16 October 2024

BISS List 10.16.24: Spotlight on Music City SF Grand Opening Party (10.19) + Best of BISS this Week

Happy World Food Day, BISS Listers! Let’s spice things up with a feast of live music! October is racing toward Halloween, and I’m already working on a curated list for next week’s BISS List. Reply and share your Halloween show plans with me—I don’t want to miss any of the spooky musical fun when I write about it next week.

But before we fast forward to Halloween and other upcoming shows, let’s talk about last week and this week…

On Thursday, October 10th, PJ Harvey transformed the Masonic Theater into a theatrical wonderland for the first of her two-night stint in San Francisco. The room was packed, and from the moment she stepped on stage, her presence captivated the crowd. Her performance was infused with haunting sound effects—birds chirping, distant echoes of children—adding rich layers of ambiance to the night. During one song, Spor leaned over and remarked, “This song is a little Chrissie Hynde… and a little Patti Smith.” I totally agreed as Harvey’s blend of poetic lyricism and raw energy totally brought to mind those iconic influences for me too. A while later, another tune gave off a quirky, yet dark vibe and Spor noted, “It sounds like the B-52s meets Siouxsie and the Banshees.” Agreed again! The entire show blended eerie visualscapes, soundscapes, and intense, introspective performances. Such a great show!

This past Sunday, one of our awesome Patreon members took advantage of the Instant Win opportunities that we offer and “won” themselves some tickets to see the legendary Psychotic Pineapple at the Ivy Room in Albany! This long-running, fun-loving Berkeley band blends garage rock, proto-new wave, and art rock with their signature high-energy flair. They’re known for their high-energy, irreverent shows, and even after 50 years, they still know how to bring the fun. They even had a special appearance by Pyno Girl (a fun twist on their usual mascot, Pyno Man!). Eric Din, who you might remember from the 80s band The Uptones, opened the show. Check out Feeny’s post to get a taste of their awesome show! Thank you, Feeny!

On Monday night, I got a unique treat with a special screening of the 1976 version of A Star is Born as part of the Fall at the Fillmore series. But it wasn’t just the movie that made the night memorable. Bob Barsotti, who worked alongside Bill Graham for many years and now serves on the board of the Bill Graham Memorial Foundation, introduced the film. He read an excerpt directly from Bill Graham’s book, sharing a behind-the-scenes story from the filming of the concert scenes with Barbra Streisand. The story detailed how Barbra, facing a huge live audience for the concert shots, felt the pressure. Bill, known for his straightforward style, gave her some tough but supportive words, encouraging her to step onto that stage and just be herself. He reminded her that the crowd was there for her and to trust in her own talent and charisma. His words pushed her to fully embrace the moment, which helped shape the electrifying concert scenes we see in the film. Although I had read the book before, I had forgotten this story—hearing it again gave me a renewed appreciation for the film, offering a fresh glimpse into its creation and Bill Graham’s lasting impact on so much of the music world. Thank you, Ashley, for putting this together!

THIS WEEK

Tonight, Weds, I’m thinking about finally making it over to the East Bay for the Wednesday Sessions with The Westones ft Chris Hoog & members of Dirtwire, Con Brio, Afrolicious, Smoked Out Soul + Weekly Special Guests. I’m also thinking about Jazz Mafia’s Future Standard @ Black Cat tonight at either 7 or 9:15pm.
Thursday, I have these shows on my calendar: Michael Kiwanuka & Brittany Howard + Yasmin Williams @ The Greek, Macy Gray @ Cornerstone Berkeley, DangerAte (No Cover) @ Boom Boom Room.
Friday, The Dip @ The Fillmore (*WIN*) followed by Sonamo @ Boom Boom Room (*WIN*)
Saturday, Music City SF Grand Opening Party @ Music City SF
Sunday, Summer of Music Meadow Party ft Thundercat + Lee Fields @ Robin Williams Meadows GGP, and then just for the sheer spectacle of it all… I gotta mention that GWAR is at the Regency (*WIN*), and there are tickets to be won!!

As always, there is a full list of our Best of BISS for this week that you will find when you scroll down…

Before you scroll, MARK YOUR CALENDAR for these upcoming shows!

10/25: Andre Cruz & Chris Lujan + The Silvertone @ 4 Star Theater (*WIN*)
10/27: LAZWELL is opening up for the legendary ZZ Top @ Bob Hope Theatre in Stockton – **Check out the Spotlight below for more on LAZWELL’s mini-tour to So Cal and back!

For more upcoming shows, don’t forget there is more on the Full Calendar, and be sure to check out the Win Tickets page for chances to win a pair of FREE tickets!

AND Check out our latest playlist: Coming to a Stage Near You, to get in the mood for all the great shows coming up!

Keep the music alive! Support your local artists & venues by checking out a show this week. Every ticket purchased, every cheer, and every shared experience helps keep the music scene thriving.

~ Pamela aka Miss BISS
#seeyouattheshows

SPOTLIGHT ON MUSIC CITY SF

Music City SF Grand Opening Party

Oct 19th @ Music City San Francisco

Music City SF celebrates its Grand Opening with a party! Featuring live music across multiple indoor stages from The Unauthorized Rolling Stones, Pamela Parker & Friends, DJ Omar, Arial Marin Band, Cosmic Roots, Citizens Jazz, Veotis, Makru, and more from 6pm-midnight. The event begins with an outdoor Songwriters Festival on Polk Street from 12-6pm, featuring some of San Francisco’s best songwriters.

Music City San Francisco is a five-story complex still sparkling from its recent $20 million revamp. With its ever-expanding 90 exhibit San Francisco Music Hall of Fame Gallery, a bar, casual restaurant, its music-themed hotel/hostel on the top two floors, and twenty live streaming-enabled, plug and play rehearsal studios, it’s no surprise that owner Rudy Colombini has dubbed Music City SF “Disneyland for Music Lovers.” And specifically, San Francisco music lovers.

SPOTLIGHT ON LAZWELL TOUR

LAZWELL on Tour

In case you didn’t notice, BISS List Presents is representing Lantz Lazwell and his band LAZWELL. LAZWELL is a rising force in the funk, rock, & jam scene, captivating audiences with their powerful sound and explosive stage presence.

LAZWELL hits the road up and down California with SoCal shows, Day of the Dead Party in Nevada City, Co-Bill with Blü Egyptian in Pacifica, and ZZ Top Opener in Stockton! We know we have BISS Listers throughout the state — don’t miss your chance to see LAZWELL at a venue near you. Tell your friends!