18 July 2024

BISS List 7.18.24: Spotlight on Petaluma Music Fest (7.27) + Best of BISS this Week

Happy High Sierra Recovery BISS Listers!

Is everyone back from High Sierra and Oregon Country Fair and fully recovered? I am not sure I am yet (and I only did HSMF)! If you were here in the bay, did you miss me? Probably not at all with Jenni at the helm writing to you these last couple of weeks. Thank you Jenni and Phillip for always having my BISS back! Don’t get too comfy you two cause I am leaving town again soon!

We’ve got a lot to cover today for the last two weeks and the next few to come including Hotel Utah, High Sierra, Commodores, Petaluma Festival, Locomotion Festival (Yes, I am working @ Locomotion), not to mention this weekend plans including Blues Traveler w/ Umphreys, Jay Lane’s Electric Mayhem, China Dolls, Love Mischief, DangerAte (x2), Taj Mahal, Masego, Terrapin Presents & did I miss the Stones last night in the South Bay?! So buckle up kids cause this one is gonna be a doozy!

Flashback to Sunday June 30th…
The eve of my High Sierra adventure was electric at Hotel Utah. John “Mad Johnny” Modell packed the house early with all the SF Strangels eager to hear Johnny’s signature sound. The room pulsed with anticipation as Mad Johnny launched into his set, full of raw energy that had the crowd mesmerized. Following Mad Johnny’s electrifying performance, Americana maestro Tom Freund took us on a genre-bending journey. His masterful storytelling and soulful vocals, amplified by special guest percussionist extraordinaire, Wally Ingram, created a truly unforgettable experience. What a send-off! Check it all out here! This fun and fabulous evening of friends and music set the perfect tone for a week of incredible music and friends to come at High Sierra.

High Sierra: A Festival to Remember… Forever!
My High Sierra pilgrimage was bittersweet, knowing change was in the air. Yet, the festival family showed up with ❤️, creativity overflowing in the camps, costumes & high vibes. The music? Pure magic from start to finish, even as the temperature soared to a scorching 107 degrees! The heat didn’t dampen the spirits of the festival goers, though. Everyone donned their coolest clothes, took advantage of the shade and water stations, and danced for days and nights on end. I was on a mission to impress Jenni by getting more videos than I ever do at any festival when I am also working — 53 videos for 21 sets isn’t too shabby. I made her proud! Check it all out here. And in case you missed it last week, check out Gabriel Barkin’s Review & Photos on BISS List (*reposted by permission from gratefulweb.com).

A Thank You Note…

Dear High Sierra Music Festival,

Thank you for everything you have done for ALL of us over the years. While I haven’t been in attendance for all 30+ years, I consider myself a longtime member of this incredible community. It’s hard to pinpoint exactly what makes High Sierra so special. It’s a recipe made up of so many unique ingredients: one part passionate attendees, one part dedicated staff, one part mind-blowing music, one part indescribable vibes, and one part the collective effort we all put in to create this magical experience.

This year felt extra special. The uncertainty surrounding the festival’s future brought everyone together with a renewed sense of purpose. We all knew that if this was the last High Sierra, it simply couldn’t be missed.

Thank you to partners Dave Margulies and Rebecca Sparks for your vision and leadership this year. Roy Carter, thank you for all your contributions and instigating this entire thing we call High Sierra Music Festival. We hope we did it right this year and served your memory well.

Thank you to the FestivALL management team, especially my long-time mentor Theresa, for more than I can put into words. Thank you to my co-managers, Corrine and Joey, and to all the rest of the staff who made this possible. Thank you to our exceptional team of FestivALL volunteers and all the rest of the volunteers throughout the fest. Without you, this festival could not happen.

Thank you to the artists for sharing their music with us, and to all the patrons for everything you bring to make High Sierra so unique: your camps, your costumes, your silliness, and your energetic vibes.

Thank you to High Sierra for bringing all of these things together for so many years and giving us such an opportunity to be part of something this special. We never know what the future will bring, but I plan to be part of whatever happens next.

P.S. Thank you to Ice Baby Nola Necklaces by Wendy Hannah for keeping us cool. We need a pack of these! And a thank you to Lost Campers for your cute little camper van with the fold out bed and pump sink in the back. So many friends admired my setup when they came by my camp!

With Love ♥️,
~Me

Tahoe Tranquility: The Perfect High Sierra Landing
After High Sierra’s highs, a day of Tahoe bliss was the ideal re-entry to reality. Sun, serenity, and stunning scenery eased me back into real life before driving that final stretch back to the SF Bay. Though it sure didn’t prepare me for the extreme of Karl the Fog upon my return to the city.

Sunday Funday…Stern Grove Style.
The Commodores with Grease Traps + DJ J Boogie was a fabulous way to spend a Sunday afternoon. Thank you to Stern Grove for 87 years of incredible free live music! We aimed for an early arrival, especially needing the ADA shuttle. Sadly, 3.5 hours in line later (!), we boarded the shuttle and reached the meadow at 1:57 pm at which point the ADA seating was completely full and we were about to be sent to the outer meadow. Thankfully, friends saved the day with some major efforts. Music magic (almost) made us forget the ordeal. Note to Stern Grove: ADA entry & access needs some extra attention on days with “lots of people”! Check out the musical good vibes here. We love Stern Grove and we will be back again this weekend. Thankfully this Sunday we were invited to a VIP table where we will have easy entry and no ADA woes.

