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SoFA Experience Up-and-coming bands impressed at last week's SFMX shows By Sarah Quelland I WAS SO IMPRESSED by the bands that performed last Thursday (Sept. 14) at this year's SFMX at the SoFA Music Experience. I couldn't have asked for better lineups at the four participating clubs (Agenda Lounge, the Cactus Club, Polly Esther's and the Usual). Since I couldn't be at four places at once, I couldn't single out any favorites. But after checking in on each club, I spent much of the night at the Usual catching up-and-coming rock bands that don't hit this area very often--and they blew me away. Dura-Delinquent made its South Bay debut, and its bluesy early Rolling Stones swagger and tousled bohemian style could steal the show from anyone from Beck to the Black Crowes. Venus Bleeding's striking combination of a dynamite image and intense music (including an electric violin) was stunning. And Swarm offers the type of down-and-dirty rock that never goes out of style. These bands don't get down this way frequently enough, but luckily Swarm is returning to the Usual on Sept. 28. The band was hand-picked by KSJO DJ Sloppy Joe for his birthday bash and will perform with Los Bastardos de Amor, ManMade God, Slo-9 and Sloppy's own band, Sift. Those who missed SFMX6 can go to www.ultravibe.com to check out the archived performances. Sunday's SoFA Street Fair also saw a number of good bands perform on outside stages and inside clubs. Perhaps the most significant performance came from newly signed Maverick recording artists Insolence. I caught up with drummer Mando Cardenas after the band's set. He figures it could be up to a year and a half before Insolence performs again in San Jose. After a summer hiatus, the Fishbowl (a teens-only space inside Le Boulanger Bakery at 730 N. Mathilda Ave., Sunnyvale) celebrates its grand reopening Saturday (Sept. 23) with performances by Honor System, Corrosive 8 and Short Round. The series runs every Saturday, 7-11pm; other bands lined up so far include Firmé, Daycare Swindlers, Rocket 350 and Lucy Loves Schroeder (Sept. 30); the Pirate All-Stars, Dr. Rocket & the Moon Patrol and Project 67 (Oct. 7); Pollen, Lonely Kings and Co-Ed (Oct. 14); Wunder Years, the Plus Ones and the Timeouts (Oct. 21) and Xiu (featuring members of the disbanded Ten in the Swear Jar), Track Star and Desert City Soundtrack (Oct. 28). Tickets are $3 and free for Sunnyvale teens with ID. Fishbowl promoter Eric Fanali of Grand Fanali Presents is also holding an all-ages show at the Los Gatos Outhouse behind Los Gatos High School Friday (Sept. 22) with Lawrence Arms, Wunder Years, Lanemeyer and Short Round. Tickets are $5, and the bands start at 7pm. The Imperial Crowns have a free show lined up at the SJSU Student Union Amphitheatre today (Sept. 21), noon-1pm. This marks the beginning of a series that includes jazz guitarist Mimi Fox (Oct. 5), the Kaye Bohler Blues Band (Oct. 11) and flamenco guitarist Jorge Castro (Oct. 18). ... Atlantis, featuring more than 30 DJs, including Green Velvet, Christian Smith and AK1200 in three separate dance arenas (Temple of Boom, Bubble Factory and Aquatic Jungle), will be held Sept. 23, 6pm-7am, at the new West Grand Event Center at West Grand and Maritime in Oakland. Tickets are $30/$35 and available in the South Bay at Solid Grooves (2271 The Alameda, San Jose); call 408.747.7742 for more information. ... Soulfly comes back to the area with Primer 55 (former True to Form drummer Kevin Jackson's new band), Slaves on Dope and Downset. The tour stops by Maritime Hall Sept. 25. ... The Epitaph Records Punkorama Extravaganza hits Palookaville Sept. 25. Catch performances by the Voodoo Glow Skulls, Agnostic Front, All and Straight Faced. Tickets are $12.50, and the show is all-ages. ... The Scorpions are collaborating with the San Jose Symphony for a concert at the Cow Palace on Sept. 30. ... The Deftones have a back-to-school date set up at the SJSU Event Center. The band will perform Oct. 17 with Incubus and Taproot supporting. PLAN AHEAD: Eye Hate God and ManMade God, Sept. 21 at the Cactus; Eye See Red, Sept. 22 at the Cardiff Lounge; Earth Crisis and Glassjaw, Sept. 22 at the Cactus; Brickhead, Wax Dolphin and Binge, Sept. 23 at the Quarter Note in Sunnyvale; Dreams of the Fall, Sept. 24 at the Cactus; Now & Zen Fest with Beck, the Go-Go's, Tonic, Travis and Dogstar, Sept. 24 at Sharon Meadow in Golden Gate Park; Outtaline, Sept. 27 at the Gaslighter's Music Hall in Gilroy; Face to Face, Sept. 27 at the Catalyst in Santa Cruz; (hed)pe, Spineshank and others, Sept. 29 at the Cactus; and Modest Mouse, Oct. 8-9 at the Fillmore. [ San Jose | Metroactive Central | Archives ]