This week we have included the full BISS list of shows as well as a special feature interview with JJ Grey. Scroll down for all the show dates with ticket giveaways.
BISS is so excited to get three of our favorite bands, Manicato, Monophonics, & Kapakahi, playing tonight for the Hornucopia Festival at Café Du Nord. We have a special deal for BISS running right now for $10 tickets. Go to: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/43842 They will be $15 at the door!!
Florida-based swamp funk artist JJ Grey & Mofro's 2007 released Orange Blossoms was a critic's delight, with
BISS: How's your tour been going so far?
JJ: It's been real good, actually. Usually when you come out and play new material, people kind of him and haw and yawn. This time people have been into the new songs.
BISS: When you go from city to city, do you have people follow you? Or is it mostly new people?
JJ: People might go to one or two shows, say when we play
BISS: How do you like playing in
JJ: The first gig that we did was in
BISS: What is the best compliment you've gotten from a fan this tour?
JJ: It's mostly down to making a real connection and making a connection to my own experience. I write songs to preach to myself because I need it. You teach best what you most need to learn. Some people feel like, "Hey, I understand the way you feel, the connection." You don't have to be
BISS: With all this time touring, when do you find time to write material?
JJ: All the songs I've ever wrote I wrote while I was driving or do something else. It gets really cheesy-sounding if I try to do it in a room full of equipment and musicians. I like to let things happen when it happens. That's my total philosophy about everything. You're out of time and space and all that shit. I'm not big into trying to recreate everything in a show. Experiencing life is a whole lot different than thinking about it. Human being is two creatures. One creature craves structure. The other creature craves chaos.
That's what the song "War" on Country Ghetto is about. Truth is a philosophy. It's not a real thing. So the whole point is that human beings are always balancing themselves between needing the security of the great job and wanting to get shitfaced or jump out of an airplane or watch a horror movie or get scared. Our subconscious mind will always fight our conscious mind.
BISS: Where do you get this stuff?
JJ: Usually from older people who have seen it, done it. That's another thing that's been so devalued today. My grandmother's 91. Nobody tells Granny that some cousin is on crack because Granny wouldn't understand that. It's total bullshit. Granny has been around human beings 91 years and human beings haven't changed. If it wasn't crack it was booze. If it wasn't booze it was morphine. Granny might not understand the internet because she don't want to, and I don't blame her. But she damn sure understands people.
Youth is youth, youth is reckless. Most of the time youth craves chaos and revolution because they've never had blood on their hands. It doesn't mean that everyone who's young doesn't have good ideas though—but you do the best you can with what you've got. That alone is a lifetime achievement and probably unachievable. Nobody sat down and told me the rules—this is the way grown men act, this is the way that towards ladies with nothing but respect and a healthy fear. That's what I want to live up to.
BISS: How do you feel about country music?
JJ: I don't hear one iota of difference between country music of old and r&b and soul or blues and jazz. I hear people testifying on an instrument when they play jazz but I feel the same way if I listen to the Grand Tour by George Jones. Or, these steel recordings of people singing in the Appalachian Mountains and the tobacco fields of
BISS: Who are some musicians you would love to play with?
JJ: I always wanted to meet Jerry Reed, and he just died a couple days ago. He's probably one of my biggest influences across the board. He was a truck driver in the movie Smoky and the Bandit. He was in this movie Water Boy with Adam Sandler. Him and Bert Reynolds were good friends. Those are the kind of men who portrayed people on the screen just like the people I grew up with, with collared snap shirts and jeans and boots. He wrote "Guitar Man," which Elvis made huge. He wrote hundreds of songs, dozens of hits in the country music world. He's so funky and nasty. He has this song Aimless Moses that introduced me to swamp. He was a dude way ahead of his time. I don't know that I'd want to play on a record of his, but I'd love to be there when he does.
BISS: Do you leave room for improvisational jam at all?
When we go live, I don't expect any of the guys to play the same notes. I expect the pockets to be there, the arrangements to be there. But then when we get to a middle break, you open it up and just kind of see where people can go. Sometimes it goes through the roof, sometimes it doesn't at all. I'm a song-first kind of person but I also like here-you-go. I like structure and I like chaos.
