THURSDAY
HIP-HOP
TWISTA
Twista is the Grammy-nominated, multi-platinum king of rapid-fire rhymes and intricate rhythms. Hailing from Chicago, he held the 1992 Guinness Book World Record for being the fastest rapper in history, spitting at a rate of 11.2 syllables per second. But he’s more than a speed demon; from “Adrenaline Rush” to “Kill Us All,” Twista’s razor-sharp storytelling tackles themes of ambition, love and life in the city. A pioneer with lasting appeal, Twista’s trendsetting tongue-twisting continues to deliver lyrical precision and cultural impact. – SONYA BENNETT-BRANDT
INFO: Thu, 7:30pm, Yoshi’s, 510 Embarcadero West, Oakland. $59-$89. 510.238.9200.
THURSDAY
JAZZ
NAKADEGAWA-LEE & MAYER GROUP
For anyone worried about the future of jazz, this ensemble is a stimulating tonic. Co-led by Oakland tenor saxophonist Nathan Nakadegawa-Lee and El Cerrito-reared pianist Hannah Mayer, the sextet bristles with stellar young players on the rise. Vibraphonist Gus Hurteau is part of a brilliant wave of players who have brought the vibes from the margins to the center of the contemporary jazz scene. Like several of his bandmates, trombonist Oliver Tuttle graduated from Oakland School for the Arts and has toured widely with the California Honeydrops. Bassist Isaac Coyle and drummer Miles Turk keep the music swinging with force and precision, whether the group is playing original compositions, jazz standards or tunes from the Sondheim songbook. – ANDREW GILBERT
INFO: Thu, 7:30pm, Sound Room, 3022 Broadway, Oakland. $29. 510.708.9691.
FRIDAY
JAZZ
PACIFIC MAMBO ORCHESTRA
Winning an upset victory at the Grammy Awards with a debut album sets a high bar for future achievements, but Oakland’s Pacific Mambo Orchestra wears its laurels with easygoing style.
Co-founded and led by trumpeter Steffen Kuehn and pianist Christian Tumalan, PMO rocked the Latin music world in 2014 when their crowdfunded release triumphed over heavyweights with major-label backing like salseros Marc Anthony and Carlos Vives. The economics of running an 18-piece ensemble are daunting at the best of times, but PMO has managed to maintain a world-class cast of players and can keep the dance floor bouncing or deliver a sit-down concert with searing ballads, salsa soul and Latin-jazz burners. – AG
INFO: Fri, 8pm, Yoshi’s, 510 Embarcadero West, Oakland. $33-$65. 510.238.9200.
FRIDAY
FOLK
HOOT!
Back in the day, folk music enthusiasts held hootenannies in various cafes and church basements around the country. The gatherings, reminiscent of today’s open mic nights, featured musicians singing traditional songs and originals about pressing political issues. The spirit of this 20th-century phenomenon lives on through Hoot!, a program that bills itself as “a modern take on a traditional hootenanny.” To launch the new year, the organization is taking on environmental themes with “The Climes They Are A-Changin’ – A Benefit for Earth Justice.” Local songwriters wielding guitars may yet save the world. – ADDIE MAHMASSANI
INFO: Fri, 7pm, Back Room, 1984 Bonita Ave., Berkeley. $27. 510.381.1997.
FRIDAY
THEATER
‘ROBERT TOWNSEND: LIVING THE SHUFFLE’
The blizzard of stories told by actor/writer/director/filmmaker Robert Townsend blows from hot Hollywood gossip to the chilly realities of growing up in his native Chicago. Masterful impersonations are like a reflex. Townsend first channeled his energy into New York’s stand-up comedy scene. He later became a comedic actor on television and in films before bridging into drama, where he shared the big screen with Denzel Washington in A Soldier’s Story. Expect in this 90-minute show to hear not just Townsend but also the voices, and the vices, of Frank Sinatra, Shakespeare, Eddie Murphy, Sidney Poitier, God and more. – LOU FANCHER
INFO: Fri, 8pm, Marsh Berkeley, 2120 Allston Way, Berkeley. $40-$100. 510.282.3055.
