BISS List 3.6.25 Spotlight on Golden Road Gathering (5.16-5.18) + Best of BISS this Week

Happy (Barely Recovered) Thursday, BISS Listers!

Well damn. How do you even put a weekend like this last one into words? First off — one last massive HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Joby, the Marmot King himself, who brought us all together for a legendary celebration that stretched across three glorious days of music, friendship, and outrageous good vibes. It was a family reunion disguised as a birthday party, and I lost count of how many people said exactly that. If you were lucky enough to be there, you already know — and if you weren’t, just know it was something truly special.

Friday night kicked off with The Mother Hips, setting the tone with that classic California rock warmth. Saturday brought The Private Parts, a ridiculous supergroup featuring JoJo Hermann, Duane Trucks, Charlie Starr, Kevin Scott, Sam Holt, and Eric Martinez who collectively peeled our faces off, piece by piece. And then came Kings of Chaos. Matt Sorum’s rotating cast of rock legends absolutely delivered. Steve Stevens, Glenn Hughes, Robin Zander, Billy F’ING Gibbons from ZZ Top, and Sammy FREAKING Hagar all took the stage. And for the ultimate birthday surprise, they brought Joby up to play guitar and sing backup with his heroes, a rock star moment for the ages.

After that? Of course there was an after-party. JoJo Hermann earned an unofficial title as Artist-at-Large for the weekend, popping up in the bar for an intimate set that felt like a gift just for the lucky ones who wandered in. Meanwhile, the after-party scene was exactly what you’d expect. Themed rooms (we chose Blondie for ours), hallway reunions, music everywhere, and absolutely no chance of sleep. Did I mention the Speakeasy? Thanks Daddio!

Sunday morning? More music, naturally. JoJo was already playing in the courtyard when we stumbled out to grab coffee and brunch. Then came Greg Loiacono and Stingray, with Vicki Randle, Danny Eisenberg, Kofy Brown, and Michael Urbano. The perfect Sunday soundtrack — groovy, soulful, and exactly what we needed to wrap up the weekend.

Vibe Check: Family, Gratitude & Rock Star Dreams! The whole weekend was pure love. Everywhere you looked, people were grateful to be there. To celebrate Joby, to reconnect with their extended music family, and to be part of something that felt bigger than just a party. Watching Joby up there, fully owning his rock star moment, surrounded by legends and friends, that’s the kind of magic you can’t plan for, but you’ll never forget. So thank you, Joby, for being born. And thank you to every musician, every event wizard, every oyster slinger, every bartender, and every beautiful human I got to see, whether we’ve been friends for decades or just met in line for a cocktail. You’re all part of the magic now.

And Now… What’s Coming Up This Week…. First, a quick reality check: If this week’s BISS feels a little extra raw, it’s because my laptop staged a full-blown rebellion right when I was trying to pull all the weekend photos and videos together. So instead of fancy visuals, you’re getting me slightly fried, slightly stressed, and typing like it’s 2005. We adapt. We survive. We go to shows anyway.

Here’s what’s on deck on my personal calendar for this week, plus a peek into next week:

Thursday 3/6

• SF Unplugged hosted by Anthony Arya @ Savoy Tivoli — This series has been on fire lately
• The Record Company @ The Independent — Big sound, small room, always a recipe for magic
• SLIDE! Funk Jam with Anthony Ant @ The Starry Plough — New Thursday funk night in the East Bay!

Friday 3/7

• Max Cowan @ Madrone Art Bar — Funky, jazzy, keyboard wizardry
• Booker T. Jones @ Yoshi’s — In case you missed Thursday or just need a second dose
• The Record Company @ Sweetwater Music Hall — Same band, new vibe

Saturday 3/8

• Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio @ Presidio Theatre (*WIN*)— This is my top pick for the weekend and yes, there’s still time to enter our ticket giveaway for this one.
• Scott Pemberton O Theory + Sun Hop Fat @ Boom Boom Room (*WIN*)— Late-night funk explosion incoming

Next Week Sneak Peek:

Wednesday 3/12

• Instrumental Funk Sessions @ Ivy Room (*WIN*)— Featuring Ben Bloom, Billy Thompson, Grant Stauf, and Jason Gray, expect pure fire
• Gillian Welch and David Rawlings @ The Masonic — Folk royalty in an iconic room

Thursday 3/13

• The Motet with Polyrhythmics @ The Independent (*WIN*)— Funk on funk on funk, and yes, we’ve got ticket giveaways for this one too. Tell your friends, enter to win, and get ready to dance

For even more shows and your chance to win FREE tickets, check out Best of BISS, the Full BISS Calendar and Win Tickets page. If we missed anything, let us know!

As you should know by now, I love featuring community voices! If you’d like to submit your work for inclusion in the BISS List, send an email to biss@bisslist.com.

That’s it for now, BISS Listers. If I missed anything, blame my laptop. Or better yet, email me and tell me what’s on your radar. I’ll see you out there — probably a little sleep-deprived, still dancing, and as grateful as ever to be part of this incredible community.

Much love and funky vibes,

~ Pamela aka Miss BISS
#seeyouattheshows

SPOTLIGHT ON GOLDEN ROAD

The Golden Road Gathering

May 16-18 @ El Dorado County Fairgrounds

The Golden Road Gathering is a vibrant, community-focused event that celebrates local culture, music, and the arts. Held annually in the heart of the historic Gold Country, the gathering features live performances, artisan vendors, food trucks, and workshops, creating a lively atmosphere that draws visitors from across the region. With its roots in the area’s rich mining history, the event offers a unique blend of modern creativity and nostalgic charm, making it a beloved tradition for locals and travelers alike.

