@caption:Jimmy Buffett performs Oct. 23 at Shoreline.
Parrotheads don't need this information. They've had Thursday, Oct. 23, circled for months. That's the date when their main man, Jimmy Buffett, will make his annual trip to the Shoreline Amphitheatre at Mountain View for an evening of "Margaritaville" madness.
And, trust us, Buffett's loyal followers--known as Parrotheads in a nod to the Deadheads--will be out in full force for this 8 p.m. show. Summer may be long gone, but for this one night there should be plenty of Hawaiian shirts and beach balls to be seen, as well as stuffed parrots, pirate hats and shark-related items. Always expect the line for margaritas to be long when Jimmy Buffett and the Coral Reefer Band is in town.
The southern singer is a true traveling tourist attraction and for good reason. Besides attracting some of the most interesting fans in all of pop music, Buffett also has a load of great tunes. Since the release of 1973's "A White Sport Coat and a Pink Crustacean," the pirate has recorded such tracks as the lovely "Come Monday," the rambunctious "Volcano," the lively "Coconut Telegraph" and the sweet "Havana Daydreamin'," not to mention the Parrothead national anthem "Margaritaville."
Buffett combines bits of country and a variety of rock styles into a Caribbean mix that has his signature all over it. Much of his appeal stems from the fact that, in concert, the performer comes across as having as much fun as the crowd. Also, unlike some classic rockers, Buffett has never been shy about giving the fans what they want: the hits.
Tickets are $41 reserved; $25 general admission. For more information, call (408) 998-BASS.
@caption:Harp duo Michael MacBean and Laura Riley perform Oct. 18 at the Palo Alto Cultural Center.
Laura Riley and Michael MacBean, duo harpists, perform Celtic and original music as part of the Palo Alto Performances Series at 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 18, at the Palo Alto Cultural Center Auditorium, 1313 Newell Road, Palo Alto.
The spicy sounds of Riley and MacBean have reportedly prompted listeners to remark: "I didn't know harps could do that." Their energetic performances include original compositions and ethnic melodies with blues, jazz and Latin influences, and progressive Celtic arrangements.
Tickets are $10 general; $8 students and seniors. Tickets are available only at the door. For more information, call 329-2527.
@caption:Lane Nishikawa performs Oct. 18 at Stanford.
Lane Nishikawa performs "Mifune and Me," a one-man show that attempts to expose the hilarity and absurdity beneath stereotypes that shadow Asian-American lives, at 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 18, at Stanford University's Dinkelspiel Auditorium.
Known for his high-powered performance style and multifaceted characterizations, Nishikawa strings together a series of 15 compelling vignettes using a wide range of stereotypes as his central theme--immigrants who "invade" American cities, farms and economies; a modern day Asian-American Yuppie who can't find the path of the "bushido" (code of honor); a Japanese-American stand-up comedian who searches for material that will find the funny bone of Asians and non-Asians alike; a Hawaiian-born "Buddhahead" (Japanese American from Hawaii) who never thought he was a minority and runs into trouble in an Oakland diner; and an Asian-American from Philadelphia who tries to find his roots.
As Nishikawa cross-examines media images, he delves into his own experiences with Hollywood, television, agents, casting directors and the independent filmmakers of Asian America, giving audiences a behind-the-scenes glimpse at the ironies of auditioning as an Asian-American. Nishikawa also introduces audiences to his childhood action hero, Toshiro Mifune, who provided him with the Buddhahead boy's role model. Throw in an examination of the gap between first, second and third generation Japanese-Americans, plus Nishikawa's own irrepressible wit, and you have "Mifune and Me."
Tickets are $26 and $23 (students $3 off). For more information, call 725-ARTS.
@caption:"The Spirit of Christmas" is featured in the "1997 Sick and Twisted Festival of Animation" at Stanford.
Animation fans rejoice. Spike and Mike's 1997 "Sick and Twisted Festival of Animation" is creeping into Stanford University's Cubberly Auditorium this week.
According to the press release, the festival hosts animated pieces that are simply too revolting or adult in nature for Spike and Mike's "prestigious and tasteful" regular animation shows. Not-to-miss favorites in this festival include the debuts of "Spirit of Christmas" by Matt Stone and Trey Parker, "Sea Slugs" by Adam Lane, "Fast Driver" by Nick Gibbons, and "Sloaches Funhouse," crowned the sickest film ever made, by Steve Margolis. The festival also includes the premiere of Kendall Smith's "Jurassic Fart."
Show times are 9:30 p.m. and midnight Fridays and Saturdays, Oct. 17, 18, 24 and 25. Tickets are $7 at the box office, available one hour before show time, and in advance by calling (408) 998-BASS.
@caption:"April is the cruelest month . . ." by Diane Cassidy
Photographer Diane Cassidy, potter Pat Oyama and pastel artist Kathi Peverini will be showing new work at Gallery House, 538 Ramona St., Palo Alto, from Oct. 21 through Nov. 15. A reception for the artists will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 24.
Cassidy received a master's degree in photography from San Jose State University. Her work has evolved from the traditional to alternative processes to digital. She presently combines and collages her photographs on the computer.
Oyama apprenticed to folk potter Arao Tzunezo in Kyoto, Japan, in the early 1960s, and went on to study at the Alfred School of Ceramics in New York. She currently has a studio in the Santa Cruz Mountains.
Peverini obtained an art degree from San Jose State University. Although previously a needlepoint designer, integrated circuit mask designer and registered nurse, she's currently committed to the fine arts. Her pastels are inspired by a recent three-month stay in Mexico.
For more information, call 326-1668.
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