BISS List 7.9.25 Spotlight on Jerry Day (8.2) + The Best of BISS This Week

Happy Interdependence month BISS Listers! Hope you have all your fingers still!

I know the 4th is about independence, but I like to take the rest of the month to be aware of our interdependence – we all rely on each other (people to pick the food, pave the roads, manage our towns, play music, dance to music) and are interconnected. I am a new BISS Lister filling in, and I am happy to give back to this great group that supports something dear to my heart – having fun and live music! I have been shaking my booty to live music for a lot of years and love living in an area with so much great music. My meaning of life is: help others and enjoy the time you have as much as possible.

Last Week Recap:

• Wed 7/2: Skatalites & The Legendary Wailers @ Marin County Fair – The Skatalites started us off with the cry for Freedom. They sounded great and got us moving, with fans of all ages skanking around, the horns crooning to us. They sounded tight and loosened us up with exquisite harmonies. Next up was the Legendary Wailers. This band was LOUD! The first drum beat came flying at me and then went through me like a sonic boom! It was a sing-along night, we all know the words, and had a great time jammin with all. Check out my full review with pics & videos.
• Wed 7/2: Skatalites & The Legendary Wailers @ Marin County Fair – The Skatalites started us off with the cry for Freedom. They sounded great and got us moving, with fans of all ages skanking around, the horns crooning to us. They sounded tight and loosened us up with exquisite harmonies. Next up was the Legendary Wailers. This band was LOUD! The first drum beat came flying at me and then went through me like a sonic boom! It was a sing-along night, we all know the words, and had a great time jammin with all. Check out my full review with pics & videos
• Sat 7/5: Junior Toots @ Ashkenaz – Junior Toots hit the floor with allllll the energy! He started off with his own songs and style, and while he did not sound like Toots Sr, he did inherit the love language of interacting with the crowd. Junior Toots came into the crowd many times, having us sing into his mic, dancing with us, and we were there for it! Check out my full review with pics & videos.
• FLASHback 6/13: English Beat @ Cornerstone Berkeley – It was a Lucky Friday the 13th as I got to see The English Beat again! I saw them last in January, and though they have been touring HARD they seemed to still have some energy. At 69 Dave Wakeling is still bringing the message of 2-tone. Other original band members have sadly passed on; if I could go back in time I would see the original band with Ranking Roger & Saxa, and the not-so-distant-past team of The Beat UK with RR & RR Jr. Dave had a great band on this tour; toaster Antonee First Class, sax Wes Perry, bass Mark London Sims (previously of The Untouchables), drums Rhythmm Epkins, and keys Andwele Coore. Check out my pics & videos.

What’s on my Personal Calendar:

• Fri 7/11: Flamin’ Groovies w/ The Minks @ Sweetwater Music Hall – A great venue and it’s the mofo Flamin’ Groovies! From since before I was born, created right here in SF, they have always done their own thing and created music as it suited them and not a label. Listen and see if you can tell all the subsequent bands they influenced. + The Minks — All-girl Kinks tribute
• Sun 7/13: Barrington Levy @ Cornerstone (*WIN*) – A dancehall master direct from Jamaica, if you are a reggae dancehall fan you will recognize his voice and hits; he has been sampled by many other artists and even did a collab with Snoop Dogg and the Gorillaz. It will get HAWT!
• Sun 7/13: Violent Femmes @ Blue Note Napa – Wahh this is what I’m talking about so many good shows at the same time :/ Whether you listened on repeat when they first came out or are a retro 80’s music fan, they will be throwing down their acoustic punk. Don’t forget to thank Chrissie Hynde for yet another contribution to our earholes.
• Thur 7/17: Rodrigo y Gabriela @ The UC Theatre – Been seeing this dynamic duo since 2008 when I heard their song on the radio and my heart & mind burst open. From Mexico, they started a metal band that didn’t get noticed, so they covertly played Pantera songs on their acoustic guitars at resorts. They got big after taking their act to Ireland and busking. Always a great energy show, heavy-rock-flamenco. Let me know if the UC still has It’s-Its for sale.
• Thur 7/17: The Original Wailers ft Al Anderson @ Cornerstone Berkeley – The challenge of so much great music when there are two or more shows I want to see on the same night…decisions. I don’t think I need to explain The Wailers, they are THE breakthrough reggae band, fronted by Bob Marley from ‘63 to ‘81, that even your grandparents like. They are one of the bands I would like to travel back in time to see.

