Last month, through a cruel trick played by fate, City Lights had to cancel the closing weekend of its season finale, Head Over Heels, due to illness in the cast. As Executive Artistic Director Lisa Mallette stated at the time, “It’s painful to lose performances for any show, but this one is particularly hard, with such a beautiful cast and story, and with such a timely message of love and pride.”

Fortunately, this week the theater troupe is back and ready to deliver a seasonal treat: Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors, a gender-bending comedy with six actors playing over a dozen roles. This vampire story, from veteran comedy writers Gordon Greenberg and Steve Rosen, owes as much to Mel Brooks as it does to Bram Stoker. Caitlin Lawrence Papp, who played Queen Gynecia in Head Over Heels, directs the play, which Forbes magazine describes as “sexy and campy with non-stop hilarity.” 

The production previews on Sept. 25 and 26, with opening night on Saturday, Sept. 27. Performances continue through Oct. 19; tickets are available at cltc.org. 

Thu, Sept 25

Oktoberfest Downtown Redwood City—This peninsula city salutes Germanic traditions with gusto, becoming a magnet for lederhosen-wearing, beer-guzzling crowds, drawn by seasonal contests (stein-holding, yodeling, dancing), lively music, and lots and lots of brats and brews. Tickets: $10-$35 (includes a commemorative stein); food and extra drink tickets are sold separately. Sept 19-28 (every day except Sept 22) in Courthouse Square. redwoodcity.org

McNeal—San Jose Stage presents the West Coast premiere of this play by Ayad Akhtar. The drama explores artificial intelligence, artistic integrity, and the line between genius and fraud. Directed by Randall King. $34–$84. Previews Sept 24-26; opening night Sept. 27, with shows through Oct. 19. The Stage, 490 S 1st St, San Jose. 408.283.7142. thestage.org

A Taste of Ireland—The “Irish music and dance sensation” comes to California on its 2025 world tour, featuring a cast of acclaimed Irish dancers and musicians. Sept 25. Fox Theatre, 2215 Broadway, Redwood City. ATasteofIrelandShow.com

Quilt National 2025—The San Jose Museum of Quilts and Textiles features selections from Quilt National, a juried biennial exhibition of contemporary quilt art, first held in 1979. Sept 25, 2025-Jan 2, 2026. 520 S 1st St, San Jose. sj-mqt.org

Fri, Sept 26

Festival Fright Nights—In honor of the spooky season, Winchester Mystery House debuts three haunted attractions, themed food and beverage offerings, and access to never-before-used spaces. $54.99+. Sept 26–Nov. 1. Winchester Mystery House, 525 S Winchester Blvd, San Jose. festivalfrightnights.com

Live on Main—Bring a lawn chair or blanket, grab a meal from a local eatery and catch a concert of country pop and rock by Michelle Lambert. Free. Sept 26, 6:30-8:30pm. Town Square, 19419 Stevens Creek Blvd, Cupertino. 

Marcos Varela Trio—The SJZ Break Room Fall Series begin with this trio, whose other members are Liberty Elman and Mark Ferber. $21.80. Sept 26, 8pm. SJZ Break Room, 310 S 1st St, San Jose. sanjosejazz.org

Sat, Sept 27

The Sound of Music—South Bay Musical Theatre presents the beloved Rodgers and Hammerstein musical. Sept 27-Oct 18. Saratoga Civic Theater, 13777 Fruitvale Ave, Saratoga. southbaymt.com

Mozart and More—Mission Chamber Orchestra of San José opens its season with a program of Mozart’s most popular works, plus Jacques Ibert’s Hommage à Mozart, a tribute to the composer within a 20th century idiom. Plus, pianist Sandra Wright Shen performs the Piano Concerto No. 21. $26.62 (discounts for seniors, students, children). Sept 27, 7:30pm. Shannon Theatre at Fremont High School, 1279 Sunnyvale Saratoga Rd, Sunnyvale. missionchamber.org

Great Glass Pumpkin Patch—Pumpkins come in all colors at this festive annual event sponsored by the Bay Area Glass Institute and the Palo Alto Art Center. Sept 27-28, 10am-5pm. Palo Alto Art Center, 1313 Newell Rd, Palo Alto. greatglasspumpkinpatch.org

Services Search & Rescue K-9 Benefit—The Quarter Note serves up live music, a car show, a charity auction and a barbecue meal to raise funds for the crucial services provided by K-9 officers and their dogs with the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Department. Free. Sept 27, noon-6pm. 1214 Apollo Way Sunnyvale. 408.732.2110. quarternote.com

Sun, Sept 28

El Ultimo Baile—San Jose Jazz, in collaboration with the Culture Night Market, presents the closing celebration of the Alebrijes in San Jose installation, featuring music by DJ Chale Brown, Spaghetti Cumbia, Chika Di and La Misa Negra. Sept 28, 2-8:30pm. Plaza de César Chávez Park, 1 Paseo de San Antonio, San Jose. alebrijes.sanjosejazz.org

Mon, Sept 29

Cook Like a King Book Signing—Top Chef All-Stars winner Melissa King celebrates the release of her debut cookbook, Cook Like a King. $40 (includes signed copy of the book). Sept 29, 6pm. Williams Sonoma at Stanford Shopping Center, Palo Alto. melissaking.squadup.com

Tue, Sept 30

Maria Pazos—A solo exhibition by the painter goes on view today, with an opening reception Oct 3, 5-8pm. On view Sept 30-Nov 2. Gallery 9, 143 Main St, Los Altos. gallery9losaltos.com

Upbeat isn’t necessarily the first word that comes to mind when it comes to describing Sam Beam’s music. But the singer-songwriter, who records and performs under the name Iron & Wine, does have his moments.

Take, for instance, “Sweet Talk,” a standout track from his 2024 album Light Verse. One of the most beguiling songs from across his seven studio albums, it stays in your head long after hearing it on record, and even more so after hearing it live.

“It’s definitely one of the more upbeat ones,” the five-time Grammy nominee said in an early March interview. “It’s fun to have a song like that in your pocket. I’ll be in front of a bunch of people playing more quiet gentle music, and then I’ve got ones like that to pull out.”

Still, there’s more going on in the song, whose lilting folk-pop choruses include lines like these: “Let’s bow, bow and scrape / Sucker punching straight into the face / Of a wonderful life, of a wonderful life.” Beam’s lyrical approach can be, well, complicated. Kind of like life itself.

“You want to make something that feels accessible, but is also complicated, like we are,” he said. “I like elements that give you a reason to listen to it twice. You feel like you want to hone in on whether there’s a clear, concise message or not. It just makes you want to hear or think about it again.”

This month, Beam and Ben Bridwell of Band of Horses released a new covers EP, “Making Good Time.” And on Sept. 22, Iron & Wine and Band of Horses share a bill at the Mountain Winery in Saratoga.

There was a five-year gap between Light Verse and Years to Burn, Iron & Wine’s 2019 collaboration with the desert-rock band Calexico. A big reason for that was the COVID pandemic and its aftermath, during which Beam was grappling with what he describes as “songwriting paralysis.”

“There was so much anxiety and fear of the disease and the political aspect of it all,” said the South Carolina native. “I would start a lot of songs, but I had a hard time finding the focus to wrap them up. So I just put it away for a while, accepted where I was at, and did other things. I made some artwork and hung out with my kids for a change.”

