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

All That Drag All's Chad Price sailed into the Usual last week with his new project, Drag the River By Sarah Quelland WHEN THE DESCENDENTS called it quits in 1987, the remaining members formed All, a name taken from the title of the group's last album. Originally featuring singer Dave Smalley, drummer Bill Stevenson, bassist Karl Alvarez and guitarist Stephen Egerton, the band enjoyed limited success with its roller coaster of guitar punk, pop and rock styles. Chad Price replaced Stevenson before All's 1995 major-label debut, Pummel (Interscope/Atlantic), came out. Price's vision added a new dynamic to the band. Now touring with his new project, Drag the River, Price is roaming into the corn-fed country-punk territory explored by Social Distortion's Mike Ness. Drag the River performed at the Usual last Tuesday (Aug. 29) with Santa Cruz punk bands Leveler, Dilligaf and Lonely Kings. Hailing from Fort Collins, Colo., the five-piece Drag the River presented itself with a cool, unassuming casualness, and the band's tunes bear the same easygoing country-rock qualities as the Eagles. It's a severe departure from All, which is also coming to the area to participate in the Punk-o-Rama Tour with Agnostic Front, Voodoo Glow Skulls and Straight Faced on Sept. 24 at Maritime Hall and Sept. 25 at Palookaville. The Lonely Kings--now standing as a four-piece--served as main support. One of Santa Cruz's most promising rock bands, the Lonely Kings demonstrate the same kind of poppy commercial accessibility as punk bands like Blink 182. The Kings' latest release, What If? (Fearless Records), showcases the band's ability to unite catchy melodies with introspective, poetic lyrics. Though the name may not be familiar, the songs will surely be. Former members of War have united under the new moniker S.O.B. (Same Ole Band) to perform their songs on their terms (an ugly legal dispute with Jerry Goldstein and his Avenue label has forced them to relinquish rights to the name War). Coming into town for the last installment of this year's free Metro's Music in the Park concert series, the band will perform Thursday (Sept. 7), 5-8:15pm, at the Plaza de Cesar Chavez. Featuring veteran members Howard Scott (guitar/vocals), Lee Oskar (harmonica), B.B. Dickerson (bass) and Harold Brown (drums), S.O.B. reportedly plays all the classic War hits, including "Why Can't We Be Friends?" and "Low Rider." SFMX6, Metro's annual benefit for the Metro Foundation, will be held next Thursday (Sept. 14). We've got Red Meat, Joe Buck and the Bootcuts lined up at Agenda Lounge; M.I.R.V., Stitch, Los Bastardos de Amor and Luxt at the Cactus Club; the Wonderbread 5 at Polly Esther's; and Swarm, Venus Bleeding, Dura-Delinquent and the Abductors at the Usual. Doors open at 8pm; bands start at 8:30pm. Tickets to this multiclub fundraising event are $10 and available in advance at Donovan's Hair Studio (380 S. First St., San Jose) and online at www.SoFAMX.com. They're also available the night of the show at the official ticket booth in the parking lot at the corner of South First and San Salvador streets. All proceeds benefit the Metro Foundation. SFMX6 helps kick off the four-day ULTRAViBE.com SoFA Music Experience (Sept. 14-17) in downtown San Jose. Other events include a concert at the SJSU Student Union (Sept. 14, noon-1pm); a Music/Internet Trade Expo (Sept. 16, noon-5pm) at various downtown San Jose venues; and the annual SoFA Street Festival (Sept. 17, 11am-7pm) along South First Street. The Usual hosts Pulse this Saturday (Sept. 9) with DJ Garth, DJs Harry Who?, Grey-V and Carlos C and visuals by Mark Johns. PLAN AHEAD: Zero2, Sept. 7 at the Quarter Note in Sunnyvale; Creeper Lagoon, Sept. 7 at the Catalyst in Santa Cruz; Penelope Houston and Kindness, Sept. 7 at Bottom of the Hill in San Francisco; Groovie Ghoulies, Smalltime Napoleons, Moodfrye and others, Sept. 8 at the Cactus; Red Hot Chili Peppers and Stone Temple Pilots, Sept. 9 at Shoreline Amphitheater; the John Doe Thing, onelinedrawing and Matt Nathanson, Sept. 10 at Cubberley Community Center in Palo Alto; Andalusia, Sept. 13 at Fuel; Flogging Molly, Sept. 15 at the Usual; Man or Astroman?, Sept. 15 at the Cactus; Iron Maiden, Queensrÿche and Halford, Sept. 16 at Shoreline; Face to Face, Sept. 27 at the Catalyst; Bad Religion, Sept. 30 at the Catalyst; Front 242, Oct. 1 at Maritime Hall; Phish, Oct. 6-7 at Shoreline. [ San Jose | Metroactive Central | Archives ]