07 August 2025

BISS List 8.7.25 Spotlight on The Headhunters (8.8) + The Best of BISS This Week

What a Long Strange Trip It’s Been, BISS Listers!

This past week of GD60 and all the related events was like NOLA Jazz Fest but for Deadheads, with the main event taking place at the park and more than 60 other shows happening around town before and after. I knew it was going to be wild the moment I stepped into Love on Haight to work on Wednesday (Thank you to Sunny & the LOH crew for a fun week of work!). The energy was already building. A steady stream of happy humans flowed through the store. Deadheads from around the corner and across the country were snapping photos, soaking in the color, and shopping for their perfect outfit for the upcoming GD60 shows. The whole place was alive in that way it only gets when something big is about to go down. All of Haight Street was “The Lot.” From there, it was a full-blown whirlwind!

Last Week in Review: (Feel free to chime in about your own week here!) Read more about each event by clicking on the links below, or keep scrolling for my Full Week in Review.

Thu 7/31 Afternoon: A Grateful Gathering @ Yerba Buena Lane – Read more and check out the album.
Thu 7/31: Heart of Town ft Grahame Lesh and an All-Star crew @ Pier 48 – Read more and check out the album.
Fri 8/1 (Morning): Jordan & Friends @ Psychedelic Gallery SF – Yes, a full band playing across from my house! Read more here and check out the album .
Fri 8/1 Heart of Town ft Grahame Lesh and an All-Star crew @ Pier 48 – Read more and check out the one video I captured. Feel free to add your captures from this show in the comments!
Sat 8/2: Back at the Shop + The Great Phone Caper @ Love on Haight – Read More.
Sat 8/2 (Late Night): SF Is Dead All Stars @ Boom Boom Room – Read more and check out the album.
Sun 8/3 (Afternoon): Dead & Company @ Golden Gate Park – Read more from me and check out the album. For a deeper dive into Dead & Co at Golden Gate Park, check out the full review by Gabriel Barkin.
Sun 8/3 (Late Night): Promiseland @ Great Northern – Read more and check out the album.
Sun 8/3: Axial Tilt @ Great American Music Hall – BISS contributor Gabriel Barkin was at this sold-out show with Joan Osborne, John Kadlecik, and more. Check out the album.

On My Radar This Week – These are just a few options that I am considering but there are plenty more in the Best of BISS section below! So choose your own adventure!

Thu 8/7: Billy Iuso and Friends @ Sausalito Cruising Club – If I actually leave the city, I’ll head to Sausalito for Billy Iuso, Reggie Scanlan, Eddie Christmas, and Mookie Siegel.
Thu 8/7: Jordan and Friends @ The Faight Collective – This might be the better option for me since it’s just a short trip down the hill to the Lower Haight. Easy peasy. (*WIN*)
Fri 8/8: Eric Bolivar @ Boom Boom Room – No matter what else I do, I know where I’ll end up by 10pm. BBR for Eric Bolivar! (*WIN*)
Fri 8/8: The Headhunters @ Blue Note Napa – Thinking about making the trip up to Napa for this one. (*WIN*)
Fri 8/8: Len Dell’Amico Interview @ Fairfax Pavilion – BISS List and Grateful Web writer Gabriel Barkin will be interviewing longtime Grateful Dead videographer Len Dell’Amico about his new book Friend of the Devil: My Wild Ride with Jerry Garcia and the Grateful Dead from 6 to 7:30pm. Could I make this on the way to Sean’s Bday celebration?
Fri 8/8: Sean’s Leo Birthday Celebration in San Rafael -This celebration is always a good time with so many friends coming out, not to mention the band featuring Billy Iuso, Reggie Scanlan, Eddie Christmas, and Mookie Siegel. If you want to join us, reply to get the ticket link and exact location. Happy birthday, Sean!
Sat 8/9: Femi Kuti & The Positive Force @ UC Theatre – With support from JUAN G and Madame Gandhi. (*WIN*)
Sat 8/9: Soji Sai @ Boom Boom Room – He played last month, and the reviews were amazing. Josh Danson said the energy was incredible, a packed house, killer tunes, and a powerful vibe of unity. Sounds like a great idea. (*WIN*)
Sun 8/10: Lebo & Friends + Midnight North @ Rancho Nicasio – This will be a really fun time with one set from each band and a collaboration set! Who wants to go with me to Nicasio? (*WIN*)
Fri 8/8 to Sun 8/10: Outside Lands in Golden Gate Park – The park gets another massive injection of people for Outside Lands. I don’t think I’m going, but I would like to see Anderson.Paak. Maybe Vampire Weekend, Hozier, and Doja Cat. If you’re going, report back.

