29 October 2026

BISS List 10.29.26 Spotlight on Karina Rykman + The Best of BISS This Week and More

Happy Halloween week BISS Listers!

Have you figured your costume(s) out for this weekend? Are you doing a different costume for every night? I’m usually pretty good with costumes, but I haven’t pulled anything together yet! You don’t have to tell me if it’s a surprise but also happy to get some inspiration from you if you want to tell me. 😉

Last Week in Review: I’m still gushing over Starchild Jr. & GrooveAllegiance at the Boom Boom Room last Friday! Between working with Object Heavy and managing Lantz Lazwell, both of whom have featured Starchild, I’ve had plenty of reasons to appreciate what he brings to the stage. But this time, it was his own band and what a showing for his first official Starchild Jr. & Groove Allegiance gig! Featuring Brian Swislow of Object Heavy, Chris Hoog and Nick Hein of the Westones, Johnny Cotto on guitar, and Ruthie Price and Ethan Schiff sharing drum duties. Add sit-ins from Lantz Lazwell, RonKat, and Diva Swana on vocals. I love having him based here in San Francisco because he loves showing up. And who doesn’t need a little more P-Funk in their life? Check out my Starchild Jr. video playlist on YouTube, and I’ll let you know when to mark your calendar for his next Bay Area show!

I also had the pleasure of chatting with KXSF’s Brendan Miller, aka DJ BK, this past week. His show airs Wednesdays from 8 to 10 p.m. and is ALL about NEW music, so dig into his special playlist for BISS Listers and learn how he puts his show together. And speaking of great conversations, Gabriel David Barkin chatted with Todd Rundgren about his career, his relationship with hit-making, and his approach to music. Check out the interview and review of last week’s show at The Castro Theatre.

On My Radar: This Halloween, there are so many good shows happening around the Bay Area that it’s hard to choose! Check out this week’s Hot List Reel for our top picks. As for me, you’ll probably find me…

Thu 10/29: Blues Traveler @ The Guild Theatre for the first of two nights.
Fri 10/30: Lebo Presents Night of the Living Dead @ The Chapel (*WIN*), then The Humidors @ Boom Boom Room (*WIN*) for the late-night plan. Galactic with Bella Rayne @ The Fillmore (*WIN*) makes this a tough choice!
Sat 10/31, daytime: The Further Bus send-off starts at Haight & Stanyan at 1:11 pm, stopping at Haight & Masonic and then Haight Street Art Center for two 30 minutes concerts on the flat bed. I’m not telling you who the band is, but it’s going to be awesome!
Sat 10/31, nighttime: Galactic with Parlor Greens @ The Fillmore (*WIN*), followed by KATDELIC @ Boom Boom Room (*WIN*). Bone Diggers ft Reed Mathis, Lebo, Holly Bowling, and Scott Rager @ The Chapel (*WIN*) is another tempting option.
Sun 11/1: If I still have the energy to stand and walk, Pigeons Playing Ping Pong @ The UC Theatre (*WIN*)!

For those of you looking for something in the Santa Cruz area, you won’t want to miss 10/30 & 10/31 Freakers Ball @ The Brookdale Lodge (*WIN*). Featuring Fort Knox Five, Little John with Matt Hartle, Rick Preston, Thug Shells, Dancing Mandy, Shoogie Boogie takeover, and more.

Mark Your Calendar:

11/7: Karina Rykman @ The Independent – Read more about it in the spotlight below!
11/20: Jayski and the Dawn ft Jay Lane and Dave Ellis @ Great American Music Hall (*WIN*)

Here’s to a Halloween full of great music and a little mischief! Send me some costume inspiration. I’ve got the music plans… now what am I going to wear?

~ Pamela aka Miss BISS
#seeyouattheshows

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SPOTLIGHT ON KARINA RYKMAN

Karina Rykman

Nov 7th @ The Independent

Karina Rykman plays bass, sings, jumps around, and laughs a lot. In doing so, she has garnered rare attention and avid listenership. Straddling the worlds of jam rock and indie pop drenched in psychedelia, Karina’s effervescent presence comes to life in musical form. She’s earned a reputation as an unmissable live act – a bombastic exposition that floats freely between dreamy indie pop and thick, distorted rock – with “fun” as its guiding light. The bassist/vocalist’s concerts are often packed with fans who feel more like friends—a testament to her undeniable charisma and her embrace of the live music community—and that circle continues to expand at alarming rates.

BISS INTERVIEW

Todd Rundgren

Fresh off Todd Rundgren’s recent performance at San Francisco’s Castro Theatre, Gabriel David Barkin brings us both a concert review and an in-depth interview with the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer. Todd reflects on his creative process, why he’s never chased commercial success, how the music industry has changed, and what keeps him making music after all these years. Check out Gabriel David Barkin’s full interview and concert review here, complete with photos from last week’s show at The Castro Theatre.

Highlights from THE BEST OF BISS THIS WEEK

We’ve got so many amazing shows on our Best of BISS every week that we’re running out of room, so this week we’re just sharing the highlights! Visit the website for our full Best of BISS for this week and beyond.

10/29 Blues Traveler @ The Guild Theatre

10/29 De’Sean Jones & Urban Art Orchestra (7 & 9:15pm) @ Black Cat WIN TICKETS

10/30 Surprise Chef plus Tommy Guerrero @ Siesta Valley Bowl WIN TICKETS

10/30 Galactic, Bella Rayne Band @ The Fillmore WIN TICKETS

10/30 Blues Traveler @ The Guild Theatre

10/30 Analog Dog @ Cornerstone Berkeley

10/30 Shpongle @ Fox Theater Oakland

10/30 John Scofield’s Electrospective ft Oteil Burbridge, Larry Goldings, Adam Deitch @ SF Jazz

10/30 High Step Society @ The Independent

10/30 Jerry’s Middle Finger: Halloween Ball @ Felton Music Hall

10/30 Beso Negro @ Papermill Creek Saloon

10/30 Freestone Peaches @ Rancho Nicasio