of deep bass lines, blasting horns, crushing vocal medleys and guitar rips all driven by an intense keyboard full of dope beats, liquor and love. Fellow ska funk-punks FTB lend a helping hand, but not a cent of their well-used bar tab, to get the crowds swaying along with the always killer Whiskey Avengers--all three, ripping it up and throwing it down under the red lights at The Blank.

Fri. Oct. 27, 10pm 1015 1015 Folsom St., San Francisco 415.431.1200 $15

Avenue D PARTY STREET: Energetic, hilarious and sexually explicit electroclash chick duo Avenue D hit 1015 tonight that will make a more than adequate primer for the Exotic Erotic Ball tomorrow night. These girls and their posse can turn the most somber crowd into a rollicking dance mass of gyrating flesh right when they drop the first beat and roll into such NY club classics as "Do I Look Like A Slut?" and "You Love This Ass." Hey, it's the Halloween weekend when good little boys and girls are expected to let loose and get a little wild, and there's no better way to ensure that transformation happens than catching the never-ending party train of Avenue D when they pull into the SF station.

Fri. Oct. 27, 8:30pm The Catalyst 1011 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz 831.423.1336 $20 BUY TICKETS

Galactic JAM EXCURSIONS: Jazz funksters from The Big Easy, Galactic hit the Catalyst tonight and, for anyone that's seen these mighty musicians and New Orleans Jazz Fest regulars before, you know that means get over the hill early, make sure you've booked a hotel room and let one of the best modern day jam bands take you on a boozy aural journey. Galactic always sell out whatever venue they set up in--oh, the pitfalls of being one of the best party bands--and, trust us as wizened Bay Area emissaries to many a Jazz Fest, the elated feeling you get while they're playing, often one continuous musical experience without any pesky breaks, doesn't end when the lights go up.

Fri. Oct. 27, 9pm Taste Ultra Lounge 87 N. San Pedro St., San Jose 408.885.1016 Usual Cover

Red Light District: Halloween DISTRICT DENIZENS: You knew darn well that Taste Ultra Lounge and the Red Light District party were going to throw a Halloween bash, so don't even look surprised. Just know that Bay Area fav DJ Jazzy Jim will be laying down the club tracks along with DJ Leslie Perez and Taste is bringing back video mixer Roonie G for some plasma screen eye candy. Well, speaking of eye candy, the always-friendly Taste girls will be there and dressed to the Halloween nines while presiding over the $300 prize costume contest.

Fri. Oct. 27, 10pm DNA Lounge 375 11th St., San Francisco 415.626.1409 $10 - $20

Mark Farina & Julius Papp BEAT SESSIONS: As San Francisco as Nob Hill and Fisherman's Wharf, Mark Farina has had an integral part in building the San Francisco house scene. Mixing down tempo chill tunes with jazz, acid jazz, hip-hop and vocal oriented disco tracks, Farina knows how to get bodies moving on the dance floor. Recently voted as one of the top 20 DJs in the world, Farina is firmly entrenched in that exclusive globetrotting DJ camp laying down deep house tracks for the masses. Well-known and well-traveled Bay Area turntablist Julius Papp gets things going before Farina hits the decks.

Fri. Oct. 27, 8:30pm Avalon Nightclub 777 Lawrence Expwy., Santa Clara 408.426.0377 $20 BUY TICKETS

The Hitmen AURAL ASSASSINS: The nine man strong Hitmen--who have been tearing up the Bay Area jazz and blues circuits for over a decade--are throwing their first Halloween Bash at the Avalon Nightclub tonight. These venerable musicians can kick out the jams with everything from high-energy dance tunes to funk hits from the '70s to some modern or classic soul and they always deliver. The Kool Katz will also be on hand and throwing their own brand of Latin jazz into the ring.

Sat. Oct. 28, 8pm Brookdale Lodge 11570 Hwy 9, Brookdale 831.338.6433 $30

The Tubes CAN'T GROW UP THOUGH WE KNOW WE SHOULD: The original White Punks on Dope have left their Marin digs to inflict brain damage on yet a fourth decade. Performance artists from the pre-punk glam mid-70s, they became pop sensations with anti-love songs like "Don't Touch Me There," and "Talk to You Later." Fee Waybill still looks great with a TV on his head and performs recklessly for an audience that is guaranteed to scream "W.P.O.D." on cue. The Tubes are just about as classically subversive a concert as you can hit this weekend and, in keeping with the Halloween spirit as it where, the Brookdale Lodge is rumored to be haunted...seriously, we saw it on the Discovery Channel.