But for Beam’s loyal legion of fans, it was well worth the wait. Light Verse pairs his poetic, often poignant songs with understated string arrangements that bring to mind early Nick Drake. “My friend Paul Cartwright plays violin and mandolin, which are strung the same way,” said Beam. “He would overdub his own instruments, and then he would stack strings on top of that. So there’s three or four songs he wrote charts for that we recorded with a 24-piece orchestra.”

Beam also credits the influence of the Brazilian singer Gal Costa, whom he once described as this album’s “spirit animal.”

“Actually, she’s the spirit animal for my entire life,” Beam said. “Her albums’ strings and acoustic instruments, and the way the band interacts with the melody, it’s like folk instrumentation meets contemporary chamber music.”

A central figure in Brazil’s tropicalia movement of the 1960s, Costa and her contemporaries—a number of whom went into self-exile—were part of the resistance to their country’s authoritarian dictatorship.

“That’s definitely their most well-known music, because it was so controversial,” said Beam, who feels that, in some cases, their subsequent work was just as good or better. “When it comes to my own songs, even though I’m obsessed with politics, I’m also bored to death with them. They don’t make me want to write a song, they make me want to beat my head against the wall.”

Iron & Wine and Band of Horses play at 7:30pm on Sept 22 at the Mountain Winery, Saratoga. $67-$294. mountainwinery.com

Some 2,500 dogs and more than double that number of dog lovers will congregate at William Street Park to celebrate canine companionship at Bark in the Park, featuring contests, agility courses, children’s activities and a whole pack of dog-related vendors and services.

New this year is Animal Rescue Row, a section dedicated to adoptable dogs. Pups will be on display on the Main Stage between 3 and 5pm, and guests can learn more about the organizations working hard to find forever homes for furbabies. Admission is a $10 donation for adults; kids and four-legged guests get in free. Proceeds benefit the Humane Society Silicon Valley, San Jose Animal Care Center, and other local charities. The event takes place 10am–5pm on Sept. 20 at William Street Park at the corner of William and 16th streets, just minutes from downtown San Jose.

Thu, Sept 18

CityDance—The final installment for the season in this monthly dance series features live music by Sabor de mi Cuba. All skill levels are welcome. Then take a break from dancing and visit the San José Museum of Art. Free. Sept 18, 6-9pm. Circle of Palms, 124 S Market St, San Jose. facebook.com/citydancesj

Fri, Sept 19

Live on Main—Bring a lawn chair or blanket, grab a meal from a local eatery and catch a concert by Hella Doubtful, a No Doubt tribute band. Free. Sept 19, 6:30-8:30pm. Town Square, 19419 Stevens Creek Blvd, Cupertino.

Oktoberfest—Redwood City salutes Germanic traditions with gusto, becoming a magnet for lederhosen-wearing, beer-guzzling crowds, drawn by seasonal contests (stein-holding, yodeling, dancing), lively music, and lots and lots of brats and brews. Tickets: $10-$35. Sept 19-28 (except Sept 22) in Courthouse Square. redwoodcity.org

Data Trust—Artificial intelligence is everywhere, seemingly, and the Institute of Contemporary Art San Jose tackles it head on with a new exhibit by Stephanie Dinkins. On view starting Sept 19. Admission is free; open Thursday-Sunday, noon-5pm. ICA San José, 560 S 1st St, San Jose. icasanjose.org

Sat, Sept 20

Songs on Saturday—Mardi Morillo books his second songwriter showcase, held on the third Saturday. This week Morillo is joined by musician/entrepreneur Khaysie, soul artist Misa James, R&B/indie songwriter Lyshia Megan (frontwoman for the band No Clue) and R&B/jazz artist JOYANG. Free. Sept 20, 2-5pm. Voyager Craft Coffee, 111 W St John St, San Jose. Follow on IG: @songsonsaturday.

Northern California Renaissance Faire—Set the wayback machine to the 1500s and head to this gathering of queens, knights, knaves and wenches. The Queen’s Royal Joust, Cy the Sword Swallower, The Mermaid Tavern Show, sea shanteys from the Sea Dogs and more—it’s all returning, plus a new act from Joweh Belly Dance. Running weekends, 10am-6pm, through Oct 19. $25-$35, plus parking. Casa De Fruta, 10031 Pacheco Pass Hwy, Hollister. norcalrenfaire.com

Endless Summer Festival—Right on the cusp of the fall equinox, Google Visitor Experience pulls out the stops for a midday fiesta with live DJs Nate Wyatt and Babey Drew, a makers marketplace, a mobile basketball court, and a dance and movement workshop led by Emmy-winning choreographer Ryan Heffington. Other enticements include children’s activities, a native seed bar with My California Garden, and refreshments (a honey and mocktail bar with Planet Bee Foundation, sweet treats from Kween’s Ice Cream and tea tasting with VC Tang). Free. Sept 20, 11am-4pm. Google Visitor Experience, 2000 N. Shoreline Blvd, Mountain View. rsvp.withgoogle.com/events/endless-summer-festival

A Night of Harmony and Honor—The Temple Hill Symphony Orchestra celebrates singer Vannessa Naeata and artist Kristin M. Yee at a gala evening with dinner and an awards ceremony. $125. Sept. 20. 1105 Valparaiso Ave, Menlo Park. THSOgala.eventbrite.com.

Sun, Sept 21

A Love Supreme Saxophone Summit—What better way to spend a Sunday than basking in three hours of majestic compositions by late, great saxman John Coltrane? This is for the true fans who want to appreciate Trane’s music played by great saxophonists. Charles McNeal, Lyle Link and Steve Heckman will perform in the state-of-the-art Tateuchi Hall—no background noise, pure Coltrane sounds. $30. Sept 21, 2-5pm. Community School of Music and Arts, Tateuchi Hall, 230 San Antonio Circle, Mountain View. tranetraxx.org

Tue, Sept 23

Monica Rodriguez: Californiana—Installation artist Monica Rodriquez has been examining the colonization of present-day California (1542-1846), and her current project at de Saisset explores the period of missionization, in which Native Californians were forced to live and work as agricultural and utilitarian workers within mission complexes. The exhibit is site-specific, given that the museum stands on ancestral Ohlone land and is on the site of the former Mission Santa Clara de Asís. Free. Sept 23–Dec 19. de Saisset Museum, Santa Clara University, 500 El Camino Real, Santa Clara. scu.edu/desaisset

Wed, Sept 24

Movies Y Musica—DJ Too Tall and the Bennett Roth Trio will provide the sounds, followed by an outdoor screening of the movie Grease. Sept 24, 6-10pm. Circle of Palms, 124 S Market St, San Jose. alebrijes.sanjosejazz.org/events/grease

Letting go. It’s one of the hardest things human beings have to do in this life. And—oftentimes—we can’t. After all, it’s one of the reasons why we invented photography, the ability to capture single moments forever. There’s an entire television show dedicated to hoarding.

Then there’s the oldest and most obvious form of not being able to let go: cemeteries. Our entire species, for thousands of years, has created burial places for our dead because the living can’t—and don’t want to—fully let go.

So it’s only appropriate that San Jose post-punk trio Provoker—who play The Ritz on Saturday, headlining a bill with Choir Boy, Touching Ice and DJ Basura—came up with this title for their latest album about letting go: Mausoleum.

