16 October 2025

BISS List 10.16.25 Spotlight on ALO’s Halloweekend Haunt (11.1) + The Best of BISS This Week

Happy Sweetest Day Week, BISS Listers!

This Saturday, October 18, is Sweetest Day. While it’s often thought of as a romantic holiday, I like to think of it as a day to celebrate all the sweet people in our lives. Friends who make us laugh, bandmates who lift us up, venue staff who make it all happen, and everyone who keeps our music community humming.

So consider this your reminder to tell someone they’re your Sweetest this week. Send a text, share a post, or invite them out to a show. The world could use a little extra sweetness right now.

And speaking of sweet things, I just want to say thank you to everyone who’s helping keep BISS going, whether through your tax-deductible donations, your Patreon membership, or simply spreading the word. Every bit of support helps keep this labor of love alive. Patreon Members, remember to check in every Wednesday for exclusive chances to win tickets or even roll out with me as my plus one to a show.

Last Week in Review: Let’s sweeten things up with a quick look back at last week’s fun. Here are some highlights:

Wed 10/8: Black Joe Lewis @ Sweetwater, Mill Valley – Shoutout to BISS winner Winter, who had a blast and shared her videos with us. She said her “passion for the blues genre and power trios has been renewed.” Check out her videos →
Thu–Fri 10/9–10/10: LaMP @ Mystic Theatre (Petaluma) & Cornerstone (Berkeley) – Gabe Barkin caught the powerhouse trio of Russ Lawton, Ray Paczkowski, and Scott Metzger delivering two nights of high-octane instrumental funk-rock fusion. Read the full review →
Sat 10/11: Ty Segall @ The Regency, San Francisco – Gabe Barkin covered Segall’s heavy, guitar-driven set that leaned more grunge than glitter. Read the full review →
Sat 10/11: Rebirth Brass Band @ Sweetwater, Mill Valley – My weekend running partner, Jen, summed it up perfectly: “Rebirth Brass Band brought the Nola vibes. From jazz to funk, it’s always a great dance party! Love a big band vibe with horns.” Check out my photos and videos →
Sun 10/12: Kate Vargas @ Ivy Room, Albany – Lit up the Ivy Room, celebrating her new album Golden Hour in the House of Lugosi with a killer band. Check out the videos and photos→

I know times are tight right now. I feel it too. But supporting live music doesn’t always have to cost a thing. Share one of our posts. Tell a friend about the BISS List. Forward this email to someone who loves live music. Or, if you’re feeling the pinch but still want to get out, take advantage of all the free music happening right here in San Francisco. We’re lucky to live in a city that offers so many ways to experience community and joy without spending a dime.

Here are a few sweet FREE shows for this week in San Francisco:

Thu 10/16: William Johnston’s Extravagant Superband @ Boom Boom Room
Fri 10/17: Rooftop Lunchbox Music Fridays @ Salesforce Transit Center
Fri 10/17: Lower Polk Live: Block Party @ Polk Street
Fri 10/17: Friday Happy Hour ft. The Super Super @ Golden Gate Park Bandshell
Sat 10/18: Rooftop Bluegrass Breeze Saturday @ Salesforce Transit Center,
Sat 10/18: 50th Potrero Hill R&B Festival ft. Andre Cruz & Chris Lujan, The Grease Traps, Pride & Joy, The Klipptones, Anthony Paule Soul Orchestra @ 20th Street (Wisconsin to Missouri)
Sat 10/18: Bay Beats Launch Party @ Golden Gate Park Bandshell
Sun 10/19: Dub to Dancehall Crucial Reggae Sundays @ Golden Gate Park Bandshell
Tue 10/21: Phat Tuesdays with Oscar Myers Steppin’ @ Madrone Art Bar
Wed 10/22: 6 Roses ft. Michael Cavaseno & David Boyce @ Madrone Art Bar
Wed 10/22: Rooftop Jazz Wednesdays @ Salesforce Transit Center

And don’t forget, you can also score free tickets to many BISS List shows just by spreading the word and entering to WIN. I was shocked that over 20 shows last week had zero entries to WIN. If that keeps up, your chances of winning are huge right now. Seriously, a little effort goes a long way. Enter, share, or spread the word, and you could be dancing for free this weekend.

