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Summer Soundoff

Fishing for Compliments: Salmon rocks the Edge July 9. The valley's concert and club scene is sure to be hot this season By Sarah Quelland THE GROWING SEASON is still young, but in the month since Metro's Summer Guide hit the stands a number of amazing performers, including Sonic Youth, Sebastian Bach, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Eric Clapton and Megadeth, have blown in and out of town. But have no fear: Performers are barreling into town night after night to drench the valley in music. Downtown San Jose can be counted on for a jumping scene at clubs that feature live music regularly. For jazz, rockabilly, salsa, folk, ska and reggae, check out Fuel, the Agenda Lounge and Gordon Biersch Brewing Company. The Cactus Club brings in heavier acts, leaning toward hard-core, metal, alternative and gothic-industrial acts. The Usual offers disco, swing, rockabilly and alternative rock. For country music, the Saddle Rack is the most reliable stop, and Toon's generally cranks it up with notable cover bands. Local bands are making some noise this summer, and many of them are quickly gaining national status. Tribal Disco Noise (June 19) and Insolence (June 26) perform at the Cactus Club. They are also part of the Suicide Prevention Benefit at Cactus, along with Spitkiss, Papa Roach and the Defiant Ones (July 17-18). Bimbo's 365 Club hosts the benefit concert Rock Against Rape, featuring Black Lab and Storm & Her Dirty Mouth (June 22). Storm & Her Dirty Mouth also perform at Q Cafe (June 25). The Catalyst showcases Black Lab and Fuel (July 2); Fuel also plays the Cactus Club (July 3). Dub Nation is part of the San Jose America Festival at Discovery Meadow/Guadalupe River Park (July 3), and Salmon rocks the Edge (July 9). Bay Area venues. King Sunny Ade lights into Palookaville (June 18) and Maritime Hall (June 19). The Urge crashes the Catalyst (June 19), Maritime Hall (June 20) and the Cactus Club (June 22). Stabbing Westward and God Lives Underwater perform at the Edge (June 20) and the Fillmore (June 22). Creatures, an offshoot of Siouxsie and the Banshees, featuring Siouxsie Sioux and Budgie, screeches into Palookaville (June 24) and Maritime Hall (June 25-26). The Mermen (June 25), Dick Dale with Chicken Coupe DeVille (July 16), the Fixx (July 22) and Burning Spear (Sept. 2) take the stage at the Edge. Famous Monsters, with Sean from White Zombie, scream into the Usual (June 25), followed by the Tommy Castro Band (June 27) and the Cheeseballs (July 4). Smashing Pumpkins perform a benefit for the East Bay Agency for Children at the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium (June 30). Ani DiFranco celebrates Independence Day at Spartan Stadium Fields (July 4). Curve and the Dandy Warhols (July 2) play Maritime Hall, as does Front 242 (July 23). Ally McBeal's Vonda Shepard (July 11) performs at the Fillmore. Pearl Jam makes its closest stop at Sacramento's Arco Arena (July 16). Deep Forest swirls into the Warfield (July 24). The Verve with Massive Attack perform at the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium (Aug. 15). Cannibal Corpse rips into the Cactus Club (Aug. 29). And Tori Amos storms into the new arena in Oakland (Sept. 15). Villa Montalvo has an impressive summer lineup. The Manhattan Transfer (Aug. 18-19) and Harry Belafonte (Aug. 26) take the stage at the Garden Theatre, while Huey Lewis & the News (June 24-27), Tom Jones (June 28), Gregg Allman & Friends (July 19), Smokey Robinson (July 24-26), Gladys Knight (July 29), Boz Scaggs (July 30-Aug. 2), the Doobie Brothers (Aug. 6-8), the Temptations and the Four Tops (Aug. 14-15), Kenny Loggins (Aug. 17-20) and Los Lobos (Sept.10-11) perform at the Historic Mountain Winery. Shoreline boasts numerous acts, including Hanson (July 15), Phish (July 19), Stevie Nicks (Aug. 1), the B-52s with the Pretenders (Aug. 9), Spice Girls (Aug. 13), Janet Jackson (Aug. 16), Steve Miller with Big Bad Voodoo Daddy (Aug. 21), Santana with Los Lobos (Aug. 22) and Page and Plant (Sept. 12). Retrieval System: Black Lab plays at Bimbo's 365 Club as part of the benefit concert Rock Against Rape on June 22. The Catalyst also showcases Black Lab on July 2. Shoreline also hosts most of the local music festivals this year, including LIVE 105's BFD with Prodigy, Green Day, Harvey Danger and others (June 19), the Lilith Fair with Sarah McLachlan, Natalie Merchant and others (June 23-24), the Further Festival with Grateful Dead members the Other Ones (July 24-25) and the H.O.R.D.E. Festival with Blues Traveler, Ben Harper and others (Aug. 28). New Orleans by the Bay (June 20-21) and the Blues Music Festival (Aug.14) are also held at Shoreline. The Solstice Santa Cruz Music Festival in Highlands Park features Jefferson Starship, Austin Lounge Lizards, It's a Beautiful Day and others (June 20-21). The first Guinness Fleadh, a celebration of everything Irish, takes place at Spartan Field with Sinead O'Connor, Chumbawamba and others (June 28). The Vans Warped Tour skates by Pier 30-32 with ska, punk and alternative bands Rancid, Cherry Poppin' Daddies, Deftones, Save Ferris, the Specials and others (July 5). Totally Famous: Tori Amos plays the new arena in Oakland on Sept. 15. Heavy metal makes a massive comeback this summer. Dio and Slayer jumped on the club circuit, and many more are following. The Edge hosts Night Ranger with Soul Motor (June 22) and Mercyful Fate with ManMade God (Aug. 5). Venom rages at Maritime Hall (July 17), followed by Iron Maiden with W.A.S.P. (July 19). The new Van Halen rushes into Shoreline with Monster Magnet (July 5). Metallica stomps into Shoreline with Jerry Cantrell and Days of the New (Aug. 30). Deep Purple, whose song "Smoke on the Water" became a Beavis & Butt-head anthem, steps into the Warfield with Dream Theater (Aug. 28). Several country concerts are coming up. Shania Twain brings her sexy blend of pop and country to Shoreline (June 18). Young country stud David Kersh performs a free show at the Edge (June 29). The Mavericks (July 1) and Vince Gill (July 7-8) perform at the Historic Mountain Winery. John Berry stops by the Saddle Rack (July 15). And country darling LeAnn Rimes rides into Shoreline with touring buddy Bryan White (Sept. 5). As if this weren't enough, new dates are being announced every week. No music fan in this valley can say there isn't anything good to do this summer. [ San Jose | Metroactive Central | Archives ]