THURSDAY
ROCK
THE DARE
The Dare, the alter ego of Harrison Patrick Smith, is drawing from sleazy aughts dance rock to create pounding, sardonic and sometimes cheerfully silly odes to modern party culture—from its wild nights to its hungover dawns. His in-your-face, raunchy lyrics can be deliberately abrasive; he’s carefully and unapologetically carving out a hell of a 3am New York City vibe. With his album What’s Wrong with New York? and recent collaboration with Charli XCX on “Guess,” the Dare is blowing up and is now on his first-ever headlining tour of North America. – SONYA BENNETT-BRANDT
INFO: Thu, 8pm, The New Parish, 1743 San Pablo Ave., Oakland. $25. 510.227.8177.
THURSDAY
SKA
PANTEÓN ROCOCÓ
Since coming together in Mexico City in ’95, Panteón Rococó has forged a potent, horn-driven sound that charismatic frontperson Dr. Shenka calls “rebel ska.” Keeping on the move, the group has cultivated an international audience, performing far more often in Europe than in California. At home, they’re outspoken champions of the leftist Zapatista movement in Chiapas, though politics hardly dominates the band’s book. Using a loping ska framework to absorb influences from rock, punk, salsa, mariachi, reggae and mestizo party music, the band delivers a hard-grooving sound designed to inspire rushing dance floors as much as barricades. – ANDREW GILBERT
INFO: Thu, 6pm, Memorial Auditorium, 403 Civic Center Plaza, Richmond. $60. 510.668.8080.
THURSDAY
THEATER
‘GREAT AMERICAN SHIT SHOW’
After the recent presidential debate, multifaceted author Brian Copeland will surely have fresh and funny anti-Trumpian fodder to fling. With GASS, the Bay Area’s most thoughtful funnyman pushes the let’s-play-with-this-craziness factor to new levels. How do you stomach a family member or dinner guest who savors Trump? Is your dog or cat safe if Trump and Vance don’t win the election in November? GASS is a show with a concept and a real plan to cause chuckles, offer chin-dropping audaciousness, provide searing commentary and provoke contemplation camouflaged by humor. The slogan says it all: “If you love Trump, you’ll hate this show!” – LOU FANCHER
INFO: Thu, 7pm, Marsh Berkeley, 2120 Allston Way, Berkeley. $25-$100. 510.282.3055.
FRIDAY
OPERA
OLIVIER MESSIAEN’S ‘HARAWI’
This reimagining of Messiaen’s hour-long 1945 work is rendered anew by visionary soprano Julia Bullock. Bullock, along with two dancers/choreographers and pianist Conor Hanick, recreates the song cycle, bringing raw physicality, furious drama, interludes of tranquility, mythological imagery and incomparable talent to a contemporary opera—all while never losing sight of the joy and love at the work’s roots. Based on Quechuan love songs of the South American Andes, the soundscape has vocalizations beyond traditional songs, with sounds suggestive of wind, water, birds and human keening. Draw meaning from the show or simply bask in the range of Bullock’s transcendent intonations. Regardless, expect illumination. – LF
INFO: Fri, 8pm, Zellerbach Hall, 101 Zellerbach Hall, Berkeley. $31-$78. 510.642.9988.
FRIDAY
JAZZ
MATT WIGLER BAND
Miami-based jazz pianist and vocalist Matt Wigler presents A Blues Journey with his capable band, exploring an array of down-home styles from New Orleans to L.A. An accomplished improviser and entertainer, Wigler is also a successful entrepreneur with an MBA whose company, MHW Live Music, has become the leading manager of live entertainment for hotels in the US. He still finds time to play his own gigs, delivering a winning program of blues-drenched jazz or jazz-steeped blues. – AG
INFO: Fri, 7:30pm, The Sound Room, 3022 Broadway, Oakland. $28.52. 510.708.9691.
SATURDAY
PUNK
SUBHUMANS
Some think punk’s a fashion choice; others say it’s a lifestyle. Others still think it’s a mindset or ethos. It’s one of those things that’s easier to define by what it’s not. However, when it comes to the five-decades-long running Subhumans, they are most definitely punk. For 44 years the British band, led by frontperson and lyricist Dick Lucas, has lived what they’ve preached, calling truth to power and holding no punches. Five years ago, they released their fifth album, Crisis Point, drawing attention to war, climate change, wealth gaps, terrorism and how information is controlled via their hardcore anarcho-punk philosophy. With a band like the Subhumans, it’s best to see them live as many times as possible. – MAT WEIR
INFO: Sat, 7pm, 924 Gilman, 924 Gilman St., Berkeley. $20/adv, $25/door. 510.542.8180.
SATURDAY
SOUL
GINGER ROOT
Not every concert comes with required watching, but this one does: Ginger Root has delivered his latest album, the delightfully titled SHINBANGUMI, with a sequential music video series that feels like a movie in eight parts. Since 2017, the visual artist and multi-instrumentalist has captivated his fans with his innovative blend of synth-pop, alt-disco, boogie and soul. His style is rooted in his love of ’70s and ’80s Japanese city-pop but sprawls far and wide into all manner of retro Western genres. According to the musician, his latest work is “exactly what Ginger Root should sound and feel like.” – ADDIE MAHMASSANI
INFO: Sat, 8pm, Fox Theater, 1807 Telegraph Ave., Oakland. $50-$120. 510.302.2250.
SUNDAY
HIP-HOP
DOUG E. FRESH
Known as the “original human beatbox,” Doug E. Fresh requires little introduction. Raised in Harlem, the hip-hop pioneer achieved stardom through his appearance in the 1984 cult classic movie, Beat Street. His song with MC Ricky D—a.k.a. Slick Rick—“La Di Da Di,” is sacred; it is among the most sampled songs in history, and to this day listeners struggle to believe there is no backing track or percussion but Fresh’s voice. Determined to use his talent to uplift others, Fresh co-founded the nonprofit Hip Hop Public Health, which has worked directly with Michelle Obama’s “Let’s Move!” campaign. – AM
INFO: Sun, 9pm, Yoshi’s, 510 Embarcadero West, Oakland. $70. 510.238.9200.
MONDAY
PSYCHEDELIC
ACID MOTHERS TEMPLE
Acid Mothers Temple—AMT for short, or Acid Mothers Temple & the Melting Paraiso UFO for long—was formed in ’95 by multi-instrumentalist Kawabata Makoto to create trippier trip music. The Japanese psychedelic rock collective delivers, layering space-rock, acid-rock and drone into hypnotic, free-flowing jams filled with distorted guitars and cosmic themes. The group is fluid in genre, membership and performance, containing many permutations of musicians, crossovers and spin-off groups in its history. As Makoto once said on their website, “The true manifestations of Acid Mothers Temple are many.” – SBB
INFO: Mon, 8pm, Thee Stork Club, 2330 Telegraph Ave., Oakland. $20. 510.859.8709.
WEDNESDAY
INDIE
THE NATIONAL PARKS
Hailing from Provo, Utah, the indie folk band the National Parks make music as monumental as their namesakes, which makes sense since Utah has its fair share of beautiful national parks. Formed in 2013, this quartet has delivered on the more polished end of the Americana spectrum with harmonizing vocals, catchy melodies and, of course, fiddle. They’re currently touring off their seventh album, Wild Spirit, released on Aug. 23, so the songs are fresh for fans. Their songs range from the emotional and gut-wrenching to the soaring and hopeful, keeping the listener singing along the entire adventure. Singer/songwriter Elias Hix joins for a folksy good night. – MW
INFO: Wed, 8pm, Cornerstone, 2367 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley. $29-$84. 510.214.8600.