BISS: Where did you get the name Orange Blossoms?
In
*****
See you all at the Shows!
Why?
B.I.S.S.!!!
*****
Get Paid, Get Tickets!! GET ON THE
BISS Calendar Listings:
Thurs, 9/11/2008
Hornucopia Festvial w/ Manicato / Monophonics / Kapakahi **WIN TICKETS**
Café Du Nord,
www.myspace.com/hornucopiafestival
Show: 8pm
$12 adv/$15 door
Thurs, 9/11/2008
Afrolicious,Pleasuremaker & Senor Oz **WIN TICKETS**
Elbo Room,
Show: 10PM
$6
Thurs, 9/11/2008
Sister Hazel ****
The Independent,
http://www.theindependentsf.com/august2008.htm
Show: 8pm
$17
Thurs, 9/11/2008
Boom Boom Room,
Show: 9:30PM
$5
Thurs, 9/11/2008
Sister Hazel ****
The Independent,
http://www.theindependentsf.com/august2008.htm
Show: 8pm
$17
Fri, 9/12/2008
KARL DENSON (with
Boom Boom Room,
Show: 9:30PM
$25
Fri, 9/12/2008
Brass Menazeri, Aphrodesia ****
Show: 9pm
$15
Fri, 9/12/2008
JJ Grey & Mofro ****
The Independent,
http://www.theindependentsf.com/august2008.htm
Show: 9pm
$20
Sat, 9/13/2008
Dr. John ****
The Fillmore,
http://www.ticketmaster.com/event/1C004087E140504F
Show: 9PM
$36.50
Sat, 9/13/2008
JJ Grey & Mofro ****
The Independent,
http://www.theindependentsf.com/august2008.htm
Show: 9pm
$20
Sat, 9/13/2008
Blue Bone Express at Hornucopia Festival, with Polkacide and Rube Waddell ****
Cafe Du Nord,
Show: 9:30pm
$15
Sat, 9/13/2008
Lindsey Buckingham ****
The
http://www.palaceoffinearts.org/
Show: 8PM
$55
Sat, 9/13/2008
BENNY 'D' BAND (
Boom Boom Room,
Show: 9:45PM
$10
Sun, 9/14/2008
The Neville Brothers, Dr. John, Funky Meters ****
Mountain Winery,
http://event.livenationtickets.com/next/online/performanceSearch.jsp?performance_id=157809
Show: 6PM
$45-$65
Sun, 9/14/2008
Tricky ****
The Independent,
http://www.theindependentsf.com/august2008.htm
Show: 9pm
$30
Tues, 9/16/2008
Brass Mafia ****
Bruno's,
Show: 9:30pm
$7
Tues, 9/16/2008
Benefit Concert for Haight Ashbury Free Clinics- Michelle Shocked feat. Don Was, The Struts ****
The Independent,
http://www.theindependentsf.com/august2008.htm
Show: 8PM
$24
Wed, 9/17/2008
Supertaster "Wednesday Night Sessions" ****
Royale,
www.myspace.com/royalenorthbeach
Show: 10pm
Thurs, 9/18/2008
RUDDER (players of: Sting, Rod Stewart, Steely Dan, James Taylor, Patti Austin, Bill Frisell) **WIN TICKETS**
Boom Boom Room,
Show: 9:30PM
$12
Thurs, 9/18/2008
Tracorum ****
Bruno's,
Show: http://www.slims-sf.com/
$6
Fri, 9/19/2008
My Morning Jacket ****
Greek Theatre-U.C. Berkeley,
http://www.ticketmaster.com/event/1C0040A8C53D49CF?brand=&tm_link=tm_home_h6 Show: 7:30PM
$39.50
Fri, 9/19/2008
Dave Matthews Band ****
Greek Theatre-U.C.
