27 June 2024

BISS List 6.27.24: Spotlight on SF Live Free Concert Series + Best of BISS this Week

Happy Pride, BISS Listers! 🌈

As we celebrate love, equality, and the vibrant spirit of our community this Pride weekend, we hope you’re grooving to the beat of freedom and enjoying all the festivities the Bay Area has to offer. Don’t miss the chance to catch the parade and soak up the incredible energy!

Last Week’s Grooves

I’m really enjoying getting everyone’s responses about your weekly musical adventures each week! So keep them coming. You can send them in via email, upload them yourself to the BISS List Community Album, or just add them to my post on Facebook each week!

It sounds like everyone had a blast at a variety of events, including Jerry’s Middle Finger at the Chapel AND Rancho Nicasio, Neil Francis at Masonic, Natalie Cressman and Ian Faquini at Elephant in the Room, Jesse Dayton at GAMH, DJ Sep back at it with DubMission (Yes!), and of course, all the epic reports from Dead & Co in Vegas! Personally, I was thrilled to catch one of my new favorite nights of the month last Thursday at Boom Boom Room with DangerAte’s Third Thursday. They consistently bring out new and different players, and it’s always a great time.

Fantastic Negrito: Blue Bear Breakdown

While I was busy with a family event over the weekend, the BISS List team caught Fantastic Negrito’s electrifying Blue Bear show on Saturday. Jenni’s video footage from Fantastic Negrito’s Blue Bear show captured the raw power and soul of this Bay Area legend. Gabriel Barkin’s has done it again with another BISS List review with photos, Fantastic Negrito Schools The Blue Bear Kids! provides a deeper dive into the experience, highlighting the band’s infectious energy and the crowd’s ecstatic response. It is definitely worth checking this out!

This Week’s SF Music Plans

My week is shaping up to be a bit lighter as I prep for my High Sierra adventure next week. But that doesn’t mean the music stops! I encourage you to check out the Best of BISS section below to create your own musical journey and explore all the incredible talent the Bay Area has to offer.

Friday, 6/28 : Drive-By Truckers, 8pm @ The Fillmore (*WIN*): This Southern rock band is known for their literate lyrics, blend of genres, and energetic live shows. **The second night of this show is on Saturday 6/29 & BISS List has tickets for you to (*WIN*) to this one, too!
Saturday, 6/29: Bay Area Hip Hop Forever Presents: The 3rd Annual Tupac Day in Oakland, 3pm @ Arroyo Park: In collaboration with Just City Fund: Remember, Resist, and Re-Claim Project + The Black Cultural Zone & East Arts Alliance. The day will feature Speaker, Artists, and Community Resources in Honor and Remembrance of Tupac.
Sunday, 6/30: BISS List Presents: Tom Freund & Friends ft. Wally Ingram + John “Mad Johnny” Modell, 8pm @ Hotel Utah (*WIN*): This show will feature some of our dear family and friends who also happen to be talented musicians. Let’s rally the crew for one last hurrah in SF before we head out to this year’s extraordinary High Sierra Music Festival! Wanna know a little more about these artists? Check out the Interview Flashback with Tom Freund, John “Mad Johnny” Modell, and Wally Ingram, below!

NEXT WEEK

I’m off to work at the High Sierra Music Festival early next week, and I hope to see you all there for what promises to be a super special year!

July 4th-7th: High Sierra Music Festival: This impressive lineup features Primus, Ziggy Marley, Greensky Bluegrass, Remain in Light, The Allman Betts Band, The California Honeydrops, The Floozies, The Polish Ambassador, Say She She, ALO, Eggy, Bombino, Ghost-Note, Eddie Roberts & The Lucky Strokes, Cool Cool Cool, Orgone, Holly Bowling, Magic Beans, Scott Pemberton, Scott Amendola, + Artists at Large: Lebo (Dan Lebowitz) & Scott Pemberton and so much more.

Don’t miss out on this incredible experience! Use my Golden Road Gathering family’s discount code (GRG50OFHS24) to save $50 on your 4-day pass and join us for an unforgettable weekend.

As usual, browse the Win Tickets page for chances to see shows for free, and remember, there’s always more to discover on the BISS Full Calendar.