“I was living in an attic in Echo Park in the house Jon [band founder Jonathan Lopez] lives in now,” singer and lyricist Christian Petty explains. “I was really isolating myself and writing a lot of songs from a ghost’s perspective.”

Like the track “Germaphobe,” with its lyrics from the perspective of a literal germaphobe who won’t leave the house (and ironically—in the video—lives in squalor).

Petty says that while their 2021 full-length Body Jumper is a collection of sci-fi songs about avoiding feelings, 2023’s album, Demon Compass, is about finally confronting those difficult emotions. So it was only natural for a next album about letting go and finding closure.

“Maybe the albums are all connected but unintentionally,” guitar player Jonathan Lopez says. “The first one is about escapism, followed by confrontation, followed by letting go. In that way they’re connected, but that’s it.”

Which makes sense for a band that writes albums as their own movies. Each one with a common concept or theme strung throughout each song to build a bigger picture.

“All of our albums are anthology-ish,” Petty says. “They’re a bunch of different stories that don’t seem connected but are.” 

When we last caught up with Provoker, they were following the path of their Demon Compass release. They had a bicoastal tour with multiple sold-out dates and had booked an album release show in their new chosen home of Los Angeles. However, at the time this prolific band already had most of Mausoleum done.

“We just had to work with [producer Kenny Beats] on the last 10 percent,” Lopez explains. “We had to record the vocals and work on the production, but the bones were there.”

And the production is definitely on point.

Mausoleum stands as the band’s most clearly produced album with samples and melodies in the foreground, highlighting their dark, gothic sound. Their videos also received the production treatment. Since Provoker started as a band to score the fake horror and sci-fi movies Lopez dreamed up in college, the band has always had a very visceral, visual aspect. Past videos like “Rose in a Glass” or “It’s in My Head” are great examples.

However, for Mausoleum the band had a bigger budget, which meant a larger production team. Videos like “Another Boy,” with the band as mannequins that come to life, or “Tears in the Club,” with its retro videogame graphics, are evidence of the band’s evolution and growing popularity.

Then there’s the video for the title track: a dark, Victorian-esque piece depicting Petty as a ghoul resurrected from his grave. Throughout it he follows his lost, living ex-love, who is now with someone else.

“I was super happy about that one,” Petty says. “We steered it more into a paranormal direction instead of just a dead guy or zombie.”

Keen-eyed viewers might also notice a blue, stuffed teddy bear popping up throughout the videos as a callback to the album’s artwork: an ’80s-style videogame graphic crane machine.

“My brother suggested we make the album cover a claw machine,” Petty says. “It was so random to me at the time but he sent me a reference photo. I kept thinking about it and it seemed like a good idea. It’s one of those things where if you see it, I feel like you want to pick it up and learn more about it.”

A bigger album means a busier year and this past calendar year has been one of the greatest for the band to date. In July 2024 they played Sound & Fury Fest—the music festival for hardcore and hardcore-adjacent music based in Los Angeles.

Earlier this year they played another major Southern California festival, Cruel World, the 1980s-themed fest whose lineup consisted of bands like Devo, the Go-Go’s, Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds and New Order. Provoker also recently just got back from their European and United Kingdom tour, playing to new audiences in Dublin and Paris—the latter of which also featured a stop at another major festival, Rock en Seine.

But the year isn’t over yet and the band says they have at least one more major Bay Area show planned, so fans should keep their eyes and ears open.

“I feel like we still play a lot of shows in the Bay,” Lopez says. “We’re really lucky we can go back easily to visit family.”

Provoker’s show begins 8pm on Sept 13 at The Ritz, 400 S First St, San Jose. Ages 16+. Tickets: $20/$25. theritzsanjose.com

Musician, writer, DJ, manager and producer Peter Asher is putting in a rare appearance in the South Bay, and fans of the British Invasion should take note.

The evening, titled “Peter Asher: Songs and Stories,” covers his career with Peter and Gordon, the music he has produced, his radio show on SiriusXM Beatles channel, firsthand Beatles stories and some discussion of his book The Beatles from A to Zed.

Asher will be on vocals, guitar and bajolele (banjo ukulele), joined by well-known local musician Robert Berry (Hush, Greg Kihn, and too many other bands to name) on vocals, piano and bass, and Robert Aubrey from Americana ensemble Mustangs of the West on vocals, mandolin and violin. $68–$172.57. Sept 12, 7pm. Morgan Hill Community Playhouse, 17090 Monterey Rd, Morgan Hill. Tickets on Eventbrite.com.

Thu, Sept 11

National Theatre Live—Can’t make it to London for an evening at the National Theatre? A filmed production of Vanya, Simon Stephens’ new version of Chekhov’s play, screens Sept 11, followed by Present Laughter—Noël Coward’s comedy, featuring Andrew Scott—on Sept 12. $16-$23. Hammer Theatre Center, 101 Paseo De San Antonio, San Jose. hammertheatre.com

Cabaret—Los Altos Stage Company enters the divinely decadent Kit Kat Klub, reprising Kander and Ebb’s indelible musical numbers while exploring the play’s darker side: the spectacle of a cosmopolitan society undone away by virulent demagoguery. $28-$51. Wed-Sun, through Sept 28. 97 Hillview Ave, Los Altos. losaltosstage.org

Little Shop of Horrors—Floral assistant Seymour Krelborn stumbles across a new breed of plant in this musical adaptation of the Roger Corman horror flick. $47.08-$55.08. Fri-Sun, through Sept 28. Sunnyvale Community Theatre, 550 E Remington Dr, Sunnyvale. sunnyvaleplayers.org

Pushing Boundaries: Ceramic Artists and Identity—The new show presents work by contemporary California-based artists who engage with clay as a medium to explore themes of identity and materiality. Some artists work primarily with clay; others incorporate it as a symbolic reference. Free. Opens Sept 13. Opening reception Sept 19, 6-8pm, featuring art activities, a cash bar and performances from Mosaic America. Runs through Dec 7. Palo Alto Art Center, 1313 Newell Rd, Palo Alto. paloalto.gov

Fri, Sept 12

Middle Eastern & Greek Food Festival—Not only is there authentic cuisine; visitors will also encounter Arabic music by Rami Kaileh & Radwan Shakshir, Greek music by Kymata, and dance performances by St James Dabke youth groups. Free. Sept 12, 6-9pm; Sept 13, noon-9pm; Sept 14, noon-7pm. Saint James Orthodox Church, 195 N Main St, Milpitas. sjorthodox.org/festival

Live on Main—Bring a lawn chair or blanket, grab a meal from a local eatery and catch a concert by the Country Cougars. Free. Sept 12, 6:30-8:30pm. Town Square, 19419 Stevens Creek Blvd, Cupertino. countrycougars.com

Extremely Close—Smuin Contemporary Ballet presents three company premieres by award-winning choreographers: Extremely Close, by Alejandro Cerrudo; Partita, by Justin Peck; and A Long Night, by Amy Seiwert. $28-$95. Sept 12, 7:30pm; Sept 13, 2 & 7:30pm; Sept 14, 2pm. MainStage, Center for the Performing Arts, 500 Castro St, Mountain View. mvcpa.com

