THURSDAY
TITO PUENTE JR.
The scion of the late legendary timbalero, composer and bandleader Tito Puente (1923–2000) has dedicated himself to keeping his father’s vast legacy on stage. While Tito Puente Jr. never studied percussion with his namesake, he joined the orchestra on the road in his late teens and soaked up the surging, mambo-driven dance music. Influenced by his longtime home in Miami, he brings a contemporary salsa sensibility to the Tito Puente book, which was honed at the Palladium Ballroom—ground zero for the mambo movement that swept around the world in the years after World War II. – AG
INFO: 8pm, Yoshi’s, 510 Embarcadero West, Oakland. $29-$69. 510.238.9200.
FRIDAY
IDLES
It only seems like British post-hardcore band Idles has come out of nowhere to take the underground music world by storm, leaking into the mainstream. The incredible quintet released their first EP in 2012, which they would later hate. With the release of their full-length Brutalism in 2017, the roots of what could be gained notice by critics and fans alike. Today, they stand as one of the hottest bands on the tour circuit, with explosive stage performances that capture an energy that seems increasingly rare. Their latest album, Tangk, is a slow burn of ferocity that exemplifies how the band continues to grow, showing restraint until just the right moment. – MW
INFO: 8pm, Fox Theater, 1807 Telegraph Ave., Oakland. $35-$75. 510.302.2250.
FRIDAY
SAM JAY
Stand-up comic, actor and writer Sam Jay and her witty, conversational humor are popping up all over the place in an impressive variety of forms and formats, from a late-night series on HBO and the Netflix comedy You People (alongside Jonah Hill, Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Eddie Murphy) to the Peacock series Bust Down and her Emmy-nominated writing for Saturday Night Live. Now she’s on tour, stopping by The New Parish for two shows. – SBB
INFO: 7pm, The New Parish, 1743 San Pablo Ave., Oakland. $29.50/adv, $35/door. 510.227.8177.
SATURDAY
GITKIN
While Gitkin might not be a household name, his moniker, Brian J, is more widely known as the front person for the New Orleans funk act, The Pimps of Joytime. While remaining firmly in the funk sphere, Gitkin travels around the world, blending Middle Eastern music, a spaghetti Western feel and psychedelic desert blues for a sound that is as grooving as it is exciting. Oakland’s own funk and soul powerhouses, The Grease Traps, kick off the party. For those who need some shredding to get them going, Tony Glaser and the Party are a not-to-miss act with their infectious jams and funky beats. – MW
INFO: 8pm, Ivy Room, 860 San Pablo Ave., Albany. $18/adv, $24/door. 510.526-5888.
SATURDAY
WORDS THAT MADE THE DIFFERENCE
The only way for the next generation to achieve the racial justice they crave is to bring children up from infancy to adulthood in community, unity and equality. That’s the core message delivered in award-winning educator and playwright Dr. Cindy Acker’s tightly constructed script. Brown v. Board of Education marks a radical moment in American history, and the five cases brought before the Supreme Court dramatize and mark the 70th anniversary of the unanimous court decision to end segregation in public schools. With the recent actions of the 2024 Supreme Court, it’s fair to wonder if, given a similar case today, the results would be far different. – LF
INFO: 7pm, Rhythmix Cultural Works, 2513 Blanding Ave., Alameda. $35. 510.865.5060.
SATURDAY
BELTON’S TRIBUTE TO PATSY CLINE
Before her tragic death at age 30 in a 1963 plane crash, Patsy Cline gave the world a wondrous bouquet of iconic songs like “Crazy” and “Walkin’ After Midnight.” Of all the women who carry on the chanteuse’s legacy, Margaret Belton croons most gloriously. Her annual tribute show, Today, Tomorrow & Forever, celebrates its 10th year at Freight & Salvage this weekend. Cline fans, both new and old, can look forward to a stellar singer and band playing classics and hidden gems. Belton also incorporates some theater-based storytelling into the tribute, recently playing Cline in the acclaimed show, Always, Patsy Cline. – AM
INFO: 8pm, Freight & Salvage, 2020 Addison St., Berkeley. $30/adv, $35/door. 510.644.2020.
SUNDAY
MELANIE MARTINEZ
Melanie Martinez rose to fame after appearing on The Voice in 2012. Since then, she’s been forging a unique hypnotic style, creating artsy pop that pairs her spooky, ethereal vocals with a pastel goth aesthetic. The world of her album, Portals, overflows with pink, four-eyed fairies with butterfly wings and employs surreal and often grotesque imagery evoking the sugary darkness of Alice in Wonderland. Her Trilogy Tour celebrates her studio albums, and the word is Martinez will perform some songs without her signature “Creature” mask. – SBB
INFO: 7pm, Oakland Arena, 7000 Coliseum Way, Oakland. $129+. 510.569.2121.
TUESDAY
TROPHY EYES
OK, maybe “pop-punk” isn’t the correct categorization for Australia’s Trophy Eyes. In truth, as they enter their 11th year as a band, they’ve become more melodic post-hardcore, as is evident in last year’s Suicide and Sunshine. Themes of mistakes, anger, uncertainty, chaos and hope are woven throughout the album on a quilt of beautiful, catchy melodies. It was an album that almost wasn’t, as the band came as close to breaking up as a band can during Covid. However, the quartet rallied and decided to give a more honest, real and raw album on Suicide. Joining them at the Cornerstone are post-hardcore act Rarity and House & Home. – MW
INFO: 7pm, Cornerstone, 2367 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley. $23/adv, $26/door. 510.214.8600.
TUESDAY
ANDREW CONTI’S ROOFING
Ephemerality meets reality in this one-night presentation of a screenplay left unfinished when addiction and mental health afflictions abruptly ended the life of Andrew Conti. The Bay Area musician and artist had achieved sobriety and began writing about his struggles as he journeyed through addiction, dependencies and other issues, searching for healing, forgiveness and hope. His family brings this adaptation of Conti’s play to the stage to honor his memory and to spread the word that there is healing in music, creativity, self-exploration and the love of friends, family, supportive mental health communities and practitioners. Life is fleeting; grab onto love, and never let it go. – LF
INFO: 7pm, The Marsh, 2120 Allston Way, Berkeley. $20-$100. 510.282.3055.
WEDNESDAY
TELMARY
From Cuban street poet to world-renowned rapper—that’s the story of Telmary, whose colorful blend of Afro-Cuban genres and hip-hop has been lighting up stages for two decades and counting. Though she is the recipient of multiple Latin Grammy nominations and Juno Awards, Telmary is much more motivated by the desire to spread joy and understanding through song. Her recent album, Fuerza Arará, has been hailed as her most mature and dynamic effort yet, a milestone in the career of a champion of modern Latin American culture, poetry and sound. – AM
INFO: 8pm, Freight & Salvage, 2020 Addison St., Berkeley. $30/adv, $35/door. 510.644.2020.
