BISS List 5.8.25 Spotlight on Object Heavy & LAZWELL (5.16) + The Best of BISS This Week

Hi BISS Listers!

I’m writing this on an 83-degree day in Oakland, and it feels like the perfect time to introduce myself. I’m Julia—a musician and live music enthusiast based here in the Bay—and I’m stepping in for Pamela while she’s soaking up the vibes at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. (Yes, I’m jealous too, the clips I’ve seen online look incredible!)

It’s been a packed week of live music in the Bay, and I was lucky enough to catch Maya Elise and Erisy Watt at The Lost Church on Friday, May 2. It was my first time at this cozy North Beach venue, tucked into a basement and glowing with vintage charm. LA-based Erisy Watt opened the night with a gorgeous acoustic set. Her ethereal vocals and heartfelt delivery (including a Joni Mitchell cover!) won me over instantly. Maya Elise and her partner Jordan (aka Sheepish King) followed with a stripped-down duo set that showcased their chemistry and vocal power. Jordan’s falsetto had the crowd cheering mid-set, and their connection on stage made for an unforgettable evening. Trust me—catch them live if you can!

BISS contributor Travis Gaskell also shared his week with us, “Another great week of live music in the SF Bay Area! This week saw me crossing over to The Starry Plough in Berkeley to see Anthony Ant’s weekly free jam session, this time featuring Nathan X Moody and his band. I then capped off the week by seeing the legendary Warren Haynes with his band at The Fillmore. Check out my in depth write-ups with clips and pics: Anthony Ant Funk Jam / Warren Haynes”

We’ve also got a full review and photo gallery for The Warren Haynes Band from BISS Contributing Editor Gabriel Barkin. Check it out!!

This week is jam-packed with shows, and while I’ll be missing out due to a packed schedule of rehearsals, work, and events, I’ve put together a dream list of picks for you to consider. Or—as always—choose your own adventure by checking out the Best of BISS, Full Calendar, or the Win Tickets page for giveaways.

• Fri 5/9: Yo La Tengo @ The Chapel
• Sat 5/10: English Beat @ Cornerstone Berkeley (*WIN*)
• Sat & Sun 5/10 & 5/11: Mill Valley Music Festival @ Friends Field (Congrats to our winner Eric G.)

Miss BISS Radar: If Pamela were in town, here’s where she told us she would be:

• Fri 5/9: ALO @ The Guild Theatre
• Fri 5/9 Late Night: Ghost-Note Super Jam @ Boom Boom Room (*WIN*) “Exclusive, one-night only super jam with tons of special guests. This is going to be epic!!”
• Tues 5/13: The Go-Go’s with Frightwig @ The Warfield (*WIN*)

The first Stern Grove ticket lottery of the season opened this week—for The California Honeydrops w/ The Dip on June 23. You’ve got until Saturday, May 11 to enter. If you haven’t checked out their new ticketing system this year, here’s the deal: Six weeks before each concert, the online ticket lottery opens. You’ll have one week to enter and can request up to four tickets. Everyone is notified by email within a week of the lottery closing. If you win you have 72 hours to claim your tickets before they’re released to others.

Looking ahead, here are a few buzzy shows to mark on your calendar:

• Tues 5/13: Perfume Genius @ The Fillmore
• Fri 5/23: Yak Attack + Banshee Tree + The Westones @ Ivy Room (*WIN*)
• Sat & Sun 5/31 & 6/1: Terrapin Roadshow @ Monte Rio Amphitheatre (*WIN*)

Be sure to scroll down and check out the spotlight for another show you’ll want to add to your calendar, LAZWELL & Object Heavy serve up a night of deep funk, gritty soul, and explosive rock at Boom Boom Room on May 16th.

That’s a wrap on my first BISS List intro! I’m so excited to be here, and I hope to see you out on the dance floor sometime soon.

~ Julia, on behalf of Pamela aka Miss BISS
#seeyouattheshows

SPOTLIGHT ON HEAVY HITTERS

LAZWELL + Object Heavy

May 16th @ Boom Boom Room

Two powerhouse bands—LAZWELL and Object Heavy—are joining forces for a high-octane double-headliner event at the legendary Boom Boom Room! Known for their dynamic live shows and undeniable chemistry, these two fan-favorite acts are bringing an unforgettable evening of deep funk, gritty soul, and explosive rock energy.