Sat, Sept 13

Santa Clara Art & Wine Festival—Artists, crafts makers, food vendors and local nonprofit groups flock to Central Park for this community event, along with live entertainment from local bands. Bululú, The Peelers and Pride & Joy play on Saturday, followed by TBT Jazz Trio, East Side Funk, Aja Vu and Pop Rocks on Sunday. Free. Sept 13, 10am-6pm; Sept 14, 10am-5pm. Central Park, 909 Kiely Blvd, Santa Clara. santaclaraca.gov

Northern California Renaissance Faire—Set the wayback machine to the 1500s and head to this gathering of queens, knights, knaves and wenches. The Queen’s Royal Joust, Cy the Sword Swallower, The Mermaid Tavern Show, sea shanteys from the Sea Dogs and more—it’s all returning, plus a new act from Joweh Belly Dance. Opens Sept 13; running weekends, 10am-6pm, until Oct 19. $25-$35, plus parking. Casa De Fruta, 10031 Pacheco Pass Hwy, Hollister. norcalrenfaire.com

SALA 2025—The South Asian Literature and Art Festival, presented by Art Forum SF, brings together globally celebrated names from South Asia and the diaspora. For two days, these luminaries in the fields of literature, filmmaking, the arts, science and more will engage in conversations around this year’s theme: Thoughts without Borders. Prominent panelists will include Nobel Laureate and economist Abhijit Banerjee, modern mythologist Devdutt Pattanaik, Bollywood filmmakers Kiran Rao and Kabir Khan, and Michelin restaurateur Ajay Walia. Sept 13-14, 11am-7pm. Menlo College, 1000 El Camino Real, Atherton. salafestival.org

Oktoberfest Los Gatos—Presented by KCAT TV & Radio, this festival turns the Los Gatos Civic Center Lawn into a Bavarian village for the day. Food, dancing, family-friendly activities and live music by the Internationals (noon-4pm) and the Lucky Devils (5-8pm) provide reasons to say Prost! Free. Sept 13, noon–8pm. Civic Center Lawn, 110 E Main St, Los Gatos. kcat.org/oktoberfest2025

Baroque Concert—Palo Alto Philharmonic kicks off its nine-concert 2025-2026 season with an evening of select soloists and small ensembles performing an array of music from the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries. $25. Sept 13, 7:30pm. First Lutheran Church, 600 Homer Ave, Palo Alto. paphil.org

Jimmy O. Yang: Big and Tall Tour—This comedian and actor embarks on his third and largest tour yet, after selling out multiple shows at Carnegie Hall. He’s sold out the Civic too, though tickets can be gleaned from resellers. Sept 13, 8 & 10pm. San Jose Civic, 135 W San Carlos St, San Jose. sanjosetheaters.org

Sun, Sept 14

Engineering Imagination—In collaboration with The Tech Interactive’s Community Day, the co-founder of Rbhu—an engineering firm that specializes in monumental artwork—will reveal secrets behind the large-scale artworks in the Alebrijes exhibition, on view in DTSJ through Sept 28. $5. Sept 14, 1:30-2:30pm. The Tech Interactive, 201 S Market St, San Jose. ticketing.thetech.org

Gatsby Picnic—The Art Deco Society of California turns the clock back to the flapper era at this garden party filled with live music and dancing. For a true immersive experience, attendees embrace the 1920s and 1930 style, from summer suits with straw boaters to light linen garden dresses paired with wide-brimmed hats and parasols. Heidi Evelyn and her dance orchestra will supply the tunes; other entertainments include a Bathing Beauty Revue, a Charleston contest and a vintage car display. Guests are encouraged to bring their own picnics. $28.52-$74.41. Sept 14, 2-7pm. History Park, 635 Phelan Ave, San Jose. gatsbypicnic.com

Così Fan Tutte—Opera San José starts its season with a light touch: Mozart’s Così Fan Tutte, which the company describes as an 18th-century reality show—Temptation Island meets powdered wigs—with two young couples entangled in a scheming philosopher’s loyalty test. $61.50-$221.50. Sun, Sept 14, 2pm. Runs through Sept 28. California Theatre, 345 S 1st St, San Jose. operasj.org

Mon, Sept 15

Linkin Park—The Southern California rock band’s From Zero World Tour hits the South Bay. $55.50-$180.50. Sept 15, 7:30pm. SAP Center, 525 W Santa Clara St, San Jose. sapcenter.com

Tue, Sept 16

38 Special—Southern rock specialists are still shooting straight after four decades. $54-$235. Sept 16, 7:30pm. Mountain Winery, 14831 Pierce Rd, Saratoga. mountainwinery.com

Wed, Sept 17

Shahzia Sikander: Collective Behavior—A career-spanning exhibition of New York-based artist Shahzia Sikander (born 1969, Lahore, Pakistan), who has been reframing South Asian visual histories through a contemporary feminist perspective for more than three decades. Also opening the same day: Edmonia Lewis: Indelible Impressions. Free. Sept 17, 11am-6pm. Runs through Jan 25, 2026. Cantor Arts Center. 328 Lomita Dr, Stanford. museum.stanford.edu

Alebrijes en San José: Movies y Musica—Spend the night with the visiting alebrijes—outdoor sculptures drawn from Oaxacan folk art—listening to live music by DJ Too Tall and Conjunto Trujillo, followed by an outdoor screening of the movie Encanto. Bring a chair, and enjoy bites from local vendors. Presented by San Jose Jazz in collaboration with Culture Night Market. Sept 17, 6-10pm. Circle of Palms, 124 S Market St, San Jose. alebrijes.sanjosejazz.org

Anthony Cullins—The next-gen guitarist, named Best Blues Artist in the 2023 San Diego Music Awards, calls his eclectic improvisational style “psychedelic soul music.” Catch him at the Club Fox Blues Jam. $13.38. Sept 17, 6pm. Club Fox, 2209 Broadway St, Redwood City. 831.334.1153. clubfoxrwc.com

Few new festivals have landed as cleanly at the intersection of music, Bay lifestyle and culture as Sleeping on Gems, debuting Sept. 14 at San Jose’s Discovery Meadow, with Bay Area-born rapper Larry June at the helm.

June—Larry Eugene Hendricks III—has built a reputation on more than just laid-back flows and catchy hooks. The self-made artist’s “organic” ethos has turned him into a cultural figure who blends music, wellness and entrepreneurial savvy into a distinct lifestyle brand. For Bay Area fans, seeing him close out the summer as the first-ever headliner for Sleeping on Gems’ debut event feels like a full-circle moment. Good job, Larry.

Raised in San Francisco’s Bayview–Hunters Point neighborhood, and seasoned by time spent in Atlanta, June’s sound reflects both a West Coast ease and Southern bounce. The rapper started his career out the grassroots way: burning and distributing CDs with his music around Vallejo and across the Bay Area, getting them into Rasputin Music in Berkeley in the early 2000s.

A major-label stint with Warner in 2014 put him on the road with rap peers Post Malone and Smokepurpp, but independence proved to be his true lane. After being released by the label, June saw even more success as an independent artist, going on to release a long string of well-received solo and collaborative projects, including Very Peaceful (2018), Orange Print (2021), Spaceships on the Blade (2022) and The Great Escape (2023), which have earned him a devoted fan base.

Over the last decade, the “Organic” headliner has built a career in his hometown of San Francisco, and across the Bay Area, carving out a niche on his own and with like-minded collaborators like Cardo (Cardo Got Wings), and 2 Chainz and The Alchemist as heard on their latest joint LP, Life is Beautiful—further honing a new subgenre in rap/hiphop that prioritizes laid-back flows, and lyrics that salute financial independence, and toast wellness and self-empowerment. Cuts like “Smoothies in 1991” (2019) and “Private Valet” (2022) offer messages of advice on living smart and stress-free. But June’s “organic” approach extends well beyond his bars. 

