Oakland’s Gorgeous released Gorgeous this fall and we just want to give an extra shout out to the band. They’ve got a funny B-52’s vibe but with a poppier, modern clever feel we dig on hard. Where are the shows, girls? We are ready, Freddy. –Lucille Faulkner

Today the folks at Burger Boogaloo announced the 2020 line up with a nice holiday ticket special. The Oakland punk festival takes place again at Mosswood Park in Oakland and will feature our beloved host, Mr. John Waters. This year’s lineup is full of some oldies and goodies. After not having played a Bay Area show in 25 years Bikini Kill brings their feminist punk to the evening stage, alongside folks like San Francisco punk legends Flipper. Sweet and solid Oakland cuties The Younger Lovers are coming along and they’re worth the trip right there. The delightful Plastic Bertrand is gracing our good ol’ fashioned Ameican stage and let’s hope he plays a little “Hula Hoop,” baby. Stay tuned for more on the festival and in the meantime, please practice your hula hooping. –Michelle Kicherer, Associate Editor

Oakland-based alt-pop artist Sun Kin just released the single “IDKY” off forthcoming LP Private Time. Kabir Kumar, the India-born artist behind the music, seeks to point out what he calls the “shallowness of algorithmic music selection” that we’re surrounded by. Kin creates bedroom pop songs heavy on the organs with earnest lyrical inflections. Says the track: “When it’s the date of the show/Just simply act like you know/It’s okay to be admired/And while you’re sharing your screen/You must pretend like you have seen/The confidence of a paycheck.” Where the song really shines is in the composition with special praise to those horns and percussion. The full LP is full of catchy soulful pop songs with special guests sprinkled throughout. Sun Kin releases Private Time on January 17th, where they’ll be playing The Starline Social Club. -Lucille Faulkner 

Photo: Ginger Fierstein

The other night I found myself at Woods, playing cards with a friend and enjoying the finest cider I’d laid lips on in a while. A local quartet had just set up and as the music on the speakers died down, the vibrant sounds of jazz lit up the space and I’m telling you: the room shifted. Bassist Lisa Mezzacappa was killing it, Jordan Glenn snapped away on those drums, the trombone and the alto sax blended beautifully. At one point my card playing partner turned to me with happy shaking head, saying, “Who is this?” Between songs I went up to ask the trombonist (Rob Ewing) who wrote the piece and he pointed to saxist Beth Schenck. “It’s called ‘Dedicated To,’” he told me. Amazing.

I’ve since been digging on more SIFTER and found myself listening to another project led by Ewing, Junior Reggae, who just released their latest album These Lines, off Slow and Steady Records. The band is “avant-dub,” with modern jazz at its core but with—as the name suggests—a marriage of reggae, dub and fluid jazz compositions throughout. Influenced by Augustus Pablo and Lee “Scratch” Perry, the group is a unique find that brings together an inspiring collection of musicians. There’s Max Miller-Loran on trumpet and keys, Steven Blum on keys, Jason Levis on percussions and Rob Ewing on bass, trombone, keys and more percussion. It’s an ear fest. Junior Reggae is playing Woods this Friday December 6 from 5-8. Come on out for an evening and save me a cider. –Michelle Kicherer, Associate Editor

Album artwork by Jesse Rimler. 

To piggyback off today’s release of Credit Electric’s sophomore album, the self-titled Credit Electric, the Oakland-based twangy cosmic rock band released the music video for “Every Heart.” The video has an old timey home movies vibe with plenty of sweet shots and behind-the-scenes tour moments that make these boys seem likeable. It feels nostalgic and pairs nicely with this tune we’ve been diggin on. Here’s to hoping they bring some of that energy to their record release show, Saturday November 23 at The Uptown. –Lucille Faulkner

Our friends at Tricycle Records released their 9th compilation album this month featuring a whole lotta women that we dig on. There’s Kendra McKinley, whose “Asleep in Winter” showcases her connective and empathetic lyrics in funky pop with looping pedal work (Performed by Kendra McKinley, recorded and mixed by Scott McDowell at the Henry Miller Memorial Library).

We dig on Micropixie’s “Dark Sight of the Moon,” with its Pink Floyd inspirations and the powerful push against modern day politics on the home front and beyond. It’s electro psych pop dripping with social justice narratives. If you haven’t caught it yet, check out her video for "Como Minimo," shot at our beloved Lovejoy’s Tea Room in San Francisco. 

Another favorite is Beckylin and Her Druthers with “You Ain’t Woman Enough”…to take my man. Damn straight. A nice and exciting find for any country fans. Beckylin and Her Druthers are bluegrass and twangin’ and powerfully sassy. –Michelle Kicherer, Associate Editor

The Deli is pleased to present “Witchhazel,” the new single off Historian’s forthcoming LP, Distractions. The Los Angeles-based psych rock band is always experimenting with sounds and distortions. “Witchhazel” grows and reverberates and glides through the room with some major Deerhunter moments. Chris Karman’s rich vocals call like an incantation and the tune is reminiscent of Magnetic Fields, with experimental realist pop vibes. Distractions will be released on January 17th 2020. –Michelle Kicherer, Associate Editor

Oakland-based queer band Copyslut released their video for "Maker’s Mark" this fall. The song is about "…inherited trauma, sparking its inspiration from one of the most famous oral legends in Mexican folklore: ‘La Llorona.’ Filled with healing pleasure and queer artistic celebration, the music video takes its audience from the streets of the trans district in San Francisco into a world and culture they push to make possible…" The sexified cabaret video is dark and captivating accompaniment to the song and we will leave it up to your viewing pleasure. -Lucille Faulkner

Magic Magic Roses brings us soothing, sweet folk rock with poppy beats and harmonies that make for happiness. The EP River came out this fall and the video for “River” makes me proud to be a Californian and a curly-haired lady. Magic Magic Roses are sure to put on a delight of a performance. Also on the bill is San Francisco’s Cindy. Self-described sad rock, it’s slow shoe gazey with the occasional poppier punkier touches. Their album comes out in 2020 and we’re ready, Freddy. Both groups are playing tomorrow night, November 20 at the Minnesota Street Project (presented by Lonesome Station) and we’re happily pushing you attend. –Michelle Kicherer, Associate Editor

Santa Cruz-based Wolf Jett (the solo project of Chris Jones, formerly in Scary Little Friends) just released the video for their song “One Sweet Day.” It’s a folk gospel song with some killer slide guitar, that upright bass and catchy melodies. Recorded live at the Hill House with a no-shoes vibe, this song is a nice little taste of what’s to come on Wolf Jett’s upcoming tour. First up they’re playing at the Miner’s Foundry in Nevada City on November 29. Check out the rest of their tour fall tour dates and cozy up to catch them. -Lucille Faulkner

How to describe Healing Potpourri? Sweet bossa beats with a real gentle vibe. Healing, indeed. It’s like what you wish elevator music was. The boys are coming to The Knockout tonight and we wanted to send out this late but proper invitation. So forth, be soothed. –Michelle Kicherer, Associate Editor

Oakland-based Hello Yello released two tracks as a duo called My Life As A Teenage Robot. Songs "Lifeguard" and "I Really Loved You," which as the band says are two tracks that lend "…a softer hand to their innovative mash-up of punk and grunge sounds." The project continues a busy year for the group, following the release of their debut EP Love Wins earlier this year, and they just started their North American tour. Catch them and listen in. It’s alternative, grunge and something we can’t put our finger on. –Lucille Faulkner