.Metroactive

The arts are back at Loft downtown. Now a few shows in, the Stop Drop & Roll Show series has been reimagining how to use the space at Loft.

Japanese musician Senri Oe performed an astonishing act of shapeshifting at age 47: after decades as a pop star, he became a jazz pianist. He kicked this era off with a move to Manhattan to study jazz at The New School in 2008, his dachshund puppy Peace in tow.

Another big concert awakens Cesar Chavez Park when Music in the Park brings back two-time Grammy-winner J Boog. When Wash House Music released his reggae rock album Backyard Boogie in 2011, few predicted that his song “Let’s Do It Again” would swing through radio stations beyond the islands, becoming a staple on feel-good mixes worldwide.

Despite what’s been happening in the news these days, it remains the case that America does have talent. At least, that’s what Kabir Singh proved, as one of the top 15 performers on the most recent season of the NBC hit show.

No current punk band makes music for kids living out on the skids quite like Get Dead. The San Francisco based band makes music full of anger, rebellion, activism and joy.

It’s not common to see such a stacked lineup of comedians on a Wednesday night in the South Bay. Thankfully, the Improv gives comedy fans a mid-week boost with six international comedians for “Planet Comedy.”