From his social media presence to his orange-emblazoned merch, June has mastered the art of turning authenticity into influence by championing a philosophy in his music and artistry that emphasizes health and entrepreneurial savvy. In the words of Jay-Z, he’s “not a businessman, he’s a business, man.” Which makes him an ideal anchor for Sleeping on Gems’ debut event—a festival operating with the same ethos: independent, carefully curated and proudly in the know.

Launched first as a music page on Instagram, Sleeping on Gems has amassed 1.4 million followers by spotlighting underground artists, new releases, and exclusive interviews and performances. The move into live events is the brand’s way of taking that curatorial eye off the feed, and onto a stage. Their first-ever festival lineup reads like a carefully plotted playlist full of gems: Pop-R&B starlet Thủy, acclaimed producer Sango, tastemaker DJ Lex, and Montreal wordsmith Lou Phelps, plus Bay-rooted crew Cuffin and DJs Kat Jabba, markmark, RCADE and Zuri Alexa.

The curation is intentional, and the festival’s vibe has a throughline of connectivity—these are all artists who cross scenes, who know how to set a tone, and can easily slip from laid-back to high-energy, without losing the crowd. And it’s the same philosophy that has made Sleeping on Gems a must-follow online: no filler, just gems.

For San Jose, the timing feels right. Discovery Meadow has quietly become one of downtown’s most popular venues for open-air concerts, and Sleeping on Gems’ arrival signals a growing stake in the Bay’s wider music ecosystem. In a region where shows come and go, the festival lands with a particular kind of clarity and feels rooted—in both community, and cultural intent.

The event is widely an extension of June’s brand: music that motivates and moves, the portrayal of a healthy and energizing lifestyle (hello, Specialized bike rides and organic oranges), and connectivity. For longtime fans of June, the festival is an opportunity to see him in a new context—headlining an event that’s beautifully backlit by nature and in a joyous, open outdoor environment that matches his “organic” energy and healthy lifestyle that’s synonymous with the artist after years of cultivation. And for newcomers, it’s an introduction to both his catalog and the Sleeping on Gems brand, one that takes pride in putting you on to gems across the music landscape.

But whether you’re a longtime Larry June listener or simply a fan of the Bay Area hip-hop and rap scene, Sleeping on Gems’ debut festival is a community moment, and maybe the start of something bigger. For June, it’s another chapter in a decade-long climb built on resilience, independence, and his ability to bottle Bay Area cool. For Sleeping on Gems, the festival is a chance to prove they’re more than a music page: they can create real-world moments, not just document them. 

Sleeping on Gems takes place 2–9pm on Sept 14 at Discovery Meadow in downtown San Jose. Tickets on eventbrite.com.

Something for everyone? That describes last weekend in downtown San Jose. Not only was it the 50th anniversary of Silicon Valley Pride, celebrated with all the glitter, glitz and rainbow-tinged hoopla that milestone deserved; it was also San Jose Lowrider Day.

And the weekend marked the birth of two new music festivals. Little Italy bounced to the beat of blues and roots music at the Big Easy Block Party & Beer Fest on Saturday, and Discovery Meadow was filled with DJ-driven sounds both Saturday and Sunday. There won’t be such a packed weekend until later in September, when Kids Day in the Park (Sept 20) and Music in the Park (Sept 19 and 21) will draw crowds to Plaza de Cesar Chavez.

But this weekend, downtown San Jose will again be a big draw. On Sept 7, the final concert at St. James Park will feature headliner Bululú (see page 17), with entertainment beginning at 3:30pm. The same day, over at Plaza de Cesar Chavez, Alebrijes en San José: Ritmos Y Colores runs from 5 to 10pm. Sponsored by San Jose Jazz, this event is a celebration of Mexican folk art, music and community. Multi-instrumentalist Philthy Dronez kicks off the event, followed by a procession featuring Calpulli Ocelocihuatl, Blvd Bombs Car Club, Mariachi Alma Bohemia de Angel Mendez, Grupo Folklorico Los Lupeños, and the SJZ High School All Stars Float at 6:15. An aerial drone show and a fashion showcase are bookmarked by music from El Conjunto Nueva Ola (7pm) and headliners Las Cafeteras. For details, visit alebrijes.sanjosejazz.org.

Thu, Sept 4

Saratoga Nights—Live music, wine and beer tents, and a welcoming atmosphere under the stars on the first Thursday of every month through October. Free. Sept 4, 5-8pm, Saratoga Village, Big Basin Way, Saratoga. saratoga.ca.us

Josh Tatofi—This Hawaiian singer-songwriter, known for his soulful voice, draws on traditional Hawaiian sounds and contemporary island reggae. $59.75-$111.50. Sept 4, 6pm. Center for the Performing Arts, 255 Almaden Blvd, San Jose. sanjosetheaters.org

The Haberdasher Shows—A music residency, pop-up photo exhibits and drink specials on the first Thursday of the month. 21 and over. Free. Sep 4, 6-10pm. Haberdasher, 43 W San Salvador St, San Jose. haberdashersj.com

Ana Gabriel—A top-selling Mexican singer-songwriter for decades, Ana Gabriel is on the road with her Claro de Luna tour. $70-$269. Sept 4, 8pm. SAP Center, 525 W Santa Clara St, San Jose. sapcenter.com

Fri, Sept 5

Ancestral Resonance—A pop-up presentation featuring work by Ahn Lee, Charlene Tan, Kristiana Chan 莊礼恩 and Nancy Nguyen, Ancestral Resonance examines ancestry as a site of creative inquiry, where artists trace history through unconventional methods and critical insight. Opens Sept 5; reception 5–8pm. Ahh Lee gives an artist talk Sept 6 at 3pm. On view through Oct 11. Morgann Trumbull Projects, 445 S 1st St, San Jose. morganntrumbull.com

Half Dome and Elsewhere—A solo exhibit of mixed-media paintings by Menlo Park artist Daniel Meehan, inspired by Yosemite’s Half Dome and other geological formations. Opening reception: Sept 5, 5-8pm. Through Sept 28. Gallery 9, 143 Main St, Los Altos. gallery9losaltos.com

Climate Interrelations Imaginative—Curator Valentino Loyola brings together a mix of “data-based artistic explorations.” Opening reception Sept 5, 5-9pm during the First Friday art walk. Through Oct 18. Works/San Jose, 38 S 2nd St, San Jose. workssanjose.org

In Search of Our Mother’s Garden—Artist Hargun Mahal Mann explores themes of womanhood, sisterhood, migration and the meaning of home. Opening reception during First Friday Artwalk: Sept 5, 5-9pm, with an artist talk at 6pm. Sept 5-Oct 3. Art Ark Gallery, 1035 S 6th St, San Jose. artarkgallery.com

First Friday at SJMA—Join in an evening of CircleSinging with VOICES, led by David Worm. Sometimes called vocal jamming or vocal orchestra, CircleSinging is a form of community singing that emphasizes improvisation and collaboration. Free. Sept 5, 6-9pm; music starts at 7pm. San Jose Museum of Art, 110 S Market St, San Jose. sjmusart.org

Homegirls of Soul—Led by DJ Soulera, the Homegirls play at MACLA’s First Friday event. Sept 5, 6-9pm. MACLA Castellano Playhouse, 510 S 1st St, San Jose. 408.998.2783. maclaarte.org

Live on Main—Bring a lawn chair or blanket, grab a meal from a local eatery and catch a concert by the Groove Doctors. Free. Sept 5, 6:30-8:30pm. Town Square, 19419 Stevens Creek Blvd, Cupertino. 

