THURSDAY
ELECTRONIC
CROSSES
Crosses is, well, a cross between Deftones singer Chino Moreno and Far guitarist Shaun Lopez. The two alt-metal musicians grew up playing music together in Sacramento and decided to reunite in 2011 to create what Moreno describes as “minimal and soothing” songs that are “sort of like the stuff I like listening to when I’m not screaming my head off.” As far as critics are concerned, that translates to a dreamy, dark-wave sound encased in witch-house aesthetics. Their 2023 album, Goodnight, God Bless, I Love U, Delete, on Warner Records, marks their first major label release. – ADDIE MAHMASSANI
INFO: 8pm, Fox Theater, 1807 Telegraph Ave., Oakland. $42.50 – $99.50. 510.302.2250.
THURSDAY
POP
TKAY MAIDZA
After opening for huge acts like Billie Eilish, Lizzo and Dua Lipa, Zimbabwean-Australian pop-rap artist Tkay Maidza is growing to her full potential and power as a musician. Her 2023 album, Sweet Justice, was highly anticipated and has lived up to the hype: ambitious, eclectic and bold, a swaggering breakup record in which Maidza splits from self-doubt and toxic friendships. Grammy Award-nominated singer-songwriter-actress Tayla Parx, who has songwriting credits on dozens of massive hits like “7 Rings,” “thank u, next” and “Love Lies,” will join. – SONYA BENNETT-BRANDT
INFO: 8pm, The New Parish, 1743 San Pablo Ave., Oakland. $25. 510.227.8177.
THURSDAY
LITERATURE
BRI LUNA
They need to invent a new category to define Bri Luna. The Seattle-based Black Latina witch was born in L.A. to Indigenous Mexican and African American parents. After founding her Hoodwitch website in 2013, she started a blog and platform for tarot that has blossomed into a personal brand of cosmetic and spiritual products. Her debut novel, Blood Sex Magic, aims to diversify the craft for witches of color. It offers magic spells, including a chismosa-proofing spell, and rituals that trace their origins back to African American hoodoo traditions. Participate in an evening of incantations, learn daily rituals of the sacred craft and depart with your chakras in full alignment—and a copy of her book. – LOU FANCHER
INFO: 7pm, The Continental Club, 1658 12th St., Oakland. $20. 510.542.5742.
FRIDAY
THEATER
‘THE FAR COUNTRY’
The West Coast premiere of Pulitzer Prize-finalist Lloyd Suh’s generation-spanning drama tells the story of transnational activities following the 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act. The play begins in 1909 when a man born in the U.S. plans to bring another man from China to pass him off as his son. That man, Moon Gyet, arrives at Angel Island Immigration Station with an invented biography, a new name and dreams of a better future. Far Country addresses immigration, identity, memory, inherited trauma and the history of Chinese culture ravaged by America’s inhumane policies—topics no less relevant today than in the past. – LF
INFO: 8pm, Peet’s Theatre, 2025 Addison St., Berkeley. $22.50 – $76. 510.647.2949.
FRIDAY
JAZZ
OKAN
Okan means “heart” in the Afro-Cuban religious practice of Santeria and is led by vocalist and violinist Elizabeth Rodriguez, former concertmaster of Havana’s Youth Orchestra, and conservatory-trained percussionist Magdelys Savigne, who hails from Santiago. The Juno Award-winning ensemble builds on a rhythmic foundation of folkloric and popular Caribbean dance music, forging an expansive Pan-American sound by blending sacred Yoruba chants, jazz, Brazilian grooves and European classical elements. Both women gained widespread exposure touring and recording with Canadian soprano saxophonist and flutist Jane Bunnett and Maqueque, a group she launched to showcase Cuba’s top women musicians. – ANDREW GILBERT
INFO: 8pm, Zellerbach Playhouse, 2413 Bancroft Way, Berkeley. $58. 510.642.9988.
FRIDAY
FOLK
ROBIN FLOWER & LIBBY MCLAREN
This International Women’s Day, what’s a better way to celebrate than with a performance of women-centric Irish music played by women? Danny Carnahan and Jan Martinelli will join multi-instrumentalists Robin Flower and Libby McLaren to commemorate the collective sisterhood in labor unions and the music industry, and the toils of everyday life under the patriarchy. No stranger to the stage, Flower has performed at folk and jazz festivals across the country and is a member of the board for Freight & Salvage. McLaren has also had a lifelong career in music as a founding member of Night Flyte, and as a piano player and singer for sister group, the Roches. – MAT WEIR
INFO: 8pm, Freight & Salvage, 2020 Addison St., Berkeley. $27/adv, $32/door. 510.644.2020.
SATURDAY
METAL
VOIVOD
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy author, Douglas Adams, wrote that 42 is the answer to “life, the universe, and everything.” Canadian heavy metal heshers Voivod happen to be turning the magical 42 this year. Over the decades, the band has gone through as many genre changes as they have lineups, playing everything from speed metal to prog metal, later adding thrash and technical death metal. Today, they have 16 monster studio albums under their belt and are recognized as one of the Canadian thrash metal “Big Four,” along with Sacrifice, Annihilator and Razor. Joining them are American metal trio Prong, who boast just as many genre changes over their 38 years on the road. – MW
INFO: 8pm, UC Theatre, 2036 University Ave., Berkeley. $32.50. 510.356.4000.
SUNDAY
FOLK
FELLOW PYNINS
Bob Boilen, of NPR’s Tiny Desk Concert series, describes the duo Fellow Pynins as “folk music with a hefty touch of whimsy.” With a mixture of originals and traditional ballads, this Ashland-based pair has a flare for musical storytelling that feels timeless. Their harmonies are to die for, and they exhibit extraordinary skills on a whole smorgasbord of acoustic instruments. It’s not every weekend one gets a chance to forget the chaotic world outside with the magical sounds of clawhammer banjo, mandolin and Irish bouzouki; Fellow Pynins emerge from the Oregon woods every so often to offer just that. – AM
INFO: 5pm, Ivy Room, 860 San Pablo Ave., Albany. $15/adv, $20/door. 510.526.5888.
TUESDAY
BLUES
WALTER TROUT
In a world fractured by culture wars and political schisms, legendary bluesman Walter Trout stands defiant. At the crossroads of blues and rock, Trout, at 72, fearlessly chronicles the bitter discord of our times in his brand-new album, Broken. The album navigates the tumultuous waters of modern life, raw and raging, without surrendering to despair. Despite the gritty narrative, Trout holds on to the hope that has been his constant companion on his journey from a rough childhood in Ocean City to stints with blues luminaries like Big Mama Thornton and a storied seven-decade career. – SBB
INFO: 8pm, Yoshi’s, 510 Embarcadero West, Oakland. $35 – $79. 510.238.9200.
