Top 10 Weekend Entertainment Events

By Jim Harrington

1. Carlos Santana: Some years back, my colleague Tony Hicks and I came up with a list of the top 25 guitarists in Bay Area history. In retrospect, I’d make a few tweaks to it, but I wouldn’t change our choice of Santana (pictured) for the top spot.

Details: 7 p.m. Saturday, Shoreline Amphitheatre, 1 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View; 7 p.m. Sunday, Sleep Train Pavilion, 2000 Kirker Pass Road, Concord; $25-$75; 925-685-TIXS, 415-421-TIXS, 510- 625-TIXS, www.livenation.com.

2. MetalFest: Bands4Bands is hosting a great lineup of local bands, including Kaos, Age of Aggression, Thread, In the Absence, Mudsoc, God’s Outlaw, VX36 and Mother Climax. It’s a canned-food drive, boasting a clever slogan: “Bring a metal can and see your favorite metal band.”

Details: 1 p.m. Saturday, Memorial Park Amphitheater, 24176 Mission Blvd., Hayward; free; www.bands4bands.com.

3. “Mad Max” Marathon: Remember when Mel Gibson made films that were fun to watch? For a reminder, check out the “Mad Max” marathon. Each film in the post-apocalyptic trilogy — 1979′s “Mad Max,” 1981′s “Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior” and 1985′s “Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome” — will be shown twice during the day.

Details: First film screens at 12:15 p.m., last at 10 p.m., at the Castro Theatre, 429 Castro St., S.F.; $10; 415-392-4400, www.thecastrotheatre.com.

4. New Kids on the Block: The New Kids aren’t really so new, yet the fact that they are back on the Block seems to have excited millions of fans. Thanks in large part to the group’s new hit single, the sunny “Summertime,” NKOTB’s reunion tour is one of the fall’s most-sought-after tickets.

Details: 8 tonight, HP Pavilion, 525 W. Santa Clara St., San Jose; $35-$75; 925-685-TIXS, 415-421-TIXS, 510-625-TIXS, www.hppsj.com.

5. Randy Jackson Presents: America’s Best Dance Crew Tour: It’s not enough that Jackson has helped ruin television as part of the three-headed tribunal on “American Idol.” Now he’s ready to put the smackdown on concert halls as well with this dance tour. All kidding aside, this should be a fun night to watch big-time dance routines.

Details: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Paramount Theatre, 2025 Broadway, Oakland; $42.50-$57.50; 510-465-6400, www.paramounttheatre.com.

6. Weezer: These alt-rock champs, still best known for the sing- along single “Buddy Holly,” return to town in support of a recently released self-titled album. Along for the ride are modern rockers Angels and Airwaves and Tokyo Police Club.

Details: 7:30 p.m. Monday, San Jose State University Event Center, 290 S. 7th St.; $49.50; 925-685-TIXS, 415-421-TIXS, 510-625- TIXS, www.livenation.com.

7. “Wall-E”: One of the best reviewed and most popular films of 2008, the Disney-Pixar production “Wall-E” features great animation, a clever and endearing story line and messages that we all need to hear. If you missed it on the big screen, or simply need another dose, here’s your chance.

Details: 7:15 and 9:25 p.m. today through Sunday, also 2 and 4:15 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Red Vic Movie House, 1727 Haight St., S.F.; $8.50; 415-668-3994, www.redvicmoviehouse.com.

8. Joe Jackson: When it comes to the musician Joe Jackson — not the “Shoeless” baseball legend of the same name — fans never seem to grow tired of hearing one musical question: “Is She Really Going Out with Him?” The singer-songwriter will likely perform that big hit, as well as many other great tunes.

Details: 8 p.m. Wednesday, the Warfield, 982 Market St., S.F.; $45-$59; 925-685-TIXS, 415-421-TIXS, 510-625-TIXS, www.ticketmaster.com.

9. Now & Zen festival: I’m really interested in Alice radio’s 11th annual Now & Zen music festival. Well, let me amend that statement — I’m really interested in the event’s headliner, vocalist Duffy. The bill’s other acts, including Sugar Ray and Gavin DeGraw, only move me moderately.

Details: Noon on Sunday, Sharon Meadow in Golden Gate Park, S.F.; $25; 510-625-TIXS, 925-685-TIXS or 415-421-TIXS, www.ticketmaster.com.

10. “Radio Golf”: Just in time for election season, TheatreWorks presents August Wilson’s inspired political play. The comedic yet arresting drama, Wilson’s final theater piece, centers on a charismatic African-American politician running for mayor of Pittsburgh in the late ’90s.

Details: Through Nov. 2, Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts, 500 Castro St.; $23-$59; 650-903-6000, www.theatreworks.org.

Reach Jim Harrington at jharrington@bayareanewsgroup.com. Read his Concert Blog at www.ibabuzz.com/. concerts.

Originally published by Jim Harrington, MediaNews staff.

(c) 2008 Oakland Tribune. Provided by ProQuest LLC. All rights Reserved.