What’s On My Radar This Week: If last week was sweet, this one’s shaping up to be even sweeter. Sadly, the Crosby Collective show was canceled this Friday, but there’s still plenty to keep the beat alive around the Bay.

Thurs 10/16: Sonamo w/ Boca Do Rio & DJ Nino Msk @ Brick & Mortar (*WIN*)
Thurs 10/16: Frank Catalano’s Love Supreme Collective 2025 (7pm) @ Black Cat (*WIN*)
Fri 10/17: Buckethead @ The Warfield
Sat 10/18: Cask Whiskey & Blues Fair ft JeConte & Eoin Harrington, Jinx Jones & The Kingtones, and Emma Jean Foster & The American Soul @ Lark Bar – FREE tickets with PromoCode: “WhiskeyBlues” while supplies last. If tickets are out you can also enter to WIN a pair.
Sat 10/18: Allen Stone @ The Warfield
Sat 10/18: Christone “Kingfish” Ingram @ The Fillmore

There are plenty of other ways to get your groove on this week. Check out the Best of BISS below, the Win Tickets page, and the Full Calendar for even more live music picks. And with Halloween right around the corner, it’s never too early to start planning those costumes and spooky show nights.

Mark Your Calendar for all these upcoming shows that are not to be missed. Spread the word and get yourself some FREE tickets!

10/24: The New Mastersounds @ The Fillmore (*WIN*)
10/25: The Hip Abduction @ The Fillmore (*WIN*)
10/25: JARS ft Justin Purtill, Anna Elva, Reed Mathis, and Scott Guberman @ Ivy Room (*WIN*)
10/31: 🎃Katdelic @ The Bandshell FREE
10/31: 🎃Halloween Freakfunktacular ft Katdelic and The Humidors + Hubba Hubba Burlesque @ Boom Boom Room (*WIN*)
11/1: 🎃Halloweekend Haunt: ALO w/ Big Light @ Mystic Theatre (*WIN*) – Check out the Spotlight below for more info!
12/5: Jorma Kaukonen’s 85th Birthday @ Masonic (*WIN*)

Want more Halloween and Día de los Muertos shows? Look for the 🎃 emoji! What are YOU doing for Halloween? Did we miss anything?

This Sweetest Day, spread some love to your favorite people, your favorite bands, and your favorite community. We all keep the music alive together.

~ Pamela aka Miss BISS
#seeyouattheshows

SPOTLIGHT ON HALLOWEEKEND HAUNT

ALO’s Halloweekend Haunt

Nov 1st @ Mystic Theatre

ALO returns with their annual Halloweekend Haunt on Saturday Nov 1st at Mystic Theatre in Petaluma. A night of music, mystery, and movement as ALO delivers their signature mix of groove-driven rock and improvisational magic. Joined by Big Light, for a musical journey that’s equal parts joyful celebration and supernatural jam session. This year’s theme is Ghostly Gala to keep the costume vibe going and lead into Dia de los Muertos.

BISS REVIEW

Supergroup LaMP Turns on the Power

Supergroup LaMP turned on the power with two Bay Area shows – Mystic Theatre in Petaluma on 10.9 and Cornerstone Berkeley on 10.10. “The dance floors both nights were all a’groove with ardent Phish and JRAD fans during two hour-long sets of high-energy instrumental illness. A high-octane, fuel-injected, diesel-powered good time.” Check out the full review and photos from Gabriel Barkin here.

BISS REVIEW

Ty Segall @ The Regency Ballroom

“Segall was born in Southern California in 1987. Where he got his affection for fuzztone guitars and glam rock vocals will have to remain a mystery until I can ask him someday. Suffice it to say, he has earned a de facto PhD in the genre with the release of his new record. It was a fun show, but the performance did not reflect the 1970s glam’ishness of Possession. Rather, it was something of a grunge guitar god shred fest. Not saying it was bad – in fact, it was pretty darn good. It just wasn’t what I expected.” Check out the full review and photos from Gabriel Barkin here.