Sat. Oct. 28, 9pm Smoke Tiki Lounge 152 Post St., San Jose 408.292.4266 No Cover

Shipwrecked @ Smoke Tiki Lounge YARGH MATEY: All right, this weekend is chock full of rocking, slick and sexy Halloween parties, but everyone's goal should be to hit the best and we'll give you a quasi-guarantee that Shipwrecked at Smoke Tiki Lounge will definitely be in the upper echelon of San Jo Halloween parties and most likely be logged in the Downtown drinking annals. Seriously, what could be better than a bunch of saucy wenches getting, uh, sauced in the island buzzed digs of Smoke's patio? How about you and us boozing it up full dreadnaught style right along side 'em. There's going to be a costume contest, DJs, tons of not-so-pirate booty, loads of drink specials and the jolly good crew at Smoke won't even make anyone walk the plank.

Sat. Oct. 28, 7:30pm Chips N' Salsa 7400 Monterey St., Gilroy 408.847.6066 $9 MORE INFO

Rivals Halloween Show IT'S ALIVE, ALIVE: Searching around for cool shit to do at Halloween can often prove to be a fruitless task for the older kids, finding a good party for the under 21 set can seem like the 13th task of Hercules. Well, we've got everyone, young and old, covered with this and not just because it's our journalistic obligation. The Rivals--easily one of the best hardcore punk rock bands to ever grace a stage or a basement--are throwing their all-ages 5th Annual Halloween Show down in the great garlic fields of Gilroy hitting Chips N' Salsa--that conveniently has a full bar and restaurant--in old town Gilas for the first time. Every year this awesome live music spectacle features some of the South Bay's sickest talent. Tonight will showcase Embrace Forever, Something for the Broken, The Gunslinger and Madalora getting the crowds to a frenzied cauldron boil before the sonic atom bomb of the Rivals drops and blows you away. Extra points are awarded for any costumed freaks.

Sat. Oct. 28, 9:30pm El Rio 3158 Mission St., San Francisco 415.282.3325 $7

The Phenomenauts STARFLEET WANTS YOU: Steering their stupid fast star cruiser loaded with punk, rockabilly and pop into the El Rio 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 Teenage Harlets and All Time Highs open.

Sat. Oct. 28, 8pm Mezzanine 444 Jessie St., San Francisco 415.640.6484 $20

KMFDM BLITZKRIEG: Hardcore industrial rock pioneers KMFDM hit Mezzanine full throttle with their often imitated--see Nine Inch Nails, Ministry and just about every other alt-industro-metal outfit that came after Euro-bred KMFDM-- brand of driving and dystopian industrial. Almost as famous for their insidiously cryptic name as for jack-hammering beats over dance floors from Germany to Seattle, KMFDM is still fronted by the legendary Sascha Konietzko, still pumps the industrial, still instills an angst ridden bleakness and still has no pity for the majority.

Sat. Oct. 28, Noon - 8pm San Jose City College 2100 Moorpark Ave., San Jose No Phone Free

Otto, NVS, FTB, Europa & others FREE & LOCAL: Otto will be tearing it up this Saturday, from noon to 8pm, at the all-ages free music festival at San Jose Community College. The show also features NVS plugging in full throttle from the dystopian suburban-scape and laying down the alt-punk rock along with hard driving rockers Europa, S.A.D.F.I.S.H. and venerable San Jose ska funk-punks FTB bringing their undeniable rocking dub musical chops to the table. Solo acoustic guitar slinger, The Red Eye Jedi, who put the whole shindig together, will throw down a set along with The Lone Gunsman and a completely ear-worthy slate of local San Jose bands that you probably won't hear on the dangerously confined airwaves of the radio.

Sat. Oct. 28, 9pm Agenda Lounge 399 S. First St., San Jose 408.380.3042 $10

Halloween Bash @ Agenda 3 FLOORS AND A GRAND: For 10 years now, the Halloween Bash at Agenda has been the premiere nightclub throwdown on the old great pumpkin holiday and, of course, this year is no different. Agenda's going to hit your dance club senses with a triple threat DJ attack with J. Reese, DJ Free and DJ Marc pumping out the hip-hop, old school and dance hits with Agenda opening up every conceivable space they have to the throngs of partiers and kicking down some unbelievable drink specials. Also, as with every past Halloween Bash, Agenda is again holding one of the best costume contests in Downtown San Jose with $1000--yup, you read that correctly; a G--up for grabs in cash and prizes for the best and most original costume.

