BISS List 5.29.25 Spotlight on Pamela Parker’s Hyde Street Studios Anniversary Party (5.31) + The Best of BISS This Week

Happy Festival Season, BISS Listers!

That’s right, festival season is officially underway. I kicked things off with Jazz Fest in New Orleans, followed by a quick turnaround back home to work Golden Road Gathering in Placerville. Up next? I’m heading to Sonoma for the one-day Sonoma Wild fest (*WIN*), and then it’s all eyes on the big one: High Sierra Music Festival over 4th of July weekend (*WIN*).

If you’ve been following along, you’ve already seen some of the buzz in recent BISS Lists as my guest writers clued you in on my travels…but this week, I’m recapping the entire month of May. From canceled flights to golden ticket vibes, I’ve got stories, flashbacks, and updates galore. Buckle up and get ready.

Before we dive in, I want to give a HUGE thank you to the incredible guest writers who stepped in while I was away. (Did you miss me?) Their write-ups were stellar. Jen Serota gave us the lowdown on Cosmico Festival in Guerneville, Vikki G captured the magic of Mill Valley Music Fest, and Julia highlighted the beautiful Maya Elise and Erisy Watt show. It felt amazing knowing that BISS could keep rolling even while I was out on the road. This is the vision I’ve always had: more voices, more perspectives, more community. Big love to Travis for contributing show reviews throughout the last few weeks and as always, it was a joy to see the stunning photo recaps and reviews from Gabriel Barkin. This has always been my dream, to grow BISS into a true community project and it’s finally coming to life. If you’re interested in contributing, I’d love to hear from you!

Flashback to NOLA, I finally wrote up my Jazz Fest weekend—complete with sunrise jams, travel chaos, surprise sit-ins, and all the magic in between. Read the full post and drop your own memories in the comments. I wanna see what you got into! 🎷⚜️💜

I had less than one week from arriving home to get ready to work at Golden Road Gathering, but somehow I had to find time to catch the Ghost-Note Super Jam at the Boom Boom Room on 5/9. See for yourself right here.

Then came Golden Road Gathering. If you haven’t seen my full post yet, go check it out. This fest was pure magic. The vibes were high, the music was fire, and the Golden Ticket VIP Lounge went off without a hitch. Everyone who stepped inside knew they’d found something special. I’m still buzzing from it all. And of course, my most magical moment of the weekend? Well, you’ll have to check out that post for the full scoop, but let’s just say it involved hot tea, a spontaneous backstage detour, and some serious musical serendipity.

We have a new photographer on staff, Davin White, who captured more of the magic at Golden Road Gathering, with four awesome sets from Thievery Corporation, Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe, Forrest Day, and Boot Juice. Two days later, he was already back in action, shooting OK Go at The Regency on 5/19. Check out all five photo galleries from Davin!

That should get us up to speed! Now on to Last Week:

Fri 5/23: BISS contributor Julia went to the Ivy Room and “caught one of the best lineups of the year: The Westones, Banshee Tree, and Yak Attack. Each band hit the stage swinging. The Westones brought their signature high-energy Oakland funk and had the crowd grooving right from the start. Banshee Tree picked up the jam baton and ran with it—their tight, rhythmic, jazzy sound felt like the birth of a new genre: “swing jam” (I’m fully on board). They lit the place up and set the perfect tone for Yak Attack, who, as expected, absolutely shut it down with their electrifying jam-tronica set. I was dancing so hard I didn’t get a single picture, but trust me—you don’t want to miss any of these three bands the next time they roll through.”

Sat 5/4: BISS Contributing Editor Gabriel Barkin returns this week with a sunny review and photos of Los Lobos kicking off the summer at Rancho Nicasio with the first BBQ on the Lawn of the season. We love you, Gabe, and can’t wait to see what you get into next!

Sat Night 5/24: I couldn’t resist hitting the Boom Boom Room, with one of my longtime faves, RonKat, on the bill, how could I not? His sets are always dripping with funk and groove, and this one was no exception. RonKat’s KATDELIC summoned the spirit of P-Funk and landed the damn Mothership. Check it out.

This Week’s Top Picks:

• Thurs-Sun 5/29-6/1: We’re in for a treat with four nights of Skerik Quartet at Black Cat SF (*WIN*), featuring two shows each night… a rare run from the legendary saxophone madman known for bending genres and minds with his wild improvisations.
• Sat 5/31: I’m heading back into celebration mode for my fellow honey flow sister Pamela Parker, who’s marking 18 years at Hyde Street Studios. She’s done it all… engineer, producer, bandleader… and she’s throwing a free party with live music to celebrate. More details are in the Spotlight below, but if you’re around, come celebrate with a Pam-wich!
• Sun 6/1: And if that’s not enough, things wrap up Sunday when Eddie Roberts and The Lucky Strokes come to Sweetwater Music Hall (*WIN*).

One last thing before I go… if you’ve been thinking about joining the BISS List Patreon, now’s the time! Every week, we run an Instant Win contest for a big upcoming show, and next week we’ve got a bonus giveaway. Let’s just say we scored in the ultra-coveted Stern Grove lottery… and honey, someone’s about to get lucky. Want in? Check out all the other perks and join here.

More to come soon, scroll on for the Best of BISS, the full calendar, ticket giveaways, and everything else your live music-loving heart desires. Until next week… much love and funky vibes.

