13 November 2025

BISS List 11.13.25 Spotlight on BISS Holiday Party (12.3) + The Best of BISS This Week

Happy World Kindness Day, BISS Listers! 💜

There’s nothing like a little extra kindness, whether you’re hitting a show, cheering on a band, or sharing the groove with your crew, to make music feel even more alive. This week, we’re tuning in deeper not just to the songs but to the community that plays them, dances to them, and supports them. Let’s celebrate live music and the good vibes that come with being part of something bigger.

Last Week in Review: No rest for the live music obsessed. Here’s what filled our week with music and joy. Eight shows, eleven bands, and two BISS contributors out in the wild!

Wed 11/05: Sgt. Splendor @ Hotel Utah – Kate Vargas and Eric McFadden packed Hotel Utah with love, grit, and funk for their Isotopia pre-release and even pulled Garrett “Starchild Jr.” Shider on stage for a surprise jam. Read Gabriel David Barkin’s full review and gallery, and see my video recap.
Thu 11/06: 50 Years of Thunder Rolls @ The Junction – Gabriel David Barkin caught this one, with a review and gallery, capturing stunning moments from Stu Allen, Scarlet Rivera, and friends celebrating 50 years of Thunder Rolls.
Thu 11/06: The Heeters + Moon Panda @ Faight Collective – Faight nights never miss. Local heroes The Heeters had the crowd dancing while Moon Panda floated in from abroad with dreamy ethereal vocals, check out photos & vids from both sets.
Fri 11/07: Ginger Molasses + Tori Roze & The Hot Mess @ Boom Boom Room – Ladies with Lungs featuring two powerhouse women fronting killer bands at one of our favorite independent venues, full gallery and videos here.
Sat 11/08: T Sisters + Hot Buttered Rum @ The Chapel – Saturday at The Chapel was a homegrown harmony fest and I even brought one of our Patreon members as my Pamela + 1 (perks of being a member). Read Gabriel Barkin’s review with gallery and see my video moments.
Sat 11/08: It’s Like @ GRNHS (Bernadette’s Studio) – The debut of It’s Like, a groovetronic rock project led by Chris Reale, filled GRNHS with fresh energy, killer grooves, and community love. This beautiful space is something special and deserves support. See photos and videos from the show here. And support this amazing space at the Bloom Gala on 11/15.
Sat 11/08: Gitkin @ Boom Boom Room – Brian J of Pimps of Joytime closed out my marathon weekend with Gitkin, a lush swirl of global soul surf noir & analog funk, check out the pics & vids.
Sun 11/09: David Nelson and Company Celebrate NRPS @ Fairfax Pavilion – Gabriel David Barkin captured a beautiful tribute to the New Riders of the Purple Sage as David Nelson led an all-star lineup through a full evening of stories, songs, and smiles at The Harvest Hootenanny. Check out the full review with photos.

On My Radar: Here are a few shows where you’ll probably find me over the next week. You can also scroll on to see the Highlights of the Best of BISS for this week below.

Thu 11/13: GLIDE 40th Annual Holiday Jam ft El DeBarge @ The Warfield (Congrats to our winners!)
Fri 11/14: Marmot King’s Game Night ft Live Music w/ Jordan Feinstein + Guest Host, Yours truly! @ Manny’s Cafe – Bring a game to teach and share, or just come hang, play, and vibe.
Sat 11/15: Little Hurricane w/ Wolf Jett Duo @ Cornerstone Berkeley (*WIN*) – Gritty blues rock and dirty Americana with soul
Sat 11/15: Bloom Gala: An Evening for GRNHS Art Futures and 2026 Season! @ GRNHS
Sat 11/15: Kelly McFarling w/ Meernaa @ The Chapel
Sat 11/15: The Grease Traps w/ Fat Produce @ The Knot Club (*WIN*)
Tue 11/18: David Byrne @ Bill Graham Civic Auditorium
Wed 11/19: Samantha Fish, Robert Jon & the Wreck @ The Fillmore (*WIN*)

And as always, you can choose your own adventure — check out the Best of BISS, Full Calendar, or Win Tickets page for all the options.

Mark Your Calendar: There’s plenty of music magic coming up! Plus, the holidays are right around the corner. Mark these down, grab your crew, and let’s keep the groove going strong.

11/20 – 11/22: LowDown Brass Band @ Black Cat (*WIN*) – A three-night residency with the dynamic, horn-driven ensemble from Chicago.
11/28: Smoked Out Soul + Sweater Funk @ Ivy Room (*WIN*) — Funky soul dance party with live horns, synths, and all the future disco grooves you can handle. More on this in the spotlight below.
12/3: 14th Annual BISS List Holiday Cocktail Party @ Fishbowl Bar & Grill, 7pm – It is almost that time again. Kick off the season with the 14th Annual BISS List Holiday Cocktail Party, featuring special guest Startender Elie behind the bar. Always a great night of friends, music, and holiday cheer, and you know you don’t want to miss this one. More info in the spotlight below!

Thanks for bringing the kindness and the volume. Keep supporting the artists, uplifting the people, and making our music family stronger every week. 💜 Miss BISS

~ Pamela aka Miss BISS

#seeyouattheshows

SPOTLIGHT ON HOLIDAY PARTY

BISS Holiday Cocktail Party

Dec 3rd @ The Fishbowl Bar & Grill

The holidays are here, which means it’s time for a favorite BISS tradition… our annual Holiday Cocktail Party! This night has become a seasonal staple for the BISS community, where friends, music lovers, and good vibes come together to kick off the holidays right.

Elie will be behind the bar shaking up his legendary stiffies all night long, and all cash tips go to benefit the Alzheimer’s Association. So come thirsty and generous because it’s all for a good cause. Expect plenty of laughs, hugs, and maybe a few musical surprises. Whether you pop in for a quick hello or stay all night, this party is all about celebrating community, friendship, and a little holiday magic BISS-style.

RSVP and details: Facebook | Partiful
Come early, stay late, and let’s make some memories.

SPOTLIGHT ON BLACK FRIDAY FUNK

Smoked Out Soul + Sweater Funk

Nov 28th @ Ivy Room

Get ready for an unforgettable evening of funk-fueled musical magic as the East Bay’s legendary Ivy Room hosts a night of pure groove. Smoked Out Soul brings its signature blend of old-school taste and new-school bass: rooted in funk, looking into the future, this ensemble fuses dusty classics with modern production where live horns meet analog synths, guitar, drums, and percussion. Joining them for the night is Sweater Funk—San Francisco’s celebrated boogie-dance collective that’s been lighting up the floor for 16 years with vinyl-only funk, fusion, boogie and two-step soul. Expect warm horns, big bass, deep grooves, live instrumentation, crate-digging DJs, throw-down dance breaks, and the kind of night where you’ll lose yourself in movement, friends, and the groove. Bring your dancing shoes and your love of deep cuts.