Sat. Oct. 28, 8pm Ruby Skye 420 Mason St., San Francisco 415.693.0777 $25

Donald Glaude WHIRLING DERVISH: The spinning definition of West Coast house, Donald Glaude hits Ruby Skye tonight as part of their three-day reinterpretation of The Wizard of Oz party, dropping his signature beats on the Halloween crazed City. And if you've never caught a set of his far reaching and vibrant spinning style--jumping up on the decks, pumping up the crowd, scratching with his tongue--hit Ruby Skye because the best way to experience a one of a kind DJ isn't over your I-pod.

Sat. Oct. 28, 7pm Bill Graham Civic Auditorium 747 Howard, San Francisco 800.225.2277 $45 BUY TICKETS

Devo LET'S DO THE TIME WARP: The progenitors of new wave, post punk in a time when prog rock and disco ruled, Devo hits the Bill Graham Civic tonight as part of Live 105's Halloween Freak Out. Devo had a large hand in making MTV what it is today even though the entire premise behind the band was the devolution of man coupled with the mass consumerism and herd mentality of American society, even though consumerism and a herd mentality, ironically enough, have mutated into the crack-head mission statement of MTV--well, at least the geeky misfits from Ohio tried to warn us. Others on Live 105's bill include. Flock of Seagulls, Animotion, Bow Wow Wow and When In Rome...hold on a sec, where having '80s music flashbacks.

Sun. Oct. 29, 7pm The Catalyst 1011 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz 831.423.1336 $25 BUY TICKETS

The Cramps PSYCHO-HORROR-PUNKS: The earliest progenitors of psychobilly, The Cramps--dangerously bizarre, seriously cool and often imitated, but never replaced--hit The Catalyst tonight as a trashed up primer for their show on Halloween in The City. Products of the late night psychotic musical debris of the late '70s New York glam, rock and punk cultures, The Cramps have inflicted over a quarter of a century of mayhem on the rock world with their B-movie horror thrash that has spawned more mutant musical styles than Dr. Moreau spawned mutated beasties...plus those cute, cuddly and vicious creatures couldn't even come close to the lightning fast licks and jackhammer punk rhythms of The Cramps, even if the good doctor grafted on opposable thumbs. If you can't make it over the hill tonight, catch The Cramps on Halloween night at The Fillmore and both shows open up with Sacto necro-punks The Groovie Ghoulies and the Demolition Doll Rods.

Sun. Oct. 29, 7:30pm Bill Graham Civic Auditorium 747 Howard, San Francisco 408.998.TIXS $39.50 BUY TICKETS

Snoop Dog OG STYLE: The epitome of West Coast gangsta rap, Snoop Dogg hits The City tonight with his signature laconic style and solidly smooth rhymes. Even though Snoop broke onto the scene in the heydays of gangsta, the style and substance of The Doggfather has evolved with the times with Snoop collecting cross-over cred into rock, alt and, of course, his many turns on the big screen--in front of and behind the camera. Snoop hits it big time with Damian "Jr. Gong" Marley in tow and probably a slew of others firmly committed to the Dogg syndicate.

Sun. Oct. 29, 8:30pm 6 Bars Downtown San Jose 408.286.8636 Free MORE INFO

4th Annual Scare Crawl TRICKS & LIQUID TREATS: Six bars, six hours, cheap drinks, downtown San Jose bar crawling, costumes and an all around scary good time...what more needs to said about the 4th annual Halloween Scare Crawl? Well, just that All Hollows Eve is probably the second best drinking holiday of the year (if you can't figure out the first; go back to booze school), so why not spend it catching a buzz with a few hundred of your closest costumed friends? This year's Scare Crawl starts at the Downtown Brit at 8:30pm and closes at the VooDoo Lounge from 12:15am to close with Smoke, The Loft and a SJBG/ Tres Gringos combo in between.

Mon. Oct. 30, 7:30pm HP Pavilion 525 W. Santa Clara St., San Jose 408.998.TIXS $15 - $65 BUY TICKETS

Wild 94.9 Boo Bomb DON'T BE SCARED: Wild 94.9's Boo Bomb concert cracks the HP Pavilion tonight and you know that these concerts are off the hook. Ludacris headlines the 2006 Boo Bomb with Danity Kane, Chingy, Pitbull, Paula Deanda and Young Joc along with Bay Area legends E40 and Mistah FAB. Dang, even the Hulkster himself will be on hand, not to unleash Hulkamania, but to make sure that nothing evil happens to his little girl Brooke who is reportedly going to sing or something. Now 94.9 says that the Boo Bomb is sold out, but, just 'cause they say stuff on the radio don't necessarily make it true, so do some checkin'...besides, scalping tickets is only a crime if you get caught.

