Ghosts of Muji, the Cinequest VIP Lounge and Pic-a-Dilly Fine Food are watching over the jackhammers.

When I hear construction noise inside an abandoned Japanese retailer that only existed because a hotel was moved 186 feet down the street so that a newer hotel could expand in its place, an expansion that later also failed and was then saved by a university to house students, I can only be in San Jose.

The southwest corner of First Street and what’s now called Paseo de San Antonio, the ground-level corner of the former Fairmont Annex, has been vacant for years, ever since Muji shut its doors. 

Muji originally opened in 2013, to major fanfare. It seemed like every developer and real estate broker in San Jose was there. Multiple news cameras arrived for the occasion. After many years of downtown retail failure, San Jose had become the only city on earth where the opening of one store constituted a major news story. So that’s what happened.

Unfortunately, seven years later, the pandemic forced Muji to close, so the space went vacant yet again. C’est la vie.

For a couple years before this, in 2011 and 2012, Cinequest used the same space for its VIP Lounge during the film festival—yet another example of arts intelligentsia converting abandonment into creativity.

The building in question came into being in the early aughts after Fairmont owner Lew Wolff demanded the city give him millions to add an additional annex to the hotel, which required relocating another structure that stood in the way—the defunct Hotel Montgomery. San Jose was an attention-starved city, desperate for any possible name recognition, anything to “put us on the map,” so if Lew Wolff wanted more hotel rooms, the city was happy to oblige.

Originally San Jose’s most lavish accommodation when it opened in 1911, the Montgomery had long since fallen into neglect and disrepair. In a highly publicized and contentious adventure, the city literally picked up the building and moved it 186 feet down First Street so Lew Wolff could then build his Fairmont extension, while the Montgomery then underwent costly restoration. Only in San Jose would such absurdity take place.

Nowadays, any native who looks at the current incarnation of the old Fairmont Annex—the building that now includes SJSU student housing, Bijan Bakery and maybe a new tenant on the corner—will remember that corner as the original location of the old Hotel Montgomery.

As a wandering Zen-adjacent scholar inspired by ancient ruins, I’m more interested in the endless cycles of birth, death and rebirth, which tend to happen at every single corner around here. When I heard the jackhammers signaling the possible arrival of a new tenant, my gaze went straight back to some old photos of the same corner, when the Montgomery was still there.

A fabulous shot from the late ’60s depicts the hotel in all its faded glory, after it morphed into an $80-a-month flophouse. The despair is inspiring. Facing First Street, we see Guttman’s, a boarded-up women’s clothing store, plus Squires Restaurant, likewise shuttered. On the corner, we can spot “budget dinner plates” at Pic-a-Dilly Fine Food. An optometrist office appears in the middle. At the southern end is the Skol Room, the hotel’s cocktail lounge.

The Skol Room was owned by Nate Wasserman, the same guy that opened the Branham Lounge in 1969. But that’s a different column.

Much of downtown at this time looked similar: retail struggling to survive as the neighborhood deteriorated; transient hotels, dive bars and worn-out steakhouses; medical and legal offices inside peeling mid-rises. Yet up the block remained Orange Julius, See’s Candies, Frederick’s of Hollywood, a crumbling Montgomery Ward department store and the Sapphire Lounge—also another future column.

But this is not about the past. Ultimately, I am after beauty in the mundane. I am experiencing the ongoing cycle of births, deaths and reincarnations, this time at the southwest corner of First and San Antonio. When I sit inside Bijan Bakery and see the SJSU WiFi appear on my laptop, and I see the flow of students leaving the building on their way to school, I see nothing but beauty, and I am content in the present moment.

Generational habits have always shaped how people connect, but the shift from phone calls to texting is especially stark. For Monica O’Brien, a communications scholar based in southwest Florida, the contrast has become part of her research and her daily life.

“For Gen Xers, using the phone was a privilege,” she said. “Every kid dreamed of having a phone in their bedroom. I probably had a hundred numbers memorized, and now I can’t remember anyone’s.”

O’Brien recalls her father being strict about phone use, a reminder that in the 1970s and ’80s, making a call was not just convenience but standard. Today, she sees that context missing from her younger coworkers’ experiences.

“A lot of them feel anxiety about answering the phone on the sales floor,” she said. “They just never had to learn those skills. They’re so used to screens.”

That difference in comfort is borne out in research. A survey conducted by the recruitment firm Robert Walters found that 59% of young professionals prefer to use email or messaging instead of phone calls, and about half report feeling uncomfortable making business calls. Only 16% said phone conversations are an effective use of time. Older workers, by contrast, often worry that fewer calls and in-person meetings undermine relationships.

The split between generations appears in personal life as well. A 2023 YouGov poll covering 17 countries found that 40% of people said text messages were their most-used method of staying in touch with loved ones. Voice calls came in second at 29%. Among 18-to-24-year-olds, nearly half favored texting, while adults over 55 were more likely to pick up the phone.

For Keisha R., a Gen Xer from Berkeley, the choice depends on context.

“Texting is definitely more convenient,” she said. “I can schedule a text and communicate when I’m available.”

That balance between efficiency and intimacy captures the current divide. Texting offers flexibility and control, but the human voice conveys emotion that words on a screen can’t always deliver.

O’Brien recognizes both.

“I’m actually a Gen Xer who likes to text a lot,” she said. “But if I have to have a serious conversation with someone, it’s better not to text because things can get misinterpreted.”

Gen Xers, O’Brien argues, stand out for their versatility: Raised on phone calls but fluent in texting, they occupy a unique middle ground between the call-oriented Baby Boomers and the text-first Gen Zers.

“We can do it all. We’re in that sweet spot,” she said.

For Anna Trinh, who is in her early 20s, the calculation is very different. Texting is not just convenient—it is low-pressure, safe and even creative. Saying most of her discomfort stems from social anxiety, her experience echoes that of many people her age.

“I find that texting is a low-pressure form of communication, especially when compared to calls. It allows for a lot of freedom,” Trinh said.

She described the practical benefits of being able to respond on her own schedule.

“I can choose when to text back,” she said. “If I’m busy or if I’m not feeling up to responding yet, I can reply at my own convenience. This is a benefit to the other party as well.”

