28 May 2026

BISS List 5.28.26 Spotlight on SOUL Brass Band + The Best of BISS This Week and More

Well BISS Listers… this week’s BISS is coming to you from the other side of a pretty rough stretch on the road.

I headed into the last month with “a little back issue” that escalated into a herniated disc, a bulging disc, and a whole lot of limping. But there was no way I was missing my dad’s 80th birthday last week, so I powered through, double-limping my way there and back.

Before we jump into the week in review, I want to look back a little further with a massive THANK YOU to everyone who participated in Golden Road Gathering. What a weekend. Truly one of my favorite lineups they’ve ever put together. From Lettuce to STS9 to Leftover Salmon and so many incredible artists in between, the music absolutely delivered. BISS Photographer Davin White was there camera in tow. His Day One Gallery is up on the website now. Be sure to check back for more of Davin’s pics from the rest of the festival.

Now for a look back at last week through the eyes of our BISS community. Last Tuesday, The Afghan Whigs brought four decades of dark, soulful alt-rock to The Fillmore. Check out the show review from BISS Lister Julia Abramson. On Sunday, BISS Contributing Editor Gabriel David Barkin was capturing all the moments from ALO at HopMonk Novato. Check out his stunning gallery including shots of opening act Ryan Kirkpatrick, special guest Asher Belsky, and the smiling crowd.

On to this week… Make sure to check out our weekly Hot List reel featuring our top picks of the week. Here a few select shows from the list:

Thu 5/28: House of Love 3 ft Casa Del Sol & Tree Adams @ Boom Boom Room (*WIN*) – They’ll be joined by special guests Scott Law, Chris Haugen, Dale Fanning, Joby “Marmot King” Pritzker, Ben Levine, Daniel Cohen, and more.
Fri 5/29: Tracorum @ Golden Gate Park Bandshell – A free Friday Happy Hour show from Illuminate
Late Night, Fri 5/29: Afrolicious @ Boom Boom Room (*WIN*)
Sat 5/30: Fuzz Collective @ Furthermore Wines Sebastopol (*WIN*)
Sat 5/30: Redwood Mountain Faire ft AJ Lee & Blue Summit and lots more @ Roaring Camp (congrats to our winners!)
Sun 5/31: Redwood Mountain Faire ft Melvin Seals with Matt Hartle & the Hartle Gold Band and lots more @ Roaring Camp (congrats to our winners!)

Looking ahead, SOUL Brass Band is headed back to California for a summer tour in June. Check out the spotlight below for all the locations and dates, plus your chance to win tickets and a merch pack!

Thankfully, while I’ve been slowed down physically, the BISS community has absolutely not slowed down musically. I may have to miss a few things while I get this back situation under control, so if you’ve ever wanted to contribute to BISS, now’s a perfect time. Whether you love writing reviews, taking photos, shooting video clips, making playlists, or just telling people about a killer show, I’d love the help. Shoot me a message and let me know how you’d like to contribute.

BISS has always been about connection — music, artists, audiences, and good humans finding each other. Thanks to everybody helping keep that spirit alive while I hobble around like a backstage pirate in a back brace.

~ Pamela aka Miss BISS
#seeyouattheshows

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SPOTLIGHT ON SOUL BRASS BAND

SOUL Brass Band

CA Summer Tour: June 5th – 12th

NorCal Tour Dates

June 5th @ Euclid Manor, Oakland (*WIN*)
June 6th @ Sausalito Cruising Club
June 9th @ The Guild Theatre, Menlo Park (*WIN*)
June 10th @ Moe’s Alley, Santa Cruz (*WIN*)
June 11th @ Crazy Horse Saloon, Nevada City (*WIN*)
June 12th @ HopMonk Tavern Sebastopol (*WIN*)

New Orleans powerhouse SOUL Brass Band returns to California this June for a high-energy run of performances bringing the spirit, rhythm, and unmistakable sound of the Crescent City to stages across the West Coast.

Led by drummer and vocalist Derrick “Smoker” Freeman, the band features an all-star lineup of celebrated New Orleans musicians including sousaphonist Miles Lyons, saxophonist James Martin, trumpeter Mark Levron, keyboardist Kyle Cripps, and drummer/vocalist Kyle Sharamitaro (AKA ShaBram). Together, the group delivers a bold fusion of funk, jazz, soul, hip-hop, and second-line culture that has made SOUL Brass Band one of the most dynamic live acts emerging from New Orleans today.

Known for massive horn arrangements, deep-pocket grooves, and nonstop crowd interaction, SOUL Brass Band transforms every venue into a full-scale celebration — channeling the energy of a New Orleans street parade with a modern edge and undeniable chemistry.

From intimate clubs to packed dance floors, the California Summer Tour offers audiences an immersive live experience driven by rhythm, connection, and the heartbeat of New Orleans culture. We’ve got chances to win tickets to most of the NorCal shows, and two lucky winners will also win an exclusive merch pack!

BISS GALLERY

ALO @ HopMonk Tavern Novato

BISS Contributing Editor Gabriel David Barkin captured a beautiful evening with warm tunes from ALO at HopMonk Novato on Sunday. Plus opening act Ryan Kirkpatrick, special guest Asher Belsky, and shots of the smiling crowd.