THURSDAY
GOTH
HOT GOTH PRIDE
Get your gimps, dommes, gogos and drag at New Parish’s Hot Goth Pride. This year’s headliner is Aurat, a darkwave/post-punk band from L.A. that blends Urdu lyrics into an experimental melange of American genres. Other acts include Plack Blague, a heavy-industrial dance-leather band; Dark Chisme, a Seattle-based darkwave band with Latin, house and techno elements; DJ Liquid Temple; and many more hot goth legends. – SONYA BENNETT-BRANDT
INFO: Thu, 9pm, The New Parish, 1743 San Pablo Ave., Oakland. $25/adv, $30/door. 510.227.8177.
FRIDAY
ACOUSTIC
MARK GEARY
Irish songsmith Mark Geary can captivate a room with his voice and an acoustic guitar. The only uncertainty is which guitars he’ll have in tow from his trove and which tuning he’ll be in. Known for lyricism that is at once haunting and soothing, Geary has performed his songs worldwide for over two decades, touring with everyone from kindred spirit Jeff Buckley and country legend John Prine, to soft rockers Coldplay. He’s currently showcasing the melodic beauty of his album, In the Time of Locusts, on the road. – ADDIE MAHMASSANI
INFO: Fri, 8pm, Back Room, 1984 Bonita Ave., Berkeley. $20. 510.381.1997.
FRIDAY
JAZZ
BLUE ENSEMBLE
Blue Ensemble has drummed up some great press as ambassadors for Berkeley’s California Jazz Conservatory. The quintet recently won the California Jazz Championships in Folsom, solidifying their status as one of the nation’s top college ensembles. Featuring Adam Torres on alto saxophone and flute, Mario Ramirez on tenor saxophone, Joshua Aldana on guitar, Jonny Kaminek on bass and Sheldon Alexander on drums, the band is celebrating the release of its debut album, Vexed. Under the guidance of Gerald Cleaver, a CJC professor who has added a jolt of energy since relocating from Brooklyn in 2021, the combo has honed a sound rife with melodic invention and spacious textures. – ANDREW GILBERT
INFO: Fri, 8pm, California Jazz Conservatory, 2040 Addison St., Berkeley. $25. 510.845.5373.
FRIDAY
COMEDY
ALI SIDDIQ
It was in the middle of serving six years of a 15-year sentence for drug trafficking that Ali Siddiq learned he could make people laugh. Upon his release in 1997, Siddiq turned his life around and began writing bits and working clubs. Within a year, he was performing at the Apollo and was asked to co-host the Apollo Night show. Over the years, Siddiq has been featured on BET, HBO and Comedy Central and made guest appearances on podcasts like The Joe Rogan Experience, Ari Shaffir’s Skeptic Tank and Uncle Joey’s Joint with Joey Diaz. Earlier this year, he released his highly anticipated Domino Effect 3 & 4, finishing the Domino Effect series from 2022. – MAT WEIR
INFO: Fri, 7pm, Fox Theater, 1807 Telegraph Ave., Oakland. $30-$125. 510.302.2250.
SATURDAY
ROCK
SKIP THE NEEDLE
Continuing the queer-focused, month-long series devoted to “unleashing QTPOC power,” Ivy hits the jackpot with Oakland-based Skip the Needle. Their drums, guitar and vocals range from blistering to buoyant, with a mission and message aimed at social and environmental justice. The vibe is freeing, joyous, empowering and supremely energizing. Layer on the experimental art pop/dreampunk of Ellie Stokes as alter-ego Grooblen, and it all adds up to a night of shining local talent. Rock rules. Don’t leave without snagging one or both of their albums and their latest EP, Octavia of Earth, Vol. 2, inspired by Black feminist icon Octavia E. Butler. – LOU FANCHER
INFO: Sat, 8pm, Ivy Room, 860 San Pablo Ave., Albany, $17/adv, $20/door. 510.526.5888.
SATURDAY
THEATER
POETRY NAP
Lie down, listen and take a communal nap while Lady and Lord Dosis whip up a swirling, poetry-meets-music bonbon of a show called The Enchanting Secret of the Opalescent Moon. Sweetest of all is Chabot’s invitation to wear nocturnal jammies and slippers, bring pillows or a favorite blankie, and snooze or remain wide-eyed in celestial bliss in the domed Planetarium. With words and music curated by performance artists and poets Robert Wyald and Jodie Kleeman, the production is more than ethereal. It features some of the finest poetry, sweeping music and images beyond one’s wildest dreams. There’s something magical about reclining next to strangers and, two hours later, emerging from the shared experience as cozy as next-door neighbors. – LF
INFO: Sat, 8pm, Chabot Space and Science Center, 10000 Skyline Blvd., Oakland. $35. 510.336.7300.
SATURDAY
JAZZ
ERIC RASMUSSEN QUARTET
Based in Scottsdale and forged in New York, where he established himself as a vital new voice in the mid-’90s, alto saxophonist Eric Rasmussen is a fluent improviser and cogent composer who has recorded with masters such as Paul Bley, Danilo Pérez and Billy Hart. Deeply influenced by the lithe, blues-averse school of pianist Lennie Tristano, he makes a rare Bay Area appearance with his unusual quartet featuring altoist Loren Stillman—a highly respected bandleader and composer in his own right—bassist David Ambrosio and drummer Tim Bulkley, a Bay Area-native who’s back on the scene after a decade in Gotham. – AG
INFO: Sat, 8pm, California Jazz Conservatory, 2040 Addison St., Berkeley. $30. 510.845.5373.
MONDAY
JAZZ
ALPHABET SOUP
Alphabet Soup emerged from an unexpected but familiar scene: Sproul Plaza on UC Berkeley’s campus. The Bay Area underground supergroup proved pivotal in the ’90s acid-jazz scene, blending live instrumentals with hip-hop during electric live performances. Now, for one night only at the Ivy Room, Alphabet Soup will feature all original members: Dred Scott on keys, Kenny Brooks on sax, Deszon Claiborne on drums, Victor Little on bass, and original emcees CB (Chris Burger) and Michael Blake. – SBB
INFO: Mon, 8pm, Ivy Room, 860 San Pablo Ave., Albany. $18/adv, $20/door. 510.526.5888.
WEDNESDAY
ROCK
HUMBUG
No, it’s not Christmas yet, and no, we’re not talking about a grumpy Victorian-era dude named Scrooge—the opposite, actually. Humbug is a power-pop band from L.A. with an anything-but-miserly vibe. They made a splash in 2019 with the extremely catchy single “Alice the Aviator” and followed up in good time with several additional singles. In their most recent, “Can’t Read Velvet,” the band delivers a lovely contemplation on fate set to cheerful, nostalgic riffs. Simply put, Humbug is endearing, talented and perfect for a summer night in Oakland. – AM
INFO: Wed, 7pm, Golden Bull, 412 14th St., Oakland. $12. 510.224.5522.
WEDNESDAY
ROCK
THE VOLUNTEERS
Sometimes it’s difficult to tell if the internet is a curse or a blessing for humanity. However, one of its benefits is music. Not only can anyone now record music and upload it for hungry ears, but anyone can now access artists worldwide with the click of a button. Once upon a time, finding an obscure band meant painstakingly finding a record store to import an album. Without the internet, bands like South Korea’s the Volunteers might not even exist, as their first self-recorded tracks on SoundCloud received over 3 million streams. For fans of ’90s-style alt-rock with a twist of shoegaze and a dash of pop—like a gothy, grunge rocker chewing bubble gum. – MW
INFO: Wed, 7:30pm, UC Theatre, 2036 University Ave., Berkeley, $42.50. 510.356.4000.