Texting also allows her to be mindful and expressive in ways calls cannot. She described the joy in being more mindful of what she says and using memes to creatively convey how she is feeling with friends. Safety and privacy are also factors for her. Trinh pointed to the rising number of spam and scam calls, as well as potential AI misuse of voice clips.

“There’s been a lot of scams nowadays, which is another reason why I really don’t like phone calls,” she said. “Tech is advancing rapidly, and there’s been talks of people using AI to take voice clips to impersonate others. Not only that, but I get a TON of spam calls from random VOIP numbers every day.”

Her “motto” captures her generation’s approach to phone calls: “If it’s that important, they’ll leave a voicemail,” she said.

Statistics reinforce her experience. A 2022 survey from Communication Research Reports of 18-to-24-year-olds found that 81% reported feeling anxiety before making a phone call, while most reported texting as their preferred method of communication. While older adults continue to rely on calls, young adults treat the ring with caution or avoid it entirely.

The ring of a phone may be less common among the youth today, but it has not disappeared. Instead, it competes with pings, vibrations and unread notification bubbles. For some, it provokes anxiety. For others, it signals intimacy. For many, like O’Brien, Keisha and Trinh, the real skill lies in being able to switch between modes depending on the moment.

“I think the goal is not to lose the ability to talk,” O’Brien said. “You need to be able to do both. There’s a lot you can tell from someone’s voice that you’ll never get from a text.”

Still some, like San Jose Baby Boomer Alison England, are firmly rooted in old-school ways. She believes texting is “lazy.”

“I do not even own a cell phone,” England said. “I have a landline. Personally I hate the idea of being reduced to a text recipient.”

Still, there are Gen Zers who prefer calls, Boomers who favor text and a spectrum of habits in between. O’Brien reiterates that the focus should not be on the generational divide itself, but on bridging the differences so that everyone can communicate effectively in a variety of settings. 

“You need to be able to switch,” O’Brien said. “That’s what makes you a good communicator.”

Three young lives were cut short last week in South San Jose, gunned down by someone they knew.

The victims were not immediately identified when the suspect was arrested on Sept. 17, the day after the triple murder. On Sept. 19, court documents identified the victims as Tarrah Lynn Taylor, Jeannessa Lurie and Max Chavez Ryan, all in their 20s, all from San Jose.

Authorities and family as of Monday provided no information, except age,  residence, date of deaths, and cause of death. Additional information about the victims has come from friends, employers and social media.

Taylor, 26, Lurie, 24, and Ryan, 26, were killed by multiple gunshots shortly after midnight on Sept. 16.

Taylor, who police said was the primary target of the attacker, filled her social media posts with photos of herself with friends, dogs and cats.

She reposted content about National Parks and pro-environment causes. She had attended Foothill College.

Ryan had worked as an outreach worker with the San Jose Housing Department since February, assisting homeless people moving from Columbus Park campsites to more temporary housing.

He is survived by his parents, Joe and Carla Ryan, and two younger brothers.

Ryan graduated from UC Santa Barbara in 2022 and in addition to his work helping the homeless, was a writer, musician and painter.

“He had helped hundreds of people move from the Columbus Park homeless encampment,” the housing department said in a statement. “Our heartfelt condolences go out to his friends, colleagues, and loved ones. Max served his community on our Homelessness Response Outreach Team. His commitment to the people of San José, and in particular the most vulnerable among us, exemplified the thoughtful, caring human he was. He will be remembered not only for his professional contributions, but also for his kindness, compassion, and spirit.”

Lurie, a graduate of Mid-Peninsula High School in Menlo Park who attended CSU Monterey Bay, was pursuing a career in animal behavior science. Lurie had begun work as a security dog trainer for Bite Club K9 in Monterey. In addition to her work as a dog trainer, she worked part-time at BluePearl Pet Hospital in Monterey.

She lived in San Jose at the house near Martial Cottle Park where the fatal attack occurred.

The three victims were reportedly at the house when Taylor was strangled and beaten by her ex-boyfriend last Sunday and again on Monday. The 24-year-old reported the attacks to San Jose police, which detectives said prompted an alleged return by the killer to silence Taylor and her friends.

Authorities said police were searching for the ex-boyfriend when the fatal attack occurred.

Shortly after midnight the next day, Sept. 17, police said in court documents filed Sept. 19, that Taylor’s 27-year-old ex-boyfriend, Joseph Vicencio, returned to the apartment and shot Taylor, Lurie and Ryan, then fled into the night.

District Attorney Jeff Rosen presented the charges against Vicencio at his Sept. 19 arraignment in Santa Clara County Superior Court: three counts of murder and three related felony weapons crimes.

The suspect remains in the Santa Clara County Main Jail, without bail. He is to return to court Oct. 24.

The weekend attacks on Taylor weren’t the only time Vicencio had appeared on the radar of San Jose detectives.

The district attorney’s frustration with one particular incident during his tenure as the county’s top prosecutor—when Vicencio was convicted in 2020 of 11 felony counts, based on a September 2019 incident in which he emptied an automatic pistol into the front window of the Martin Luther King Jr. library and never served time in prison—figured in Vicencio’s arraignment.

“We charged him with 11 felony counts and asked for him to be sent to prison for nine years. We recognized that he was a dangerous person,” Rosen told reporters. “The judge granted probation in that case over our extremely strong objection.”

The judge in 2020 placed Vicencio in mandatory confinement for mental health treatment, under the supervision of Santa Clara County’s Mental Health Treatment Court. He was later able to get the conviction completely expunged from his record.

Though his record was expunged, Vicencio was still legally prohibited from owning a firearm. Investigators reported they are still working to determine the origin of the suspected weapon, which police have declined to identify.

“Gun violence is a huge scourge in our community and our state and in our country. Just a few days ago, we put out a public service announcement about gun violence restraining orders, red flag laws,” Rosen told reporters. “We use these restraining orders more than any other county in the Bay Area, by far, and they save lives. We did not have an opportunity to get such a gun violence restraining order in this case.”

Vicente Vera contributed to this report.