http://www.apeconcerts.com/venue_greekTheatre.cfm
Show: 7:30PM
$39.50
Fri, 9/19/2008
ORGONE (members of BREAKESTRA/DAP-KINGS...) - New & Funktified! [plus: DJ
Boom Boom Room,
Show: 9:45PM
$15
Sun, 9/20/2008
Herbie Hancock ****
Nob Hill Masonic Auditorium,
http://www.sfmasoniccenter.com/
$55 - $75
Sat, 9/20/2008
Treasure
Treasure Island,
http://www.treasureislandfestival.com/tickets.php
Show: All Day, All Night
$65.00 - Single-Day Ticket
Sat, 9/20/2008
THOMAS IAN NICHOLAS (of AMERICAN PIE movie) + Woman **WIN TICKETS**
Boom Boom Room,
Show: 9:30PM
$12
Sun, 9/21/2008
Treasure
Treasure Island,
http://www.treasureislandfestival.com/tickets.php
Show: All Day, All Night
$115.00 (limited quantity) - Two-Day Ticket
Mon, 9/22/2008
Spoon ****
The Fillmore,
http://www.ticketmaster.com/event/1C0040A2CAE04E08
Show: 8PM
$25
Tues, 9/23/2008
The Shotgun Wedding Hip-Hop Symphony "Jazz Mafia Tuesdays" **WIN TICKETS**
Bruno's,
http://www.brunoslive.com/music.htm
Show: 9:30pm
$6
Tues, 9/23/2008
Spoon ****
The Fillmore,
http://www.ticketmaster.com/event/1C0040A2CAE04E08
Show: 8PM
$25
Tues, 9/23/2008
The Hives ****
The Warfield,
Show: 8PM
$27.50
Wed, 9/24/2008
Spoon ****
The Fillmore,
http://www.ticketmaster.com/event/1C0040A2CAE04E08
Show: 8PM
$25
Wed, 9/24/2008
Bootsy Collins, Freekbass ****
The Warfield,
Show: 8PM
$42.50
Wed, 9/24/2008
TORNADO RIDER (A.K.A. *But Wizards*) + Many Special Guests **WIN TICKETS**
Boom Boom Room,
Show: 9:45PM
$6
Thurs, 9/25/2008
Du Uy Quintet ****
Socha Cafe,
/Show: 7:30pm
Thurs, 9/25/2008
BIG KEN's SHOW (Vortex Tribe - w/ MINGO LEWIS - & The Snake Plisskin Quintet) **WIN TICKETS**
Boom Boom Room,
Show: 9:30PM
$7
Fri, 9/26/2008
MORNING 40 FEDERATION (plus: Special Guests - open) **WIN TICKETS**
Boom Boom Room,
Show: 9:30PM
$15
Fri, 9/26/2008
One Ring Zero with Chicha Libra ****
Café du Nord, San Francisco, CA
http://www.jccsf.org/content_main.aspx?catid=602#2262
Show: 9pm
$22
Sat, 9/27/2008
MORNING 40 FEDERATION (plus: Special Guests - open) **WIN TICKETS**
Boom Boom Room,
Show: 9:30PM
$15
Sat, 9/27/2008
Monophonics ****
Crystal Bay Casino,
http://www.crystalbaycasino.com
Show: 10PM
FREE SHOW
Sun, 9/28/2008
Neil Diamond ****
HP PAVILION AT
http://www.ticketmaster.com/event/1C00407D969B539D?brand=&tm_link=tm_home_g2&hot_ticket_brand=home
Show: 8PM
$55.00 - US $120.00
Sun, 9/28/2008
Jonny Winter, Curits Salgado, Buckwheat Zydeco, Rick Estrin & The Nightcats ****
http://www.fortmason.org/calendar/2008/08/ataglance.shtml
Mon, 9/29/2008
Burning Spear ****
Slim's,
Show: 9PM
$30
Tues, 9/30/2008
Burning Spear ****
Slim's,
Show: 9PM
$30
Thurs, 10/2/2008
Dark Star Orchestra ****
The Fillmore,
http://www.ticketmaster.com/event/1C0040A2CAE04E08
Show: 9pm
$30.00
Thurs, 10/2/2008
The Independent,
http://www.theindependentsf.com/august2008.htm
Show: 9pm
$28
Thurs, 10/2/2008
Ry Cooder,Nick Lowe, Jim Keltner ****
Show: 8PM
$100
Fri, 10/3/2008