The massive lineup includes Thievery Corporation, Leftover Salmon, Dirtwire, Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe, ALO, Balkan Bump, Satsang, Diggin Dirt, Bay Ledges, Blue Turtle Seduction, New Monsoon, Scott Pemberton O Theory. Boot Juice, Lowdown Brass Band, Free Creatures, Forrest Day, The Iceman Special, Object Heavy, Wolf Jett, Broken Compass Bluegrass, Mescalito, Suikat, Red Dirt Ruckus, Boca Do Rio, Ten Foot Tiger, Matt Rainey & The Dippin Sauce, The Westones, Miki Rae & The Hooligans, and Boogie Zoo, plus Artists at Large: Bella Rayne, Chris Hoog, and Hattie Craven.

**Check out all of our Featured Shows.

BEST OF BISS

03/06 The Record Company @ The Independent

03/06 Booker T. Jones @ Yoshi’s Oakland

03/06 Downtown First Thursdays @ 2nd St btw Market & Howard

03/06 SF Unplugged: Hosted by Anthony Arya with Abby Posner @ Savoy Tivoli

03/06 SLIDE! Funk Jam w/ Anthony Ant @ Starry Plough

03/06 Spirit Guide ft Jason Crosby and Johnny Kimock with Special Guest Dave Schools @ Sweetwater Music Hall

03/07 Booker T. Jones (7:30 & 9:30pm) @ Yoshi’s Oakland

03/07 The Record Company w/ Cristina Vane @ Sweetwater Music Hall

03/07 Harold Imperiled w/ Personal Spaceman @ Boom Boom Room  

03/07 Max Cowan @ Madrone Art Bar

03/07 Swingin’ Utters, Western Addiction, Powerhouse and Malinformants @ Kilowatt

03/08 Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio @ Presidio Theatre  

03/08 Fantastic Negrito @ The Guild Theatre

03/08 Howard Wiley w/ Nona Brown and Kev Choice (Two Nights) (7 & 8:30pm) @ SF Jazz

03/08 The Pharcyde (7 & 9:15pm) @ Yoshi’s Oakland

03/08 Scott Pemberton O Theory and Sun Hop Fat @ Boom Boom Room  

03/09 Elvin Bishop’s Big Fun Trio + Walter Trout Band @ Presidio Theatre

03/09 Howard Wiley w/ Nona Brown and Kev Choice (Two Nights) (7 & 8:30pm) @ SF Jazz

03/09 Josh Zee and Friends @ Sweetwater Music Hall

03/11 Toubab Krewe w/ DJ Chalice @ Crazy Horse Nevada City

03/11 Phat Tuesdays with Oscar Myers Steppin’ @ Madrone Art Bar

03/12 Instrumental Funk Session ft Ben Bloom, Billy Thompson, Grant Schroff & Jason Gray @ Ivy Room  

03/12 Jeff Cotton’s Gin Joint (No Cover) @ Boom Boom Room

03/12 Mac Ayres @ Great American Music Hall

03/12 Ramblin’ Jack Elliott with Evan Kennedy Celebrate Kerouac’s Birthday: A Benefit for Jack Kerouac Center Project @ Sweetwater Music Hall

03/13 The Motet w/ Polyrhythmics @ The Independent  

03/13 Tori Roze and The Hot Mess, Harold Imperiled @ Ivy Room  

03/13 LIT-ness FEST (No Cover) @ Boom Boom Room

03/13 Mac Ayres @ Great American Music Hall

03/13 SLIDE! Funk Jam w/ Anthony Ant @ Starry Plough

03/13 Sonamo @ Madrone Art Bar

Want more shows from BISS?
Check out the Best of BISS & BISS Full Calendar

New to the BISS List?

The BISS List began in 2003 as an email newsletter for diehard live music fans in the Bay Area. Over 20 years, we’ve grown to become the go-to resource for funk, jam, soul, and groove music, reaching approximately 20,000 followers and over 80,000 through various platforms. Our curated list features only the shows we and our fans love, and we host ticket giveaways to enhance promotions with venues and artists.

Each week, we highlight the BEST OF BISS shows, with select FEATURED SHOWS that you won’t want to miss. Our shows are free to view and add to—if you have a show to submit, visit our submission page or email us at biss@bisslist.com.

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🎶 Two Ways to Help Keep the BISS List Alive! 🎶

The BISS List has always been a labor of love, fueled by passion for live music and a dedication to this amazing community. What started as a personal email of show picks has grown into a full-fledged resource for funk, jam, soul, and groove lovers—bringing you curated show recommendations, ticket giveaways, and a space to connect over the music we love.

But running BISS takes time, effort, and real costs—over $3,000 a month just to keep the basics going! That’s why we’re excited to offer two ways you can support and help sustain the BISS List:

✨ Make a tax-deductible donation – The BISS List is now fiscally sponsored by Independent Arts & Media, which means your donation directly supports our mission while also being tax-deductible! Every contribution helps us grow, support artists, and expand BISS to serve the music community even better.

✨ Join our Patreon – Want to support and get perks? Patreon gives you a way to back the music you love while enjoying exclusive benefits. Your membership helps cover essential costs and allows us to keep BISS thriving without constant financial stress.

Your support—no matter the size—keeps the BISS List alive and ensures we can continue sharing the music, artists, and shows that bring us together. Thank you for being part of this incredible community. Let’s keep the music playing! ~ Pamela aka Miss BISS