Miss BISS Radar – If she’s recovered enough from High Sierra, here’s where you might find Pamela:

• Thurs 7/10: Feel Good Fun ft mbrs of Polyrhythmics, The Gold Souls and China Dolls @ The Community Room in Sports Basement Berkeley – A fun community event with live groove music and games, presented by the lovely Winter Williams.
• Fri 7/11: Ezra Lipp’s 3rd Annual 40th Birthday Show and Shindig ft Magic In The Other + Ginger Molasses + Maya Elise @ Ivy Room (*WIN*) – This one’s a no-brainer with both Ezra and Ginger Molasses, and we’ve heard great things about Maya Elise.
• Sat 7/12: The Great North Special @ Crazy Horse Nevada City (*WIN*) – Another chance to see The Great North Special in NorCal if you missed them at BBR or High Sierra.
• Sun 7/13: Ben Esposito ft Lucy Wijnands @ Black Cat (*WIN*) – End the weekend with a little class at a true jazz supper club.

Mark Your Calendar:

• 7/19 & 7/20: Mosswood Meltdown ft DEVO, Osees, Bratmobile, Shannon & The Clams,@ Mosswood Park Oakland – This is going to be the tits!
• 7/19: Broun Fellinis @ Medicine For Nightmares SF – The esoteric fluid melodies are not to be missed.
• 7/19: Fred Wesley & The New JB’s @ Freight & Salvage – Get the funk out, I’ve seen Fred with JB & without JB, always keeping it a freedom-funky good time.
• 7/20: The Mermen @ Great American Music Hall, San Francisco – For the surf fans, they do a great Ziggy Stardust cover.

Looking ahead to the Grateful Dead 60th Anniversary weekend… You’ll definitely want to start your weekend with A Grateful Gathering at Yerba Buena Lane ft Jordan Feinstein & Friends on Thursday 7/31, and end your weekend with AXIAL TILT at Great American Music Hall on Sunday 8/3 (*WIN*). And in between is the 23rd annual Jerry Day celebration with Melvin Seal & JBG + Stu Allen & Mars Hotel at Jerry Garcia Amphitheater in McLaren Park on Saturday 8/2. On a weekend that’s sure to take some hits to your wallet, this is a great FREE event, and there’s a pub crawl after party too! More on this in the spotlight below.

Go get that fun by checking out the Best of BISS, the Full Calendar, and score free tickets!!

Cheers & boogie on,
Gabrielle M. (on behalf of Pamela, aka Miss BISS)

SPOTLIGHT ON JERRY DAY

The 23rd Annual Jerry Day
ft Melvin Seals & JGB + Stu Allen & Mars Hotel

August 2nd @ Jerry Garcia Amphitheater

Jerry Day is a civic and cultural event that celebrates one of the greatest rock guitarists of all time and San Francisco native son – Jerry Garcia. This event captures the true spirit of Jerry Garcia as we celebrate his legacy by uniting the diverse communities of San Francisco through Jerry’s music. This FREE community event at Jerry Garcia Amphitheater in McLaren Park will feature performances from Melvin Seals & JBG, Stu Allen & Mars Hotel, and more!

Every summer, thousands gather at the Jerry Garcia Amphitheater in McLaren Park to honor Jerry’s legacy. It’s a grassroots production powered by local volunteers, civic love, and a patchwork of public and private support. You can support this free event by signing up to volunteer or donating to the future of the event.