Tue. Oct. 31, 9pm Mission Ale House 97 E. Santa Clara St., San Jose 408.292.4058 No Cover

Haunted Carn-Evil @ Mission JUST CAN'T MISS IT: The Halloween parties at Mission Ale House are absolutely legendary, one for always throwing down their signature San Jo booze guzzlin' party style on the actual night of Halloween and two for always making said Halloween bar party the best one in Downtown complete with killer drink specials, slick DJs and hotties dancing on the bar almost in perpetuity. This year, Mission has some crazy haunted carnival, death burlesque theme going on and the whole of Mission will be totally decked out. Also, remember that while you're downing drinks, whooping it up and thinking of excuses to get out of work in the morning, there's a costume contest worth over $1000 in cash and prizes...so, pace yourself.

Tue. Oct. 31, 9pm Johnny V's 31 E. Santa Clara St., San Jose 408.947.8470 $5

Sik Luv DRINK WITH THE DEVIL: There just ain't nothing better than hitting a psychobilly show on Halloween especially when Sik Luv are ripping it up on stage with their bass slappin', guitar blazin' brand of greased up horror-rock. These slicked up rockabilly crooners to the dead will be laying down two sick sets for the little ghoulie in all of us in fine San Jo hootenanny style. The one-two knockout punch of Nana hitting the upright bass like it owes her money and Lonewolf McCool's lightning fast licks that set his guitar on fire is an undeniable trip down hillbilly way with courteous taxi services provided by the devil himself. Let your evil side out for a breather tonight at Johnny V's.

Tue. Oct. 31, 9:30pm Club Barcelona 767 N. Mathilda Rd., Sunnyvale 408.245.8777 $25

Keak Da Sneak's Official Pimps & Hos Halloween Ball THE "OFFICIAL" OFFICIAL: A lot of other Halloween parties try and stake their claim as the "official" pimps and hos balls, but this one is the real deal. Bay Area master of hyphy ceremonies, Keak Da Sneak hosts THE official Halloween pimps and hos ball tonight featuring two of the Bay Area's hottest DJs, Rick "The Dragon Style"Lee and J Espinosa with mic work by Hoodrat Miguel. Also throwing their skills into the turntable ring are DJs Mr. Roper, Old-E and D-Mixx. This is an all-ages party, but, of course, there's a separate fully stocked and rocking bar for the over 21 set.

Tue. Oct. 31, 7pm The Fillmore 1805 Geary, San Francisco 408.998.TIXS $30 BUY TICKETS

Groovie Ghoulies ZOMBIE SCHOOL: All right so The Cramps are actually headlining this show, but we'd be doing the Ghoulies--and our punk credentials--a tragic disservice if all we did was mention these long time cheesy horror movie fueled punk rock favorites in just a chintzy "blah, blah, so and so opens up" one liner. The Groovie Ghoulies have been kicking the Sacto punk scene in the pants since '89 with their amped up B-movie inspired blitz and have kicked all over the world in over the years always putting on one of the best horror punk shows--but not in the creepy gothed out necrophiliac never saw the sun sort of way--we've ever seen. The Demolition Doll Rods hit the stage and, an outfit we will always give their proper due, The Cramps mop things up for this unbelievable Halloween screamer.

coming up

Wed. Nov. 8, 7:30pm HP Pavilion 525 W. Santa Clara St., San Jose 408.998.TIXS $52 - $202 BUY TICKETS

The Who WHO ARE YOU: Rock and Roll just wouldn't be the same without The Who, they were key figures in the '60s British Invasion, pioneered the rock opera and were one of the first bands to completely destroy their instruments on stage--a feat that has become somewhat of a parroting hallmark of rock shows, but has never quite been done with the purely raging grace and determination as when Pete Townshend and Keith Moon obliterated the stage. Even though Townshend and vocalist Roger Daltrey are all that remain of the original Who lineup, it's eminently worth it to see them live.

Sat. Nov. 11, 9pm The Blank Club 44 S. Almaden Ave., San Jose 408.292.5265 $10

Exene Cervenka & The Original Sinners PUNK MATRIARCH: Exene Cervenka, former front woman of the quintessential LA punk band X, hits the Blank with her new project The Original Sinners. X--and subsequently punk maven Exene--formed while most of us were still in diapers and right from the get go harnessed a poetic gutter angst sound that was the perfect conduit for the band's wry and intelligent humor. While X never fully reached the notoriety they truly deserve, any combat boot shod punk worth their salt will tell you that without X and the chaotic beauty of Exene's vocal chops, the West Coast punk sound would probably sound like flowered hippie rock filtered through a cranked up amplifier.

--This week's newsletter by: RO, LF, FK, VT, PC, BL & VF

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