01 May 2024

BISS List 5.1.24: Spotlight on Mill Valley Music Festival (5.11-5.12) + Best of BISS this Week

Happy May BISS Listers!

Can you feel the buzz in the air? It’s the unmistakable energy of Music Festival season, and it’s finally here! In a little over a week, we’ll be immersing ourselves in the vibrant sounds of the Mill Valley Music Festival (*WIN*). Find out more about this festival in the spotlight below! Then, in three weeks, get ready to kick off the festival camping season with a bang at the Golden Road Gathering(*WIN*) in picturesque Placerville. But wait, the excitement doesn’t stop there! After that, mark your calendars for the epic double whammy: Bottlerock Napa and California Roots Music & Arts Festival, all happening on the same electrifying weekend. Get ready to dance, groove, and make unforgettable memories because the season of music is upon us!

Last Week’s Highlights: Before we dive into this week’s lineup, let’s pause to reminisce on the unforgettable moments from last week’s live music experiences. Here are some of mine. Share your standout memories by tagging @bisslist on Instagram and Facebook, or drop us a line at biss@bisslist.com. Your stories enrich our collective musical journey, so let’s keep the rhythm alive!

4/26: Ginger Molasses @ Bottom of The Hill * FB Pics & Vids * IG Reel *
4/26: Boot Juice @ Bottom of The Hill *FB Pics & Vids * IG Reel *
4/26: Dead Winter Carpenters @ Bottom of The Hill: * FB Pics & Vids * IG Reel *
4/27: Lettuce w/ Special Guest John Scofield @ SF Jazz * FB Pics & Vids * IG Reel *
4/28: Deadhead Seder Band ft. Lebo, Jordan Feinstein, Mookie Siegal, Ezra Lipp, Ben Bernstein, Danny Eisenberg, Jeanette Ferber, & Josh Gelfand @ Golden Gate Bistro * FB Pics & Vids * IG Reel *

Another Lucky Winner for Golden Road Gathering 🎡 It’s time to spin the Wall of Names to reveal who will score a pair of GA tickets to the Golden Road Gathering music festival! 🎉🎟️ Who’s feeling lucky? Let’s find out! 🎵✨ Click here to view the video and see who won. We are giving away one more pair of tickets next week! Spread the word!

Upcoming Musical Escapades

As we ease into another lively week, I’m curious to hear about your musical plans. What’s on your radar? Remember, our Best of BISS picks of the week have plenty to offer, so feel free to pick your own musical adventure and let the rhythm guide you.

Here’s a glimpse into my own agenda:

Tonight, Wednesday, May 1st, I’m gearing up to rock out with the iconic Violent Femmes at The Warfield! Then, on Thursday, May 2nd, in Pacifica, there’s Crosseyed & Painless: Tribute To Talking Heads (*WIN*) at Longboard Bar & Venue ready to whisk you away to another era (find out more in the spotlight section below). Alternatively, some on this crew may be catching the Swans show at GAMH, diving into some post punk experimental vibes. As for me, I’ll be attending a special event for a noble cause on Thursday night.

Friday, May 3rd, presents a tantalizing array of choices (if only I had a super-fast jet to whisk me to NOLA). If I were there, my night would be devoted to the Bayou Rendezvous (*WIN*) with a full lineup of some of my most favorite musicians at the Howlin Wolf, with the extra special treat of Lantz Lazwell joining Sgt. Splendor & the sunrise breakfast jam – an event not to be missed! Meanwhile, many in NOLA will be immersed in the AXIAL Tilt experience at Cafe Istanbul. **Street team opps still open for those who dare not to flake! 😜

Here in the bay, my sights are set on Napa for G. Love on the 4th or 5th at Blue Note Napa. It promises to be a soulful evening brimming with great music and good vibes.Though, we shall see about that after an afternoon of Kentucky Derby Partying! Who are you betting on? Will it be one of the favorites like Fierceness or Sierra Leone? Or maybe an underdog like Forever Young? Remember, the Kentucky Derby is known for surprises! Don’t be afraid to consider a long shot if you’ve done your research.

So, what’s on YOUR agenda this week? Share your plans and let’s keep the live music alive and our community thriving!

