31 October 2024

BISS List 10.31.24: Spotlight on Scott Pemberton Trio 11.13 + Best of BISS this Week

Happy Halloween BISS Listers!! Some of you started celebrating last weekend, and some will continue celebrating this weekend. But today is the day!! If you read your BISS List last week, then you know all about my plans and what all the rest of the BISS community is up to from our spotlight on Halloween. In case you missed it, you can review it right here: https://bit.ly/BISSlist-10-24-24.

A Week to Remember: Music City, JRAD, and a Wild Weekend on the Road: Wow, what a week. I’m still recovering from the whirlwind of events, from Music City SF to LAZWELL opening for ZZ Top! This BISS List is going to be packed, so buckle up.

Music City SF Grand Opening – Day and Night Celebrations: Let’s kick things off with Music City SF’s grand opening. I spent most of last Saturday there, soaking in the third annual Songwriters event all day and then the nighttime extravaganza that featured six stages, amazing food and drinks, and an energy you could feel for miles. I captured so many moments on camera, and I even interviewed the man behind the vision of Music City, Rudy Colombini, not to mention a number of the incredible musicians who played the event. I summarized the whole experience in a review with photos I captured myself on the BISS Website. Please check it out and let me know what you think!

A Night with JRAD and Remembering Phil Lesh: Thursday night was all about JRAD (and celebrating Angela’s bday). HBD girl! JRAD delivered a killer show that was both powerful and celebratory, and I can only imagine how special Friday’s show was after the sad news of Phil Lesh’s passing that morning. BISS Contributing Editor Gabriel Barkin wrote up a lovely review and included a number of pictures of Phil which you can enjoy here. (And Happy Birthday Gabe!!) Phil’s legacy lives on in every note and every tribute played by the community, and I know Friday’s performance in his honor was something no one in attendance will forget. I posted to ask how you all celebrated the life of Phil Lesh over the weekend, and many of you attended concerts where there was at least one song, if not many songs, in tribute to Phil Lesh, including an epic gathering at Haight and Masonic. Others watched old shows, listened to his music, and even visited Terrapin Crossroads and the shrine in San Rafael. Some folks shared videos and photos of Phil, while others simply took some time to reflect on his music and what it meant to them. It’s clear that Phil’s legacy continues to inspire us all. Feel free to add your own note of your COL for Phil to the post.

Friday at the 4 Star Theater – A Cozy Night with Andre Cruz and Chris Lujan + The Silvertone: After Thursday’s high-energy JRAD show, I decided to keep it local on Friday night with a visit to 4 Star Theater to catch Andre Cruz and Chris Lujan. The theater is such a gem! It’s small, charming, and has this classic vibe that just pulls you in, not to mention a record store. Opening for the night was The Silvertone, all the way from L.A. Popcorn was popping, the crowd was grooving, and everyone was having a great time. The 4 Star has regular shows in addition to movies, and it’s such a great spot—I highly recommend checking it out! We will be including more shows there in upcoming BISS Lists. And yes, of course, there will be giveaways!

Chico’s ALO Bash @ River Oak Gardens – Saturday Escape: Saturday morning, I packed up the car and hit the road to Chico for a private party featuring three sets by ALO. The event was set on this gorgeous property, a perfect backdrop for a day of music and friends. Shout out to the hosts and everyone who put this together—it was beyond fabulous! It was a full-on music fam event, and I got to reconnect with some amazing people. Thank you to all the friends who made it even more special—you know who you are.

Sunday Drive to Stockton – LAZWELL Opens for ZZ Top: After a late night in Chico, I managed to get an early start on Sunday and made my way to Stockton, where LAZWELL (led by the talented Lantz Lazwell) opened for the legendary ZZ Top at The Bob Hope Theatre! LAZWELL took the stage in sleek black and gold outfits and absolutely owned the crowd. They played all originals, and despite that, the audience of around 800 to 1,000 was completely engaged, singing along, dancing, and ready for more. After the set, people lined up at the merch table to take photos with the band! We were all on cloud 9 as we watched the next set of ZZ Top. And yes, they played all the ripping tunes you wanted to hear!

Driving Playlist Vibes and Road Trips with Hedgie: When the road calls, I’ve gotta say, I love driving. When I get behind the wheel, I hit shuffle on my playlist until I get the right vibe, let the music take me, and just cruise; there’s nothing like it. And, of course, I’ve got Hedgie the Rainbow Sparkle Roadhog riding shotgun—a perfect travel buddy for all my solo trips, along with the BISS playlist, “It’s All Good.”

My Personal Plans for This Weekend: As I mentioned in last week’s edition of BISS List, my Halloween plans for tonight will put me in the Fillmore District for a triple header. I am starting at Sheba Lounge at 7:30 for DangerAte Duo, then heading to The Fillmore for Buckethead (congrats to all our winners!), and then to SF is Dead Allstars at Boom Boom Room (*WIN*). Saturday, I am heading to Mill Valley for Rebirth Brass Band’s 9pm show (*WIN*). There is also a Rebirth show at 3pm (*WIN*). Sunday, Aimee Mann is at the Fillmore, and we have giveaways for her show on Monday night (*WIN*)! But then again, Monday night is King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard show at Frost Amphitheater. But also, there is the option to see them on Wednesday in the city at The Regency. (But man, those tiks are pricey!) So many shows, so little time. As always, the full rundown of this week’s picks are in the Best of BISS section below. So scroll on!