Gypsy—Directed by Janie Scott, this production by the Palo Alto Players features 29 Bay Area actors, one pup, and the unforgettable score by Jule Styne and Stephen Sondheim. $20-$60. Opens Sept 5, 7:30pm; runs through Sept 21. Lucie Stern Theater, 1305 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto. paplayers.org

Tyga—A rapper and songwriter from Compton, Tyga came to fame in 2012 with the hits “Rack City” and “Faded.” This year, he dropped NSFW, his first solo album since 2019, with guests like Lil Wayne, Big Sean, and Cher. $39.78. Sept 5, 10pm. Pure Night Club, 146 S Murphy Ave, Sunnyvale. purenightclub408.com

Sat, Sept 6

World Shorebirds Day Bird Walk—Join a beginner- and family-friendly bird outing and get an introduction to shorebirds and a few identification tips. Wear comfortable clothing, sun protection, and comfortable walking shoes; some binoculars will be available to borrow. Free. Sept 6, 10-11:30am. Alviso Unit, Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge, 1751 Grand Blvd, San Jose. Email wa***************@*****ws.org or see eventbrite.com.

Mountain View Art and Wine Festival—Art is the heart of the event—a regional draw, with more than 350 artists and craft-makers selling their goods, plus live music, kids’ activities, food and wine. Free. Sept 6, 11am-7pm; Sep 7, 10am-6pm. Downtown Mountain View, Castro Street, between El Camino Real and Evelyn Avenue. mvartwine.com

Kristi Yamaguchi’s Family Literacy Festival—A collaboration between Kristi Yamaguchi’s Always Dream, Children’s Discovery Museum and the San José Public Library Foundation, the festival promotes the importance of reading. Entertainment will include Andy Z, Ricky Roo & Friends Puppet Show, celebrity and author storytellers, and appearances by local San Jose sports mascots. This will also be the first day the museum previews a new traveling exhibit based on a beloved literary character, Curious George. $15 children, $20 adults. Sept 6, 9:30am-4:30pm. Children’s Discovery Museum of San Jose, 180 Woz Way, San Jose. sjplf.org

Brass Masterclass—Brass Over Bridges, a brass quintet, will perform and lead a masterclass with Golden State Youth Orchestra brass musicians. Following the free performances, there will be a short Q&A session. Sept 6, 6:30pm. First Presbyterian Church, Palo Alto. gsyomusic.org

All About Eve 75th Anniversary—3Below Theaters continues its series celebrating milestone anniversaries of groundbreaking movies, offering the opportunity to experience them again on the big screen. All About Eve stars Bette Davis at her most magnificently acerbic as temperamental Broadway star Margo Channing. $15. Sept 6, 7:30pm & Sept 7, 4:30pm. 3Below Theaters and Lounge, 288 S 2nd St, San Jose. 3belowtheaters.com

Invitation to the Dance—Cambrian Symphony kicks off its 2025–26 season with a musical journey across continents. The program features Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake suite, José Pablo Moncayo’s Huapango, with folk rhythms from Veracruz, Arturo Márquez’s Danzón No. 2 and Three Latin American Dances by Gabriela Lena Frank, a San Francisco native. Free. Sept 6, 7:30pm. Hammer Theatre, 101 Paseo De San Antonio, San Jose. cambriansymphony.org

Sultana Daku—Naatak, a South Asian theater company, opens its 30th season with a tale written for the occasion: an adaptation of the 2009 novel The Confession of Sultana Daku, recounting the exploits of Sultana Daku and set in 1920s India. The play, which has never been performed before, will feature live music, dance and humor. $25-$65. Sept 6, 5pm. Continues through Sept 28. Cubberley Theatre, 4120 Middlefield Rd, Palo Alto. naatak.org

Jeffrey A. Meyer—The singer-songwriter and his band, also known as J.A.M., return to the Cedar Room with a rocking playlist of original music that freely mixes funk, rock, and folk. No cover. Sept 6, 8-11pm. Cedar Room, 1875 S Bascom Ave, Suite 100, Campbell. cedarroomlive.com

Sun, Sept 7

Japantown Farmer’s Market—Find fresh produce, artisanal food products and handmade crafts. Free. Every Sunday through Oct 26, 8am-noon. Gordon Biersch Brewery, 357 E Taylor St, San Jose. jtownfarm.org

Shady Oaks Park BioBlitz—Community members join scientists and teachers to find and identify as many animal and plant species as possible along Coyote Creek. All you need to participate is a smart phone with the iNaturalist app. Free. Sept 7, 9-11:30am. Coyote Road and Broderick Drive, San Jose. facebook.com

60th Anniversary Community Day—Celebrate the 60th anniversary of New Museum Los Gatos with a free community day of art activities, tours, costume contests, live music by Hootenanny and more. Guests are encouraged to dress in ’60s garb. Free. Sept 7, 11am-6pm. NUMU, 106 E Main St, Los Gatos. numulosgatos.org

Below the Surface—Subtitled “life philosophy made visible,” Sieglinde Van Damme’s exhibit includes a philosophy wall, a mirror installation, and sealed collector letters accompanying each of the 30+ paintings. Opening reception: Sept 7, 2-4pm. Through Sept 28. Whitney Modern Art Gallery, 24 N Santa Cruz Ave, Los Gatos. RSVP at bit.ly/Sep7opening.

Viva CalleSJ—Celebrate 10 years of Villa CalleSJ with food, entertainment, family activities and car-free streets. To participate, bike, skate, walk or roll through Willow Glen, the Rose Garden, San Carlos Street, Little Italy, Japantown and Watson Park. Free. Sept 7, 10am-3pm. See website for map route. vivacallesj.org

Mon, Sept 8

Alebrije Glass Blowing—Artist Carolina Argote, creator of hand-carved alebrijes—Mexican folk art figures—collaborates with Bay Area Glass Institute’s team of glassblowers to reproduce her designs in molten glass. Free. Sept 8, 7pm. Bay Area Glass Institute, 635 Phelan Ave, San Jose. bagi.org

Tue, Sept 9

Tomorrow X Together World Tour—The South Korean boy group makes a stop in the South Bay. $82-$346. Sept 9, 7:30pm. SAP Center, 525 W Santa Clara St, San Jose. sapcenter.com

Jackson Browne—The quintessential California singer-songwriter-activist will go tell it on the mountain for two nights. $124-$942. Sept 9-10, 7:30pm. Mountain Winery, 14831 Pierce Rd, Saratoga. mountainwinery.com

James Pankow may be known as a founding member and resident trombone player/arranger/songwriter in Chicago, but for a gaggle of grandkids living on the West Coast, he’s Papa. It’s a respite he recently enjoyed before bouncing back into his aforementioned musical role as Chicago returns for their 58th year as a unit.