Robet Plant, Alison Krauss, T Bone Burnett ****
Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival,
http://www.strictlybluegrass.com/
Show: ALL DAY EVENT
Fri, 10/3/2008
Dark Star Orchestra ****
The Fillmore,
http://www.ticketmaster.com/event/1C0040A2CAE04E08
Show: 9pm
$30.00
Fri, 10/3/2008
The Independent,
http://www.theindependentsf.com/august2008.htm
Show: 9pm
$28
Fri, 10/3/2008
The Independent,
http://www.theindependentsf.com/august2008.htm
Show: 9pm
$28
Fri, 10/3/2008
ERIC MCFADDEN & FARAWAY BROTHERS **WIN TICKETS**
Boom Boom Room,
Show: 9:30PM
$12
Fri, 10/3/2008
Ry Cooder,Nick Lowe, Jim Keltner ****
Show: 9PM
$100
Sat, 10/4/2008
Dark Star Orchestra ****
The Fillmore,
http://www.ticketmaster.com/event/1C0040A2CAE04E08
Show: 9pm
$30.00
Sat, 10/4/2008
VINYL (plus: *DJ K-OS* and *special guests*) ****
Boom Boom Room,
Show: 9:30PM
$12
Sun, 10/5/2008
Tea Leaf Green,
Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival,
http://www.strictlybluegrass.com/
Show: ALL DAY EVENT
Sun, 10/5/2008
Grateful Dead-themed auction titled More Skeletons from the Closet. ****
Bonhams & Butterfields in
Mon, 10/6/2008
David Byrne ****
Davies Symphony Hall,
Tues, 10/7/2008
Realistic Orchestra @ Jazz Mafia Tuesdays **WIN TICKETS**
Bruno's,
http://www.brunoslive.com/music.htm
Show: 9:30pm
Wed, 10/8/2008
Chris Isaak ****
The Fillmore,
http://www.ticketmaster.com/event/1C0040A2CAE04E08
Show: 8PM
$55
Thurs, 10/9/2008
Chris Isaak ****
The Fillmore,
http://www.ticketmaster.com/event/1C0040A2CAE04E08
Show: 8PM
$55
Fri, 10/10/2008
Sila and the Afrofunk Experience ****
The Independent,
http://www.theindependentsf.com/august2008.htm
Show: 8pm
$17
Sat, 10/11/2008
Joan Osborne ****
Show: 9pm
$28
Sat, 10/11/2008
Joan Osborne ****
Show: 9PM
$28
Wed, 10/15/2008
Joe Jackson ****
The Warfield,
Show: 8PM
$45 - $59
Sat, 10/18/2008
The Fillmore,
http://www.ticketmaster.com/event/1C0040A2CAE04E08
Show: 9pm
$30.00
Sat, 10/18/2008
JCSF,
http://www.jccsf.org/content_main.aspx?catid=338#2536
Show: 9pm
$42
Sun, 10/19/2008
Tina Turner ****
HP Pavilion At
http://www.ticketmaster.com/event/1C0040A5F9045C7F?artistid=736358&majorcatid=10001&minorcatid=1
Show: 7:00 PM
$59.50 - $150.00
Mon, 10/20/2008
Tina Turner ****
HP Pavilion At
http://www.ticketmaster.com/event/1C0040A5F9225C87?artistid=736358&majorcatid=10001&minorcatid=1
Show: 7:30 PM
$59.50 - $150.00
Mon, 10/20/2008
Patti Smith ****
The Warfield,
Show: 8PM
$25 -$27
Sat, 10/25/2008
Taj Mahal ****
The Fillmore,
http://www.ticketmaster.com/event/1C0040A2CAE04E08
Show: 9PM
$35
Sat, 10/25/2008
Jeremiah Lockwood and The Sway Machinery ****
Elbo Room,
http://www.jccsf.org/content_main.aspx?catid=338#2536
Show: 9:30pm
$15
Sun, 10/26/2008
Everlast ****
Slim's,
Show: 8PM
$20
Tues, 10/28/2008
The Shotgun Wedding Hip-Hop Symphony "Jazz Mafia Tuesdays" **WIN TICKETS**
Bruno's,
http://www.brunoslive.com/music.htm
Show: 9:30pm
$7
Thurs, 10/30/2008