ARIES March 21-April 19

In Tonglen, a Tibetan Buddhist meditation, you visualize yourself breathing in the suffering, pain or negativity of other people, then imagine breathing out relief, healing or compassion toward them. The practice can also be done on your own behalf. The goal is to transform tension and stress into courage, vitality and healing. I recommend this practice, Aries. Can you turn your scars into interesting tattoos? Can you find mysterious opportunities lurking in the dilemmas? Can you provide grace for others as you feed your own fire?

TAURUS April 20-May 20

In a YouTube video, I watched Korean artisans make hanji paper in the same way their predecessors have for 1,300 years. It was complicated and meditative. They peeled off the inner bark of mulberry trees, then soaked it, cooked it and pounded it into pulp. After mixing the mash with the aibika plant, they spread it out on screens and let it dry. I learned that this gorgeous, luminous paper can endure for a thousand years. I hope you draw inspiration from this process, Taurus. Experiment with softening what has felt unyielding. Treat what’s tough or inflexible with steady, artful effort. Be imaginative and persistent as you shape raw materials into beautiful things you can use for a long time.

GEMINI May 21-June 20

Legendary jazz musician Sun Ra was a Gemini who claimed to be from the planet Saturn. He aspired to live in a state of “cosmic discipline”—not just in his musical training but in his devotion to self-improvement, aesthetic exploration and a connection to transcendent realities. He fused outrageous style with sacred order, chaos with clarity. I invite you to draw inspiration from him. Put your personal flair in service to noble ideas. Align your exuberant self-expression with your higher purpose. Show off if it helps wake people up.

CANCER June 21-July 22

In Inuit tradition, qarrtsiluni means “waiting in the darkness for something to burst forth.” It refers to the sacred pause before creativity erupts, before the quest begins, before the light returns. This is an apt description of your current state, Cancerian. Tend your inner stillness like a fire about to ignite. Don’t rush it. Honor the hush. The energies you store up will find their proper shape in a few weeks. Trust that the silence is not absence but incubation. Luminosity will bloom from this pregnant pause.

LEO July 23-Aug. 22

You’re feeling the stirrings of a desire that’s at least half-wild. A surprising vision or opportunity has begun to roar softly within you. But here’s key advice: Don’t chase it recklessly. Practice strategic boldness. Choose where and how you shine. Your radiance is potent, but it will be most effective when offered deliberately, with conscious artistry. You’re being asked to embody the kind of leadership that inspires, not dominates. Be the sun that warms but doesn’t scorch! PS: People are observing you to learn how to shine.

VIRGO Aug. 23-Sept. 22

If humans ever perfect time-travel, I’m going to the Library of Alexandria in ancient Egypt. It was crammed with papyrus scrolls by authors from all over the world. It was also a gathering point for smart people who loved to compare notes across disciplines. Poets argued amiably with mathematicians. Astronomers discussed inspirations with physicians. Breakthroughs flowed freely because ideas were allowed to migrate, hybridize and be challenged without rancor. Consider emulating that rich mélange, Virgo. Convene unlike minds, cross-pollinate and entertain unprecedented questions. The influences you need next will arrive via unexpected connections.

LIBRA Sept. 23-Oct. 22

The ancient Mesopotamians believed each person had a personal god called an ilu who acted as a protector, guide and intercessor with the greater gods. You’re in a phase when your own ilu is extra active and ready to undergo an evolutionary transformation. So assume that you will be able to call on potent help, Libra. Be alert for how your instincts and intuitions are becoming more acute and specific. If you feel an odd nudge or a dream insists on being remembered, take it seriously. You’re being steered toward deeper nourishment.

SCORPIO Oct. 23-Nov. 21

In Venice, Italy, floods periodically damage books at libraries and bookstores. Trained volunteers restore them with meticulous, hands-on methods. They use absorbent paper and towels to separate and dry the pages, working page by page. I offer this vignette as a useful metaphor, Scorpio. Why? Because I suspect that a rich part of your story needs repair. It’s at risk of becoming irrelevant, even irretrievable. Your assignment is to nurse it back to full health and coherence. Give it your tender attention as you rehabilitate its meaning. Rediscover and revive its lessons and wisdom.

SAGITTARIUS Nov. 22-Dec. 21

In classical Indian music, a raga is not a fixed composition but a flexible framework. It’s defined by a specific scale, characteristic melodic phrases, and a traditional time of day for performance. Musicians improvise and express emotion within that expansive set of constraints. Unlike Western compositions, which are written out and repeated verbatim, a raga has different notes each time it’s played. I think this beautiful art form can be inspirational for you, Sagittarius. Choose the right time and tone for what you’re creating. Dedicate yourself to a high-minded intention and then play around with flair and delight. Define three non-negotiable elements and let everything else breathe.

CAPRICORN Dec. 22-Jan. 19

In medieval European monasteries, scribes left blank pages in certain texts. This was not done by accident, but to allow for future revelations. Later readers and scribes might fill these spaces with additional text, marginalia and personal notes. Books were seen as living documents. I recommend a metaphorical version of this practice to you, Capricorn. You will thrive by keeping spaces empty and allowing for the unknown to ripen. You may sometimes feel an urge to define, control and fortify, but acting on that impulse could interfere with the gifts that life wants to bring you. Honor what is as-yet unwritten.

AQUARIUS Jan. 20-Feb. 18

In West African Vodún cosmology, the deity named Lêgba guards the crossroads. He is the mediator and gatekeeper between the human world and spirit realm. He speaks all languages and serves as the first point of contact for communication with other spirits. In the weeks ahead, Aquarius, you may find yourself in Lêgba’s domain: between past and future, fact and fantasy, solitude and communion. You may also become a channel for others, intuiting or translating what they can’t articulate. I won’t be surprised if you know things your rational mind doesn’t fully understand. I bet a long-locked door will swing open and a long-denied connection will finally coalesce. You’re not just passing through the crossroads. You are the crossroads.

PISCES Feb. 19-March 20

In 1977, NASA launched two Voyager spacecraft into the abyss. Both carried a message in the form of a golden record to any extraterrestrial who might find it. There were greetings in 55 languages, natural sounds like whale songs and thunderstorms, music by Chuck Berry and others, plus over 100 images and diagrams explaining how to find Earth. It was science as a love letter, realism with a dash of audacity. I invite you to craft your own version of a golden record, Pisces. Distill a message that says who you are and what you are seeking: clear enough to be decoded by strangers, warm enough to be welcomed by friends you haven’t met. Put it where the desired audience can hear it: portfolio, outreach note, manifesto, demo. Send signals that will make the right replies inevitable.