Averaging between 80 to 100 shows a year, this Rock & Roll Hall of Fame 10-piece are out supporting the recently released Chicago at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Washington D.C. (9/16/71), a 4-LP/3-CD set encompassing that historic gig. And while that show occurred 54 years ago, it still resonates for Pankow.

“We were one of the first artists to perform there,” Pankow recalled. “This was in July 1971 and the Kennedy Center had just opened a few weeks prior to our performance. It was a brand-new venue and they were looking at inaugurating the venue with acts that were meaningful and exciting. We were invited to perform and we did. And of course, being that it was a historic appearance, we recorded the performance. It was also the first time we performed ‘Saturday in the Park’ live. It hadn’t even been recorded yet and we hadn’t even decided who was going to sing it. Peter Cetera is singing the lead for this performance. It wasn’t until we went into the studio to complete the recording of Chicago V, which included ‘Saturday in the Park,’ did Robert [Lamm] end up singing the lead vocal on his song ‘Saturday in the Park.’”

While the Kennedy Center set contains a number of well-known early-career standards, including “Colour My World,” “25 or 6 to 4” and “Make Me Smile,” the set also includes ambitious compositions that reflect the distinctly proggy-flavored inflections Chicago built into some of their material before the 1980s saw the band shift toward pop ballads (such as “Hard To Say I’m Sorry,” “You’re the Inspiration,” “Hard Habit to Break” and “Look Away”) that produced a second round of chart success. For instance, the Kennedy Center set includes “A Hit By Varèse,” an intricately arranged sub-five-minute tribute to the French composer, while the “1st Movement” through the ‘5th Movement” uses a classical framework to showcase the band’s R&B, funk and rock roots, while throwing in flute and guitar solos.

This unique sound was created by a group of friends who met in the late 1960s at the Windy City’s DePaul University. Despite starting out as a covers-only nightclub act (“Club owners didn’t want to hear our stuff—they wanted to hear Top 40,” Pankow said), Chicago moved on to playing all originals. And after relocating to Los Angeles in 1968, they became the house band at the famed Whisky a Go Go, despite being unsigned. As fate would have it, Jimi Hendrix caught them during an off night and was immediately impressed.

“Jimi Hendrix was in L.A. to do a gig as part of his tour and he stopped in at the Whisky on a night off where he heard us and was blown away,” Pankow said. “Hendrix knew what we were doing—he got it. He said we had a horn section that sounded like one set of lungs and a guitar player that’s better than him. He invited us to go on the road, which ended up being a whole summer with the Jimi Hendrix Experience as his opening act. And that was without a record. We had not recorded anything yet. We were unknown artists and virtually nobodies. We went back to the Whisky and labels and people started taking note. Word got out that we had opened for Hendrix. Record companies started bidding and we wound up signing a deal with Columbia and the rest is history.”

The nearly six-decade run that followed enabled Chicago to build quite the deep canon. And while that’s allowed a lot of flexibility to put together tours—like last year’s co-headlining pairing with Earth, Wind & Fire (the sixth installment for the two groups, according to Pankow)—this year’s tour will be an evening with Chicago.

“This year, people will get to hear songs that they didn’t get a chance to hear because we’re going to be on stage for the whole evening,” Pankow said. “We’re going to be doing some things from every album, which isn’t something we always get a chance to do. It’s going to be a lot more in-depth snapshot about what Chicago is all about musically.”

Pankow may be 77, but the enthusiasm and joy he derives from playing live (along with an exhaustive workout routine meant to prime him for the rigors of the road) keep him going. And when you ask him about Chicago’s longevity, the St. Louis native isn’t quite sure himself.

“This music has crossed generations,” Pankow said. “When you’re writing a song, you’re experiencing a moment, idea or a feeling that is very personal. The next thing you know, this is a mantra for millions of people. That’s a powerful transition and as a songwriter, you’re even more amazed that fans have embraced this stuff because this personal idea has become a timeless experience for millions of people. It’s the music that has enabled this longevity. When you look into an audience, you see three or four generations. They’re all experiencing this music on their own level differently than each generation before or after them. But the common thread in this music is one that all of them can relate to. And that is a mystery that I’ll never figure out.”

Chicago plays at 7:30pm Sept 6-7 at the Mountain Winery in Saratoga. Tickets: $113+. mountainwinery.com

Hearing the classic-rock hits “These Eyes” and “American Woman” for the first time, many of us would be hard-pressed to guess they were both by the same band. While the first sounds like the kind of British Invasion ballad that would bring teenage fans to tears, the latter evokes the raw power and borderline banshee vocals of early Led Zeppelin.

Burton Cummings, the chameleonic singer, songwriter and keyboardist of the Guess Who, will play those signature songs on his current “60th Anniversary Hits Tour.” Fans are also likely to hear Guess Who favorites like “No Time,” “Laughing,” “Clap for the Wolfman,” “Hand Me Down World,” “Share the Land” and lots more.

When it comes to the band’s fondness for British rock, Cummings recalls how he and guitarist/co-writer Randy Bachman were glued to their radios as kids growing up in Winnipeg, Canada.

“I would get up at nine every Sunday morning to hear ‘Deno Corrie Presents Music From Around the World,’” said Cummings of the Winnipeg radio personality who’s credited with being the first deejay to play a Beatles song (“Please Please Me”) on North American radio.

“We would hear stuff by Cliff Richards & The Shadows from England. We’d hear Johnny Kidd & The Pirates, who were also from England,” he said. “The radio was what encouraged us to become songwriters.” The Guess Who even went on to record a cover of Johnny Kidd’s “Shakin’ All Over,” which topped the Canadian charts and reached No. 22 on the Billboard Hot 100.

As it turns out, Cummings’ American tour is only one of his reasons for Cummings and his fans to celebrate these days. Another is the release of A Few Good Moments, his first solo album in 16 years.

While many musicians who’ve been at it as long as him can’t hold a candle to their past accomplishments, Cummings’ songwriting and vocal abilities remain undiminished on the 17-song release.  Granted, he doesn’t use his “American Woman” voice much these days, but Cummings and his current bandmates have been playing together for more than a decade and have no problem pulling it off live.

Fall 2023 also saw the reissue of Cummings’ past solo albums on CD and vinyl. Among them is the eponymous 1976 debut album that included the Top 10 single “Stand Tall,” which was kept from the No. 1 position on Billboard’s Adult Contemporary chart by the Captain and Tennille’s “Muskrat Love.”

In other good news, Cummings and Bachman have regained control of The Guess Who trademark after settling a protracted dispute with the band’s other surviving members, Jim Kale and Garry Peterson.

Their lawsuit, filed in 2023, claimed that Kale obtained the trademark in 1986 without their knowledge or consent. It also alleged that they’d continued to perform as The Guess Who, even after Kale retired in 2016 and Peterson rarely performed with them.

Throughout the complaint, Cummings and Bachman refer to their former bandmates not as THE DEFENDANTS, which is standard practice, but as THE COVER BAND. It’s a nice jibe, but Cummings says it wasn’t about that.

“We just got tired of these people pretending they were the guys that cut the records,” he said. “You know, they would go to meet-and-greet parties with copies of our albums in their hands. It was silly. So this is not about satisfaction and revenge or anything. This is simply about what’s right.”

So now that the two bandleaders can tour as The Guess Who, they will reunite to perform on the Rock Legends tour next February. Time will tell if this leads to a more lasting reunion of The Guess Who’s main band members.