We are grateful for your groovy presence. May your week be filled with positive energy and outstanding music. Keep an eye out for the upcoming BISS List next week. While I am away, Jenni and Phillip will be sure that you stay informed about the Bay Area’s funkiest, grooviest, jammiest, and most soulful shows.

Stay tuned and keep the groove alive!

~ Pamela aka Miss BISS
#seeyouattheshows

SPOTLIGHT ON SF LIVE

SF Live Free Concert Series

SF Live is a new series of free concerts put on as a joint citywide initiative by Illuminate, San Francisco Parks Alliance, Noise Pop, and Union Square Alliance. These concerts are curated by organizers from historic SF music venues like Great American Music Hall, The Chapel, Boom Boom Room, and Bottom of the Hill with shows at outdoor venues like China Basin, Union Square, Fulton Plaza, and Golden Gate Park Bandshell. There are currently 14 shows on the schedule running through November with more to be added. Here are a few highlights we’re excited about. Make sure to get reservations now for these free shows before they run out!

Jerry Harrison & Adrian Belew: Remain in Light 8/17 @ China Basin Park: In “Remain in Light”, Adrian and Jerry, revive the iconic Talking Heads album with their all-star backing band. Featuring powerhouse renditions of classics like “Once In A Lifetime”, “Psycho Killer”, “Take Me To The River”, and selections from their respective solo careers
Eagles of Death Metal 9/7 @ Potrero Del Sol Park: Cranking out high-octane rock since 1998, Eagles of Death Metal are a California-borne band known for their tongue-in-cheek name and infectious energy. Founded by frontman Jesse Hughes and Queens of the Stone Age’s Josh Homme, the band’s sound is more garage rock than death metal, blending elements of blues, glam, and even a touch of boogie.
West Grass Brass Band 8/7 @ Union Square: This six-piece Oakland based ensemble is known for their energetic and eclectic live performances. Blending traditional brass band instrumentation with modern genres like funk, hip hop, and Latin music, they create a unique and infectious sound that gets audiences dancing. No reservations needed for this one.

Check out the full list of SF Live shows at sflivefest.com.

*Check out all of our Featured Shows.

INTERVIEW FLASHBACK

BISS List Presents Tom Freund & Friends ft Wally Ingram

June 30th @ Hotel Utah

Dig into our archives to get the inside scoop on the incredible artists playing this Sunday at Hotel Utah! We’re throwing it back to January 2020 for two must-read interviews by BISS List Contributing Editor, Josh Danson.

First up, “Perfecting the Craft, One Song at a Time: The BISS List Interview with Tom Freund.” This interview discusses his musical career and collaborations with artists like Wally Ingram and Ben Harper. Freund shares insights into his songwriting process, instrumental versatility, and the personal influences that shape his music.

Next, get ready for “Just Add Wally”: The BISS List Interview with Wally Ingram and John Modell.” This interview discusses Wally Ingram’s extensive career as a hybrid drummer/percussionist who has played with numerous renowned musicians and his collaboration with John Modell in their band, Casa Del Sol. They explore Ingram’s musical journey, his versatility in various roles, and the band’s focus on original songs blending rock, blues, and psychedelic influences. John Modell, also shares his thoughts on their creative process, the blending of different musical influences, and the direction they aim to take with their original music.

These interviews will give you a whole new appreciation for the amazing talent hitting the stage this Sunday. Don’t miss out – grab your tickets now and get ready for a night to remember!

BISS REVIEW

Fantastic Negrito Schools The Blue Bear Kids

Oakland-based blues, R&B, and rock musician Xavier Amin Dphrepaulezz aka Fantastic Negrito took the role of honored instructor at the Blue Bear School of Music’s “Fantastic Jam” on Saturday, June 24. This benefit for the oldest rock music school in the United States took place on the waterfront at San Francisco’s Fort Mason on a warm and breezy afternoon. Backed by a four-piece band, Fantastic Negrito played two sets. The first set provided an opportunity for several Blue Bear students to strut their stuff as guest members of the band, followed by a second set with his backing band, playing the song list they’ve been rehearsing for their upcoming tour of Europe. Check out the full review & pictures from Gabriel Barkin.