BISS List 2.19.25 Spotlight on The Motet (3.13) + Best of BISS this Week
Laissez les bon temps rouler, BISS Listers!
That’s right—Mardi Gras season is underway! Coming off a great weekend with a super fun Mardi Gras celebration at the Presidio Theatre with Preservation Hall, I can’t stop thinking about getting myself back to NOLA. And well… next thing you know, I’ve accepted a position to work Bayou Rendezvous again and booked my flight for the second weekend of Jazz Fest! NOLA, here I come! Anyone wanna volunteer to help compile this year’s special NOLA edition of BISS?
Last Week’s Highlights: Before we dive into what’s ahead, let’s talk about some of the incredible live music from last week. If you were there, you know. If you weren’t… let’s just say you missed out—but lucky for you, we’ve got links to photos and recaps so you can live vicariously (or start planning for next time)!
- Tuesday & Wednesday – Daniel Donato\ @ Cornerstone Berkeley: The buzz from BISS Listers about these shows was unreal—pure magic. If you missed it, check out what Sara had to say, plus her photos and videos from Night 1 and Night 2!
- Friday – Funk Love Affair @ Boom Boom Room: Ginger Molasses kicked things off with an incredible set. If you haven’t seen them yet, do yourself a favor and change that ASAP. LAZWELL and the band were on fire! Special guests sat in, and the energy was off the charts. You know how much I love this band! If you were there, you know exactly what I mean. If you weren’t, check out these clips and you’ll get it!
- Saturday – Mardi Gras Party @ The Presidio Theatre: Preservation Hall Jazz Band brought the soul of New Orleans to the Presidio, filling the night with beads, brass, and pure magic. From a NOLA-style pre-party with Brass Mafia to a standout set of classics, the show had it all—a stunning solo by Kyle Roussel and even triangle-shredding from Mino Cinelu. Thank you to BISS winner, Claire for taking Booka as your +1 to capture some of the daytime show and I captured some of the night time show with some help from Natalie S & Jenni N! The best part – BISS Patreon Member Sean Sornberger was there to take it all in and wrote up a fantastic review!!
- Sunday – Sgt. Splendor @ Music City was awesome! But of course,this group never disappoints, bringing a mix of raw energy and killer musicianship—and always a bonus to have Mr. Paulo Baldi on drums. Plus, I’m now a new fan of bassist, Timmy Stabler—check out my captures to see for yourself! Not a bad crowd for a Sunday night! I hope to see more good stuff at this venue soon!
What’s Coming Up This Week? This week is stacked with must-see shows, and I know a lot of you are already planning your weekend moves. Here’s what’s on deck for me personally:
- Thurs 2/20 – Eggy @ Cornerstone Berkeley (*WIN*): Did you catch them at High Sierra like I did and want to see them again? No? Then let me tell you… Eggy weaves timeless storytelling into their music, blending rich harmonies, dynamic jams, and heartfelt lyricism.
- Thurs 2/20 – DangerAte ft. DJ Kevvy Kev @ Boom Boom Room: It’s time for DangerAte’s Hip-Hop Funkathon! DJ Kevvy Kev & Soulati will be throwing down live beats and fresh flows. Plus, freestyle MCs & musicians—bring your bars and your axes for a Cypher-Jam!
- Fri 2/21 – Minglewood Boys @ Finnegan’s Wake: Get your Grateful Dead and JGB fix! Featuring local faves Jordan Feinstein, Anna Elva, Zach Jones, Erik Lekas, and Sean Swetland. This all-star crew is bringing the jams to one of SF’s best neighborhood bars.
- Sat 2/22 – ALO @ The Fillmore for the 18th annual Tour D’Amour (*WIN*): The theme of the night? Glitter Gala. I already expected to see many of you in silver for Silver Saturday—just be sure to add some extra glitter for this one! Maybe even rock some Frames in honor of their new album.
- More Sat 2/22 – Circles Around the Sun @ The Independent (*WIN*): I know so many of us LOVE Circles Around the Sun. This time, they’ve got Mikaela Davis on harp and vocals, adding an extra dreamy, soulful vibe. Expect a hypnotic, funky, trippy ride—the kind of show you’ll want to lose yourself in.