“Randy’s very into the Bachman Turner Overdrive legacy, and he’s out there with his son Tal,” Cummings said. “And I have my own band, so I’ve got my own way to rock. It may happen and it may not. We’ll see what the future brings. But in the meantime, I’m very happy with my band and my new album.”

Either way, Cummings won’t be able to leave the stage without performing “American Woman.” The band’s biggest hit, it also caused controversy with the lyrics that he had first improvised onstage.

“We had been touring the states a lot on the strength of ‘These Eyes’ and ‘Laughing,’” Cummings recalled, “We would play five cities a week, and we noticed how the American girls seemed like they were more in a hurry to grow up, to wear more makeup and wear sexier clothes than the girls back in Canada.

“So we were playing two shows, and they’d start the second show without me. But when I heard Randy playing that riff, I just ran out onstage and started making up whatever came out of my head. And so I’m looking out at the crowd and I’m thinking ‘Canadian woman, I prefer you,’ but what came out of my head was ‘American Woman, stay away from me.’ It was never meant to be political.”

You could think of it as a Canadian answer song to the Beach Boys’ “California Girls,” although those “I don’t need your war machines / I don’t need your ghetto scenes” lines did stand out.

“Those were me just trying to make things rhyme on the spot, like one of those Bob Dylan moments, you know, stream of consciousness,” Cummings said. “The Vietnam War was at a bad point of escalation right then, so that’s what came out. And all those factors combined made it a No. 1 record. Very strange, very sweet. I’ll tell you this much, man, we sure didn’t see it coming.”

And as Cummings continues to perform his many hits and material from A Few Good Moments, he is delighted by the responses he’s getting.

“One of the things that every singer hopes to hear is that they still sound like they did on the records,” Cummings said. “And that’s been my goal for decades. I’m 77, and people are still telling me, ‘Hey man, you still sound like the Burton I grew up on.’ And I’m really happy to hear that.”

Burton Cummings plays at 7:30pm on Aug 29 at the Mountain Winery in Saratoga. Tickets: $67-$383. mountainwinery.com

The original Blues Project was the stuff of legends. Featuring an eclectic mix of New York City players drawn together by a desire to do something that brought together their diverse interests, the band created a well-regarded body of work, made their mark on pop culture and seemingly faded away. But the story never really ended. Led by founding member Roy Blumenfeld, the Blues Project comes to Club Fox on Aug. 27.

In 1965, Danny Kalb and Blumenfeld had been studying guitar with Dave Van Ronk, the celebrated “mayor of McDougal Street” in Greenwich Village. Kalb had founded a group that included bassist Andy Kulberg and Blumenfeld on drums. In short order, that group evolved into the Blues Project, featuring those three plus guitarist Steve Katz and vocalist Tommy Flanders. Producer Tom Wilson introduced the band to keyboardist Al Kooper, newly famous thanks to his organ work on Bob Dylan’s “Like a Rolling Stone.” Kooper soon joined the group, and the Blues Project signed to Verve/Folkways.

Dubbed “the Jewish Beatles” by a local music critic, the band drew in part from the sum of its influences. Blumenfeld says that Kooper’s interest were pop and soul; Kulberg liked fingerpick-style guitar and blues. “Steve was into folk music and ballads,” Blumenfeld says. Kalb was a serious Muddy Waters fan. For his part, Blumenfeld was influenced both by African rhythms and Booker T & the MG’s. “And Tommy Flanders fashioned himself as a Mick Jagger kind of lead singer,” he says. “And he pulled it off.”

That mix gave the Blues Project a unique sound. “Those elements would be brought to all the tunes that we would play,” says Blumenfeld. The band’s first album, 1966’s Live at the Cafe Au Go Go, was a solid start, featuring mostly blues covers and standards. Flanders left the group shortly after its release. But the Blues Project’s second album—the critically acclaimed Projections, released later that same year—featured two songs written by Kooper and two more arranged by him. Everyone contributed: “Flute Thing” showcased Kulberg’s woodwind skills, and featured a Blumenfeld drum solo.

Yet by early 1967, Kooper would leave the group to form Blood, Sweat & Tears, so Live at Town Hall was pieced together from previously released singles and live recordings. One of those singles was “No Time Like the Right Time.” While it performed modestly on its original release, the track achieved immortality a few years later when the Lenny Kaye–curated Nuggets double LP included it among other garage rock classics.

While never a conventional pop group, the Blues Project nonetheless had a few brushes with pop culture beyond “No Time Like the Right Time.” In 1966, Wilson had hired the group for a one-off session, recording songs to cash in on the then-hot Batman craze. Released with the pseudonymous credit of The Sensational Guitars of Dan & Dale, Batman & Robin remains a fascinating curio.

Kooper hadn’t left the band yet, but was unavailable for the day’s session. So Wilson brought in a session keyboardist whom he had produced previously. Herman Blount—better known to the jazz world as Sun Ra—played organ on the tracks. Asked about the session today, Blumenfeld shrugs. “I remember playing a very basic, rock ’n’ roll kind of part,” he says. “But I don’t remember much about meeting Sun Ra.”

He does, however, have vivid memories of the Blues Project’s date at the landmark Monterey Pop Festival. Kooper was out of the group by that point, but he was one of the festival’s emcees. Blumenfeld says that Kooper convinced event organizer Lou Adler to add his old group to the bill.

“Coming to California was so different from the Lower East Side of New York,” he says, likening the experience to the 1951 science fiction classic When Worlds Collide. At the time, Blumenfeld felt that the concert took place in a huge stadium-type venue. “I’ve been back, 20 years later,” he says with a chuckle. “It’s not that big.” He holds fond memories of chatting with Cass Elliot, Grace Slick and Steve Miller Band drummer Tim Davis.

The original group folded shortly after Monterey, with some members regrouping as Seatrain. The Blues Project mounted a few reunions in the years to follow, releasing some worthwhile if modestly selling albums. But the group never really went away. In the 21st century, a lineup featuring Kalb, Katz and Blumenfeld toured. The band released a studio set, Evolution, in 2022.

That record featured Katz, who left soon thereafter. “He’s busy with his wife’s ceramic business now,” Blumenfeld says. Today the drummer—who relocated to California many years ago—is the leader (and sole founding member in the current lineup) of the Blues Project. The group features a coterie of top Bay Area players: Blumenfeld, guitarist David Aguilar, Ken Clark on keys and woodwinds, guitarist/mandolinist Mark Newman and bassist Tim Eschliman.

Blumenfeld says that the stylistic variety that has been a Blues Project core value remains central to the current configuration. He cites various influences including zydeco, worldbeat and Americana. All of those textures find their way into the band’s music, and coexist seamlessly in a live set that still includes “Flute Thing” and Kooper’s “I Can’t Keep from Crying.” The current band—playing those tunes plus 11 others—can be heard on Live 2025, set for release Aug. 22.

Roy Blumenfeld recently celebrated his 81^st birthday. Asked what keeps the Blues Project interesting for him 60 years after its inception, he credits the quality of the players and the chemistry among them. Onstage, the band serves up subtlety and power in equal measure. “There’s frenetic jamming, too,” he emphasizes. “For an 81-year-old guy with drumsticks to beat his way through that—while singing, too—is pretty great.”

The Blues Project plays at 6pm on Aug 27 at Club Fox in Redwood City. Tickets: $13.38 on eventbrite.com.