SATURDAY
PUNK
JUST FRIENDS
Just Friends crafts funky, punky rock full of humor and life. The local, Dublin-based band celebrates the awkward beauty of being human with infectious grooves and playful, emo-shouty lyrics. They ooze fun and camaraderie, an inherent charm that allows them to move between self-deprecating comedy, goofy crowd calls and earnest, heartfelt touches, successfully spinning it all together into incredibly likable party tunes with a ton of energy and an appealing edge of weirdness. Sincerity is back in. – SBB
INFO: Sat, 7pm, Gilman, 924 Gilman St., Berkeley. $20. 510.524.8180.
SATURDAY
POST-PUNK
13TH SKY
Spirits. Ominous warnings. Tortured souls. No, it’s not a late rendition of A Christmas Carol; it’s “A Post Holiday, Post Punk Gathering.” Cider Up Presents five post-punk bands that thrive in darkness, including Funeral Kings, Steilacoom, Screaming Creatures and Ashes Fallen. Headlining the macabre moment is 13th Sky. For over 20 years, the L.A.-based goth-rock act has been a favorite among the underground, catching the attention of heavyweights in the scene like Barry Galvin (ex-Christian Death) and author/journalist Mick Mercer, who said 13th Sky’s song “Justify” was “the best goth song I have heard in years, it’s that simple.” – MAT WEIR
INFO: Sat, 9pm, Ivy Room, 860 San Pablo Ave., Albany. $15/adv, $20/door. 510.526.5888.
SUNDAY
KARAOKE
FREAKYOKE
Come one, come all! Come karaoke with some of the best in the Bay with Freakyoke at Thee Stork Club. From 8pm to midnight every first Sunday of the month, Freakyoke takes over the entertainment, and you become the star! Country, hip-hop, pop, jazz numbers, hair-band rock ballads—if it’s on YouTube, Freakyoke’s got it locked and loaded. So grab some drinks and some friends, preferably the most vocal and least stage-shy, and celebrate the new year with some fun! Plus, there’s no cover charge; what’s better than that? – MW
INFO: Sun, 8pm, Thee Stork Club, 2330 Telegraph Ave., Oakland. Free. 510.859.8709.
SUNDAY
COMEDY
PUDDLES PITY PARTY
Why aren’t there secular January advent calendars? Anticipation—anxious or hopeful—over entering a new year is definitely a factor. If a New Year advent window popped open, having a nearly seven-foot American baritone named Michael Geier appear as a Pagliacci-inspired clown would be most welcome. Geier’s clown is named Puddles, and his act mixes music, silent pantomime, mystery, melancholy and laughter. After stages reopened following the pandemic, he brought his nothing-to-laugh-about voice to stages nationwide and recently announced he’ll join “Weird Al” Yankovic’s “Bigger & Weirder 2025 Tour.” Catching this show is a rare opportunity. – LF
INFO: Sun, 8pm, Cornerstone, 2367 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley. $61. 510.214.8600.
MONDAY
HIP-HOP
ROD WAVE
Rod Wave is a rapper with incredible soul—trap soul, specifically. He gained recognition for pioneering the genre, which fuses trap beats with old-school soul melodies, upon his 2019 breakthrough album, Ghetto Gospel. For his follow-up projects, Pray 4 Love and SoulFly, he continued to plumb the depths of his heart, never shying away from raw emotion and unguarded introspection. With this vulnerable sensibility, he has given fans beloved hits like “Great Gatsby,” “Rags to Riches” and “Heart on Ice.” For anyone who has experienced loss, pain, grief or the like, this show is sure to soothe the soul. – AM
INFO: Mon, 7:30pm, Oakland Arena, 7000 Coliseum Way, Oakland. $96-$356. 510.569.2121.