This weekend in the Bay Area & Beyond
The Best of BISS for this week is overflowing with musical goodness! I will let you check it out in detail in the section below but here are a few highlights of the best of the best!

Thursday 7/18: DangerAte @ BBR, Seun Kuti & Egypt 80 @ SF Jazz, Redwood Ramble (7/18-7/21) @ Camp Navarro

Friday 7/19: Umphrey’s McGee & Blues Traveler @ Blue Note Meritage, Taj Mahal Quintet+ Elvin Bishop & Charlie Musselwhite Duo @ Frost, Friday Happy Hour ft DangerAte @ The Bandshell, Oakadelic + Blu Egyptian @ BBR

Saturday 7/20: Jay Lane & The Mayhem + China Dolls @ Thrive City, Dumpstaphunk @ Hopmonk, Love Mischief + Alex Jordan Band @ BBR (*WIN*)

Sunday 7/21: Stern Grove Festival: Masego + Satya @ Stern Grove, Terrapin Crossroads Presents: Sunday Daydream Vol. 3 – Phil Lesh & Friends ft Stanley Jordan, Dan “Lebo” Lebowitz, Grahame Lesh, Mikaela Davis, John Molo, and Jason Crosby @ McNears Beach

Looking two weeks ahead: All Aboard the Locomotion Festival!
The countdown is ON! In just two short weeks, I’ll be hopping on the Locomotion train at Roaring Camp for the very first time. Featuring three nights and six sets of The String Cheese Incident — plus Railroad Earth, ALO, Dirtwire, Brokedown in Bakersfield, Midnight North, Hot Buttered Rum, Achilles Wheel, Ashleigh Flynn & The Riveters, China Cats, and more! Not only am I stoked to be a part of the festival crew, but I’m also eagerly anticipating all the incredible music, art, and good vibes. Who else is ready to make some unforgettable memories? Let’s do this!

The folks at Locomotion have provided us with a discount code just for our BISS Listers! Save $25 on three day tickets using code “biss25”, or save $5 on single day tickets using code “biss5”. These codes are only good through the end of the week so make sure to get your tickets now! Club Loco ticket holders get early access via the special club gate, upfront viewing area access, club chill area, adult beverage tickets, and festival poster — and best of all, I will serve as your conductor for this VIP experience. We’ve also got a pair of three day GA passes that you can win from the BISS List ~ remember that Quality & Quantity of shares will increase your chances to win! **Last Chance to Enter** Winners will be selected by the end of this week!**

As always, check out the Win Tickets page and don’t forget there is always more on the Full Calendar.

But wait there’s more! Check out this week’s song selection, “We Outta B Funkin’” by Myra Washington, ft Bootsy Collins, Soopafly, Temu Bacot in the #ListenToThis section below.

Until next week… keep the music playing and the good vibes flowing!

#seeyouattheshows,
~Pamela aka Miss BISS

SPOTLIGHT ON MUSIC IN SCHOOLS

Petaluma Music Festival

July 27th @ Sonoma Marin Fairgrounds

The 17th Annual Petaluma Music Festival will feature 14 fantastic bands across 3 stages. Lineup includes a rare opportunity to see The Greyboy Allstars, plus ALO, Monophonics, Moonalice, New Monsoon, Rising Tide, Crying Uncle Bluegrass Band, The Eagle Rock Gospel Singers, El Radio Fantastique, Eki Shola, Spike Sikes and His Awesome Hotcakes, Dirty Red Barn, and Los Arrendajos de California.

Enjoy music with state of the art sound and staging, along with a music artist booth for meet-and-greets, autographs, and artist merchandise. A variety of specialty food, merchandise, and local business vendors will be available, including the fine beers of Lagunitas Brewing Company and Two Rock Brewing Company. VIP ticket holders can enjoy a shaded seating section with complimentary hors d’oeuvres, wine and beer. And most importantly — all proceeds benefit the music education programs of all Petaluma area public schools!

*Check out all of our Featured Shows.

LISTEN TO THIS

Listen to “We Outta B Funkin’” by Myra Washington, ft Bootsy Collins, Soopafly, Temu Bacot (Released 2023)

We Outta B Funkin'” is a guaranteed dancefloor filler and a love letter to the enduring power of funk. It’s a perfect pick-me-up for anyone craving a dose of pure, infectious groove. Myra’s Washington’s vocals are powerful and soulful, adding sass and grit in all the right places. We spoke with Myra and she told us that, “This song was produced by the legendary Bootsy Collins, whom I manifested in my life after many years of being a funkster. I have emails of me harassing him to come to my shows and ask if I could send music. Then one day during the pandemic God heard my plea, and here we are today. I wrote it during the mist of all the turmoil and violence that was happening in the world. I just wanted to get back to getting along and have fun.”

Why should you “Listen to This”? – BISS (Because I Said So). Check out the complete Spotify playlist with all weekly songs! #moretocome

*Got some new music we should listen to? Submit it for review!

BISS REVIEW

The Decemberists @ Fox Theater Oakland

Portland indie darlings The Decemberists brought their road show to Oakland’s Fox Theater on Saturday night. The Decemberists are touring in support of their latest release, As It Ever Was, So It Will Be Again. Fans who have been on board with the alt-nerdy, uber-literary, and sea-shanty’ish Decemberists since their debut in the early aughts will be glad to know singer Colin Meloy and his crew still write songs that are as clever, erudite and hummable as ever. Check out the full review & pictures from Gabriel Barkin.