THURSDAY
LITERATURE
JILLIAN KNOX
San Francisco-based food stylist and prop photographer Jillian Knox joins leading Black voices emerging as today’s food revolutionaries, historians and influencers with her contribution to the anthology For The Culture: Phenomenal Black Women and Femmes in Food. Close out Black History Month—but keep the kitchen open—with an opportunity to learn from Knox’s story and other “women and femmes” whose visionary work illuminates and transforms the food industry. The anthology sparks dialogue; if a book can speak, this one does. During the pandemic, Knox also cofounded the Astute Agency, an artist community aimed at empowerment through in-person conversations. – LOU FANCHER
INFO: 7pm, Books Inc., 1344 Park St., Alameda. Free. 510.522.2226.
FRIDAY
EMO
MOM JEANS
Don’t be fooled by the “emo” label. Midwestern emo is characterized by arpeggiated melodies, high-pitched, nasally singing and lots of songs about heartbreak, nostalgia and more heartbreak—not by geography. Hailing from Berkeley, Mom Jeans is one of the definitive bands of the genre in sound and ironic style. Or maybe unironic, depending on how far down the hipster hole one goes. Their latest studio album, Bear Market, is a reimagining of their favorite songs from previous albums produced in a poppier fashion—basically, ear drugs for anyone between the ages of 27 to 35. Put them on a lineup with Just Friends, Hunny and Summer Salt, and watch all the hipster glasses, beanies and dad mustaches roll through the doors. – MAT WEIR
INFO: 7pm, Fox Theater, 1807 Telegraph Ave., Oakland. $29.50 – $35. 510.302.2250.
FRIDAY
THEATER
‘BALDWIN AND BUCKLEY AT CAMBRIDGE’
Expectedly, Elevator Repair Service’s reenactment of the historic 1965 debate between Black writer and activist James Baldwin and National Review editor and television personality William F. Buckley Jr. involves much emotional undulation. The two masterful speakers invoked their best oratorial skills, taking opposing sides on the premise, “Has the American Dream Been Achieved at the Expense of the American Negro?” History tells us Baldwin rose upon his pillar of intellect, winning the debate 544-164 in a vote. What did not win was the eradication of racism, and in 2024 the one-hour work gouges relevant, deep wounds for examination. Maybe this time, accountability, truth, reconciliation and reparations will not be a debate but a promise backed by action. – LF
INFO: 8pm, Zellerbach Playhouse, 2413 Bancroft Way, Berkeley. $82. 510.642.0212.
FRIDAY
HIP-HOP
LUNIZ
Luniz’s platinum hit, “I Got 5 On It,” has enduring magic; the emotionally rich storytelling and surprisingly haunting vocals turn the everyday gripe of nagging your buddies to chip in for weed into a soulful, timeless narrative. Unsurprisingly, the song’s eerie beat and iconic hook work perfectly as a spooky musical theme in Jordan Peele’s 2019 horror film, Us. Now, the pioneering Oakland duo, Yukmouth and Numskull, are commemorating the song during their “I Got 5 On It Tour,” alongside other tracks with their signature blend of low-stakes themes and high-level musicality. – SONYA BENNETT-BRANDT
INFO: 9pm, The New Parish, 1743 San Pablo Ave., Oakland. $25. 510.227.8177.
SATURDAY
R & B
RAHSAAN PATTERSON
If Rahsaan Patterson has never entirely broken through to R&B’s top tier, it’s not for lack of talent or a personal vision. Championed by artists like Chaka Khan and Ledisi, he’s a riveting soul-crooner who isn’t afraid to bare his heart. With an imploring sound and sweet upper register, Patterson combines old-school showmanship with bracing emotional vulnerability, earning him a deservedly devoted following. – ANDREW GILBERT
INFO: 8pm, Yoshi’s, 510 Embarcadero West, Oakland. $44 – $89. 510.238.9200.
SATURDAY
BLUES
BENEFIT FOR PETE DEVINE
This weekend, the Bay Area arts community comes together for a great friend and local musician in need: Drummer Peter Devine, of the beloved blues trio HowellDevine, is facing a costly battle against cancer. The suggested donation of $50 per ticket, or $30 for those who can’t swing the full amount, will help with his expenses directly. The concert features HowellDevine, Lady Bianca and the North Beach Rhythm. Special guests filling out the bill include Sam Rudin, the ever-generous owner of Back Room, and Maria Muldaur, a celebrated folk singer who rose to fame in Greenwich Village in the ’60s. – ADDIE MAHMASSANI
INFO: 1pm, The Back Room, 1984 Bonita Ave., Berkeley. $30 – $50. 510.381.1997.
SUNDAY
PUNK
THE MOVIELIFE
Long Island punk-rock veterans the Movielife are celebrating their 21st anniversary by playing their iconic album, Forty Hour Train Back To Penn, front to back. The band is enjoying a vibrant second life, as vocalist Vinnie Caruana, guitarist Brandon Reilly and drummer Brett Romnes originally got together in 1997, disbanded in 2003, then reunited in 2014. Joined by Further Seems Forever, Fairweather and Same Side, the Movielife will deliver raspy pop-punk vibes, melodic hardcore spirit and the ahead-of-their-time emo anthems that carved enduring furrows into the landscape of punk rock. – SBB
INFO: 7:30pm, Cornerstone, 2367 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley. $36/adv, $41/door. 510.214.8600.
MONDAY
METAL
MUNICIPAL WASTE
Strap on a bullet belt, flip that trucker bill up and guzzle a couple of Four Lokos because Municipal Waste is coming back to the Bay! The crossover thrash metalheads from Richmond have shown us the art of partying, and the world is better for it. Armed with buzzsaw riffs, lyrics about alcoholism, excessive chaos and having a good time at all costs, Municipal Waste is one of the genre’s leading bands. Not to mention, many of their songs are based on true stories and the tales of their partying are the things of legend. Those legends will only grow even grimier as the Virginian boys are joined on the “Brainsqueeze Tour” by their California cohorts in Dead Heat, Necrot and Ghoul. – MW
INFO: 7pm, The UC Theatre, 2036 University Ave., Berkeley. $30. 510.356.4000.
TUESDAY
POP
ARLO PARKS
With a precocious start in her teens, 23-year-old British songwriter Arlo Parks already has many jam-packed years of performing and recording under her belt. In 2021, her debut album, Collapsed in Sunbeams—whose title is inspired by writer Zadie Smith—made a splash, winning the 2021 Mercury Prize for Best Album. Now, after taking a break to write a book of poetry called The Magic Border, she’s touring her second studio release, My Soft Machine. Parks is known for her genre-defying literary leanings, openly queer sensibilities and a willingness to grapple with tough questions of race—all elements that make her a leading voice of new generations. – AM
INFO: 8pm, Fox Theater, 1807 Telegraph Ave., Oakland. $35 – $49.50. 510.302.2250.
