No other genre of music has achieved the glorious highs of tropicalia. The 1960s Brazilian psychedelic movement effortlessly combined freaky American and British rock music with sun-bleached bossa nova for a sound entirely its own—and Os Mutantes were one of the leading charges. The band’s self-titled 1968 debut remains a musical lightning bolt, striking boldly wherever it lands and lighting countless fires along the way. And though, sadly, the wonderful Rita Lee passed earlier this year, the band continues on, and “A Minha Menina” still goes as hard as ever.

Os Mutantes

Fri, 8pm, $28

The Ritz, San Jose

Though the Bay’s hip hop glory often goes to Oakland and Richmond, some of the region’s best rappers remain hidden among the many winding streets and avenues of San Jose. Over the last decade, San Jose’s Dox Black has dropped ten albums of inspired, nimble hip hop, combining a conscious and life-affirming perspective with some serious bars. Backed by full live band the Aquanauts, Dox has carved out a niche for himself as a 408 version of the Roots. This Thursday, the crew entertains the crowd at Cesar Chavez for a free show presented by the city’s Viva Parks project.

Dox Black

Thu, 6pm, Free

Plaza de Cesar Chavez, San Jose

Taking influence from razor sharp pop-rock like the Stokes and the 1975, Cartoon Hearts are the newest project from local musician Jay Chiorean (Rove, Careful Brother). The group released Falling Out of Love Overnight, their first full length, earlier this summer and followed it up with a record release show at Art Boutiki. Now, with their record out in the world, the group return to Race St. for another night of danceable pop-rock, bringing with them local indie rock 5-piece Life Size Models and the spooky poppy Chicago duo North by North, who stop in on tour.

Cartoon Hearts

Fri, 8pm, $15

Art Boutiki, San Jose

Tiffany Haddish has played a character named “Trina” at least three times on film, once alongside Jordan Peele and Keegan-Michael Key in Keanu and another alongside Eric Andre and Lil Rel in Bad Trip. Whether named “Trina” or not, the inimitable Haddish is a joy in each of her roles, a comic voice known for impeccable timing and delivery, and always having a surprise up her sleeve. At Improv, the Emmy-nominated, Grammy-winning comedian returns to the humble joys of stand-up for five sets at the Improv this weekend. Tickets may be sold out, but somebody’s gotta know somebody, right?

Tiffany Haddish

Fri-Sun, Various Times, Sold Out

The Improv, San Jose

Ivan Flores and the Discos Resacas Collective made something special with last year’s East Side San Jose. The sequel to an overlooked jazz classic, East Side San Jose throws banda, freestyle, lowrider oldies, soul and hip hop in a blender and pours up a fresh glass of pure east side—con todo. There’s even an appearance by “Smile Now, Cry Later” singer Sunny Ozuna, for the true lowrider lovers. Though the album dropped in 2022, this show is the official album release, performing the music live and for free for all San Joseans.

Discos Resacas

Sun, 3:30pm, Free

St. James Park, San Jose

This Sunday, David Bowie tribute group Rebel Rebel teams up with the Guild Theatre for a glam rock extravaganza known as “Night of 1,000 Hedwigs.” Yes, that’s right: the night is also a Hedwig & the Angry Inch costume contest, complete with pageant style runway and prizes for the winner. It’s a night with glamor to match its glammy riffs, from the fuzzy stomp of “Suffragette City” to the yearnful balladering of Hedwig’s “Wig in a Box.” May the best Hedwig win, whether it’s Ms. Beehive 1963 or Ms. Midwest Midnight Checkout Queen.

Rebel Rebel

Sun, 8pm, $28

Guild Theatre, Menlo Park

Daptone recording artists Los Yesterdays take a little trip in the bomber to St. James Park this week, playing a free show downtown presented by Levitt Pavilion. The SoCal-based band play modern lowrider classics full of mournful oohs and deep-felt piano, snapping guitar work and soulful vocals from singer Victor Benavidez. On tracks like “Nobody’s Clown” and “Tell Me I’m Dreaming,” Los Yesterdays cultivate the perfect music for cruising down Santa Clara Street or Story Road. It may be a blast, but it’s not entirely from the past—it just sounds that way.

Los Yesterdays

Sun, 3:30pm, Free

St. James Park, San Jose

Music and video games go together like Mario and Yoshi. Without their evocative soundtracks, the faraway lands of video games would feel hollow, unmotivated and without emotional center. It’s no surprise, then, that plenty of people want to hear the music outside the game. Game On finds Symphony San Jose deep in the cartridges and downloads, pulling melodies from everything from World of Warcraft to Assassin’s Creed to Destiny, Bioshock and horror franchise devotee Until Dawn. It’s a chance to experience the swelling symphonic euphoria of digital storytelling live, and to appreciate the music for what it is.

Game On

Sat, 8pm, $44

San Jose Civic, San Jose

We all have Robert Smith to thank for Ticketmaster’s recent public shaming. The Cure frontman and bona fide goth king forced the company into refunds and lowered service fees through just a few tweets. Talk about “Just Like Heaven.” Now in its 45th year as a band, the Cure’s mopey romanticism remains evergreen—despite the black clothes and smokey mascara. At Shoreline, the group headlines two shows for the weekend and weekday crowd. Tickets are, of course, cheaper on Monday, but either show will have all the moody atmospherics, lovelorn catharsis and decades of undeniable hits that any Cure fan desires.

The Cure

Sat & Mon, 7pm, $80+

Shoreline Amphitheatre, Mt. View

Pop art and pop culture made early, deep impressions on the mind of Bay Area artist Don Fritz. In the artist’s ceramics, prints, paintings and mixed media, bright, childlike pop images contrast against strange backdrops displaying state power and culturally enforced gender identities. In Triton’s exhibit Recuerdos, everyday objects take on odd significance, layered in hidden meanings and interpretations, while strange objects take on the cast of the everyday. Take, for example, Atomic Tank, a ceramic battle tank rendered kawaii by its stubby cannon, Japanese graffiti and egg-like shape. Memory has a way of twisting things in Recuerdos.

Recuerdos

Show opens Sat, 11am, Free

Triton Museum, Santa Clara