When Corey O’Brien and punk magazine publisher Larry Trujillo bought the Blank Club in 2003, they were two locals who understood that the alt-music scene in San Jose needed a space.
Trujillo and O’Brien coined the name for a weekly dance party that drew in DJ Basura—aka Michael Boado, general manager at San Jose’s Needle to the Groove Records—its name inspired by Blondie’s disco-rock anthem “Atomic.”
When the Blank Club closed in 2015, O’Brien opened the Ritz a few months later. Atomic came with him, though it morphed into a monthly event in 2022.
Atomic celebrates its 20th anniversary this Saturday at The Ritz. DJ Basura will headline the night, joined by industrial-techno DJ Plastic Disease and goth/darkwave DJ Bit.
Info: $13.50 general/$262.58 VIP. July 19, 9pm, at the Ritz, 400 S 1st St, San Jose. theritzsanjose.com. —Melisa Yuriar
Thu, July 17
Ebb & Flow—Celebrate NUMU’s newest exhibition, featuring work by Chieko Shimizu Fujioka, Moeko MACHIDA and Margaret Luo, at the opening reception. Free with registration. July 17, 5-7pm. New Museum Los Gatos, 106 E Main St, Los Gatos. numulosgatos.org
Pobladores Night Market—Through July 31, this open-air market brings together local makers and business, artists, performers and food purveyors. Free. July 17, 5:30-9pm. Parque de los Pobladores, 501 S 1st St, San Jose. sjdowntown.com
CityDance—It’s Country Night at the city’s monthly dance event, with live music by Country Cougars and dance instruction by Miguel Allende. All skill levels are welcome. Free. June 17, 6-9pm. Circle of Palms in front of the San Jose Museum of Art, 110 S Market St, San Jose. facebook.com/citydancesj
Chain of Fools—This local band brings danceable rock, blues and country classics to the Campbell Summer Concert Series. Free. July 17, 6:30-8pm. Orchard City Green, Civic Center Drive and N. Central Avenue, Campbell. campbellca.gov
Summer Concert Series—The Cheeseballs play on the Hillview Soccer Field. Free. July 17, 6:30pm. 97 Hillview Ave, Los Altos. losaltosca.gov
The Movie Music of Hans Zimmer—Conductor Sarah Hicks and the San Francisco Symphony performs movie music from many of Hans Zimmer’s best-loved film scores, including The Lion King, Sherlock Holmes, Interstellar, Pirates of the Caribbean, Batman: The Dark Knight and Gladiator. $15-$150. July 17, 7:30pm. Frost Amphitheater, 351 Lasuen St, Stanford. live.stanford.edu
An Evening with Victor Lin—Stanford Jazz Workshop favorite Victor Lin reimagines the music of Studio Ghibli through the lens of jazz piano and violin. Lin and his ensemble will bring these beloved film scores to life. $44-$62. July 17, 7:30-9pm. Dinkelspiel Auditorium, 471 Lagunita Dr, Stanford. events.stanford.edu
Fri, July 18
Faithfully Live—The Journey tribute band plays at the Morgan Hill Friday Night Music Series. Free. July 18, 5:30-9:30pm. Downtown Amphitheater, Morgan Hill Community and Cultural Center, 17000 Monterey Road, Morgan Hill. morganhillchamber.org
Music on the Square—This week’s musical offering: Boys of Summer, a touring Eagles tribute band. Bring a lawn chair or a blanket. Free. July 18, 6-8pm. Courtyard Square, 2200 Broadway, Redwood City. redwoodcity.org
One Night of Queen—Gary Mullen and the Works give a live concert featuring the music of Queen, paying tribute to the band’s stage theatrics, showmanship and music. $54-$235. July 18, 7:30pm. Mountain Winery, 14831 Pierce Rd, Saratoga. mountainwinery.com
Sat, July 19
Apricot STEM Fair—Explore hands-on science, technology, engineering and math activities with apricot-themed and nature-inspired fun. $10. July 19, 10am-4pm. Los Altos History Museum, 51 S San Antonio Rd, Los Altos. losaltoshistory.org
SJ Made Summer Fair—San José Made holds its third annual summer fair, a celebration of local crafts and creativity, with DIY workshops and the work of artists, designers, illustrators, artisans, creators, crafters and creative small businesses. Free. July 19-20, 11am-6pm. Santa Clara Convention Center, 5001 Great America Pkwy, Santa Clara. sanjosemade.com
Sounds of the Shores—San Jose rock trio act PB&J performs. Free. July 19, 5-7pm. Marlin Park, 500 Cringle Drive, Redwood City. redwoodcity.org
Maoli—Combining island music with reggae and pop influences, Maoli creates an uplifting sound that will resonate across the Pacific Rim on the Last Sip of Summer Tour. $116-$772. July 19, 7:30pm. Mountain Winery, 14831 Pierce Rd, Saratoga. mountainwinery.com
Sun, July 20
National Theatre Live: Fleabag—See a filmed production of the one-woman show that inspired the BBCs hit TV series Fleabag, written and performed by Phoebe Waller-Bridge and directed by Vicky Jones. $16-$23. July 20, 2pm & July 24, 7pm. Hammer Theatre Center, 101 Paseo de San Antonio, San Jose. hammertheatre.com
La Vie Parisienne—Pocket Opera recreates the hustle and bustle of a Paris train station, as a millionaire from Brazil, a Swedish baron and a sultry local actress all cross paths to start a madcap plot. $37-$92. July 20, 2:30pm. Center for the Performing Arts, 500 Castro St, Mountain View. tickets.mvcpa.com
Brit Floyd: Wish You Were Here 50th Anniversary—Though they’re not the musicians who, five decades ago, created the classic tracks on Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Mood, Brit Floyd has performed more than 1,000 shows since it debuted in 2011. $54-$854. July 20, 7:30pm. Mountain Winery, 14831 Pierce Rd, Saratoga. mountainwinery.com
Wed, July 23
Curator Talk—Joanna García Cherán, one of the curators of the exhibit Second Nature: Photography in the Age of the Anthropocene, will give a free talk. July 23, noon. Cantor Arts Center, Stanford. museum.stanford.edu/programs
Los Gatos Jazz on the Plazz—Monterey Jazz Regional All Star Band and Vocal Ensemble performs. Free. July 23, 6:30pm. Town Plaza, West Main Street and Santa Cruz Avenue, Los Gatos. jazzontheplazz.com
Vines & Vibes—Southbound 101 performs country music hits at Guglielmo’s summer concert series. Bring a picnic or purchase food from a rotating lineup of local food trucks. Wine is available by the glass or bottle; no outside alcohol. Free. July 23, 3-4pm. Guglielmo Winery, 17575 Peak Ave, Morgan Hill. guglielmowinery.com
