Dance to Snarky Puppy until the dogs are barking
Snarky Puppy: OK, let’s get the band’s name thing out the way first. What does it mean? Nothing, absolutely nothing, says bassist-songwriter-frontman Michael League. “I just thought it was a great name and I love dogs,” he says. The name probably wouldn’t raise as many questions if the band, which kicked around for years in near obscurity, hadn’t emerged as one of the more in-demand live acts on the planet. The group, which operates more as a collective with a revolving lineup, has been winning raves for its highoctane, groove-trastic mix of jazz, funk, rock, R&B, pop and more. They are so versatile, they’ve won three Grammy Awards in three different categories in the past five years. Snarky Puppy comes to SFJazz Center in San Francisco for a weekend run, but tickets are going fast.
DETAILS >> Six shows Thursday through Sunday; $30-$70; 866-920-5299; www.sfjazz.org.
Eva Yerbabuena: The flamenco star, acclaimed as an exciting bridge between traditional and contemporary dance — and because she’s freakishly talented — brings her company to Berkeley next week to perform her acclaimed evening-length work, “Ay!” with live musical accompaniment. Go to www.mercurynews.com/ entertainment to see an interview with Yerbabuena.
DETAILS >> Presented by Cal Performances, 8 p.m. Wednesday; Zellerbach Hall, UC Berkeley; $30$68; 510-642-9988, calperformances.org.
“The Who’s Tommy”: Geezers like me remember sneering a bit when rock band the Who released the album “Tommy” and called it a rock opera. Pairing rock with opera was like eating peanut butter with ketchup. Then we realized what a gorgeous and exhilarating album it was. Now rock operas are everywhere and “Tommy” has been adapted into a movie and a stage musical, the latter of which is getting a production by the Mainstage troupe at Children’s Musical Theatre in San Jose.
DETAILS >> Friday through March 11; Montgomery Theatre, San Jose; $20$25; sanjosetheaters.org.
Liss Fain Dance: The company is noting its 30th anniversary with founder-choreographer Fain’s deeply personal new dance/installation, “I Don’t Know and Never Will,” drawn from letters shared with a dear friend going back decades. Liss Fain Dance presents the work this weekend at ODC Dance Theater in San Francisco. And if you feel like contributing to the installation part, go to
company website, www. lissfaindance.org, and submit your own letter.
DETAILS >> 8 p.m. today through Saturday; $20$30; www.odc.dance.
Forejour: For those who delight in engaging in perhaps the quintessential 1980s rock debate — who was more awesome, Foreigner or Journey? — this tribute band ruins everything by playing songs from both. But if you catch one of the group’s two performances at Pleasanton’s Firehouse Arts Center this weekend, you’ll be treated to a rush of classic tunes performed with what is said to be impressive accuracy.
DETAILS >> 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday; $25-$35; 925-931-4848, www.firehousearts.org.
“The American Sound”: This concert by touring all-stars from the famed Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia features a wide selection of works by Bernstein, Gershwin and Copland. The Curtis tour comes to Stanford’s Bing Concert Hall on Sunday.
DETAILS >> Presented by Stanford Live; 4 p.m.; $25-$75; 650-724-2464, live.stanford.edu.
Celtic Nights: Get a jump-start on St. Patrick’s Day celebrations with this touring production that tells a sweeping multimedia story of Irish history with song and dance. DETAILS >> 8 p.m. Friday; Heritage Theatre, Campbell; $49.50; www.cityofcampbell.com/heritagetheatre.
California Bach Society: The chorus will celebrate German Romantic composers —
Schumann, Brahms, Mendelssohn — with three performances this weekend.
DETAILS >> 8 p.m. Friday at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, San Francisco; 8 p.m. Saturday at All Saints’ Episcopal Church, Palo Alto; 4 p.m. Sunday at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, Berkeley; $10$35; www.calbach.org.
“Revolt. She Said. Revolt Again.”: The title reminds one a little of the feminist catchphrase — courtesy of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, referring to U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren — “nevertheless, she persisted.” And indeed, this dark comedy by Alice Birch marking Crowded Fire Theater’s 20th anniversary season is meant to turn a variety of traditionally patriarchal phrases and customs on their head. Go to www. mercurynews.com/theater for a feature on the play.
DETAILS >> Through March 24; Crowded Fire Theater, San Francisco; $10-$35; www.crowdedfire.org. 10
Melissa Etheridge benefit concert: The rocker known for such 1980s-’90s hits as “Bring Me Some Water” and “Come to My Window” comes to Walnut Creek’s Lesher Center Saturday to perform in a fundraiser for Case Appointed Special Advocates, a group that aids children who have been removed from their homes due to a legal or health emergency. The event is organized by ABC-7 news anchor Dan Ashley.
DETAILS >> 8 p.m.; $100$250; 925-943-7469, www.lesherartscenter. org.