- Late Night Sat 2/22 – SF is Dead Allstars @ Boom Boom Room (*WIN*): This after-party is THE spot for anyone hitting up ALO, JGB, or CATS. Featuring Reed Mathis, Jordan Feinstein, Anna Elva, and Mike Meagher, plus special guest Rich Egan sitting in. This one’s not to be missed!
- Also Sat 2/22 – in Nevada City: LAZWELL’S Birthday Celebration @ Crazy Horse Saloon (*WIN*): If you’re in Nevada City, don’t miss LAZWELL’s Birthday Celebration (Round Two!). And guess what? You can win tickets just by spreading the word!
- Sun 2/23 – Circles Around the Sun @ Felton Music Hall (*WIN*): Miss them in SF? No worries—CATS hits the South Bay, and we’ve got tickets to win!
Flash Forward to 3/13 – The Motet w/ Polyrhythmics @ The Independent (*WIN*): The Motet always brings the funk with a killer mix of soul, jazz, and rock, and with Polyrhythmics opening up, this night is guaranteed to be a nonstop dance party. This is a must-see show, and you know I’ll be there—scroll down to our featured spotlight below for more and your chance to win tickets! 🔥
As always, the Best of BISS is just below, so scroll on for the full rundown of this week’s top picks. For even more shows and your chance to win FREE tickets, check out the Full BISS Calendar and Win Tickets page. If we missed anything, let me know!
Until next week, keep dancing and don’t forget to have a couple of margaritas in honor of National Margarita Day this Saturday night. Should be a great pairing with your glitter and ALO. 😜✨
~ Pamela aka Miss BISS
#seeyouattheshows
SPOTLIGHT ON THE MOTET
The Motet w/ Polyrhythmics
March 13th @ The Independent
Formed over two decades ago, the funk six-piece The Motet have learned to work as an interlocking unit, with each member bolstering one another towards the best creative output. This symbiosis has led to a unique style and cohesive musical chemistry, as seen in the band’s immaculate live performances and seamless blend of funk, soul, jazz, and rock. Now with vocal powerhouse Sarah Clarke!
Polyrhythmics’ sound originated in Seattle’s underground deep funk scene combining impossibly tight grooves with bold brass and hypnotic percussion that showcased elements of R&B, progressive jazz, and Afrobeat which defined the instrumental group’s early era sound.
**Check out all of our Featured Shows.
BISS REVIEW
Preservation Hall Jazz Band
Mardi Gras magic came to the Presidio Theater, and Patreon member Sean Sornberger was there to take it all in! He had an unforgettable Mardi Gras-themed night at the Presidio Theater, experiencing top-tier New Orleans music, delicious themed food and drinks, and vibrant performances by Preservation Hall, Jazz Mafia, and special guests. From stunning solos to energetic brass band classics, the evening was a magical celebration of music, community, and the rich history of Preservation Hall. “It was a magical evening for all and a true treat for this longtime BISS Lister.” Check out the full review and photos.
