This week is again loaded with a number of really good shows and performers. Here are some suggestions for this week

Monday December 18th

Club Deluxe 1511 Haight St, San Francisco 6 PM-9 PM Showtime Jules Broussard Jules Broussard Live Jules is a Bay Area favorite and music icon for over thirty years. His career spans over three decades of shared studio and stage with such luminaries as Ray Charles, Boz Scaggs, Van Morrison, Carlos Santana, Earl Grant, Elvin Bishop, Art Garfunkel and Doctor Hook. N/C

Mr. Tipples 39 Fell St, San Francisco 7 PM-10 PM Showtime Le Jazz Hot Le Jazz Hot Live This is a great ensemble of accomplished and versatile musicians celebrating the music of Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grappelli.’ N/C

Sweetwater Music Hall 19 Corte Madera Ave, Mill Valley 7 PM Showtime Christmas Jug Band Christmas Jug Band Santa Lost A Ho This irreverent crew of stalwart purveyors of the jugabilly mystique is a seasonal assemblage of misfits of Commander Cody alumni & others from notable Bay Area musical aggregations such as Those Darn Accordions, The Moonlighters, Jesse Colin Young, and Elvis Costello. One never knows exactly what form this 100% acoustic folk-skiffle-swing jug band will take from one season to the next, but those who attend will get a guaranteed full dose of tongue-in-cheek holiday high jinks! Bonnie Hayes will be the guest performer. $27 Cover Charge for Adults and $17 for seniors and 12 and under.

Tuesday December 19th

Ashkenaz 1317 San Pablo Ave, Berkeley 8:30 PM Showtime Tom Rigney and Flambeau Tom Rigney & Flambeau Do the Zydeco This is just a great zydeco/cajun band. They are so much fun. $12 Cover Charge

Biscuits and Blues 401 Mason St, San Francisco 7:30 PM & 9:30 Showtime Bay City Blues with Chris Cain Chris Cain My Baby Wants to Leave Me The Bay City Blues is a weekly celebration of the Blues in all its forms hosted by the nationally recognized Chris Cain & his All-Star cast of Musicians. $20 Cover Charge

Sweetwater Music Hall 19 Corte Madera Ave, Mill Valley 7 PM Showtime Christmas Jug Band Christmas Jug Band Santa Don’t Go There This irreverent crew of stalwart purveyors of the jugabilly mystique is a seasonal assemblage of misfits of Commander Cody alumni & others from notable Bay Area musical aggregations such as Those Darn Accordions, The Moonlighters, Jesse Colin Young, and Elvis Costello. One never knows exactly what form this 100% acoustic folk-skiffle-swing jug band will take from one season to the next, but those who attend will get a guaranteed full dose of tongue-in-cheek holiday high jinks! $27 Cover Charge for Adults and $17 for seniors and 12 and under.

The Regency Ballroom 1290 Sutter St, San Francisco 8 PM Showtime David Brouza David Brouza Carolina The legendary Israeli folk-rock singer-songwriter will be performing his mix of modern pop, Middle Eastern and Spanish traditions. $39-$85 Cover Range

The Independant 628 Divisadero St, San Francisco 8 PM Showtime Charlie Hunter Trio Charlie Hunter Trio Funk Niblets This is a great Jazz/Blues Trio. Charlie always puts on a great show. $20 Cover Charge

Verdi Club 2424 Mariposa St, San Francisco 9 PM-1 PM Showtime Clint Baker’s New Orleans Jazz Band Clint Baker’s New Orleans Jazz Band Bourbon Street Parade This is a great band reminiscent Turk Murphy’s great band. If you love traditional Jazz I would highly recommend seeing this show. $10 Cover Charge

Wednesday December 20th

Bottom of the Hill 1233 17th St, San Francisco 8:30 Showtime Mike Watt Mike Watt and the Secondmen Mayya & The Revolutionary Hell Yeah! Mayya & The Revolutionary Hell Yeah! Live at Amoeba Music Mike Watt is great punk rock guitarist, song writer and a whole lot of fun. It is good to know he is still going strong. I really like what I have seen from Mayya and the Revolution Hell Yeah! I really liked her in her bio that she is inspired by David Bowie, Gogol Bordello, Iggy Pop, funk music, George Harrison and pretty much anything with energy and good melodies… and anyone who is unapologetically themselves! This should be a great show!! $15 Cover Charge

Club Deluxe 1511 Haight St, San Francisco 6 PM-9 PM Showtime Lulu & The Rent Party Lulu & The Rent Party Whose Honey Are You This is one of my favorite local groups. A mixture of jazz, blues & pop this band comes highly recommended!! N/C

The Freight and Salvage 2020 Addison St, Berkeley 8 PM Showtime Christmas Jug Band Christmas Jug Band Santa Lost A Ho This irreverent crew of stalwart purveyors of the jugabilly mystique is a seasonal assemblage of misfits of Commander Cody alumni & others from notable Bay Area musical aggregations such as Those Darn Accordions, The Moonlighters, Jesse Colin Young, and Elvis Costello. One never knows exactly what form this 100% acoustic folk-skiffle-swing jug band will take from one season to the next, but those who attend will get a guaranteed full dose of tongue-in-cheek holiday high jinks! Bonnie Hayes will be the guest performer. $20 Cover Charge

Thursday December 21st

The Freight and Salvage 2020 Addison St, Berkeley 8 PM Showtime Country Joe McDonald Country Joe McDonald Roll On Columbia Bay Area legend Country Joe McDonald makes a rare appearance performing classic material from the era of Country Joe & The Fish – the Berkeley group widely acknowledged as pioneers of psychedelic rock music $24 Cover

