This week brings wildly innovative dance in the form of sjDANCEco’s latest production, “On The Edge.” Also, the Cantor Arts Center is screening some of the earliest experimental surrealist films, Chicago celebrates 50 years of touring and conductor Dennis Russell Davies leads the Bruckner Orchestra of Linz in Philip Glass’ new opus—Symphony No. 11.
On The Edge
Fri, 2:30pm & 7pm, $18+
SJSU Dance Theater, San Jose
Returning with their winter offering, sjDANCEco’s “On The Edge” is a program of mixed choreography, which includes a variety of new contemporary works. Emerging company artists Hannah McNany, Katherine House, Kelisha Gardeen, Frankie Rivera and Domonic Duong present along with help from the Diablo Ballet’s resident choreographer, Robert Dekkers, and artistic director, Lauren Jonas. Nan Ho of the Nan Ho Project also contributes to this night of forward-thinking dance that keeps the traditional tutu even as the moves evolve. Performances on Friday and Saturday. (VS)
Billy DeFrank Benefit
Sat, 6:30pm, $10-20
Billy DeFrank LGBTQ Center, San Jose
Think globally, act locally at this concert benefit for the Billy DeFrank LGBT Community Center. Featuring local indie-folk duo Wax Moon and San Luis Obispo indie-pop outfit Fialta. Wax Moon comprises singer-songwriters Paul Kimball and John Blatchford (of The Mumlers and Careless Hearts). Together they compose stripped-down acoustic Americana. Boasting rich harmonies and energetic arrangements, Fialta sound a bit like a merger of Foster the People and Vampire Weekend, as they weave together propulsive, upbeat tracks like the infectious “Be Someone” and the bubbly, synth-infused “Do The Best We Can.” (VS)
Silent Night
Sat, 3pm & 8pm, $55+
Opera San Jose
This heart-wrenching opera, set in the midst of a spontaneous cease-fire during World War I, shows us that even our mortal enemies are human. Based upon the Christmas truce of 1914, it tells the story of Scottish, German and French officers laying down their weapons to negotiate and celebrate the holiday with one another. Composer Kevin Puts won a Pulitzer Prize for his music in Silent Night—his first ever opera. Taking cues from the 2005 French film, Joyeux Nöel, Puts’ production explores a brief moment of peace amid the festering killing fields of the Western Front. (VS)
Chicago
Sat, Feb 11, 8pm, $69.50+
City National Civic, San Jose
It’s been a big year for Chicago. The group were inducted into the 2016 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and Billboard recently ranked them at No. 9 on its “Hot 200 All-Time Top Artists” chart. Now the group comes to San Jose in support of their new studio album, Now: Chicago XXXVI. The band are also celebrating 50 years of making music and playing on the road. Known for their stellar horn section and hit songs, like ”25 or 6 to 4,” the band started out as a self-described “rock band with horns,” before pivoting to big ballads, like “Hard to Say I’m Sorry/Get Away.” (NV)
Philip Glass: Symphony No. 11
Sun, 4pm, $30-95
Bing Concert Hall, Stanford
Known for his Etudes series, his soundtrack work on films such as The Truman Show and The Hours, and as the one living classical composer the average music fan can name, Philip Glass recently turned 80. In commemoration of this milestone, Stanford hosts conductor Dennis Russell Davies as he leads the Bruckner Orchestra of Linz in Glass’ latest opus—Symphony No. 11, which he wrote over the course of 2016. The night will also feature works by Duke Ellington and Samuel Barber. Violinist Robert McDuffie will be spotlighted. (NV)
SJ ZineCon
Sun, 1pm, Free
Local Color, San Jose
Zines have been an important outlet for outsider voices—from writers to artists to poets—ever since the counterculture discovered the Xerox machine. The Bay Area has always been well represented in the vibrant global zine community, and in recent months San Jose has hosted a number of zine-focused events. SJ ZineCon is just the latest example. Hosted at the community arts space located in the former Ross department store downtown, this gathering puts an emphasis on people of color and the LGBT creators, though it is open to all and free to sign up. (MH)
ShakesBEERience
Mon, 6:30pm, Free
Cafe Stritch, San Jose
“Though this be madness, yet there is method in’t.” It’s as apt a Shakespearian quote for our times as any, given the orange one’s national gaslighting campaign. In this scene from what is arguably the Bard’s greatest work, Hamlet is doing his best to convince Polonius that he has lost his mind—so that he might catch Claudius with his guard down. But don’t fret over whether you can follow the Elizabethan English. There will be beer! Gendell Hing-Hernandez plays the bloodthirsty Danish prince in what is sure to be a fun-filled night of ale and assassination. (NV)
Surfer Blood
Tue, 9pm, $15
The Catalyst Atrium, Santa Cruz
This Florida-based indie-punk group return to the Catalyst, touring on their first album since the untimely passing of their guitarist last year. With what might now be considered a “classic” indie rock sound, Surfer Blood would not have seemed out of place sharing the stage with Pavement or Echo & The Bunnymen in the early ’90s. On the just-released record, Snowdonia, Surfer Blood keep the formula simple and strong: playing jangly major chords through warmly overdriven amps, atop bouncy drumlines and bare-bones bass—and sweetening their melancholic lyrics with sunny melodies. (MH)
Tee Grizzley
Tue, 9pm, $20+
Aura, San Jose
Detroit hip-hop is definitely having a moment: Danny Brown’s avant-rap masterpiece Atrocity Exhibition was heralded by the music press intelligentsia when it was released last fall, and just this month Big Sean scored a major radio hit with his Metro Boomin’-produced “Bounce Back.” Enter the ascendant Tee Grizzley. An ambassador of the Motor City’s thriving street rap scene, Grizz recently signed to 300 Entertainment, home to Migos. His single, “First Day Out,” has racked up 11 million YouTube plays since debuting in November, and his latest, “Second Day Out”—released Feb. 3—will soon claim 100,000 views. What up, doe? (NV)