Monophonics ****
Las Tortugas : Dance of the Dead III,
http://evergreenhalloween.inticketing.com/evinfo.php?eventid=25022
Show: All day, all night
$100, early bird 4 day special
Fri, 10/31/2008
TLG, HBR, BTS, JGB featuring Melvin Seals, Lebo from ALO, Guitarmageddon, PMW, Delta Nove, Monophonics, Izabella, BLVD, The Tresspassers, Tistrya, Victor Barnes, Big Light, UO, Dave Stein, Wisebird, On the One ****
Las Tortugas : Dance of the Dead III,
http://evergreenhalloween.inticketing.com/evinfo.php?eventid=25022
Show: All day, all night
$100, early bird 4 day special
Fri, 10/31/2008
Morris Day & The Time ****
The Grand Ballroom at The
http://www.regencycentersf.com/
Show: 8PM
$44
Fri, 10/31/2008
ALBINO!, Toubab Krewe ****
The Independent,
http://www.theindependentsf.com/august2008.htm
Show: 9PM
$16 in adv, $18 at Door
Sat, 11/1/2008
TLG, HBR, BTS, JGB featuring Melvin Seals, Lebo from ALO, Guitarmageddon, PMW, Delta Nove, Monophonics, Izabella, BLVD, The Tresspassers, Tistrya, Victor Barnes, Big Light, UO, Dave Stein, Wisebird, On the One ****
Las Tortugas : Dance of the Dead III,
http://evergreenhalloween.inticketing.com/evinfo.php?eventid=25022
Show: All day, all night
$100, early bird 4 day special
Sat, 11/1/2008
Madonna ****
ORACLE Arena,
http://www.ticketmaster.com/event/1C004097B8DE3DC6?artistid=768011&majorcatid=10001&minorcatid=1
Show: 8:00 PM
$55.00 - $350.00
Sun, 11/2/2008
TLG, HBR, BTS, JGB featuring Melvin Seals, Lebo from ALO, Guitarmageddon, PMW, Delta Nove, Monophonics, Izabella, BLVD, The Tresspassers, Tistrya, Victor Barnes, Big Light, UO, Dave Stein, Wisebird, On the One ****
Las Tortugas : Dance of the Dead III,
http://evergreenhalloween.inticketing.com/evinfo.php?eventid=25022
Show: All day, all night
$100, early bird 4 day special
Sun, 11/2/2008
Madonna ****
ORACLE Arena,
http://www.ticketmaster.com/event/1C004097B8A33DB4?artistid=768011&majorcatid=10001&minorcatid=1
Show: 8:00 PM
$55.00 - $350.00
Tues, 11/4/2008
Realistic Orchestra @ Jazz Mafia Tuesdays **WIN TICKETS**
Bruno's,
http://www.brunoslive.com/music.htm
Show: 9:30pm
$7
Sun, 11/8/2008
Cowboy Mouth ****
Slim's,
Show: 9PM
$20
Sun, 11/9/2008
Keller Williams ****
Fillmore,
http://www.ticketmaster.com/event/1C0040B4ED6C52DB
Show: 8PM
$ 27.50
Wed, 11/12/2008
Robyn Hitchcock ****
The Fillmore,
http://www.ticketmaster.com/event/1C0040A2CAE04E08
Show: 8PM
$30
Thurs, 11/13/2008
Ben Folds ****
The Warfield,
Show: ***Not Posted Yet***
Fri, 11/14/2008
Galactic with
The Fillmore,
http://www.ticketmaster.com/event/1C0040A2CAE04E08
Show: 9PM
$28.50
Fri, 11/14/2008
Grace Potter and the Nocturnals ****
The Independent,
http://www.theindependentsf.com/august2008.htm
Show: 8pm
$17
Sat, 11/15/2008
Galactic with
The Fillmore,
http://www.ticketmaster.com/event/1C0040A2CAE04E08
Show: 9PM
$28.50
Sat, 11/15/2008
Grace Potter and the Nocturnals ****
The Independent,