A Couple of Upcoming Shows to Note: This week, we are spotlighting two shows that you should have on your calendar. The first is Scott Pemberton Trio @ The Ivy Room on 11/13 (*WIN*). The second is LAZWELL at Longboard in Pacifica with Blu Egyptian on 11/8 (*WIN*). Scroll on to the Spotlights section for more info on these two shows, and then mark your calendars!

For more shows and your chance to win FREE tickets, head over to the Full Calendar and the Win Tickets page. And while you’re at it, check out the ‘Coming to a Stage Near You,’ playlist to get in the mood for all the great music coming up.

One more thing before I go: Thank you again to all the BISS Listers who’ve joined our Patreon so far—you’re helping keep this labor of love alive! Your support means the world, and it’s already making a difference as we keep bringing you the best of the Bay Area music scene. We heard you loud and clear! It turns out some of you think we didn’t have enough ways for you to throw money at us, er, support the BISS List. So, we’ve answered your call and created more ways to show your love—new tiers, same perks, with more goodies to come down the road. Here’s what we’ve cooked up:

GA Pass – $5: All the perks you love, including Instant Wins, Dance Card Fillers, Exclusive Giveaways, & more! Perfect for those who want to keep it classic.
VIP Pass – $10: Want to feel a little fancier? Go VIP – Same perks, better bragging rights!
Backstage Pass – $25: With the BISS List, you’re already hanging out behind the scenes with us. Same perks, just a way to give extra love and keep the magic alive!
On the Tour Bus – $40: You’re rolling with the big kids now! This one’s for those who are in it for the long haul.
Blind Faith – $100: Ah, the grand gesture. For those who believe in the BISS List with all their hearts (and wallets). And if $100 isn’t quite grand enough for you, feel free to click that button and make it any number you like! We promise we won’t stop you…

You can now pick the perfect support level that speaks to you. Let’s keep this musical journey going strong. We can’t wait to see where it takes us! Please check out the page for more details and learn more about our awesome perks!

That’s a wrap for now! Keep dancing, keep the music alive, and keep sharing your stories with me!

~ Pamela aka Miss BISS
#seeyouattheshows

SPOTLIGHT ON TIMBER ROCK

Scott Pemberton Trio

Nov 13th @ Ivy Room

Scott Pemberton’s sound is much like the vibe of his native Portland: freaky, fun, and just the right amount of weird. The best way to categorize his music is with the moniker “Timber Rock”. Scott naturally applies his own lens/stamp to the sounds of the Pacific Northwest, the region he has always called home. The deep jazz, NW rock/grunge, blues roots, and the west coast funk. It’s all there, and often all in the same song Listeners find this honest, original, and to-the-point music refreshing and fun. The mastery of his guitar playing combined with the fun recklessness of his songwriting show that the rules of songwriting and playing the guitar no longer exist for him. Scott plays with the uninhibited joy and intensity of someone who recognizes that every time we make music is an honor and a gift.

SPOTLIGHT ON FUNK SOUL GROOVE X 2

LAZWELL + Blü Egyptian

Nov 8th @ Longboard Bar & Venue

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.

Blü Egyptian is an electrifying quartet based in Chico, CA who have singlehandedly pioneered the genre of Prog-Jam. This catchy funk, latin, reggae, bluegrass, and rock n’ roll breed has swept up the West Coast in a dancing frenzy.

*Check out all of our Featured Shows

BISS REVIEW

Music City SF:
Songwriters Festival & Grand Opening Party

“San Francisco’s vibrant music scene got a serious shot in the arm on Saturday, October 19th, with the Third Annual Songwriter’s Festival and Grand Opening Party of Music City SF. This wasn’t just a live music event; it was a full-blown musical takeover of a block on Polk Street and a celebration of everything that makes San Francisco’s music community special. Music City SF is a welcome addition to the city’s cultural landscape, and it’s destined to become a vital hub for musicians for years to come.” Check out Pamela’s full review & photos.

BISS REVIEW

JRAD @ The Fox Theater:
The Legacy of Phil Lesh & The Grateful Dead

“It is impossible to count all the Dead cover bands out there. Seriously, I’ve seen three completely different lineups myself in just the last week alone! (Before I continue, I need to take a moment to acknowledge the immense contributions of Phil Lesh to The Grateful Dead, to fans across the U.S. and around to the world, to the entire universe of music, and to my life. Heck, I met my wife at a Dead show, so I can truly say Phil changed my life.) Joe Russo’s Almost Dead (JRAD) is one of the countless bands in the mix. Do they “do” what The Grateful Dead did? Not exactly. But then again, even the Dead in 1990 didn’t “do” what the Dead were doing in 1966. Whatever JRAD does, they do it really fucking well.” Check out the full review & photos from Gabriel Barkin.