But wait—there’s more Jerry celebration to be had!

Later on Aug 2nd Jerry Day turns into Jerry Nite with a FREE after-party pub crawl through the Excelsior District near Jerry’s childhood homes. Music starts at The Halfway Club at 5:30pm, then the crawl continues at Recovery Room, Check In Lounge, and more. Keep an eye on jerryday.org/jerry-day-after-parties for full lineup and times.

And the morning before, Jerry Garcia Street will be unveiled! On Aug 1st at 11am Harrington Street, a tiny one-block road that measures about a tenth of a mile between Alemany Boulevard and Mission Street will be commemorated at Jerry Garcia Street on August 1st at 11am. The same street where Jerry lived as a child with his grandparents’ yellow house.

BEST OF BISS THIS WEEK

07/10 Feel Good Fun ft mbrs of Polyrhythmics, The Gold Souls and China Dolls @ Sports Basement Berkeley Community Room

07/10 Tchaikovsky Spectacular w/ San Francisco Symphony @ Frost Amphitheater

07/10 L.A. Guns @ The Guild Theatre

07/10 Sonamo @ Madrone Art Bar

07/10 Lydia Pense and Cold Blood, Marshall House Project @ KRUSH Backyard Concerts Santa Rosa

07/10 Ben Esposito ft Lucy Wijnands (7 & 9:15pm) @ Black Cat  

07/11 Mason Jennings @ Felton Music Hall

07/11 Flamin’ Groovies with The Minks @ Sweetwater Music Hall

07/11 The Expendables @ Hopmonk Tavern Novato  

07/11 Bill Kirchen ft. The Lost Planet Airmen w/ Floyd Domino @ HopMonk Tavern Sebastopol  

07/11 Ben Esposito ft Lucy Wijnands (7 & 9:30pm) @ Black Cat

07/11 Ezra Lipp’s 3rd Annual 40th Birthday Show and Shindig ft Magic In The Other + Ginger Molasses + Maya Elise @ Ivy Room  

07/11 JAD Experience presents ANIMALIS: a unique fusion of location, food, dance, music, and community @ Tara Firma Farms

07/11 Grassomoxoa @ Crazy Horse Nevada City  

07/12 In Rare Form @ Monks Kettle

07/12 Barrington Levy @ The Catalyst Club

07/12 Bill Kirchen ft The Lost Planet Airmen w/ Floyd Domino @ Hopmonk Tavern Novato  

07/12 Chum: Tribute to Phish @ HopMonk Tavern Sebastopol<  

07/12 Ben Esposito ft Lucy Wijnands (7 & 9:30pm) @ Black Cat

07/12 Marlon Asher w/ DJ Sep @ Sweetwater Music Hall

07/12 JAD Experience presents ANIMALIS: a unique fusion of location, food, dance, music, and community @ Tara Firma Farms

07/12 Temescal Street Fair ft La Gente SF, Bululu Ajai Kasim, Valerie Troutt & The Good House, DJ BlackWoman & MORE! @ Oakland Temescal District

07/12 The Great North Special @ Crazy Horse Nevada City  

07/13 Stern Grove Festival: Phantogram w/ Ha Vay @ Stern Grove

07/13 Violent Femmes @ Blue Note Summer Sessions

07/13 Eilen Jewell w/ The Real Sarahs @ Hopmonk Tavern Novato  

07/13 Ben Esposito ft Lucy Wijnands (7 & 9:15pm) @ Black Cat  

07/13 Barrington Levy @ Cornerstone Berkeley  

07/13 JAD Experience presents ANIMALIS: a unique fusion of location, food, dance, music, and community @ Tara Firma Farms

07/15 Chris Isaak @ The Guild Theatre

07/16 Robert Earl Keen w/ Kolton Moore @ Hopmonk Tavern Novato

07/16 Golden Gate Jazz ft. Joe Gloss, Annie Orzen, Sara Gorman & Friends @ Black Cat Jazz Supper Club  

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

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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