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