The sound of hoofbeats on the roof may be a welcome sign of Santa, but you’d better hope that those aren’t the steel toe boots of Brotha Lynch Hung. The legendary horrorcore pioneer brings his grimy rhymes to BackBar SoFa this week. If tales of disembowelment and cannibalism aren’t your thing, perhaps the blistering riffs of San Jose tech metal band Enigma will get you in the holiday spirit. Or, of course, you could just opt for a more traditional time—with a high flying twist—at Great America’s new seasonal offering, Winterfest.
The Christmas Ballet
Wed, 8pm, $56-$72
Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts
Smuin Ballet presents an elegant evening of stunning visual artistry, with a wide array of performances. Ranging from classic to contemporary, the show will feature Smuin favorites as well as new pieces in jazz, ballet and tap. One of the Bay Area’s premiere nonprofit dance companies, Smuin ballet has been wowing local audiences since their 1994 debut. The company has continued to push the envelope in pursuit of a distinct American style of ballet, attracting new audiences to the classic medium. The Christmas Ballet will feature four new works from Rex Wheeler, Amy Seiwert, Nicole Haskins and Ben Needham-Wood. Thru Dec. 11. (JT)
Enigma
Wed, 9pm, Free
The X Bar, Cupertino
Silicon Valley’s tech industry is known for its world-leading innovation, precision engineering and sleek, streamlined design aesthetic. Similarly, San Jose tech metal quintet Enigma are known for their boundary-pushing brutality, rigorous riffs and aerodynamic aural assaults. The band’s excellent new LP, Stars Misaligned, features five blistering tracks—replete with roiling guitar leads, breakneck double bass beats, respites of melodic contemplation and explosions of awe-inspiring technical spasticity. Recorded by metal pro Zack Ohren (Fallujah, All Shall Perish), Stars Misaligned is as slick as any Apple product and as face-melting as a malfunctioning Samsung Galaxy Note 7. (NV)
Pink Martini
Wed, 7:30pm, $30+
Bing Concert Hall, Stanford
Haute couture, Edith Piaf and jet-setting. Three words that describe Pink Martini’s sparkling, ’60s worldwide orchestral sound. Their latest effort—Je Dis Qui!, released Nov. 18—is full of bubbly and cheerful charisma. Cobbling together a global tapestry of lively rhythms, Pink Martini’s ninth studio album features songs in eight different languages and cultural stylings, from Armenian to Portuguese. Expect the group to mix it at Stanford this week at their “Holiday Spectacular” show. The performance will feature selections from their non-denominational holiday album, Joy To The World, alongside Pink Martini classics. The show is currently sold out, but we hear Santa is familiar with Craigslist. (JT)
Chicana/o Biennial
Wed, 12pm, Free
MACLA, San Jose
Art can reflect and provide a context for some of the most troubling issues affecting society today. For 25 years, MACLA has been one such gallery, dedicated to showcasing the works of emerging artists in the Bay Area and serving as a cornerstone for contemporary Chicana/o art in the United States. Celebrating its sixth Chicana/o Biennial, the artists of this year’s exhibit will address the changing realities of contemporary American politics.The 6th Chicana/o Biennial will feature over 20 artist and reflect through various mediums. Topics will include immigration, racial inequality, concepts of identity and more. (JT)
Jake Shimabukuro
Thu, 7:30pm, $15-$40
Bing Concert Hall, Stanford
Small, lightweight and often associated with the calm of a Hawaiian getaway, the ukulele is known to produce a soothing sound. However, in the hands of Jake Shimabukuro—whose mastery of the tiny tropical instrument has drawn comparisons to Eddie Van Halen—the ukulele becomes a gale force wind. Shimabukuro, who has been playing since he was 4 years old, has built a reputation as a uke virtuoso thanks to his powerful interpretations of “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” and “Bohemian Rhapsody.” He returns to Bing for the first time since his sold-out 2014 performance. (JT)
The Blasters
Fri, 8pm, $15-$20
The Ritz, San Jose
Fueled by a love for rockabilly, blues, traditional R&B and a host of other American musical genres, roots rock rebels The Blasters took their inspirations and jet-propelled them to a new level when they burst onto the scene in the late 1970s. With a scorching stage presence and intensely personal style of songwriting, the group’s songs are steeped in the rich traditions and heritage of the musical melting pot that they were exposed to as youngsters living in the working class town of Downey, California. After nearly four decades, the band remains a live act not to be missed. (SM)
Brotha Lynch Hung
Sat, 9pm, $20
BackBar SoFa, San Jose
Hailed as an innovator in the hip-hop subgenre of horrorcore, Brotha Lynch Hung has delivered some of the most controversial lyrics in his outstanding 23-year career. Weaving razor-sharp wit with terrible tales of disembowelment, cannibalism and a multitude of other atrocities, Brotha Lynch continues to bring a no-holds-barred attitude to the stage. Lynch teased his highly anticipated forthcoming album, Kevlar, back in August. The record is due in early 2017, which means he’s likely to have a litany of grotesque new rhymes when he rolls through San Jose this week. (JT)
The Zelda Symphony
Sat, 8pm, $63+
City National Civic, San Jose
The Zelda Symphony joins forces with Skywalker Ranch Orchestra and Chorus for this epic musical collaboration. The Legend of Zelda: Symphony of the Goddesses-Master Quest 2016 features new music and striking visuals from the 2015 Nintendo 3DS title, The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes—the 18th installment in the beloved video game series—as well as content from the highly anticipated update of The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess. Listen as the symphony performs Koji Kondo’s iconic compositions while the history of Hyrule unfolds through animation and gameplay on the big screen. (JT)
Carpenters’ Christmas
Sun, 3pm & 7pm, $32-$36
Montalvo Arts Center, Saratoga
Some traditions fade with time, while others are picked up by another and made anew. The much-loved Carpenters’ Christmas specials and music, which so many remember soundtracking the winter months of the 1970s are being re-invigorated for the holiday season by Lisa Rock and her six piece band. Relive the memories of childhood or introduce younger family to one of the ’70s most memorable duos. The Carpenters’ Christmas will feature holidays hits, like “Merry Christmas Darling” and “Santa Claus is Comin’ To Town.” Extend the warmth behind the Carpenters’ Christmas and make another cherished holiday memory. (JT)
