This is the first year where I’ve seen more bands than DJs. A personal record of 25 shows which includes the 2 day Portola Festival as a singular count and a few weeks where I went to 2-3 concerts. That was pretty tough and I’m unsure I want to do that again.
I attended a good chunk of these with my childhood friend, Mark. It was a great way to reconnect. He has always been down to see DJs over the years. Most of the time he went in blind, but I’m sure to his surprise hearing bands like Khruangbin or Hermanos Gutierrez for the first time ever, but live (at the Greek Theater!), must be a ‘core’ memory for his appreciation. Happy to gift that to him!
Next year I’ll add the dates?
Black Pumas, The Fox Theater, Oakland
Vieux Farka Touré, Orchestra Gold, The Chapel, SF
LA LOM, Cory Wang, The Fox Theater, Oakland
Celia Hollander, Suzanne Ciani, Grace Cathedral, SF
Steve Roach, Grace Cathedral, SF
LA LOM, Trio Renasciamento, The Chapel, SF
L’eclair, Rahill, The Chapel, SF
Say She She, Hop Monk, Novato
xinxin, Haitus Kaiyote, The Fox Theater, Oakland
LaRussell, CA Academy of Sciences, SF
Peter Cat Recording Co., Khruangbin, The Greek Theater, Berkeley
Aneesa Strings, Yoshi’s, Oakland
Incubus, Coheed and Cambria, Chase Center, SF
Jalen Ngonda, MT Jones, Swedish American Music Hall, SF
Anderson.Paak and the Free Nationals, GAWD, Mo Betta, Shoreline Amphitheater, Mountain View
Joy Orbison, Bambii, Punjabi Hit Squad, Soft Launch, SVN West, SF
Floating Points, Mothbot, 888 Marin, SF
Portola Festival, Pier 80, SF
Thee Sinseers and The Altons, Introverted Funk, Bimbo’s 365, SF
Crumb, The Fox Theater, Oakland
Andre 3000 New Blue Sun, Sudan Archives, The Fox Theater, Oakland
La LOM, Los Tranquilos, Bimbo’s 365, SF
Shintaro Sakamoto, Bobby Orzoa, UC Theater, Berkeley
Leon Bridges, Hermanos Gutiérrez, The Greek Theater, Berkeley
Kaytranada, Channel Tres, Lou Phelps, The Greek Theater, Berkeley
graveyard shiftin 