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New Papa Roach DVD to tide fans over until the triple platinum-selling band unleashes its latest album, 'Lovehatetragedy.' That Luckydog Survivor contestant Lex van den Berghe's band plays AIDS benefit in Santa Cruz By Sarah Quelland HE MAY NOT have won the big million on Survivor 3: Africa, but Santa Cruz resident and Luckydog drummer Lex van den Berghe sure is enjoying his newfound celebrity. He's been busy making the rounds on local news broadcasts, and last Friday (Jan. 18) he spent some quality time on the air with KGO's Ronn Owens discussing his Survivor experience and answering questions from callers. His notoriety isn't hurting his band any either. Luckydog's debut album, Super Charged Flash Crackers, has been released on Smash Mouth frontman Steve Harwell's Spunout Records. Formed out of friendships made in San Jose bands the Frontier Wives and Social Club, Luckydog features vocalist and acoustic guitarist John Barrett, his wife and keyboardist Kim, lead guitarist Mike Donio, bassist Mike Jennings and, of course, drummer van den Berghe. Their music puts a sensitive--almost emo--pop spin on rootsy, Americana-styled rock & roll. This Sunday (Jan. 27) at 2pm, fans get the chance to see Luckydog perform at the Santa Cruz Vets hall as it participates in Positive Spin's benefit concert for the Santa Cruz AIDS Project. Host and MC DJ Adrian Cavlan (of KUSP and the Blue Lagoon) and other event organizers are stressing the casual, family-friendly, community-oriented atmosphere of the early afternoon event. For the first hour, while Deuces Wild plays, van den Berghe will be meeting and greeting his many fans. After that, he'll take the stage with Luckydog. Advance tickets are available at Jeannie Bo Beanie's in Santa Cruz. Visit www.luckydogrocks.com for more info. ALL THE NEWS: Motiv and frontman Todd Kubiak have parted ways. Kubiak is looking for a new band, while Motiv is seeking a new vocalist. The band plans to start holding auditions in February. ... Papa Roach is putting the finishing touches on its new album, Lovehatetragedy. Produced by Brendan O'Brien (Stone Temple Pilots, Rage Against the Machine), the forthcoming disc reportedly includes a new take on the old song "Walking Thru Barbed Wire," plus new tracks "She Loves Me Not," "Code of Energy," "Decompression Period," "Sid," The Heart of Darkness," "Black Clouds," "Born With Nothing, Die With Everything" and "Explosive Energy Movement." Since the release of the rap-rock Infest, live, Papa Roach has been removing itself from the genre and giving songs in its repertoire more of a rock edge. This album is said to reflect that shift. The band's DVD If You Don't Know, Now You Know hits stores this Tuesday (Jan. 29). ... Kid Rock plays the Compaq Center near the end of his North American tour. Dates are still tentative for most of this tour, which kicks off Feb. 22 in Michigan. ... It's already time to think about the annual pilgrimage to Nevada's Black Rock Desert. Tickets for Burning Man 2002: The Floating World--which runs Aug. 26-Sept. 2--are on sale now and run $135-$185 through June 30. Visit www.burningman.com for more info. ... The San Jose Downtown Association has announced the opening of two new bars near San Pedro Square. O'Flaherty's Irish Pub (25 N. San Pedro St.) opens its doors (the biggest doors in town, they say) on March 1. A new Britannia Arms opens up at 173 W. Santa Clara St. on or around April 1. PLAN AHEAD: The Fleshies, Cliftons and El Buzzard, Jan. 24 at the Lido; Atomic Mint and Hopechild, Jan. 24 at Fanny & Alexander's in San Jose; Surf Cinema, Jan. 24 at the Caravan; Bratmobile, Jan. 24 at Bottom of the Hill in San Francisco; Trackstar and Mates of State, Jan. 25 at Bottom of the Hill; Homegrown, Finch, Sugarcult and Yellowcard, Jan. 25 at the Cactus Club; Firmé, Jan. 26 at Cafecito; Sum 41, Jan. 26 at the Warfield in San Francisco; the Mr. T Experience, Jan. 26 at Slim's in San Francisco; Rivals, Sloe, 9 Volt Classic and Dead Man's Hand, Jan. 26 at Gaslighter's Music Hall in Gilroy; the Flames, the Curbs, Nag, the Fire Ants and Angry for Life, Jan. 27 at the Cactus; Nikka Costa and Kofy Brown, Jan. 31 at the Usual; Slayer and Hatebreed, Feb. 13 at the Warfield; Sevendust, Gravity Kills and Flaw, Feb. 18 at the Fillmore in San Francisco; Kasey Chambers, Feb. 20 at Bimbo's in San Francisco; Machine Head, Feb. 28 at the Fillmore; Frank Black and the Catholics, Mar. 14 at the Usual; Rob Zombie, the Damned and Sinisstar, Mar. 17 at the SJSU Event Center; Bush and Default, April 2 at the Warfield. [ San Jose | Metroactive Central | Archives ]