01 February 2024

BISS List 2.1.24: Spotlight on Galactic (2.16 & 2.17) + Best of BISS this Week

Hey BISS Fam! We got a little Sunshine peek-a-boo this week, but it’s been followed by a rainpour encore! Nevertheless, our musical weekend will be epic, rain or shine! ☀️

This week’s fun fact about BISS takes us back to the roots of BISS, back in 2003 before the name BISS List was even a thought. It was just me, armed with a notebook and a Yahoo email account, collecting addresses from all you cool cats I’d see at shows every week. Bo was on the road touring with Blues Traveler and working with Rob Wasserman when he was home from tour. This idea came together and we conjured up a musical masterpiece called The Wasserman Session on December 15, 2003 at Slim’s. Rob Wasserman himself, John Popper, DJ Logic, Willy Waldman, and get this – the one and only Bob Weir, all graced that stage with all their magic! It was pure, unadulterated musical bliss, and trust me, the recording exists! I’m on a mission to unearth that lost treasure, and when I do, you’ll be the first to know. Until then, let this memory fuel your nostalgia!

In last week’s installment of BISS List, I shared my anticipation for the Mike Dillon show at the Ivy Room on Tuesday night. I am thrilled to report that the performance exceeded all expectations. The journey across the bridge was undoubtedly worthwhile, considering the rarity of such excursions for me these days. The show, fueled by Mike’s electrifying vibraphone and marimba mastery, was more than just a concert; it was a vibrant tapestry woven from threads of jazz, rock, funk, and psychedelic exploration. Before Punkadelick’s sonic juggernaut hit the stage, the audience was treated to a special warm-up set by an equally potent duo: Brian Haas and Reed Mathis. There are still a bunch of captures from this show that I need to post. In the meantime, you can view the #LiveFromTheShow reel on our Instagram page or Facebook Page.

This past weekend was a masterclass in sonic exploration, a journey through the swirling tapestry of live electronic music. It began Friday night at The Independent, where Lotus painted the room with their signature blend of instrumental grooves and soulful textures. Saturday night offered a stark contrast at the Fillmore, where the Disco Biscuits unleashed their brand of high-energy, improvisational psychedelia. The Biscuits are such a force of nature on stage, a band that thrives on pushing boundaries and exploring the outer limits of musical expression. To cap off the weekend, I ventured into the late-night realm of Boom Boom, where Yak Attack took the stage and dove in head-first with their infectious groove and improvisational prowess. From the introspective beauty of Lotus to the unbridled energy of Disco Biscuits to the late-night euphoria of Yak Attack, this San Francisco live music weekend was a testament to the transformative power of live meets electronic music. Each act painted a unique sonic portrait, transporting you to their own sonic paradise. Even now, as the echoes of the weekend fade, the feeling of unity, the shared pulse of the crowd, and the exhilarating rush of being lost in the music remain.

A heartfelt thank you goes to Booka, our Melvin Seals and JGB concert ticket winner at The Warfield last Friday night. She not only attended the show but also shared clips on Instagram in collaboration with BISS List, so if you enjoy it, give it a ❤️.

Now, get ready for an exciting weekend of live music in the Bay Area and beyond, featuring a diverse lineup of performances that are sure to satisfy every music lover’s taste. Here’s a sneak peek into our “Best of BISS” picks of the week:

Dark Star Orchestra
- 2/1 @ The Guild in Menlo Park
- 2/2 @ The Warfield in San Francisco (*WIN*)
- 2/4 @ Blue Note in Napa (PS. Happy Bday Kaaran)
Eric McFadden & Kate Vargas
- 2/2 @ Peri’s
- 2/4 @ Ivy Room (*WIN*)
2/2 Pink Talking Fish @ Sweetwater Music Hall (*WIN*)
2/3 & 2/4 Digable Planets @ The Fillmore

As I always say, check out the Best of BISS section with our show picks of the week and the Win Tickets page on our site. And don’t forget there is always more on the Full Calendar.

Most importantly, #markyourcalendar, Lantz Lazwell’s birthday bash explodes at the Boom Boom Room on February 16th. Arrive early to catch Sean Leahy’s stunning new project, Wounded Birds. Stay late for the epic Galactic After Party with LAZWELL. (*WIN*) ++help LAZWELL get to High Sierra this year! They have entered the #highsierrabandcontest and they need your vote to win. Please go to their post on Facebook and their post on Instagram and LIKE or even L❤️VE it!

But wait there’s more! Check out “Funk It Right” by Marcus Rezak, from the album Guitar Head, in the #ListenToThis section below!

#seeyouattheshows,
~ Pamela aka Miss BISS

SPOTLIGHT ON NOLA GROOVE

Galactic

Feb 16 & 17 @ The Fillmore

History doesn’t stand still. It impacts, influences, and inspires the ebb and flow of the future by informing the present. Galactic draw on over 25 years together in order to progress with each performance and subsequent record. After 10 albums, over 2,000 gigs, and tens of millions of streams, the proud New Orleans, LA quintet—Ben Ellman [saxophone, harmonica], Robert Mercurio [bass], Stanton Moore [drums, percussion], Jeffrey Raines [guitar], and Richard Vogal [keyboards]—have kept the torch burning through five U.S. presidential regimes, the turn-of-the-century, Hurricane Katrina, and a global pandemic. They’re the rare collective who can support Juvenile on Jimmy Kimmel LIVE!, contribute music to a blockbuster soundtrack such as Now You See Me, and light up the stages of Coachella, Bonnaroo, and New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival (a staggering 22 times). Joined by vocal powerhouse Anjelika “Jelly” Joseph, they continue to forge ahead. With New Breed Brass Band on 2/16 and Cha Wa on 2/17.

*Check out all of our Featured Shows.

LISTEN TO THIS

Listen to “Funk It Right” by Marcus Rezak, from the album Guitar Head (Released 2023).

“Funk It Right” is a sonic celebration of the joy and healing that music brings. Recorded entirely on a Languedoc guitar through a Fender amplifier and utilizing Marcus’s signature effect rig, every note is infused with passion and precision. Featuring an all-star lineup including members of Twiddle, Kung Fu, and the Trey Anastasio Band. Marcus told us the song is “a vibrant homage to the rich tapestry of music that has shaped my journey as a musician. I invite all who share a love for dance, funk, and soul-stirring melodies to join me on this musical journey.”

When we reached out to Marcus about this song, he was getting ready to appear on the podcast, “At Home with Mark Hopkins”. Check it out and hear about Marcus Rezak’s musical path and most recent album Guitar Head.