.Calendar Picks: Week of Apr. 18-24

THURSDAY

INDIE

LATE NIGHT DRIVE HOME 

Late Night Drive Home’s music sounds like rainy nights, lonely cities and lowercase letters. Formed in 2019 in a rural town outside of El Paso, the four-piece indie-rock band found surprise success when their SoundCloud single, “Stress Relief,” went viral in 2021. In that hit song, lead singer Andres Julian Portillo channels the sound of aughts rock (the Killers, the Strokes, etc.) to deliver a performance that’s somehow both moody and deadpan. Now signed to Epitaph Records, the band has released the excellent EP “i’ll remember you for the same feeling you gave me as i slept. Critics say they are redefining alt-rock. — ADDIE MAHMASSANI

INFO: 8pm, Cornerstone, 2367 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley. $21/adv, $25/door. 510.214.8600.

FRIDAY

HIP-HOP

GZA

Hip-hop royalty comes to town this Friday in the form of GZA. Born Gary Grice in 1966, the Brooklyn native spent his early life immersed in breakdance, graffiti and DJing. By the time he was a teen, he was crisscrossing New York City, challenging MCs to battles and honing his skills as one of rap’s most brilliant lyricists—in short, well on his way to his celebrated status as a founding member of Wu-Tang Clan. In a storied career, GZA’s love of science stands out. His ability to weave principles of the cosmos into his lyricism earned him the moniker “The Genius.” — AM

INFO: 8:30pm, The New Parish, 1743 San Pablo Ave., Oakland. $39.50-$59.50. 510.227.8177.

FRIDAY

DANCE

MARK MORRIS DANCE GROUP

The most applicable word for this company’s musicality, understated virtuosity, boundless and reckless curiosity, and fun is sublime. Tear that word into two syllables; there’s sub, an underwater vessel plunging to explore a mysterious terrain filled with otherworldly creatures. Take the second half—lime, and revel in its bright exterior and internal citric zest. Combined, that’s the totality of MMDG. They’ll be performing Morris’ Socrates, choreographed in 2010 with music by Erik Satie, and the world premiere of Via Dolorosa, set to composer Nico Muhly’s The Street and featuring harpist Parker Ramsay. There’s every reason to anticipate the evening will be—join the chorus—sublime. — LOU FANCHER

INFO: 8pm, UC Berkeley, Zellerbach Hall, 101 Zellerbach Hall, Berkeley. $39-$156. 510.642.9988.

SATURDAY

MUSICAL

‘JAI SHRI RAM: RAMAYAN’

Visit Broadway without the hassle of plane travel and deliver yourself to an ancient time when princes rescued their lovers from demonic kings. Ramayan is an extravagant production featuring state-of-the-art stagecraft created, written, produced and directed by Puneet Issar and Siddhant Issar. The team mounts the mighty steed of an epic tale presented in narrative and poetic format in Hindi with English subtitles. Themes include India’s rich culture and plumb universal ideas such as love, courage, joy, power, strength and humanity. Told without religious overtones but with dazzling music, the dance, lighting and subtle grace of Indian poetry embody spectacle and transcendence. Embrace it all. — LF

INFO: 7pm, Paramount Theatre, 2025 Broadway, Oakland. $42.50-$252.50. 510.893.2300. 

SATURDAY

PUNK

THE COPYRIGHTS 

Over the years, pop-punk has gotten a bad name with whiny, semi-talented, forgettable acts leading the charge. Then there’s the Copyrights, a Midwestern four-piece pop-punk outfit that keeps the genre’s best parts alive. Formed in 2002, the Copyrights deliver a stripped-down, melodic sound with the snarky sneer of punk, a la the Ramones and Screeching Weasel. For their latest album, 2021’s Alone In A Dome, they signed to Fat Wreck Chords, an appropriate choice for carrying the torch of pop-punk. Joining them are slacker rockers Planet Birthday and Snake Lazer. — MAT WEIR

INFO: 7:30pm, The Golden Bull, 412 14th St., Oakland. $20. 510.224.5522. 

SATURDAY

FESTIVAL

HOLISTIC 420

Dispensaries, yogis, herbalists, musicians, and food and merch vendors are coming together at Bloom Yoga in San Leandro to celebrate and demonstrate how cannabis can play a role in building health, well-being and community. The event features treats from local food and cannabis vendors, live performances, and workshops on holistic wellness, plant medicine, Ayurveda and more. The VIP package grants access to all three core yoga events: the Ganja Yoga, Yin Yoga and Sound Bath experiences, and includes a gift bag valued at more than $200. Cannabis experts and newbies are both welcome. — SONYA BENNETT-BRANDT

INFO: 7pm, Bloom Yoga, 1225 MacArthur Blvd., San Leandro. $50. 510.825.8001.

SUNDAY

PUNK ROCK

BAYSIDE

Bayside’s album, There Are Worse Things Than Being Alive, just came out on April 5, and as one fan put it on social media, “The earthquake was caused by all the absolute bangers on Bayside’s new album.” After over two decades of punk rock, the Queens-based band has yet to experience an identity crisis. Lead vocalist Anthony Raneri, lead guitarist Jack O’Shea, bassist Nick Ghanbarian and drummer Chris Guglielmo still sound like Bayside, and they’re still not afraid to explore and experiment around the edges of their classic sound. Maybe that’s why their fans have stuck around for decades. — SBB

INFO: 7pm, The UC Theatre, 2036 University Ave., Berkeley. $32.50. 510.356.4000.

TUESDAY

ROCK

J. GRAVES

Every band has a 2020 lockdown story. For Portland trio J. Graves, the world shut down after the band had barely formed and played a couple of shows. But that didn’t stop them from releasing their debut EP, Deathbed, that same year. However, it wouldn’t be until their first full-length, 2022’s Fortress of Fun, that the band stretched their creative minds and got weird with a choose-your-own-adventure-style record. Each song had an accompanying video, allowing the audience to stitch together their own story of what the album should mean. Don’t miss this dance-pop riot-grrrl trio as they set their sights on the Bay Area. — MW

INFO: 8pm, Ivy Room, 860 San Pablo Ave., Albany. $13/adv, $15/door. 510.526.5888. 

WEDNESDAY

AMBIENT

LARAAJI

Laraaji and Arji OceAnanda are a well-traveled duo who’ve been at the center of the sound healing arts community for some 15 years. They present a multi-instrumental musical experience called a Celestial Sound Performance, featuring the ambient sounds of electric zither, African thumb piano, nature sounds, subtle percussion, iPad synths and ecstatic vocals. It’s a lapidary sonic sojourn designed for meditative listening and aural healing. — ANDREW GILBERT

INFO: 8pm, Freight & Salvage, 2020 Addison St., Berkeley. $30-$35. 510.644.2020.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

East Bay Express E-edition East Bay Express E-edition
19,045FansLike
15,513FollowersFollow
61,790FollowersFollow
spot_img