[ Music Index | San Jose | Metroactive Central | Archives ]

Studio Culture

Polly Esther's plans club at Studio Theater By Sarah Quelland PERSONALLY, I could do without commercial multilevel, multitheme dance clubs. They tend to have too much of a meat-market vibe about them. But for those lamenting the demise of San Jose Live!, here's good news: dance-club chain Polly Esther's and Culture Club--which spins '70s and '80s retro--is doing a build-out in the vacant Studio Theater at the corner of South First and San Salvador streets, across from the Usual, and plans to open by November. When I saw Triple Seven open for Sketch and Slick 50 about a year ago at the Usual, I didn't think much of the band. I only say that because Triple Seven's show at the Usual last Tuesday (June 15) really impressed me. Merging '70s funk, R&B and soul into its hip-hop/rock bag gives the five-piece band a distinctive, commercially promising sound, due in part to DJ KTA. Sporting animal prints and faux fur, the band's got a '70s-influenced image that only enhances the appeal of its musically skilled live show. ... ESPN's 1999 X Games--broadcast live, worldwide from San Francisco--kick off this Friday (June 25) and run through July 3. In addition to aggressive in-line skating, bicycle stunt riding, skateboarding and big-air snowboarding, this year's games also feature music from our own local heavy rock & roll trio Swerver. Look for the band's logo to appear before its songs (selected from Ugly Songs for Pretty Children and Muscle Car) air. After nearly five years together, Betty's Love Child has called it quits. The band played its final show last Saturday (June 19) at the Odd Fellows Hall. An experimental noise show is on the horizon. The Haters, Gas Chamber Orchestra, R.H.Y. Yau and Matt Hoessli perform at WORKS/San Jose June 25. ... And though Tribal Disco Noise canceled its June 11 gig at the Cactus Club, the band's still together and has a show coming up Saturday (June 26) at Gaslighter's Music Hall with Soul Aggression, Dial 7 and Trapt. ... Sketch takes part in a Concussion Magazine release party June 27 at the Paradise Lounge in San Francisco with Herbert, Blue, Dojo and the Damones. True to Form plays an all-ages show at the Cocodrie in San Francisco that same night with Fallon, Down Factor, Rebel's Mother, Hostility and Latch Key Kids. Progressive-dance music culture magazine XLR8R celebrates six years of publishing June 30 at Ten-15 in San Francisco, and Bay Area promoters Spundae, Black Diamond and Stompy offer three rooms of music featuring the Virus Tour, Felix the Dog, Darkhorse and DJs Anna, Preston, Tasho and Jonene. PLAN AHEAD: Security and Krenshaw, June 25 at the Cactus Club; Clay Wheels, June 25 at Radio Free Records in Campbell; Storm's (from Storm & Her Dirty Mouth) birthday bash, June 25 at the Paradise Lounge in San Francisco; Salmon's big come-back, June 26 at the Cactus Club; Soul Kitchen, June 26 at the Fishbowl in Sunnyvale; Alternative Tentacles' 20th anniversary June 26 at the Great American Music Hall in San Francisco; Frank Black, June 27 at Slim's in San Francisco; Neosoreskin, Mr. Roper and Adverse Side-FX, June 29 at the Usual; Rebecca Riots, June 29 at Johnson Park in Palo Alto. [ San Jose | Metroactive Central | Archives ]