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Wednesday, May 14
Cops Care Cancer Benefit
Improv Comedy Club
62 S. Second St, San Jose
408.280.7475
Wed – 6pm; $20 tax-deductible donation
Cops aren't necessarily known for their senses of humor—try joking your way out of a ticket and you'll see what I mean. But for the upcoming Cops Care Cancer Benefit at the San Jose Improv, they had the good sense to hire a professional to do the job. Russ Meneve is a New York–based comedian known for being smart and witty even when his audiences are dumb and rude, but $2 beers and $3 shots should keep everyone fat and happy. The proceeds go to children with cancer and their families. (MC)
Thursday, May 15
FEMI
South First Billiards
420 S. First St, San Jose
408.294.7800
Thu – 10pm; $5
This Bay Area native has a distinctive voice in the as neofunk & soul genre. Femi writes her own songs and has roots that delve into jazz, hip-hop, salsa and rock to create a unique sound. Her poetic songwriting and sultry dance moves have distinguished her as an up-and-comer in the Bay Area music scene. She's opened up for the Black Eye Peas and Mystique, as well. (CW)
Friday, May 16
Big Daddy Sunshine
Little Fox
2209 Broadway, Redwood City
650.369.4119
Fri – 8pm; $12-$14
Straight out of the S.J., Big Daddy Sunshine plays covers from everyone you've ever heard of from the '90s and today. With a constantly changing set of dance-oriented classics from bands like INXS, the Chili Peppers, the Cure, 3 Doors Down, Matchbox 20, Incubus, Fuel, Bush, Cake, REM, Nirvana, Stone Temple Pilots and more, Big Daddy Sunshine will get you out of your chair. They have also recently added some original music to the lineup. They will be joined by Gravy Boat and Kingsway. (CW)
Saturday, May 17
KISS Old School Fiesta
Shoreline Amphitheatre
1 Amphitheatre Pkwy, Mountain View
408.998.TIXS
Sat – 4:30pm; $10-$59.50
In one of the funnier moments of this year's Democratic presidential primaries, a YouTube video made the rounds touting Barack Obama's greatest hits, one of the best of which was a slight mishearing of the Gap Band's, "You Dropped a Bomb on Me" (the power of suggestion makes it sound remarkably close to "You Dropped Obama on Me." Charlie Wilson of the Gap Band is back on the big stage along with the soul singer Brenton Wood ("Gimme Little Sign"), the Latin funk band Malo ("Suavecito") and the '80s dance band Lisa Lisa ("Lost in Emotion") sans Cult Jam. (MC)
Sunday, May 18
Capitol Steps Concert
Spangenberg Theater, Gunn High School
780 Arastradero Rd, Palo Alto
http://grt.endofinternet.org
Sun – 5 and 8pm; $35-$50
The Capitol Steps like to say they're putting the "mock" in democracy. The Washington, D.C.–based Steps have a long history of satirizing politics for the masses in almost real time, taking as their grist the latest hijinks happening on Capitol Hill and in the Oval Office and milling them into songs. This performance benefits the Gunn High School Robotics Team. (MC)
Monday, May 19
William Parker Quartet
Kuumbwa Jazz Center
320 Cedar St #2, Santa Cruz
831.427.2227
Mon – 7pm; $20-$23
Free jazz bassist William Parker sets his sights high. Though there is little doubt among jazz aficionados that Parker is one of the most iconoclastic talents of the day, mere critical plaudits are not enough for him. Instead, Parker aims to "light the fire of human compassion," in his own words. Whether you think he succeeds may depend on your personal feelings about experimental jazz in general, but it's an unimpeachable truth that Parker is reaching for, and achieving, great things. Though experimental jazz can be a divisive genre, there's little denying that Parker is a formidable talent who delves into his classical training for a sense of composition and tone that eludes many of his colleagues. (PD)
Tuesday, May 20
Outbreak
San Jose Skate
397 Blossom Hill Rd, San Jose
408.226.1155
Tue – 6pm; $10 (includes skating)
I don't know what the hardcore scene is like in Maine, but judging by the energy and conviction of Outbreak, it's as healthy as a 10-pound tumor. "Lost and confused/ I'm tired of being used" goes the sing-along chorus of "Square One." Outbreak wallows in cynical civilization-in-decay imagery, viciously rebelling against a world gone mad. No Truce, Cruel Hand, Miles Away, Knox Overstreet and Injury also perform at this all-ages show. (MC)