Homework: You know that insult you fling at yourself? Stop flinging it! Newsletter.FreeWillAstrology.com

If you missed Rob Brezsny’s Free Will Astrology last week, no worries. Find it here.

Among 7,000 entries to NRP Music’s Tiny Desk Contest earlier this year, one Bay Area native captivated the judges with her “beautifully arranged music, passion and, above all, authenticity.”

Rapper Ruby Ibarra was declared the winner of the Tiny Desk Contest in May, after submitting a trilingual, intergenerational performance of her single “Bakunawa.”

Ibarra was born in the Philippines and immigrated to the East Bay with her family at a young age. Much of Ibarra’s music tackles topics of identity, immigration and the “American Dream.” All of which are reflections of her personal experiences.

The Filipino community she found in the Bay Area drives her to tell stories with her music. And she’ll be sharing those stories in San Jose when she performs at Music in the Park on Sunday, Sept. 21 alongside Bay Area artists LaRussell, Souls of Mischief and Kung Fu Vampire.

“I look at the people in my Filipino-American community and how a lot of them often still don’t have the opportunity to share their stories and highlight who they are and where they came from,” Ibarra says. “Who is going to tell their story if not me?”

A distinct element Ibarra uses to showcase her culture is the multilingual flow of her words, in and out of English, Tagalog and Bisaya. “It only becomes natural that I do a lot of those language switch-ups in my lyrics to help illustrate those stories even more,” Ibarra says. “It’s a conscious decision of wanting to highlight these languages on a visible level in hip hop.”

The Bay Area not only played a part in her finding a Filipino community, but also contributed to her falling in love with hip hop. “With there being such a vibrant music scene and culture here, that absolutely cultivated and strengthened my love for [hip hop], and also helped shape and develop myself as an artist.”

For Ibarra, winning the Tiny Desk Contest was a dream come true. “It was a feeling of validation, that we deserved to be there,” Ibarra says. In her performance, she shared that in 2019 she submitted a video for the contest but wasn’t chosen. However, for the rapper, winning in 2025 felt much sweeter than it would have then.

“Ultimately, it didn’t even feel like winning a contest; it felt more like a reminder to ourselves that we’ve been building the right path, because these last six years the music I created has been authentically me,” Ibarra says. “I’ve never had to challenge or change who I am. Knowing that I didn’t compromise in that entire journey made it a lot more special.”

After her D.C. performance, Ibarra and her band set off on a 10-city tour around the country. One member of her band, June Millington, is no stranger to touring. Millington is a rock and roll pioneer who is known for her trailblazing career with the 1970s all-female band Fanny. Sharing a similar story of immigrating from the Philippines to Northern California at a young age, Ibarra shared what she learned from working with Millington.

“When it comes down to it, it’s not about the places that you go or the accolades that you have from your career,” Ibarra says. “It’s about still remembering why you do what you do. That’s something that I hope to continue to be able to answer as I further develop in my career.”

After a successful summer of touring in cities from Los Angeles to Philadelphia, Ibarra is excited to perform in Music at the Park’s 35th season finale. “Bringing the music back home to the Bay Area, and us being able to showcase what we’ve been touring across the nation, is a very special feeling. There’s no place like home.”

Music at the Park will take place 4–11pm on Sunday, Sept. 21 at Plaza de Cesar Chavez in downtown San Jose. For more information, visit mitpsj.com.

Four talented rappers formed Souls of Mischief in Oakland back in 1991: A-Plus, Opio, Phesto Dee, and Tajai. Since its inception, they have established the band as a cornerstone of West Coast hip hop. They are also a vital part of the legendary hip-hop collective Hieroglyphics, which has been celebrated for its innovative contributions to the genre over the past three decades.

On Sunday, Sept. 21, Souls of Mischief will take the stage at the season finale of Music in the Park, an annual concert series that has brought live music to San Jose for more than 30 years. Sunday will be the event’s first hip-hop show.

Souls of Mischief join a lineup of Bay Area artists, including Vallejo rapper LaRussell, Filipino-American artist Ruby Ibarra, Gothic hip-hop performer Kung Fu Vampire, and singer Misa James. This performance is not only an opportunity for fans to experience the group’s dynamic stage presence but also a moment of reflection and celebration for the band, coming just a few weeks after the 13th annual Hiero Day festival in San Francisco, which is a highlight of the Bay Area’s musical calendar.

In a recent interview, group member Phesto Dee made it evident that the group’s legacy is founded on more than just early career success. Their dedication, persistence and deep respect for hip hop as an art form have helped shape and influence generations of artists. Phesto Dee offers an insightful perspective into their journey, their influences and what it means to continue making music after more than 30 years.

Phesto started rapping when he was just eight years old. Though he’s been involved in the genre for decades, his initial motivation wasn’t to become a star but to connect with people who shared his love for hip hop culture.

“I didn’t get into hip hop to become a rapper. I got into hip hop because it connected me with like-minded people,” he explained. “It was about the community and shared passion I found in the music.”

His first steps as a rapper involved collaborating informally with his childhood friend and future groupmate A-Plus. The two would often freestyle and create music together during their school years. Later, during high school, they met Tajai and Opio, forming the core of Souls of Mischief in 1991. Their earliest influences included legendary artists and groups like Grandmaster Caz, KRS-One, Kool G Rap and De La Soul. While these influences helped shape their style, Phesto emphasizes that the group always aimed to be original and authentic to themselves.

“You have no idea as a kid what your life will be like 30 years into the future,” Phesto reflected. “Back then, we were just having fun, but at the same time, we were competitive and wanted to be the best at what we did. We wanted to represent hip hop in a way that hadn’t been done before, and that drive hasn’t changed.”

The group initially signed with a major label, Jive Records, while still in high school. During their time with Jive, they released two albums, which garnered some acclaim but more importantly built a solid and loyal fanbase. However, as they matured as artists, they decided to pursue independence—building their own brand and legacy through creative ventures and business savvy under the umbrella of Hieroglyphics.

