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Gypsy Theater The Cactus Club got a lesson in interior decoration from VIM Saturday By Sarah Quelland THE CACTUS CLUB was transformed into a modern Gypsy theater Saturday (June 3) as VIM rented out the venue for an elaborate CD-release party. Tapestries were draped from the ceiling, ornamental fabrics snaked up the support poles and makeshift stages were set up on the main floor. VIM was celebrating the official release of its newest album, Trancejam, an aptly titled work full of music that is just that: a trance jam. A real Renaissance band, VIM combines heavy guitars, world rhythms and otherworldly vocals into a style that's both dynamic and captivating. The very theatrical performance began with a magician. Next, the band took the stage dressed in colorful garb and dramatic makeup. Hypnotic visual sequences lit up a projection screen behind the band, and the entertainment included an exotic fire dance and stilt-walking. Attendance was only moderate, but VIM mounted a compelling show. Krenshaw delivered a high-energy performance as the opening act. The Rockslut Festival scheduled for Saturday (June 3) at the UC-Santa Cruz Student Center was canceled the day before the show. Apparently Santa Cruz officials were concerned with security and crowd control. Luckily, the weather was beautiful. Anyone who trekked over the hill to catch what looked to be an exciting day of music (Spitkiss, Insolence, Salmon, Los Bastardos de Amor and other area bands had volunteered to perform at this benefit concert for HIV and AIDS awareness) probably found other activities to make the journey worthwhile. The Santa Cruz Skate Jam, a music and skateboard extravaganza, is slated for Saturday (June 10) at the Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium. Fear, U.S. Bombs, Union 13, Lost Cause, Riff Raff, Damnation, Total Chaos and Vicious Midgets are scheduled to perform. Tickets are $20 and doors open at 5pm. Proceeds benefit the Surfrider Foundation. ... KPIG's Texas Uprising and Swine Soiree takes place Sunday (June 11) at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds. The lineup includes Robert Earl Keen, Joe Ely, Iris Dement, James McMurtry and Paul Thorn on the main stage and Sarah Elizabeth Campbell, Slaid Cleaves, Jack Ingram, John Eddie and the Waybacks on the second stage. Tickets are $25 and gates open at 10am. LIVE 105's BFD will be held next Friday (June 16). The official lineup includes Limp Bizkit, Stone Temple Pilots, the Offspring, Moby, Cypress Hill, Everclear, Godsmack and Third Eye Blind on the main stage; Papa Roach, Slipknot, Incubus, Powerman 5000, P.O.D. and Staind on the Dysfunctional Stage. Magnified, the Blue, No Use for a Name and AFI are lined up for the Local Lounge stage. Tickets are $35 reserved and $28.50 general. Flogging Molly has the daunting task of bringing people to its show at the Usual the same night as BFD (June 16). Diehard fans should make the effort to show their support. Shedding names almost as fast as a snake sheds its skin, Simon Woodstock's the Abductors (formerly known as Party Casket, a.k.a. Sketch) serves as main support. Creamsicle is scheduled to open. The Russian River Blues Festival will be held at Johnson's Beach in Guerneville next weekend (June 17-18). Saturday: Funky Meters, Little Milton, Tommy Castro, Average White Band and the Bobby Murray Blues Band. Sunday: Etta James & the Roots Band, Los Lobos, the Duke Robillard Band, Mighty Mo Rodgers and Angela Strehli. There's big news for Kiss fans. After a stellar performance at the Oakland Arena last March, rock's favorite superheroes are scheduled to come through town one last time on their farewell tour. Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons, Ace Frehley and Peter Criss (all in full makeup) have a show lined up July 28 at Shoreline Amphitheatre with Ted Nugent. PLAN AHEAD: Down Factor, Breach and others, June 8 at the Cactus Club; Skinlab, True to Form, Broken Vision and others, June 10 at the Cactus; the KGB, June 10 at the Fishbowl in Sunnyvale; Mission UK, Spitkiss and Dreams of the Fall, June 12 at the Cactus; Remoter and Triple Seven, June 13 at the Usual; Creed and Sevendust, June 15 at the SJSU Event Center; Salmon, June 17 at the Cactus; Blink 182, Bad Religion and Fenix TX, June 21 at the Oakland Arena; Mötley Crüe, Megadeth and Anthrax, June 27 at the Chronicle Pavilion in Concord; Cheap Trick, June 30 at the Mountain Winery in Saratoga; Smash Mouth, July 3 at Discovery Meadow; Summer Sanitarium tour, July 14 at 3Com Park; No Doubt and Lit, July 26 at the SJSU Event Center. [ San Jose | Metroactive Central | Archives ]