26 September 2024

BISS List 9.26.24: Spotlight on LAZWELL (10.5) + Best of BISS this Week

Happy National Pancake Day, BISS Listers! Let’s stack up some great music this week!

I hope you all had a fantastic week filled with great music and memorable experiences. Here’s a roundup of last week’s shows, plus a look ahead at what’s coming up!

The Best of Last Week’s Shows:

Wednesday: DreamFest at Oracle Ballpark: Last week’s musical adventures kicked off VIP-style at DreamFest, part of the Dreamforce convention at Oracle Ballpark, featuring P!NK and Imagine Dragons. The VIP treatment was epic—from exclusive access to prime views to a few perks that really made the night unforgettable. While I had heard about P!NK’s acrobatic skills, seeing her fly throughout the stadium in real life was insane. See for yourself! *PS. Thank you, Lauren!
Thursday: Vulfpeck: Vulfpeck brought the funk, soul, and good vibes to the UC Theater last week, recording their upcoming album Clarity of Cal live. Fans were treated to a mix of old favorites and exciting new tracks, plus special guest appearances. The energy was contagious, making it a once-in-a-lifetime experience for everyone there. Judging by the shows, Clarity of Cal is going to be amazing—keep your ears open for its release! Get a glimpse of the magic in our BISS List Review.
Friday: Portugal. The Man at Civic Center: Portugal. The Man rocked Civic Center with good vibes. This free show at the Civic Center was a blast, though it was super crowded! I didn’t manage to snap many photos, but the energy from Portugal. The Man and Snacktime, not to mention the crowd, was unbeatable.
Sunday: The BISS Patreon Plus-One Experience: One of our amazing Patreon members joined me for a full day of music and fun, and we had a blast on Sunday! Here’s what she had to say about it: “I felt like a rockstar hanging out with Pamela as her BISS List Plus One. Her knowledge about the artists and music is fascinating. Our Sunday outing included three(!) venues in the Oakland/Berkeley area; each one unique and remarkable. What a blast! After years of following the BISS List, it’s a treat to finally be a ‘member!’ Thank you, Pamela and the BISS List team. Rock on!” ~ Nancy C.
Katy’s Birthday Party: We started this epic Sunday celebrating our friend Katy’s birthday, which set the tone for a fantastic day. Happy birthday again, Katy!
Tom Freund at The Art House Gallery in Berkeley: Tom Freund transformed the Berkeley Art House into a haven of soulful music and connection. His warm personality and engaging storytelling created a sense of camaraderie, making it feel like a gathering of friends rather than a concert. The intimate gallery provided the perfect backdrop for the evening. The Arthouse itself is such a cool, intimate spot with tons of visual stimulation to enjoy while listening to great music. It would also be a really good spot for a private party. (hmmmmm…..) Feast your eyes on these pics and clips.
Sound Cipher at Ivy Room: Next up, Sound Cipher, featuring Skerik on saxophone, Primus’ Tim Alexander on drums, and Timm Mason on synthesizers, transported the audience at the Ivy Room on a sonic journey during the release celebration for their long-awaited debut album All That Syncs Must Diverge. The trio blended jazz, electronica, and experimental sounds. Relive the show here!
Nikka Costa at Cornerstone Berkeley: Nikka Costa lit up Cornerstone Berkeley with her powerful voice and infectious energy. A comment I read summed it up perfectly: “fans were ‘still reeling’ from the show, calling Costa a standout performer.” Blending classic hits with fresh tracks from Dirty Disco, she kept the crowd fully engaged, backed by a tight band and a lively mix of ballads and funk. Click here for a treat!

If you haven’t already, consider joining the BISS List Patreon to unlock the Pamela+1 Experience and other exclusive perks. Your support helps keep the BISS List going strong, and there’s so much more in store!