Their iconic “third eye” symbol has become one of the most recognizable logos in hip hop and stands as a symbol of enlightenment and awareness. Their merchandise—worn by fans from Oakland to Tokyo—has helped solidify their global presence. In the early 2000s, Souls of Mischief was one of the pioneering hip hop groups to produce and sell their merchandise online, helping to establish a new model for independent artists. Their innovative approach to marketing and their tight-knit community with fans have contributed significantly to their enduring influence.

Perhaps their most famous song, “93 ’Til Infinity” is often considered a classic and one of the greatest hip hop tracks of all time. However, Phesto admits that when the song was first released, he couldn’t have predicted the profound reverence it continues to receive today.

“A lot of times, a record hits hard like a meteorite and then disappears. ‘93 ’Til’ did the opposite; it kept growing and gaining steam over time. You can perform a song for years and it finally catches on,” he said.

Since that debut, Souls of Mischief has released five additional studio albums, each exploring different themes and sounds. The group remains active, working on new material and planning upcoming projects. Fans attending Sunday’s concert can expect a lively performance featuring hits from throughout their catalog. Phesto also indicated he’s especially looking forward to performing some of his favorite tracks, such as “That’s When Ya Lost,” “Make Ya Mind Up” and the newest release, “Yes LOvEly.”

Music in the Park’s big hip hop show starts at 4pm on Sept 21 at Plaza de Cesar Chavez in San Jose. Tickets are $39-$85 at caltix.com.

Also Playing

LaRussell—The first artist booked for Music in the Park’s Sept. 21 season closer, LaRussell headlines the main stage, which also features Ruby Ibarra and Souls of Mischief and Kung Fu Vampire. Read Dan Pulcrano’s interview with LaRussell, which ran in last week’s issue, on metrosiliconvalley.com. Follow on IG: @larussell

Kung Fu Vampire—Also on the main stage is this San Jose rapper, who fused the energy of rap music with the stylish imagery of vampire fantasies. His CD/DVD debut, Blood Bath Beyond, laid the foundation for his career, followed by the drop of Dead Sexy in 2008 and, most recently, Black Heart Machine in 2023. His tracks have gained cinematic traction, and in 2023 he made his acting debut in Four Hour Layover in Juarez. But it’s as a live act where Kung Fu Vampire really sucks his fans in, having done 24 tours across the U.S., Mexico, and Canada since 2009 and appearing eight times at Insane Clown Posse’s Gathering of the Juggalos. Follow on IG: @kungfuvampire.

Misa James—Music in the Park has added a second stage for Sunday’s show to feature emerging local artists. The stacked lineup for San Jose’s biggest outdoor hip hop show ever includes Misa James, a recent winner of LaRussell’s Good Compenny Bay Area showcase, The San Jose musician will showcase his smooth, soulful vocal style. Follow on IG: @themisajames.

Amen & the Scooby Valdez Band—Local talents Amen and Scooby Valdez will bring additional heat to the second stage. Amen will keep the words flowing over Valdez’s sizzling guitar work. Follow them on IG: @Amen_HoggTV and @ScoobyValdez83.

Young Hoff—A musician and rapper from South San Jose, Justin Hoffman performs under the stage name Young Hoff. The 30-year-old rapper’s journey so far has taken him through more than four-and-a-half years of sobriety. His purpose, Young Hoff explains, “is to show people—through art and music—the beauty and realness of our lives from the perspective of an artist in recovery.” The South Bay musician is “absolutely ecstatic” about the Music in the Park booking. “I can’t wait to represent San Jose!!” he says. Follow on IG: @younghoff4real

Combining muscle, malevolence, sarcasm and sophistication, Blue Öyster Cult became one of the hottest live attractions of the 1970s … and beyond. Nearly 54 years after releasing their self-titled debut, Blue Öyster Cult plays Music in the Park at Plaza de Cesar Chavez on Sept. 19.

The Long Island rock band’s earliest years found them trying on a succession of names (The Stalk-Forrest Group, Oaxaca, Soft White Underbelly) before settling on the distinctive name. And the signature ümlaut—subsequently copied by Mötley Crüe, Motörhead, Queensrÿche, Hüsker Dü and even Spın̈al Tap—telegraphed a vaguely sinister undercurrent.

Yet for the band launched by guitarist Donald “Buck Dharma” Roeser and Eric Bloom, gimmickry has always been secondary to the music. The band’s brand of rock leverages proto-metal instrumental prowess with a literate lyrical bent.

BÖC members have often collaborated with writing partners to create memorable and well-loved songs; rock critic Richard Meltzer and original manager Sandy Pearlman both worked extensively with the band on writing material. Celebrated science fiction authors Michael Moorcock, Eric Van Lustbader and John Shirley have lent their vivid prose to the band’s songs. Rocker/poets Patti Smith (“Career of Evil”) and Jim Carroll wrote with the band as well.

Imbuing pop culture with the rock aesthetic, BÖC scored one of its biggest successes with 1977’s “Godzilla,” a million-seller. And “(Don’t Fear) The Reaper” from 1976’s Agents of Fortune was a smash hit that has remained in the public consciousness for decades, thanks in part to Saturday Night Live’s parodic 2000 “More Cowbell” sketch.

To be sure, BÖC has had its ups and downs; with 16 studio albums under its belt, today the band focuses primarily on live performance. Along the way, the group has experienced its share of personnel changes; only Bloom and Dharma remain from the classic lineup. These days, the band’s secret weapon is bassist Richie Castellano, who’s been with the band for 20 years. In addition to his role in another group, The Band Geeks (who record and tour with former Yes vocalist Jon Anderson), Castellano is a songwriter and prime mover within BÖC.

The band’s latest release, 2024’s Ghost Stories, is a collection of songs recorded decades ago during rehearsals. That album project was an ambitious endeavor. “The tapes oxidized over time and had to be cleaned up,” Bloom explains. “So they were baked.” Then, using state-of-the-art AI software, Castellano “demixed” and remixed the two-track recordings, with the band adding new instrumentation and vocals as needed.

Meanwhile, the group remains on good terms with former members. Founding drummer Albert Bouchard played on all BÖC releases through 1981’s hit Fire of Unknown Origin, but he has returned for occasional guest spots many times in the 40-plus years since his official exit. “We did a gig near his house in Connecticut a couple of years ago,” Bloom recalls. “He came up and sang ‘Hot Rails to Hell.’”