BEST OF BISS THIS WEEK
02/19 Grateful Wednesdays w/ Danny’s LIVE Dead @ Peri’s Tavern Fairfax
02/20 Reverend Horton Heat w/ Black Joe Lewis @ Catalyst
02/20 Eggy @ Cornerstone Berkeley 
02/20 The Dip @ The Guild Theatre
02/20 Noise Pop Festival (2/20-3/2) ft Reverend Horton Heat, Black Joe Lewis, Pinata Protest, Flamin’ Groovies, Th’ Losin Streaks, Peter Case, Cymande, Mezerg, Nick Lowe & Los Straitjackets and more! @ Various Venues
02/20 Sam Grisman Project @ Felton Music Hall
02/20 DangerAte ft DJ Kevvy Kev & Soulati (No Cover) @ Boom Boom Room
02/21 The Dip @ The Catalyst Club
02/21 The Minglewood Boys @ Finnegans Wake
02/21 Martha High’s Funky Divas w/ Fred Wesley and The New JBs @ Club Fox
02/21 Polish Ambassador (Two Nights) @ Cornerstone Berkeley
02/21 Pete Floyd: Premier Pink Floyd Tribute (Two Nights) @ Rancho Nicasio
02/21 Coco Montoya @ McNear’s Mystic Theatre
02/21 Eggy @ Felton Music Hall
02/21 Reverend Horton Heat w/ Black Joe Lewis at Noise Pop Fest @ Great American Music Hall
02/22 Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats w/ Iron & Wine @ Bill Graham Civic Auditorium
02/22 Melvin Seals & JGB w/ Sam Grisman Project and special guest Mads Tolling @ The Warfield
02/22 ALO: Tour D’Amour XVIII @ The Fillmore
02/22 Circles Around The Sun w/ Mikaela Davis @ The Independent
02/22 Polish Ambassador (Two Nights) @ Cornerstone Berkeley
02/22 Buckethead @ JaM Cellars Ballroom Napa
02/22 Chucho Valdes ft Arturo Sandoval: Irakere 50 + Cimafunk @ Paramount Theatre
02/22 Jazz Is Dead: Alice Coltrane presented by Ravi Coltrane ft Gadi Lehavi, Rashaan Carter, Ele Howell @ The UC Theatre
02/22 Pete Floyd: Premier Pink Floyd Tribute (Two Nights) @ Rancho Nicasio
02/22 Ty Segall (Solo Acoustic) @ McNear’s Mystic Theatre
02/22 Flamin’ Groovies, Th’ Losin Streaks, Peter Case at Noise Pop Fest @ 4 Star Theater
02/22 The English Beat @ Felton Music Hall
02/22 LAZWELL Birthday Bash @ Crazy Horse Nevada City
02/22 Rainbow Girls @ Freight & Salvage
02/22 SF is Dead Allstars ft Reed Mathis, Jordan Feinstein, Mike Meagher, and Anna Elva + Sean Leahy & The Real Mofos @ Boom Boom Room
02/23 Circles Around The Sun ft. Mikaela Davis @ Felton Music Hall
02/24 Coco Montoya @ Yoshi’s Oakland
02/26 Cymande at Noise Pop Fest @ August Hall
Want more shows from BISS?
Check out the Best of BISS & BISS Full Calendar
New to the BISS List?
The BISS List began in 2003 as an email newsletter for diehard live music fans in the Bay Area. Over 20 years, we’ve grown to become the go-to resource for funk, jam, soul, and groove music, reaching approximately 20,000 followers and over 80,000 through various platforms. Our curated list features only the shows we and our fans love, and we host ticket giveaways to enhance promotions with venues and artists.
Each week, we highlight the BEST OF BISS shows, with select FEATURED SHOWS that you won’t want to miss. Our shows are free to view and add to—if you have a show to submit, visit our submission page or email us at biss@bisslist.com.
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The BISS List has always been a labor of love, fueled by passion for live music and a dedication to this amazing community. What started as a personal email of show picks has grown into a full-fledged resource for funk, jam, soul, and groove lovers—bringing you curated show recommendations, ticket giveaways, and a space to connect over the music we love.
But running BISS takes time, effort, and real costs—over $3,000 a month just to keep the basics going! That’s why we’re excited to offer two ways you can support and help sustain the BISS List:
✨ Make a tax-deductible donation – The BISS List is now fiscally sponsored by Independent Arts & Media, which means your donation directly supports our mission while also being tax-deductible! Every contribution helps us grow, support artists, and expand BISS to serve the music community even better.
✨ Join our Patreon – Want to support and get perks? Patreon gives you a way to back the music you love while enjoying exclusive benefits. Your membership helps cover essential costs and allows us to keep BISS thriving without constant financial stress.
Your support—no matter the size—keeps the BISS List alive and ensures we can continue sharing the music, artists, and shows that bring us together. Thank you for being part of this incredible community. Let’s keep the music playing! ~ Pamela aka Miss BISS
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