Happy Four-Day Holiday Weekend to One and All! Whether you’re packing up you gear for Bobolink Festival, Desert Rocks in Utah, heading to Sonoma Jazz Festival right in our own backyard, or staying right here to catch Carnaval Fever - we know you’re gonna have a funky good time!
If you’re staying here in the Bay Area, our top pick for the funkiest throwdown this weekend is the MONOPHONICS at the STARRY PLOUGH in Berkeley, this Saturday, May 24th. The boys have been sweatin’ out the hot days, and plan on packin’ some mean jams and heavy brass in the mix to keep your ears happy and make those sexy feet jump.
We’ve had such an overwhelming response to our new FEATURES LIST, we’re going to keep it comin your way. Expect a full BISS newsletter every other Thursday (that’s what you’re reading right now), and a shortened FEATURED SHOWS list on alternating Thursdays, highlighting the hottest tickets in town.
Ticket Giveaways
How do you win? Each week, just be the first person to email me back, after you receive your BISS LIST every and offer up a new friend, acquaintance, ex-lover (you get the idea) who would like to know about current music events in the Bay Area. Make sure the person AND email address you submit:1) Is a valid email address 2) Is Not already on the Biss List 3) Wants to receive the weekly BISS email newsletter Afrolicious at the Elbo Room : Thursday, May 22nd. ***WIN TICKETS!!***
Afrolicious sets out to pay respect and homage to the rhythm's of the Afro-diaspora with a heavy bump, a swing, an infectious groove. The sounds come from the global village and include but are not limited to : Afro-Beat, Afro-Cuban, Latin funk, Afro-Brasiliero, Global funk, Balkan beats, Jamaican riddims, Afro-Disco, global breakbeats and electronic music that has drawn clearly on the sounds of the afro-diaspora.
“…The Afrolicious parties began in the winter of 2006 in the dimly lit red-light basement of a mid-western bar in Lawrence Kansas where folks from all walks of life and corners of the globe flocked to hear the global sounds that are so hard to hear in the midwest region. The parties began as an extension to a radio show called Latin Lab by DJ's Los and Cheo a.k.a. Pleasuremaker, that fused sounds of the Latin Diaspora spanning seven plus decades and countless sub-genres and rythms from all over Latin America, the US, Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia. The party continued to overflow the intimate Tap Room and had to be moved to a much higher capacity spot where it consistently packed the joint. Now Afrolicious continues in San Francisco, CA with regular parties happening in the Bay Area and will spread eastward to NYC and northbound for Portland, OR, as well as South to L.A.”
The Local365 Presents: The Kick-Off Meet & Greet Party at the space gallery : Thursday, May 22nd*** Win Tickets!!***
Local 365 is bringing together artists and musicians in a very unique way. The event begins at 8pm at 1141 Polk Street in Nob Hill and lasts until 2am. Musical Libations provided by Local 365 Artists: Spaceheater, The Giving Tree (DJ Saurus & Seneca),
DJ Cikee, DJ Ladyfingaz, & Roy Two Thousand (on guitar and turntables) & Classical Revolution. Live art takes place throughout the event.
Topaz and Mudphonic with Wil Blades at the Boom Boom Room : Two NIGHT STAND! Friday & Saturday, May 30th and May 31st
"…as gritty as the Texas landscape and funky as an Eastside BBQ joint. Mudphonic blends bottleneck blues guitar with fat saxophone riffs, scrappy vocals with distorted harmonica and lays it all on top of rock solid dance grooves."
Originally born and bred in Austin, TX, it was in New York that Topaz signed his first record deal and began touring nationally. Since then he has released two records with international distribution, composed award winning movie soundtracks, performed on BET and toured extensively across the United States. He has performed with the likes of Norah Jones, The Wailers, Widespread Panic and Robert Randolph. He has played all the major festivals such as Bonaroo, New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival and Austin City Limits Festival. Check out: http://www.myspace.com/texastopaz
Bob Weir and Ratdog, with Gov’t mule at the Ironstone Amphitheatre : June 27, 2008***Win Tickets!!***
Legendary rhythm guitarist for the Grateful Dead and traveling entourage of virtuoso musicians help bring psychedelic romp to Murphys, CA. A show not to be missed! Opening for Bob Weir and RatDog is Gov’t Mule, a band famous for their Big riffs, massive grooves, and expansive improvisations at their legendary live shows. Likewise, their well-crafted songs feature larger-than-life characters bearing life's heaviest burdens, performed by four musicians – guitarist/vocalist Warren Haynes, drummer Matt Abts, keyboard player Danny Louis, and bassist Andy Hess – whose powerful musicianship and chemistry along with their tireless work ethic have earned them the respect of their peers. http://www.ironstonevineyards.com/