Mr.Tipples 39 Fell St, San Francisco 5PM and & 7PM Showtimes Eric Shifrin Eric Shfirn Cologne Eric is a such a great and joyous jazz pianist. He has a great left hand. Highly recommended!! N/C

Friday December 22nd

The Hemlock Tavern 1131 Polk St, San Francisco 8:30 PM-12 Showtime Down and Outlaws Down and Outlaws I Don’t Care Locus Pocus Locus Pocus Juice Box Session Nyre Nyre Secret Love I really like Down and Outlaws lots of raw energy. I like their heavy groovy sound. Do not know much about the other two bands but Down and Outlaws will be a great show. $8 Cover Charge

The Chapel 777 Valencia St, San Francisco 8:30 Showtime Country Joe McDonald Country Joe McDonald Roll On Columbia Bay Area legend Country Joe McDonald makes a rare appearance performing classic material from the era of Country Joe & The Fish – the Berkeley group widely acknowledged as pioneers of psychedelic rock music $40 Cover Charge

The Backroom 1984 Bonita Ave, Berkeley 8 PM Showtime Tom Rozum Tommy and The Rozumatics. These are four virtuosos getting together for what promises to be a fun night of music. $25 Cover Charge

If you live in the North Bay Check out

Rancho Nicasio 1 Old Rancheria Rd, Nicasio 8 PM Showtime Sons of The Soul Revivors Sons of The Soul Revivors No Sinner Man Since the 1970s The Sons of The Soul Revivors has been one of the Bay Areas iconic gospel soul band. Highly recommended!! $20 Cover Charge

The Hopmonk Tavern 230 Petaluma Ave, Sebastopol 9 PM Showtime The Oddjob Ensemble The Oddjob Ensemble The Rivertown Ball I really love this band. Their music is a blend of early Jazz, Folk, Vaudeville and the avant grade with a touch of Fellini. This is a very talented and entertaining group. Highly recommended !! $12 Cover Charge

Saturday December 23rd

Biscuits and Blues 401 Mason St, San Francisco 7:00 PM & 9:30 Showtime <a Lavay Smith & Her Red Hot Skillet Lickers Lavay & Her Red Hot Skillet Lickers Walk Right In Lavay Smith and her Red Hot Skillet Lickers are one of the top swinging Jazz and Blues bands in the world. On Saturday Night Lavay Smith & her all-star 7-piece little big band pay tribute to the swinging Kansas City tradition, featuring the music of Count Basie, Jimmy Rushing, Joe Williams, Helen Humes, Lester Young, Jay McShann, Walter Brown, Jimmy Witherspoon, Myra Taylor & Big Joe Turner! This will be a great show!! $24 Cover Charge

The Chapel 777 Valencia St, San Francisco 8:00 PM Showtime Bud E. Luv Bud E. Luv Christmas Show Bud’s Trio and Big Band performs their annual Christmas concert extravaganza. This will be a great show $25 Cover Charge
The Freight and Salvage 2020 Addison St, Berkeley 8 PM Showtime Elvin Bishop Elvin Bishop Live at the Bean Blossom Blues Fest The master blues guitar innovator and performer is a joy to see. $40 Cover ChargeBiscuits

The Fillmore 1805 Geary Blvd, San Francisco Todd Rundgren Todd Rundgren We Got To Get You A Woman Todd is such an iconic performer multi-instrumentalist, singer, songwriter, and record producer. This is a rare opportunity to see him. $39.50 Cover Charge

The IndependantThe Independant 628 Divisadero St, San Francisco 9 PM Showtime FISHBONE FISHBONE One Day Celebrating 25+ groundbreaking years, FISHBONE has been trailblazing their way through the history of American Ska, Funk, Punk, Rock Fusion and (so-called) Black Rock since starting their professional career in Los Angeles’ burgeoning, Alternative Rock music scene of the mid-1980s. Their sound has often been imitated, but never duplicated. $25 Cover Charge

Club Deluxe 1511 Haight St, San Francisco 10 PM-1 AM Showtime Mitch Polzak Mitch Polzak and The Royal Dueces Whole Lot of Shaking Going On Mitch is a master guitarist and he and The Royal Deuces has been one of the premier Rockabilly bands since staring in 1999. I am a huge fan. Highly recommended Minimum Cover Charge

If you live in the North Bay Check out

Rancho Nicasio 1 Old Rancheria Rd, Nicasio 8 PM Showtime Sons of The Soul Revivors Sons of The Soul Revivors No Sinner Man Since the 1970s The Sons of The Soul Revivors has been one of the Bay Areas iconic gospel soul band. Highly recommended!! $20 Cover Charge

Sunday December 24th

The Lucky Horseshoe Bar 453 Cortland Ave, San Francisco 8 PM-10PM Showtime Lucky Horseshoe Bluegrass Jam Sunday A fun evening of bluegrass reminiscent of the jams back in the day when Paul’s Saloon was around. N/C

Video Picks Of The Week

In the spirit of the Christmas season I recommend the following

Jingle Bell Rocks is a trippy, cinematic sleighride into the strange and sublime universe of alternative and underground Christmas music, featuring The Flaming Lips, Run-DMC, The Free Design, Low, Miles Davis & Bob Dorough, Clarence Carter, John Waters, Akim & The Teddy Vann Prod. Co., The Mighty Sparrow, A Girl Called Eddy, El Vez and many more Jingle Bell Rocks Trailer

Christmastime For The Jews In 2005 Saturday Night Live had Darlene Love record the first Christmas song exclusively for Jews. In a hysterical animated short about Jews having free reign over the country on Christmas, Love sang about the many benefits of not celebrating the holiday. “They can finally see King Kong without a line,” she sings.