Mark Your Calendar –. You can always find your own groove by checking out the Best of BISS on the website. However, there is one that I want to let you know about, and that is:

8/23: Eric McFadden @ Boom Boom Room (*WIN*) – While not intentionally booked for my birthday, it coincidentally falls on that day. This is not the first, nor will it be the last time that I’ve celebrated my birthday at an Eric show. I am not mad about it.

Thanks for being part of this beautiful, music-loving crew. Every time I run into a BISS Lister at a show or hear your stories, I’m reminded of why I started this in the first place. After a weekend like GD60, it’s hard not to feel Grateful. Yes, capital G, Grateful. For this community, this city, and this scene. Let’s keep that spirit alive as we roll into the next round of shows. You know I’ll be out there.

A few ways to help keep the spirit flowing: perhaps become a Patreon member, or contribute a donation. As always, for even more shows and your chance to win FREE tickets, check out Best of BISS, the Full Calendar, and the Win Tickets page. Until next week…

Much love and funky vibes,
~Pamela aka Miss BISS
#seeyouattheshows

SPOTLIGHT ON THE HEADHUNTERS

The Headhunters

August 8th (6:30 & 9pm) @ Blue Note Napa

The Headhunters, the legendary jazz-funk ensemble co-led by percussionist Bill Summers and drummer Mike Clark with NEA Jazz Master Donald Harrison on alto saxophone, come to Blue Note Napa for two shows this Friday!

Few bands can boast of a history as fortuitous and storied as The Headhunters. What each member brings to the table forged a history that most bands can only dream of. Summer and Clark recorded on Herbie Hancock’s seminal albums Head Hunters, Thrust, Flood and Man Child before embarking on a blockbuster five decade career with over a million albums sold worldwide.

SPOTLIGHT ON ERIC BOLIVAR

Eric Bolivar Funk All-Stars

August 8th @ Boom Boom Room

Direct from New Orleans! Eric Bolivar in his triumphant return to BBR for the first time in over a decade. With his Funk All-Stars, an epic lineup of musicians including Victor Little, Dave Shul, Mike Olmos, Daniel Casares, Adam Klipple, Eric Cotton, and more surprise guests!

Eric Bolivar is the iconic drummer of Pimps of Joytime and Bonerama and is a Boom Boom Room legend going back to the year 1999. He has performed, recorded and toured with a veritable “who’s who” of legendary musicians and bands. He is one of the G.O.A.T.s on the drums. Get all up in the BBR for what will be an All-Star show!!

WEEK IN REVIEW

Pamela’s Full Week in Review

Thu 7/31 Afternoon: A Grateful Gathering @ Yerba Buena Lane
A Grateful Gathering at Yerba Buena Lane in San Francisco was the perfect kickoff to GD60 week. Presented by Value Culture with support from the Mayor’s Office and BISS List as media sponsor, this outdoor street happy hour event was inspired by the music and culture of the Grateful Dead. The sunshine, cocktails in hand, good eats from the surrounding restaurants, and photo booth fun set the tone. Jordan Feinstein and Friends brought the Dead-style tunes to life with Jeanette Ferber, Anna Elva, and Mike Meagher. Even the mayor came by to take it all in. This event is part of the Yerba Buena Lane Entertainment Zone, a new San Francisco initiative celebrating public activation, culture, and joy in the heart of downtown. Check out the photos & vids.