YOUR Favorites of this past week: I reached out to you, my BISS Listers, to hear what your other favorite shows were last week, and the response was incredible! Here’s a quick roundup of your thoughts…

So many of you shouted out Deep End as the highlight, saying it was magical, with standout performances from ALO, Hot Buttered Rum, and Eric Krasno as part of King Canyon, along with new discoveries like Broken Compass Bluegrass and Surfer Girl.
The Bender Jamboree in Vegas was a huge hit, with a fantastic mix of music and a fun, friendly crowd enjoying the comforts of a hotel festival.
At The Hog Farm & Friends celebration, performances by The Sam Chase & The Untraditional, Poor Man’s Whiskey, and China Dolls were nothing short of unforgettable.
Green Day delivered an epic hometown performance, and the Sac Farm to Fork Fest was a crowd-pleaser, featuring Hayes Carll, Andra Day, and an impressive young artist, Chance Emerson.
There’s a lot of buzz around the Geese and Anderson .Paak shows with many excited to catch them live in the future.
Many of you discovered a new favorite jam band in Blu Egyptian at Peri’s, while others enjoyed a weekend filled with Talley Up featuring Jeannette Ferber, Flower Piano, and local bluegrass jams.

Thank you all for sharing your experiences! Keep those stories coming, and you might see your review in next week’s BISS List.

This Week in Music:

Thursday: The Soul Rebels at The Indy: The Soul Rebels bring their NOLA infectious brass and funk energy to The Independent on Thursday night. These guys never disappoint, and it’s always a party when they hit the stage. I cannot wait for this show. I need a little NOLA fix.
Friday: Bonnie Raitt at Fox Theater and Tracorum at GGP: I’ve got a couple of shows on my radar for Friday. I might check out Tracorum in the afternoon at the Bandshell, but my heart is set on Bonnie Raitt at the Fox Theater in Oakland. It’s sold out, but I have tickets and am planning to head out early for this one to soak in every moment of her incredible performance. I would also love to be able to attend the GROOVINE Festival event featuring a performance by the incredible Rainbow Girls at Haight Street Arts Center, as well as the Minglewood Boys performing at Finnegan’s Wake. Both of these shows are kind of in my neighborhood. However, I think Bonnie Raitt might win on Friday.
Saturday: Glass Beams at The Warfield: If you’re into experimental and mind-expanding music, this is the show for you. I’ll see you there!
Sunday: Black Pumas in Napa: The week wraps up with the soulful and smooth sounds of the Black Pumas up in Napa. It’s the perfect way to close out a music-filled weekend with their vibrant, Grammy-nominated energy.

For the complete list of shows, keep scrolling to the Best of BISS section!

Upcoming: Mark your calendars for the weekend of October 4th-6th for Hardly Strictly Bluegrass in Golden Gate Park! And the music doesn’t have to stop there. On Saturday, October 5th, head to the Boom Boom Room for LAZWELL ft special guests Eric McFadden & Kate Vargas with support by DangerAte (*WIN*) at the Boom Boom Room. It’s going to be a nonstop music weekend! More on this in the spotlight below.

That’s a wrap for now! Keep dancing, keep the music alive, and keep sharing your stories with me! Don’t forget to check out my playlist, Coming to a Stage Near You, to get in the mood for all the great shows coming up!

#seeyouattheshows
~ Pamela aka Miss BISS

SPOTLIGHT ON LAZWELL

BISS List Presents: LAZWELL
ft Eric Mc Fadden & Kate Vargas

October 5th @ Boom Boom Room

Slaying reinvented covers and owning instantly lovable originals, LAZWELL leaves jaws agape and keeps the dance floor humming. Featuring frontman Lantz Lazwell (Guitar, Vox) with Eric Webber (Sax), Patrick Lema (Drums), Josh Cambridge (Trombone), Kyland Jardine (Bass), and special guests Eric McFadden (Guitar, Vox) & Kate Vargas (Guitar, Vox). Watching LAZWELL perform is a moving, impactful, soulful, and groovy experience. Undergoing various reformations over the years, now in its latest inception, the electrifying California-based band LAZWELL breaks genre barriers to deliver a next-level sound that seamlessly fuses rock, funk, blues, hip-hop, and an amalgamation of other musical styles. With Ziggy Bowie Tribute – back by popular demand! JazSFunk fusion collective DangerAte kicks off the night.

*Check out all of our Featured Shows.

BISS REVIEW

Vulfpeck

Vulfpeck’s back-to-back shows at the UC Theater last week were nothing short of spectacular. These shows held special significance, as they were live recording sessions for their upcoming album, Clarity of Cal. Check out the review and photos from Pamela.