~ Pamela aka Miss BISS
#seeyouattheshows

SPOTLIGHT ON 18 YEARS

Pamela Parker’s 18th Anniversary at Hyde Street Studios

May 31st @ Hyde Street Studios

This Saturday, we’re raising a glass (and probably a mic stand) to celebrate Pamela Parker’s 18th Anniversary at the iconic Hyde Street Studios in San Francisco. From intern to in-demand producer, engineer, musician, and mentor, Pamela’s journey is nothing short of legendary. Over nearly two decades, she’s worked with an impressive roster—from Fishbone to Flor De Toloache (on Paul McCartney’s Xmas album!)—and created a vibrant, supportive hub for the Bay Area music community and beyond.

To mark the milestone, Pamela Parker’s Fantastic Machine will be rocking the house alongside Tony Glaser & The Party. It’s a free event with live music, community vibes, and even a raffle featuring studio time and vocal coaching prizes. RSVP is required to manage capacity, so lock it in and come celebrate a true force in SF music.

BISS REVIEW

Los Lobos at Rancho Nicassio

“For 27 years running, Marin County roadhouse Rancho Nicasio has hosted a summertime “BBQs on the Lawn” concert series. Los Lobos, the venerable SoCal rock band, has been around nearly twice as long. Put the two together, and ¡ya está! – the perfect marriage of tasty music and pastoral backyard vibes to kick off Memorial Day weekend.” Check out BISS Contributing Editor Gabriel Barkin’s full review & photos here.

BISS GALLERY

Golden Road Gathering

A warm welcome to our new staff photographer Davin White! Davin kicks things off with four (!) galleries from Golden Road Gathering. Check out the shots from Thievery Corporation, Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe, Forrest Day, and Boot Juice.

BEST OF BISS THIS WEEK

05/29 SKERIK Quartet (Four Nights) (7 & 9:15pm) @ Black Cat

05/29 King Dream w/ Suzanimal, Cave Clove @ Bottom of the Hill

05/29 Magilo, Super Greens, Litty Debungus @ Rickshaw Stop

05/29 The Detroit Cobras w/ The IFIC @ Crepe Place

05/29 Bread & Roses Golden Jam ft Lebo & Friends, August Lee Stevens, and The Gold Dust Brothers @ Sweetwater Music Hall

05/29 Mestizo Beat + El Pecado De Juana @ Ivy Room  

05/29 Crosseyed & Painless: Music of the Talking Heads ft Chris Zanardi, Jordan Feinstein, Jefferson Bergey, Angeline Saris, Alex Bowman, and Brian Chris Rogers @ Longboard Margarita Bar  

05/30 The Damned, TV Smith’s The Adverts @ The UC Theatre

05/30 Soul Ska @ Sweetwater Music Hall

05/30 Jackie Greene @ The Guild Theatre

05/30 Mestizo Beat @ Almost Famous Wine Bar

05/30 SKERIK Quartet (Four Nights) (7 & 9:30pm) @ Black Cat

05/30 An Evening With Jerry’s Middle Finger (Two Nights) @ The Chapel  

05/30 Crosseyed & Painless: A Tribute to the Talking Heads @ Crazy Horse  

05/30 Eddie Roberts & The Lucky Strokes @ Moe’s Alley

05/30 The Sam Chase and the Untraditional + The Live Oaks @ Ivy Room  

05/30 Prezident Brown @ HopMonk Tavern Sebastopol

05/31 Terrapin Roadshow ft Grahame Lesh, Sam Grisman, Dan “Lebo” Lebowitz, Amy Helm Jason Crosby, Ezra Lipp, and Special Guests @ Monte Rio Amphitheater  

05/31 El Radio Fantastique w/ Junk Parlor @ Sweetwater Music Hall  

05/31 The Detroit Cobras @ Ivy Room  

05/31 Metalachi @ Brick & Mortar Music Hall

05/31 SKERIK Quartet (Four Nights) (7 & 9:30pm) @ Black Cat

05/31 The Unauthorized Rolling Stones ft Rudy Colombini @ Music City SF

05/31 Afrolicious @ Boom Boom Room  

05/31 An Evening With Jerry’s Middle Finger (Two Nights) @ The Chapel  

05/31 Moody Cat @ Crazy Horse  

05/31 The Heavy Heavy @ Felton Music Hall

05/31 Dionne Warwick @ Henry J. Kaiser Center for the Arts  

05/31 Wreckless Strangers, Ginger Molasses @ HopMonk Tavern Sebastopol  

05/31 Redwood Mountain Faire – Day 1 ft Jesse Daniel, Sharon Allen & Dusty Boots, Sam Chase & Untraditional, Boot Juice & lots more! @ Roaring Camp  

05/31 Kindred The Family Soul (7:30 & 9:30pm) @ Yoshi’s Oakland

06/01 Terrapin Roadshow ft Grahame Lesh, Sam Grisman, Dan “Lebo” Lebowitz, Amy Helm Jason Crosby, Ezra Lipp, and Special Guests @ Monte Rio Amphitheater  

06/01 Eddie Roberts and The Lucky Strokes @ Sweetwater Music Hall  

06/01 SKERIK Quartet (Four Nights) (7 & 9:15pm) @ Black Cat  

06/01 Detroit Cobras w/ Sutros, The Ific @ Bottom of the Hill

06/01 Redwood Mountain Faire – Day 2 ft Jerry’s Middle Finger, Mike Hellman and Banned Books, Blu Egyptian, Mestizo Beat & lots more! @ Roaring Camp  

06/03 Ministry w/ My Life With The Thrill Kill Kult, Die Krupps @ The Warfield  

06/03 The Original Lakeside Band (Two Nights) @ Yoshi’s Oakland

06/04 The Original Lakeside Band (Two Nights) @ Yoshi’s Oakland

06/05 Pardon the Interruption w/ Jethro Jeremiah Band @ Sweetwater Music Hall  

06/05 Joe Marcinek Band @ HopMonk Tavern Sebastopol

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

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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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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