Hello loyal readers… Lotsa good stuff this week… Not a lot of creative thinking on my part, though… So just enjoy the list!
Thursday, May 13th
Goapele, Youth Speaks Poets at The New Parish
Goapele has been the next big thing in soul music for about a decade or so now, but despite never crossing over to the mainstream like fellow Oaklanders Ledisi and Raphael Saadiq, she’s still going strong. Her new material is excellent, and these two hometown shows at Oakland’s new hotspot The New Parish will be a killer party. (5/13 is all ages, 5/14 is 21+)
The New Ghosts of Oldtown, Negative Trend, Ruleta Russa at The Stork Club
Diane Birch, AM at The Indepedent
Friday, May 14th
Breakestra, Fort Knox Five Live at Mezzanine
Ever go to a club and hear a killer funk dj playing the best rare funk tracks that you’ve never heard? They managed to play every great track under the sun, all while segueing everything right into the next, and it was heavenly… Okay, now imagine that same set being played by a live band. The most versatile and exciting live funk show ever.
fun., Audrye Sessions, Heartsounds at Slim’s
Saturday, May 15th
Gil Mantera’s Party Dream, Triple Cobra, The Going-Going-Gone Girls at Bottom Of The Hill
This show is going to be dirty… Dirty, dirty, dirty… Filthy even. You may need to stop right in the middle and take a shower. The band might even assist you with that.
Cake, The Raveonettes, Jackie Greene, Thao & The Get Down Stay Down at Fort Mason (Oyster Festival)
Sunday, May 16th
Ben Folds (And a Piano), Kate Miller-Heidke at The Warfield
Ben Folds is awesome. That’s it… Awesome. All you need to know, and the only reason you need to go to the show.
Bullet For My Valentine, Chiodos, Airbourne, Arcanium at The Regency Ballroom
Monday, May 17th
Nashville Pussy, Dave Rude Band, The Butlers at The Independent
Nashville is having a hard time as of late… And while they might be drowning in water these days, why don’t you come to this show and drown in something else…
Ok, I kid. That was really offensive. Nashville Pussy are an excellent rock n roll band, and this flood that’s damaging some of our most precious national treasures is a big deal.
Tuesday, May 18th
Toots & The Maytals, Rey Fresco at The Regency Ballroom
He invented reggae music. He was an innovator of ska music. He is a living legend, and one of the last living originators of the Jamaica sound. You know who wouldn’t exist if not for Toots? Try The Clash, Sublime, No Doubt, and Amy Winehouse to name a few…
Shout Out Louds, Freelance Whales, The Franks at Great American Music Hall
Wednesday, May 19th
Frightened Rabbit, Maps & Atlases, Our Brother The Native at The Fillmore
Ian Tyson at The Freight & Salvage