Bloom is pleased that his band gets recognized for its place in rock history, though he’s clearly a bit annoyed—or at least mystified—at BÖC’s being passed over for consideration by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

“The main principal [Jann Wenner] had a bug up his ass around certain bands that would never get in,” he suggests. “He’s out now, but there are still certain bands…I mean, Alice Cooper only semi-recently got in. He should have been in 20 years before!

“There’s so much real rock that just doesn’t seem to get in there; they should have just changed the name to the Music Hall of Fame, the Entertainment Hall of Fame or something like that,” Bloom observes.

“Lately I’ve been doing deep Internet dives,” Bloom says. In the process, he made a fascinating discovery. “On YouTube, I came across some live Blue Öyster Cult shows from ’89 and ’90, one of which was a WPLR New Haven broadcast from a place called Toad’s. And it’s a slamming show; it rocks from top to bottom.” Conceding that the late ’80s doesn’t rank as most fans’ favorite BÖC era, he says that the performance remains noteworthy. “It’s from the Imaginos album era; we play ‘In the Presence of Another World’ and [other] songs we don’t usually play, like ‘Take Me Away’ [from The Revölution by Night]. Any BÖC fan of any time should watch this show,” he says.

Bloom often finds himself amused by fans’ adoration for his band. On another of his deep dives, he encountered some of the group’s hardcore fans. “One time I found several guys who have Blue Öyster Cult ‘history pages,’” he says. “And it’s very interesting to see: Are they right? They go off on tangents, and some of them are pseudo-intellectual treatises on what they think we’re all about.”

He laughs as he recalls one fan commenting on the band’s tepidly received 1985 album. It’s kind of interesting,” he observes. “Some of them are sort of correct: ‘Club Ninja. Boy, did they go wrong on this one!’ I understand that. I mean, who makes every record great? Nobody! But it’s kind of funny to just watch their takes on my life.”

Still, Eric Bloom has long since found whatever validation he might need. He recalls a gig in either 1975 or ’80 (“I’m sure there are hardcore fans who would know which; I just don’t remember,” he says). That night, his elderly mother attended a show at Madison Square Garden. “When my 80-year-old mother came to see us play, I figured, ‘Maybe I’ve done something right!’”

Blue Öyster Cult plays at Music in the Park, taking place Sept 19, 5–10pm, at Plaza de Cesar Chavez, San Jose. Tickets are $39-$89. caltix.com or mitpsj.com

Also Playing

Eagles of Death Metal—Frontman Jesse Hughes says he wanted to be a square, but—as he told radio show host Jim Poorman Trenton—“the gods of rock decided one day to just give me a mustache and the incredible propensity for dancing. And, you know, here I am. Thank the gods. Thank the gods.” Eagles of Death Metal fans can also thank the deities that Hughes avoided a humdrum life, instead starting the band with fellow Palm Desert musician Josh Homme (Queens of the Stone Age) back in 1998. Eagles of Death Metal faced a real-life deadly situation in November 2015 when Islamic terrorists attacked the crowd during a sold-out concert at the Bataclan theatre in Paris, killing about 90 fans. EODM in its current lineup—Hughes, Leah Bluestein, Scott Shiflett and Dustin Drevitch—will be “Speaking in Tongues” and delivering a “High Voltage” set at Music in the Park on Sept. 19.

Super Cassette—Formed in 2016, Super Cassette is the manifestation of years of songwriting and jamming between brothers Max and Nick Gerlock. The Oakland-based indie rockers got their start when Max wanted to do a solo project, but the energy from their first gig gave the brothers the push to make the band its own project. Drawing from video game soundtracks and ’90s alternative rock, Nick and Mack create tight harmonies that are grounded by the rhythmic chemistry of bass player Devin Hollister and drummer Zach Briefer, who sharpened their skills in Pistachio, an Oakland fusion rock outfit.

It would be easy to assume that Lisa Loeb’s foray into children’s music happened after she had children herself.

But the first children’s album from the chart-topping ’90s pop singer-songwriter predated her daughter’s birth by six years. The inspiration for 2003’s Catch the Moon was not her kids’ childhood, but her own.

“I just loved growing up, my childhood, and I think I’ve always had a nostalgic connection with my childhood and a lot of the music and entertainment I enjoyed as a kid,” says Loeb, 57, who grew in Dallas and now lives in Los Angeles with her husband, TV producer Roey Hershkovitz, and children, Lyla, 15, and Emet, 13.

From TV shows like The Carol Burnett Show and the early days of Sesame Street to albums like Marlo Thomas’ Free to Be You and Me and Carole King’s Really Rosie, that ’70s entertainment appealed to both kids and adults with “a high level of humor and storytelling,” Loeb says. “I wanted to do things like that. … It was about nostalgia and joy and living inside that world and creating inside that world.”

Her Newest Album 

Loeb’s most recent album is another nod to nostalgia. That’s What It’s All About is a collaboration with the L.A.-based children’s folk music group The Hollow Trees, with whom Loeb will play at Bay Area Parent’s second annual Kids Day in the Park on Sept. 20 in San Jose.

The album includes some originals, plus reimagined standards like “If I Knew You Were Comin’ I’d’ve Baked a Cake” and “A Doodlin’ Song.”

“It’s a love letter to our parents and grandparents who raised us with music,” Loeb says. “These are the songs my dad played on the piano when I was growing up.”

Music was always a part of Loeb’s life, she says, and she started playing piano and writing songs at a young age. And then, one year at summer camp, a friend brought along a guitar. Loeb began to learn to play and was hooked.

“We would do skits … we would play camp songs. Music was just very central. It was a way to connect with other people as a community, it was a way to express myself, and it was a way to have a lot of fun,” she recalls. Camp was “a place where you could be independent, learn about yourself and have so much fun. You might learn more at camp than you do at school, you know, trying new things and meeting new people in a safe environment.”

From Camp to College 

Loeb continued to play music into college, where she had a popular band at Brown University, and then was part of a duo before striking out solo. Her breakout hit, “Stay (I Missed You)” from the movie Reality Bites, topped the Billboard charts in 1994 and was followed by two more hits.