Thu 7/31: Heart of Town ft Grahame Lesh and an All-Star crew
The pre-party vibes were on point at this packed show. Headed straight from Yerba Buena to Pier 48 for Heart of Town with Grahame Lesh and an all-star lineup featuring Peter Rowan, Alex Koford, Andy Frasco, Bill Nershi, Elliott Peck, Eric Krasno, Garrett Deloian, Griffin Goldsmith, Holly Bowling, Ivan Neville, Jeremy Hoenig, John Kadlecik, John Molo, JP McLean, Maggie Rose, Melvin Seals, Nathan Graham, Nicki Bluhm, Pete Sears, Roger McNamee, Sam Grisman, Taylor Goldsmith, and Tony Hall. The whole space was buzzing. It felt like a full-on pre-party for the weekend ahead. Lots of friends, lots of music, and the feeling that something big was starting. Check out the photos & vids.

Fri 8/1 (Morning): Jordan & Friends @ Psychedelic Gallery SF
Friday morning, I popped downstairs and across the street to the Psychedelic Art Gallery to say hi to Jordan Feinstein and the gang: Matt Hartle, Anna Elva, and Murph Murphy. Yes, a full band playing across from my house. For FREE! Check out the photos & vids.

Fri 8/1 Heart of Town ft Grahame Lesh and an All-Star crew @ Pier 48
Made it back to Pier 48 to work the Love on Haight booth for night two of Heart of Town. Another night of jammed-out goodness with Grahame Lesh and a fresh lineup of all-stars featuring Alex Koford, Cody Dickinson, Duane Betts, Elliott Peck, Jake Brownstein, Jason Crosby, Kanika Moore, Karl Denson, Leslie Mendelson, Luther Dickinson, Bertha: Grateful Drag, Nathan Graham, Neal Francis, Nicki Bluhm, Reed Mathis, Scott Law, Tom Hamilton, and Trevor Weekz. It was a sold-out show, but the room didn’t feel quite as packed as the night before. My guess is that some folks may have overdone it or got hit with the cold at the park and never made it back out. I was working but still managed to capture one video…

Sat 8/2: Back at the Shop + The Great Phone Caper @ Love on Haight
Back at work on Saturday morning at Love on Haight, knowing how wild it had been the day before as people were gearing up to head to the park. It was a full-on party in there with DJ Kevvy Kev spinning and getting the whole crowd dancing and singing along to everything from Grateful Dead to Neil Diamond’s Sweet Caroline to Funkadelic. Good times all around. My shift was split so I could come back later to help with closing at midnight. At some point, I foolishly set my phone down while sitting outside and walked away for maybe two minutes. I realized it wasn’t with me, so I called it from my watch. But by the time I ran back to where I’d been sitting, it was already gone. I called again and got the dreaded “not connected” message. I sprinted upstairs to use Find My Device on my computer and watched it ping along Lincoln Way… through the avenues, to Laguna Honda, and eventually down 280. I kept ringing it over and over, blasting the Sanford and Son theme song. But no one picked up. There went my phone. Without me. Buh bye, phone. 👋📱🪦 So if you’ve messaged me since Saturday, send it again! Who dis? Yes, I have survived since Saturday without my phone…

Sat 8/2 (Late Night): SF Is Dead All Stars @ Boom Boom Room
We closed up at midnight, then I regrouped and accepted that my phone was gone. I ordered a replacement and took Spor’s phone just in case of an emergency and to call an Uber. Then I headed to Boom Boom Room around 1 AM for SF Is Dead All Stars with Reed Mathis, Jon Chi, Jordan Feinstein, and Murph Murphy, plus special guest Rich Egan on vocals and harmonica. Yes, it’s a total coincidence that I happened to catch some of these same musicians multiple times this past week. Or maybe it just means they played a lot. Thanks Spor for lending me your phone for emergencies and Uber. Check out the photos & vids.

