07 May 2026

BISS List 5.7.26 Spotlight on Wavy Gravy’s 90th Bday + The Best of BISS This Week and More

Happy Post Jazz Fest, BISS Listers!

I’m currently writing this from 34,000 feet, somewhere between New Orleans and SF, flying back from another unforgettable Jazz Fest adventure and heading straight into Golden Road Gathering prep mode. Hope to see you there 5/15-5/17 for Lettuce, STS9, Leftover & more!

Jazz Fest felt a little different for me this time around. I approached the festival differently than I have in years past and paced myself a bit more in preparation for the quickly approaching festival season ahead. Fewer miles sprinting across the Fairgrounds. Fewer late nights into sunrise. It was another reminder of the first rule of BISS List: there’s no such thing as FOMO, you’re exactly where you’re supposed to be.

I may not get all my videos uploaded right away with the quick turnaround this week, but I did go live quite a bit from New Orleans, so check out BISS List on Instagram if you haven’t already. More recaps, photos, videos, and stories coming soon.

Before jumping into what’s next, I wanted to give a huge thank you to Julia for stepping in last week. I will be coordinating coverage with some of our other writers while I’m on the road these next couple of weeks! Reach out if interested.

Last week in the Bay from the BISS community:

Fri 5/1: Molly Tuttle and Ketch Secor @ Sweetwater Music Hall – Be sure to read Gabe’s full recap, an interview with Molly and sweet photo review here.
Tues 5/5: The Wood Brothers with Olive Klug @ The Fillmore – Natalie had this to say: “Olive Klug was a new discovery for me. Their engaging songwriting and storytelling spoke from the heart. I became an instant fan. As for The Wood Brothers, I only knew some of their songs and never saw them live before. I was blown away by their journey-unfolding performance. The words that kept coming to mind were: salty-sultry and smokey blues jam. Loved it all!” Catch the clips here.

This Week: First stop, catch our weekly Hot List Reel. Then be sure to jump aboard the HSMF train for their Band Contests! Here are the next ones up.

5/07: High Sierra Band Contest Semi-Finals ft Honey of the Heart, Loma Alta, Huney Knuckles, and Gas Money @ HopMonk Tavern Novato
5/9: High Sierra Band Contest Semi-Finals ft Andre Cruz, Oona, Shandri, and Strange Vine @ The Chapel (*WIN*)

Mark Your Calendar: Lots happening this month!

5/14: High Sierra Band Contest: Semi-Finals ft Laurin Hunter, Anthony Arya Band, El 7 Quartet, and Temple Monarc @ Ivy Room (*WIN*)
5/15: Wreckless Strangers @ Golden Gate Park Bandshell – Learn more about this free show in the Spotlight below!
5/16: Wavy Gravy’s 90th Birthday ft Steve Earle, Todd Rundgren, Ricky Lee Jones, Cat Power, Peter Rowan, Lebo, and more @ The Masonic – More on this special show and the full outstanding lineup in the Spotlight below!
5/15 – 5/17: Golden Road Gathering – An absolutely stacked lineup with headliners like Lettuce, STS9, and Leftover Salmon, plus so much more ~ Congrats to our ticket winners!
5/24: High Sierra Band Contest Semi-Finals ft Trianna Feruza & The Heavy Hitters, Grace & The Grit, Space Heater, and The Akoustiks @ Moe’s Alley

More to see on Best of BISS, below or on the site, and on the full calendar. Plus enter to win tickets in record time!

Festival season is officially underway. Pace yourselves out there, BISS Listers… we’ve got a lot of music ahead of us.

~ Pamela aka Miss BISS
#seeyouattheshows

Partner with BISS to keep our music community thriving
Patreon → https://bit.ly/BISSListPatreon (more free tickets)
Donate → https://bit.ly/BISSListDonateNow (tax-deductible)

SPOTLIGHT ON WAVY GRAVY BDAY

Wavy Gravy’s 90th Birthday

May 16th @ The Masonic

Bay Area icon Wavy Gravy is turning 90! This one-night-only celebration of the man Bobby Weir called “a saint in a clown suit” features Cat Power, The Moldy Peaches, Steve Earle, Todd Rundgren, Rickie Lee Jones, Aloe Blacc, Peter Rowan, Maria Muldaur, Larry Campbell & Teresa Williams, Harper Simon, and Lebo — with an insane house band led by Larry Campbell, featuring Bob Dylan’s musical director Tony Garnier and Greg Leisz, who you’ve seen play with everyone from Wolf Bros to Jackson Browne. As for special guests, let’s just say Wavy has some very special friends — and they tend to show up when it matters.

The evening benefits the Seva Foundation, which was co-founded by Wavy Gravy himself, and has helped restore or protect sight for more than 75 million people worldwide. Even the lowest-priced ticket is equivalent to the cost of a sight-restoring surgery.

SPOTLIGHT ON WRECKLESS STRANGERS

Wreckless Strangers

May 15th @ Golden Gate Park Bandshell

Wreckless Strangers bring their signature “Ameri-Cali Soul” sound to the Golden Gate for a free, all-ages Friday Happy Hour show. Set in one of the city’s most iconic outdoor venues, the performance highlights the band’s deep roots in the Bay Area’s rich musical tradition and offers a chance to catch one of the region’s rising acts in a classic outdoor setting.

The group features co-lead vocalists Amber Morris and David Noble (lead guitar), alongside Joshua Zucker (bass), Mick Hellman (drums), Rob Anderson (guitar), and Fletcher Nielsen (keys), and delivers a groove-driven blend of rock, soul, blues, and Americana. Known for soaring vocal harmonies and burning instrumental improvisation, framed by concise, poignant original songwriting, Wreckless Strangers channel the spirit of the Bay Area’s storied rock tradition, delivering a live show that feels both timeless and alive in the moment.

Riding momentum from national radio airplay and climbing the Americana and AAA charts, Wreckless Strangers are celebrating their latest release, Dirty Souls, a new collection of songs that leans into a raw, roots-driven sound.