After releasing Catch the Moon in the early 2000s with collaborator Elizabeth Mitchell, Loeb continued to make music for both kids and adults. Her follow-up children’s album, Camp Lisa, was inspired by her camp days and proceeds support her foundation, which helps pay to send kids to camp.

In 2009, Loeb had her first child, when she was 41. She says she was at least 10 years older than some of her mom friends having kids, but also had many friends her own age with older kids from whom she could learn. Another benefit was having had lots of her own life experiences and an established career.

The only drawback, she says, of being a quote-unquote “older mom” is “the sad math of it. … It’s possible I won’t live as long as some of the other parents and I won’t get to know my kids when they’re older. But I’m not sure you know what will happen then.”

Family Focus

Having kids also helped Loeb focus on her children’s music in a new way.

“I was definitely interested in the values of the songs. I did a whole album called Feel What U Feel, which was probably the most like Free to Be You and Me, where we really were thinking about what lessons we would like to pass along and what messages we think are important to hear … you know, what messages did I wish I had heard growing up,” Loeb says. Those messages resonated with both listeners and critics, and that 2016 release won the Grammy for Best Children’s Album.

In addition, “as a working mom, you know you really focus on where you’re putting your energy,” she says.

For Loeb, that means balancing giving her kids what she considers a “traditional” childhood, along with the demands of recording and touring. Whether she’s performing for kids or adults, much of Loeb’s music has crossover appeal and audiences are bound to sing along, especially to “Stay,” which she always includes in her set.

“I’m glad we have something like a music festival … to bring us together because there’s so much going on in the world that’s really difficult,” Loeb says. “And showing people’s true heart, and that they can actually connect with each other and be in a place together and in community is really powerful.”

Kids Day in the Park, featuring Lisa Loeb and The Hollow Trees, and the Alphabet Rockers, takes place Sept 20, 11am–4pm, at Plaza de Cesar Chavez, 1 Paseo San Antonio, San Jose. Tickets: $10-$25. mitpsj.com or caltix.com.

Bring your own blanket (no chairs allowed). In addition to the concert, there will be face painting, magic tricks, bounce houses, vendors and exhibits, as well as food trucks and beer, wine, water and other beverages available for purchase.

How many bookstores around here can last 70 years? We’re about to find out.

On Saturday, Sept. 20, Kepler’s in Menlo Park celebrates its 70th anniversary with a block party from 2 to 5pm. Since I wrote a column on this page for the 50th anniversary and then another for the 60th anniversary, there is no possible way for me to separate the journey of this column from the story of Kepler’s, especially since it all started long before I was even born, that is, if one even believes in absolute beginnings.

At the Kepler’s 50th anniversary party, several dynamics all came together in glorious fashion. The event featured live music, raffles, games, prizes and book bags filled with the best books from the last five decades. For the raffle, I sat right next to Joan Baez. I didn’t even realize it was her until she bagged one of the prizes.

You see, Baez was, and still is, one of many heroic individuals whose stories are likewise inseparable from the journey of Kepler’s bookstore. Others include the Grateful Dead, Neal Cassady, Ken Kesey, Stewart Brand and Steve Wozniak.

So where did it all start? Well, Roy Kepler first opened the place in May of 1955. It seems odd now, but back in the ’50s, most publishers, as well as the general public, didn’t consider paperbacks to be “real” books. The entire concept of peddling texts in cheap paperbound volumes was a radical affront to the publishing trade. Roy Kepler, along with Fred and Pat Cody in Berkeley, and Lawrence Ferlinghetti at City Lights in San Francisco, changed all of that. Bay Area bookstores became the leaders of the “paperback revolution,” as it came to be called. It could only have happened in Northern California.

A World War II conscientious objector, Kepler also helped spearhead the American peace movement for decades, spending his entire adult life opposing violence. In 1960, Roy and others were arrested at the Lawrence Livermore Radiation Laboratory for protesting against nuclear weapons. And that wasn’t the only time the authorities carried him away.

Kepler’s became a catch-all for every outcast imaginable. Jerry Garcia, Phil Lesh and Pigpen of the Grateful Dead supposedly first met each other while loitering around Kepler’s and making a racket. When Ken Kesey needed someone to drive the Merry Prankster bus, he dispatched Neal Cassady straight from Kepler’s to plot the cross-country spectacle. Hitchhikers often stopped by Kepler’s on their way up and down the coast. It was a central focal point for bohemians who weren’t welcome anywhere else. Baez and her pacifist guru Ira Sandperl became regulars, with Sandperl manning the register for decades. As the legend goes, Kepler’s was the first place to stock both Playboy and the Paris Review right next to each other. Steve Wozniak and Whole Earth Catalog founder Stewart Brand have both cited Kepler’s as a place integral to their youth.

Over the years, controversy arrived in all shapes and forms. During the Vietnam era, when a second store existed in Los Altos, violent right-wingers who needed an enemy tossed a bomb through the window. In 1989, Iran’s Ayatollah Khomeini issued a fatwa on author Salman Rushdie, prompting bookstores everywhere to remove The Satanic Verses from their shelves. Kepler’s did no such thing. Instead, the store organized a public reading from the book by Ira Sandperl. Baez performed just for the occasion.

At the 50th anniversary party in 2005, I picked up a 27-page orange-colored pamphlet, “Kepler’s: 50 Years of Independent Bookselling,” written by journalist Michael Doyle. One dollar of each purchase went to the Resource Center for Non-violence. At the time, Doyle was collecting memories and much of the pamphlet later wound up in his 2012 hardback volume, Radical Chapters: Pacifist Bookseller Roy Kepler and the Paperback Revolution.

By the time the Kepler’s 60th anniversary party rolled around in 2015, Radical Chapters was for sale and I bought a copy at the party. I still have the hardback and the original 27-page pamphlet. At that party, everyone was also given a name tag with space to write down how long they’d been shopping at Kepler’s. I put “forever.”

This weekend, the 70th anniversary party will yet again cement Kepler’s in the annals of history. Long live the revolution!