Sun 8/3 (Afternoon): Dead & Company @ Golden Gate Park
My one and only day at the park, and it was perfect. Gorgeous weather, great friends, and Dead & Company sounding just right. I slept in a bit after the late night at Boom Boom Room, then pulled together my most colorful outfit and packed a few strategic layers. Word had definitely gotten around about how cold it had been the first two days, especially from all the customers coming into the shop looking for long sleeves, sweatshirts, and a few of those epic coats — the amazing, colorful, fluffy, sparkly ones we sell. Still using Spor’s borrowed phone just in case I needed to call an Uber, I headed out and went with the flow. Huge thanks to JP for the VIP hookup. I pretty much stayed in there and just wandered, running into friends with no plan at all. I literally followed the energy. At one point I was walking in one direction while the crowd flowed past me in the other, so I just jumped in the river of people and let it carry me. The vibes were beautiful. Everyone was happy, dancing, vibing, whether they knew each other or not. I saw familiar faces everywhere, and I did it all with no phone. I made mental notes, just for this write-up. First of all, the only day I made it to the park was the only sunny day. I spent a lot of time just people watching. When it started to get cold, I watched a total stranger offer her blanket to someone she had never met. Kindness was everywhere. After the show, I headed to the designated bench we’d picked as our meetup spot. While I was sitting there, a woman next to me had her little girl curled up on her lap, half asleep. And I heard the girl whisper, “Mommy, let’s do it again when Trey wakes up.” Oh right, there was music. Trey Anastasio Band was pretty awesome. You know I love a horn section — especially when it includes Jennifer Hartswick and Natalie Cressman. And the Dead sounded great. I heard some comments about the sound in the previous days, but the sun came out and the sound was on point. Check out the photos & vids.

Sun 8/3 (Late Night): Promiseland @ Great Northern
The night wasn’t over yet, and neither was Bonnie’s birthday celebration. Happy birthday, Bon Bon! We gathered the troops and headed to Great Northern for Promised Land’s late-night set featuring DJ Logic. I’ve been a longtime fan, and he’s also a longtime friend. We had talked about having Lantz sit in for a song or two, but it turned into a full set of Logic and Lantz, which ended up being the perfect way to close out my weekend. I got home by six and pretty much slept straight through Monday. Check out the photos & vids.

BISS REVIEW

She Still Sparkles:
Deadheads Take Over San Francisco

“She lost her sparkle, you know she isn’t the same. That well-known lyric from the Grateful Dead song ‘Truckin’ was on my mind this weekend. ‘She’ might refer to America’s most iconic band. ‘She’ might be a Deadhead who was born before Jerry Garcia took his first breath – or a Deadhead who never heard a lick of Dead music until after Garcia died. ‘She’ might be San Francisco, the city that reluctantly birthed the psychedelic movement and its most famous rock band in the tumultuous 60s. Or ‘she’ could be that same city in its current incarnation, the city that welcomed Dead & Company with open arms for a 60th birthday celebration this past weekend. But whichever ‘she’ you choose, the lyric is wrong. She ain’t lost her sparkle at all. That sparkle is alive, glimmering, and sparklier than ever!” Check out the full review and phots from Gabriel Barkin here.

BISS GALLERY

Axial Tilt: A Grateful Dead
60th Anniversary Celebration

Axial Tilt played three sets of Grateful Dead music at the Great American Music Hall on Sunday. Featuring Joan Osborne (The Dead) – Vocals, John Kadlecik (Melvin Seals & JGB, Furthur) – Guitar, Nate LaPointe (Cubensis, Bobby Womack) – Guitar, Mitch Stein (Mars Hotel, GATORATORS) – Keyboards, Stephen Ramirez (Zen Tricksters, CRYPTICAL) – Bass, Pete Lavezzoli (Jazz Is Dead, Mars Hotel) – Drums, Wally Ingram (David Lindley, David Nelson) – Percussion. Pretty cool lineup! Check out Gabriel Barkin’s full gallery here.