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Aural Fixation Papa's Return Sells Out: The Cactus had to turn fans away at big Papa Roach show By Sarah Quelland THE BIG SHOW this week was Papa Roach's return to the South Bay. The band sold close to 350 tickets in advance, and the Cactus Club was absolutely packed last Saturday (Jan. 15) as everyone turned out to see the band in what could be its last show at the club. Even at 10pm, an hour after the doors opened, the line reportedly stretched far down South First Street. After months of recording in the studio, the increasingly popular five-piece had a lot of pent-up energy to unleash. After refining its live stage show, Papa Roach has finally outgrown smaller clubs like the Cactus. Coby Dick is one of the most outrageous and charismatic frontmen around, and Saturday night he was running around with a loud siren. (That's a genius bit of marketing: If the band continues working the siren angle, pretty soon it will become synonymous with the blaring sound.) One of the most promising things about Papa Roach is its down-to-earth attitude. Even after getting picked up by DreamWorks Records, being wined and dined and provided with time in a state-of-the-art studio facility, the band members are as friendly and outgoing as ever. Its label debut, titled Infest, is due out April 25. There are rumors that the band could come through the area again supporting a notable act popular among P-Roach fans. More news on that if and when it surfaces. Agenda celebrated its four-year anniversary with an invitation-only party featuring Atomic Cocktail and Kofy Brown. The club partied in style with an open bar in the early part of the night, special complimentary beverages later on and a smorgasbord of yummy appetizers. With most of the bar standing room only, the successful party was extremely crowded, forcing some back into the night to find less claustrophobic quarters. Melodic four-piece Brickhead performed with Santa Cruz-based punk band Thumbs Down, Fringe and Hippy Aggression at the Cactus Club last Thursday (Jan. 13). Featuring Moe, Marlan, Alex and Bobush, Brickhead had a good hooky sound. From a distance, its lanky lead singer looks like Scream's Matthew Lillard, and he sang catchy songs with lyrics like "Why are you stupid?" Brickhead plans to release its first CD by the end of the month. The Chums perform at the Edge in Palo Alto this Thursday (Jan. 20) with college-radio darlings Guster. After a good run that generated some pretty decent media buzz, this five-piece pop band from Oakland seemed to disappear from the South Bay club scene. It's nice to see the band back in the area, even if it did cancel its Jan. 18 date downtown at the Usual. Known for catchy vocals and hooky songs filled with twinkly keyboard melodies generated by flamboyant keyboardist Damon, the Chums generally put on a really fun live show. Smash Mouth, which has been nominated for a Grammy Award in the category of Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocal for its smash hit "All Star," is coming to San Francisco with Luscious Jackson. The band will perform at the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium on Feb. 12. Tickets are available through Ticketmaster and are $20 in advance (students with valid ID can purchase tickets for $10). The Grammys will be broadcast Feb. 23 at 8pm on CBS. ... Staind will be supporting Korn Mar. 3 at the Oakland Arena. There will also be some type of presentation of Spike & Mike's Sick & Twisted Festival of Animation. ... Though Fear was initially reported to be performing at the Cactus Club this Saturday, Jan. 22, the date has been changed to Friday, Feb. 4. PLAN AHEAD: Stitch, True to Form and DIELAB, Jan. 21 at the Chemical Free Zone in Campbell; Monkey and the Brownies, Jan. 21 at the Cactus; the Lonely Kings, Jan. 21 at the Catalyst in Santa Cruz; System of a Down, Puya, Mr. Bungle and Incubus, Jan. 22 at the Warfield; Misfits, Jan. 23 at the Edge; Ratt, Jan. 23 at Maritime Hall in San Francisco; Ten in the Swear Jar, Jan. 25 at the Usual; Royal Crown Revue and Hayride to Hell, Jan. 26 at the Usual. [ San Jose | Metroactive Central | Archives ]