ARIES (March 21-April 19)

Hindu goddess Durga rides a tiger and carries weapons in her ten hands, including a sword, ax and thunderbolt. Yet she wears a pleasant smile. Her mandate to aid the triumph of good over evil is not fueled by hate but by luminous clarity and loving ferocity. I suggest you adopt her attitude, Aries. Can you imagine yourself as a storm of joy and benevolence? Will you work to bring more justice and fairness into the situations you engage with? I imagine you speaking complex and rugged truths with warmth and charm. I see you summoning a generous flair as you help people climb up out of their sadness and suffering. If all goes well, you will magnetize others to participate in shared visions of delight and dignity.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20)

Born under the sign of Taurus, Maya Deren first expressed her extravagant creative urges as a writer, poet, photographer, clothes designer and dancer. But then she made a radical change, embarking on a new path as an experimental filmmaker. She said she had “finally found a glove that fits.” Her movies were highly influential among the avant-garde in the 1940s and 1950s. I bring Deren to your attention, Taurus, because I suspect that in the coming months, you, too, will find a glove that fits. And it all starts soon.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20)

In medieval times, alchemists believed mercury was a sacred substance and divine intermediary. They knew that it’s the only metal that’s liquid at room temperature. This quality, along with its silvery sheen (why it’s called “quicksilver”), made it seem like a bridge between solid and liquid, earth and water, heaven and earth, life and death. I nominate mercury as your power object, Gemini. You’re extra well-suited to navigate liminal zones and transitional states. You may be the only person in your circle who can navigate paradox and speak in riddles and still make sense. It’s not just cleverness. It’s wisdom wrapped in whimsy. So please offer your in-between insights freely. PS: You have another superpower, too: You can activate dormant understandings in both other people’s hearts and your own.

CANCER (June 21-July 22)

In the western Pacific Ocean, there’s a species of octopus that builds its lair from coconut shells. The creature gathers together husks, dragging them across the seafloor, and fits them together. According to scientists, this use of tools by an invertebrate is unique. Let’s make the coconut octopus your power creature for now, Cancerian. You will have extra power to forge a new sanctuary or renovate an existing one, either metaphorically or literally. You will be wise to draw on what’s nearby and readily available, maybe even using unusual or unexpected building materials.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22)

I invite you to contemplate the meaning of the phrase “invisible architecture.” My dream told me it will be a theme for you in the coming weeks. What does it mean? What does it entail? Here are my thoughts: Structures are taking shape within you that may not yet be visible from the outside. Bridges are forming between once-disconnected parts of your psyche and life. You may not need to do much except consent to the slow emergence of these new semi-amazing expressions of integrity. Be patient and take notes. Intuitions arriving soon may be blueprints for future greatness. Here’s the kicker: You’re not just building for yourself. You’re working on behalf of your soul-kin, too.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

A supple clarity is crystallizing within you. Congratulations! It’s not a brittle or rigid certainty, but a knack for limber discernment. I predict you will have an extra potent gift for knowing what truly matters, even amidst chaos or complication. As this superpower reaches full ripeness, you can aid the process by clearing out clutter and refining your foundational values. Make these words your magic spells: quintessence, core, crux, gist, lifeblood, root. PS: Be alert for divine messages in seemingly mundane circumstances.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)

The ancient Mesopotamian goddess Inanna was called “the Queen of Heaven.” Her domains were politics, divine law, love and fertility. She was a powerhouse. One chapter of her mythic story tells of her descent into the underworld. She was stripped of everything—clothes, titles, weapons—before she could be reborn. Why did she do it? Scholars say she was on a quest for greater knowledge and an expansion of her authority. And she was successful! I propose we make her your guide and companion in the coming weeks, Libra. You are at the tail-end of your own descent. The stripping is almost complete. Soon you will feel the first tremors of return—not loud, not triumphant, but sure. I have faith that your adventures will make you stronger and wiser, as Inanna’s did for her.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)

In ancient Rome, the dye called Tyrian purple was used exclusively for garments worn by royalty and top officials. It had a humble origin: murex snails. Their glands yielded a pale liquid that darkened into an aristocratic violet only after sun, air and time worked upon it. I’m predicting you will be the beneficiary of comparable alchemical transformations in the coming weeks. A modest curiosity could lead to a major breakthrough. A passing fancy might ripen into a rich blessing. Seemingly nondescript encounters may evolve into precious connections.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)

Bees can see ultraviolet patterns in flowers that are invisible to humans. These “nectar guides” direct bees to the flower’s nectar and pollen, functioning like landing strips. Let’s apply these fun facts as metaphors for your life, Sagittarius. I suspect that life is offering you subtle yet radiant cues leading you to sources you will be glad to connect with. To be fully alert for them, you may need to shift and expand the ways you use your five senses. The universe is in a sense flirting with you, sending you clues through dream-logic and nonrational phenomena. Follow the shimmering glimmers.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)

At the height of her powers, Egyptian pharaoh Hatshepsut declared, “I have restored what had been ruined. I have raised up what had dissolved.” You now have a similar gift at your disposal, Capricorn. If you harness it, you will gain an enhanced capacity to unify what has been scattered, to reforge what was broken, and to resurrect neglected dreams. To fulfill this potential, you must believe in your own sovereignty—not as a form of domination, but of devotion. Start with your own world. Make beauty where there was noise. Evoke dignity where there was confusion.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)

In the high Himalayas, there’s a flower called Saussurea obvallata—the Brahma Kamal. It blooms only at night and for a short time, releasing a scent that legend says can heal grief. This will be your flower of power for the coming weeks, Aquarius. It signifies that a rare and time-sensitive gift will be available, and that you must be alert to gather it in. My advice: Don’t schedule every waking hour. Leave space for mystery to arrive unannounced. You could receive a visitation, an inspiration, or a fleeting insight that can change everything. It may assuage and even heal sadness, confusion, aimlessness, or demoralization.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20)

The human heart beats 100,000 times per day, 35 million times per year and 2.5 billion times in an average lifetime. It’s the most reliable “machine” ever created, working continuously and mostly without special maintenance for decades. Although you Pisceans aren’t renowned for your stability and steadiness, I predict that in the coming weeks, you will be as staunch, constant and secure as a human heart. What do you plan to do with this grace period? What marvels can you accomplish?

Homework: I dare you to plan a wild and smart adventure. Newsletter.FreeWillAstrology.com

If you missed Rob Brezsny’s Free Will Astrology last week, no worries. Find it here.