Object Heavy kicks things off with their seismic blend of retro-inspired yet modern funk, soul, and rock, anchored by tight musicianship, rich vocal harmonies, and a captivatingly energetic presence. Then LAZWELL takes the stage, weaving a vibrant tapestry of funk, soul, and rock swagger, delivering powerful vocals over infectious rhythms that invite you to move and connect.

But that’s not all: the night will peak with both bands sharing the stage for a one-of-a-kind, full-band jam session. This collaborative finale promises raw, in-the-moment magic that you truly won’t see again. It’s a single-night celebration made for the Bay Area’s funk-loving, soul-shaking, dance-driven crowd. Grab your tickets early—this is one party you don’t want to miss.

BISS REVIEW

Much Better Than Moonshine:
The Warren Haynes Band

The Warren Haynes Band filled the Fillmore Auditorium in San Francisco on Saturday night for two sets of high-energy blues, soul and jazz. Haynes is touring in support of his 2024’s Million Voices Whisper, his first solo album in almost a decade. For two sets – well over three hours of music! – Haynes and friends shredded versions of tracks from Million Voices Whisper, several Allman Brothers classics, some Government Mule favorites, and a few classic rock covers. Check out the full review and photo gallery here.

BEST OF BISS THIS WEEK

05/08 Ginger Molasses @ Mare Island Brewing Co.

05/08 The Fabulous Thunderbirds @ Yoshi’s Oakland

05/08 David Nelson Band ft Barry Sless, Pete Sears, Mookie Siegel, Wally Ingram) @ Felton Music Hall  

05/08 LIT-ness FEST (No Cover) @ Boom Boom Room

05/09 An Evening With They Might Be Giants (Three Nights) @ The Fillmore

05/09 The Mother Hips @ Almost Famous Wine Bar

05/09 The Fabulous Thunderbirds @ Rancho Nicasio

05/09 An Evening with Yo La Tengo (Four Nights) @ The Chapel

05/09 Rain Parade w/ Asteroid No 4 @ Sweetwater Music Hall  

05/09 ALO @ The Guild Theatre

05/09 Neal Francis @ Felton Music Hall  

05/09 Anthony Arya @ Music City SF

05/09 Ghost-Note Super Jam @ Boom Boom Room  

05/10 An Evening With They Might Be Giants (Three Nights) @ The Fillmore

05/10 Dirty Cello @ Rancho Nicasio

05/10 An Evening with Yo La Tengo (Four Nights) @ The Chapel

05/10 Mill Valley Music Festival 5/10 & 5/11 ft Gary Clark Jr., Nile Rodgers & CHIC, The Crosby Collective, Monophonics, Ghost-Note, and more! @ Friends Field

05/10 Coco Montoya @ Almost Famous Wine Bar

05/10 Tommy Castro Solo @ Biscuits & Blues

05/10 The English Beat @ Cornerstone Berkeley  

05/10 The Unauthorized Rolling Stones ft Rudy Colombini @ Music City SF

05/10 Bodhi Mojo @ Crazy Horse  

05/11 An Evening With They Might Be Giants (Three Nights) @ The Fillmore

05/11 Lavay Smith and Her Red Hot Skillet Lickers (6:30 & 8:30pm) @ Biscuits & Blues

05/11 Moonalice @ Union Square

05/12 An Evening with Yo La Tengo (Four Nights) @ The Chapel

05/13 An Evening with Yo La Tengo (Four Nights) @ The Chapel

05/13 The Go-Go’s @ The Warfield  

05/13 Ryan Adams @ Fox Theater Oakland

05/14 Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds @ Bill Graham Civic Auditorium

05/14 Hurray For The Riff Raff @ Rio Theatre

05/14 Lydia Pense & Cold Blood @ Yoshi’s Oakland

05/14 Jeff Cotton’s Gin Joint (No Cover) @ Boom Boom Room

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