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

To all you BISS Listers still heading to JazzFest in New Orleans for the final weekend, enjoy every moment and dance your hearts out for us here at home! Remember, there are plenty of shows in NOLA where you can win tickets by spreading the word, whether it’s online or on the street with flyers. Check out the BISS List from 4.4.24 for more details, or email us at biss@bisslist.com to join the NOLA Street Team.

But wait there’s more! Check out this week’s song selection, “That’s Right” by Afrolicious, in the #ListenToThis section below.

Until next week, flow with the groove, lose yourself in undiscovered melodies, and feel the music unite in perfect harmony.

#seeyouattheshows,
~Pamela aka Miss BISS

SPOTLIGHT ON MILL VALLEY MUSIC

Mill Valley Music Festival

May 11th-12th @ Friends Field

Get ready for a two-day musical smorgasbord under the California sun at the Mill Valley Music Festival! This epic bash transforms Friends Field into a festival wonderland. The eclectic lineup includes indie rock champions Fleet Foxes and the masters of bluegrass jams, Greensky Bluegrass. Joined by soulful crooners like St. Paul and the Broken Bones and powerhouse vocalist Margo Price, along with infectious energy from Rebirth Brass Band, sweet harmonies from Fruit Bats, rootsy Americana from Eric Lindell — plus much much more!

Beyond the music, the festival offers a vibrant atmosphere with delectable food and drink options, alongside stunning artwork. It’s the perfect opportunity to unwind with friends and family, make new connections, and create lasting memories. Don’t miss out, one and two day tickets are still available, and you can also win a weekend pass from the BISS List (make sure to submit your entry by Thursday)!

SPOTLIGHT ON LONGBOARD LIVE

Crosseyed & Painless: Talking Heads Tribute

May 2nd @ Longboard Bar & Venue Pacifica

Longboard Live presents the debut and only Bay Area performance of Crosseyed & Painless: Talking Heads Tribute! The all-star band will be performing the iconic ‘Remain In Light’ album in its entirety + a killer set of Talking Heads’ greatest hits. Crosseyed & Painless gathers an incredible cast of musicians featuring Garrin Benfield (Shakedown Citi) on guitar/vocals, Jordan Feinstein (The RituaL/Jay Lane) on keys/vocals, Chris Zanardi (Five Eyed Hand/High Beamz) on guitar/vocals, Mo Sardella (Tea Pot Logic/High Beamz) on percussion/vocals, Murph Murphy (New Monsoon/Izabella) on bass, and Alex Bowman (Chum/Phish Tribute) on drums.

‘Remain in Light’ stands as a towering monument in the landscape of experimental rock music. It’s an album that rewards repeated listens, revealing new layers of complexity with each spin. Whether you’re a longtime fan or new to Talking Heads’ music, it remains essential listening for anyone interested in the possibilities of rock music pushed to its creative limits.

If you’re looking for live music and a lively bar scene, look no further than Longboard Bar & Venue with live music presented by Longboard Live. Whether you’re a local or just visiting, Longboard Bar & Venue is a great place to relax, grab a drink, and enjoy live music.

*Check out all of our Featured Shows.

LISTEN TO THIS

Listen to “That’s Right” by Afrolicious ft Pleasuremaker (Released 2023)

Funky, soulful, steeped in classic and new R&B, and elements of swing – “That’s Right” is a groove to elevate your vibe. Afrolicious and Pleasuremaker have consistently brought us together in an open and accepting environment, and this song furthers that intention, reminding us that ‘we can live together and learn to love one another’ — there’s no other way!

We spoke with Joe McGuire aka Pleasuremaker and he told us that this tune “was written in 2020, while I was living in LA, after the world shut down. I recorded it in our LA studio, and finished it after moving to Kansas City. This track started in that late night, smoky, club filled mind set, coming off thousands of nights like that, settling into a deep pocket and chill vibe. ‘That’s Right’ was inspired by many things, one of which is the deep need to overcome the division, especially as it seems to be getting more intense in this current era. It also follows an ongoing pursuit of love, wisdom, understanding, travel, and the making of so many amazing connections.”

Afrolicious will be at the Boom Boom Room on May 18th. They hope to continue coming back to SF and the Bay to do their thang regularly, but with members spread out in Kansas City, Los Angeles, the Bay Area, and Austin it takes more to make it happen these days — make sure to take any opportunity to catch them when you can!!

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!