.Social Eyes: Week of Oct. 24-30

Our expertly curated calendar picks of live music, local theater and film events at venues throughout the East Bay

THURSDAY

CLASSIC ROCK

STEELY DEAD

Steely Dead is exactly what it sounds like: A unique tribute band fusing Steely Dan’s polished precision and complexity with the improvisational jam-band spirit of the Grateful Dead. It’s a kind of musical mad scientist’s experimentation resulting in a dynamic, satisfying experience for fans of both bands. Plus, they’ve forged a loyal fan base of their own throughout many national tours. It’s never too late to make the golden age of rock new again. SONYA BENNETT-BRANDT

INFO: Thu, 8pm, Cornerstone, 2367 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley. $26/adv, $30/door. 510.214.8600.

FRIDAY

R&B

TORO Y MOI & AMINÉ

A concert featuring Toro y Moi and Aminé promises a night of genre-blurring innovation and infectious energy. Toro y Moi, the creative moniker of Chaz Bear, is a chillwave pioneer known for defining an era of dreamy, lo-fi sound who’s continued to evolve, melting funk, R&B, psychedelic rock and electronic music into an immersive soup. Aminé is a charmer, stuffing his high-octane hip-hop with playful lyricism and catchy hooks, combining introspective themes with upbeat production for a fresh, R&B-inflected sound. – SBB

INFO: Fri, 7pm, Greek Theatre, 2001 Gayley Rd., Berkeley. $78. 510.871.9225.

FRIDAY

ROCK

SHOW OF 1001 HORRORS

The creature stirs and rises from the crypt. His ghoulish vampire cape floats in the wind while a perfectly coiffed Afro glistens in the moonlight. It’s the Phantom, baby! Isaac Rother & the Phantoms return from the graveyard for a groovy good time with friends the Creepy Crawlies and Kepi Ghoulie. Isaac Rother & the Phantoms channel the spirits of Screamin’ Jay Hawkins, Arthur Brown and surf-infused garage for an authentic rock ’n’ roll sound with a horror twist. Songs like “Haunted Castle,” “Kiss of Death” and “Like A Wolfman” rattle the bones and are perfect for any monster bash doing the Mash. Don’t forget to howl at the bassist! MAT WEIR

INFO: Fri, 7pm, Golden Bull, 412 14th St., Oakland. $12. 510.224.5522.

FRIDAY

LATIN

LA DOÑA

There’s no better way to celebrate the last of OMCA’s Friday Nights than by riding the lush sizzle of sonic sound that is La Doña. She’ll be lighting up the garden stage with classic Latin corrido, bolero, cumbia and mariachi with mesmerizing music that bursts with what the artist defines as “Latin femmeton,” a marvelous infusion of reggae, hip-hop, jazz and other diasporic interjections. As wow-worthy with a trumpet as with her voice, La Doña commands attention as a bandleader and lyricist calling for more support of underrepresented musicians of color. Her latest album, Los Altos de la Soledad, is a truth-telling treasure of protest, pain, dance-inspiring rhythms and sweet, aural pleasure. LOU FANCHER

INFO: Fri, 6pm, Oakland Museum, 1000 Oak St., Oakland. Free. 510.318.8400.

Mummenschanz performs at UC Berkeley’s Zellerbach Hall on Saturday. (Photo courtesy of MUMMENSCHANZ Foundation & Noe Flum.)

SATURDAY

THEATER

MUMMENSCHANZ

The ingenious imaginations spinning behind the Swiss mime troupe are full of hallucinogenic and hilarious surprises: Facemasks stretch and deform themselves like silly putty, toilet-paper-roll faces dance around and giant plastic inflatables float like amorphous balloons “talking” to each other. Audiences of all ages will appreciate the show as simply fun, admire the creativity and skill, wonder at the sophisticated lighting and production elements, marvel at the weirdness of not missing the verbal yakety-yak, and see in the intriguing storytelling an outline of human vulnerability, strength, humor, resilience and the surprising ability to shut up and still say something of value. – LF

INFO: Sat, 8pm, UC Berkeley, 101 Zellerbach Hall, Berkeley. $31-$96. 510.642.9988.