http://www.theindependentsf.com/august2008.htm
Show: 8pm
$17
Mon, 11/17/2008
Bela Fleck and the Flecktones ****
Yoshi's,
Show: ***Not Posted Yet***
Tues, 11/18/2008
Bela Fleck and the Flecktones ****
Yoshi's,
Show: ***Not Posted Yet***
Wed, 11/19/2008
Bela Fleck and the Flecktones ****
Yoshi's,
Show: ***Not Posted Yet***
Wed, 11/19/2008
Los Lonely Boys ****
The Fillmore,
http://www.ticketmaster.com/event/1C0040A2CAE04E08
Show: 8PM
$27.50
Thurs, 11/20/2008
Bela Fleck and the Flecktones ****
Yoshi's,
Show: ***Not Posted Yet***
Thurs, 11/20/2008
Medeski Martin & Wood ****
The Fillmore,
http://www.ticketmaster.com/event/1C0040A2CAE04E08
Show: 8PM
$32.50
Fri, 11/21/2008
Gov't Mule ****
The Fillmore,
http://www.ticketmaster.com/event/1C0040A2CAE04E08
Show: 8PM
$36.50
Fri, 11/21/2008
Bela Fleck and the Flecktones ****
Yoshi's,
Show: ***Not Posted Yet***
Sat, 11/22/2008
Gov't Mule ****
The Fillmore,
http://www.ticketmaster.com/event/1C0040A2CAE04E08
Show: 8PM
$36.50
Sat, 11/22/2008
Bela Fleck and the Flecktones ****
Yoshi's,
Show: ***Not Posted Yet***
Fri, 12/5/2008
Los Lobos with David Lindley ****
The Fillmore,
http://www.ticketmaster.com/event/1C0040A2CAE04E08
Show: 9PM
$39.50
Sat, 12/6/2008
Los Lobos with David Lindley ****
The Fillmore,
http://www.ticketmaster.com/event/1C0040A2CAE04E08
Show: 9PM
$39.50
Thurs, 12/11/2008
Ozomatli ****
The Fillmore,
http://www.ticketmaster.com/event/1C0040A2CAE04E08
Show: 8PM
$26.50
Fri, 12/12/2008
Ozomatli ****
The Fillmore,
http://www.ticketmaster.com/event/1C0040A2CAE04E08
Show: 8PM
$26.50
Sat, 12/13/2008
Ozomatli ****
The Fillmore,
http://www.ticketmaster.com/event/1C0040A2CAE04E08
Show: 8PM
$26.50
Sun, 12/14/2008
Ozomatli ****
The Fillmore,
http://www.ticketmaster.com/event/1C0040A2CAE04E08
Show: 8PM
$26.50
Mon, 12/15/2008
The Black Crowes ****
The Fillmore,
http://www.ticketmaster.com/event/1C0040A2CAE04E08
Show: 9pm
$49.50
Tues, 12/16/2008
The Black Crowes ****
The Fillmore,
http://www.ticketmaster.com/event/1C0040A2CAE04E08
Show: 9pm
$49.50
Thurs, 12/18/2008
The Black Crowes ****
The Fillmore,
http://www.ticketmaster.com/event/1C0040A2CAE04E08
Show: 9pm
$49.50
Fri, 12/19/2008
The Black Crowes ****
The Fillmore,
http://www.ticketmaster.com/event/1C0040A2CAE04E08
Show: 9pm
$49.50
Sat, 12/20/2008
The Black Crowes ****
The Fillmore,
http://www.ticketmaster.com/event/1C0040A2CAE04E08
Show: 9pm
$49.50
Sun, 12/21/2008
Brian Setzer Orchestra ****
The Warfield,
Show: ***Not Posted Yet***
Tues, 12/30/2008
Tea Leaf Green ****
Mezzanine,
http://www.mezzaninesf.com/calendar.asp
Show: 9pm
$27
Tues, 12/30/2008
ALO ****
The Independent,
http://www.theindependentsf.com/august2008.htm
Show: ***Not Posted Yet***
Wed, 12/31/2008
Tea Leaf Green ****
Mezzanine,
http://www.mezzaninesf.com/calendar.asp
Show: 10PM
$35, VIP $75z
Wed, 12/31/2008
ALO ****
The Independent,
http://www.theindependentsf.com/august2008.htm
Show: ***Not Posted Yet***