SATURDAY

FILM

‘SALAD DAYS’ 10TH ANNIVERSARY

Baby has grown older/It’s no longer cute.” So sang Minor Threat frontperson—and the de facto face of the early straightedge hardcore movement—Ian MacKaye in the swansong “Salad Days,” a bittersweet elegy to the DC hardcore scene and how much it changed in the years the band operated. So it only made sense for Scott Crawford to use the name for his crowdfunded documentary that takes a snapshot of that scene between 1980 and 1990. Now the film turns 10, and Crawford is touring the country with a director’s cut to celebrate. Featuring interviews with MacKaye, Henry Rollins, J Mascis (Dinosaur Jr.), Thurston Moore (Sonic Youth) and Dave Grohl (Foo Fighters).MW

INFO: Sat, 7pm, Gilman, 924 Gilman St., Berkeley. $12. 510.524.8180.

SATURDAY

ROCK

HALLORAGER XI

Bad Acid Presents has once again convened a creepy lineup of bands that will transform themselves musically in the holiday spirit. Glitter Wizard takes on the fabulous personas of the English glam-rock group Roxy Music. Meanwhile, Molten becomes the Danish heavy-metal band Mercyful Fate. Lou Lou and the Guitarfish assume the visage of everyone’s favorite garage-rock vampires, the White Stripes. Finally, Doom Town dons their flannel to cover ’70s Oregon punks the Wipers. If this night doesn’t convince that one grumpy friend that Halloween rules, nothing will. Tickets are $3 off with a costume! ADDIE MAHMASSANI

INFO: Sat, 8pm, Eli’s Mile High Club, 3629 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, Oakland. $23. 510.808.7565.

SUNDAY

JAZZ

FLAT EARTH SOCIETY ORCHESTRA

With a date at the Angel City Jazz Festival in L.A. serving as an anchor gig, Belgium’s Flat Earth Society Orchestra is touring up the West Coast, offering a rare opportunity to experience one of Europe’s great experimental-jazz ensembles. Billing themselves as delivering “the most unreliable music since 1999,” the 15-piece combo plays the antic and often beautiful music of bandleader and clarinetist Peter Vermeersch and pianist Peter Vandenberghe. Focusing on pieces from the recent album The One, the orchestra features brilliant improvisers who bounce ideas off of each other like precision-driven bumper cars, with order often emerging out of the seeming chaos. ANDREW GILBERT

INFO: Sun, 5:30pm, California Jazz Conservatory, 2040 Addison St., Berkeley. $30. 510.845.5373.

The Philharmonik plays Cornerstone on Sunday. (Photo by Bernadette Rose.)

SUNDAY

SOUL

THE PHILHARMONIK

In an apocalyptic-leaning world, NPR’s Tiny Desk remains a “tiny” beacon of joy. Beloved co-creator and co-producer Bob Boilen retired last year, but the intimate concerts continued at his former desk. Sacramento-based singer Christian Gates of the Philharmonik won this year’s Tiny Desk Concert, standing out from nearly 7,000 entries submitted by independent artists nationwide. With a flair for theater, Gates draws crowds in with a warm, humorous introspection accompanied by piano. His winning song “What’s It All Mean?” is an uplifting meditation on following one’s dreams despite the risks, relying on community to get through. – AM

INFO: Sun, 8pm, Cornerstone, 2367 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley. $28. 510.214.8600.

MONDAY

JAZZ

JUSTIN-LEE SCHULTZ

Now based in Los Angeles, 17-year-old, multi-instrumental prodigy Justin-Lee Schultz has earned a glittering constellation of fans, including Robert Glasper, Quincy Jones and Harry Connick Jr. Last year Schultz released his second album, Just In The Moment, which captures his gift for smooth jazz melodic invention as a pianist, as well as his vocal, horn, bass, lead- and rhythm-guitar contributions. The high-gloss sound is readily appealing, posing the question of where his talent may take him next. Schultz got his start playing with his family, and he’s still closely tied to his musical roots, as his band includes his sister Jamie on drums and his father Julius on guitar. – AG

INFO: Mon, 8pm, Yoshi’s, 510 Embarcadero West, Oakland. $35-$85. 510.238.9200.

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