Another great week of live in the Bay Area. Here are some suggestions..

Monday February 26th

Amnesia Bar 853 Valencia St, San Francisco 9:00 PM-Midnight Showtime The Earl Brothers are back. The bad boys of bluegrass, are irreverent energetic and a hell of a lot of fun. Highly recommended N/C

Bar Fluxus 18 Harlan Pl, San Francisco 8:00 PM-10:00 PM Showtime Burl Haggard is a really fine San Francisco string band playing old-country, bluegrass, Bob Wills tunes and some jug music as well. I really like their harmonies. Really good music. Highly recommended. $10 Cover Charge

Slims 333 11th St, San Francisco 8:00 PM Showtime Mac Sabbath I am really looking forward to finally seeing this amazing parody band. Visually inspired by characters from McDonald Land and performing in elaborate costuming, Mac Sabbath’s concerts are described as a “multimedia show with video, theatrics, audience participation and sing-alongs”, featuring an array of food-related props which tie into their overall theme. The Village Voice, describing the “surreal and chaotic” nature of their shows, wrote of “red-eyed, demonic-looking clown statues, inflatable cheeseburgers, and oversized prop ketchup and mustard bottles”. I’m in..$26 Cover Charge

Tuesday February 27th

The Fillmore 1805 Geary Blvd, San Francisco 9:00 PM Showtime Gogol Bordello One of the great party bands in the universe. I have been lucky enough to see the purveyors of gypsy punk a few times and just had a great time. Highly recommended!!! $39.50 Cover Charge

The Freight & Salvage 2020 Addison St, Berkeley 8:00 PM Showtime Lunasa & Tim O’Brien.. I was able to see Lunasa and Tim last year at the Music Hall. It was a great show. Tim and Lunasa are magical together. A wonderful prelude to St. Paddy’s Day.. Highly recommended $39 Cover Charge

Le Colonial 20 Cosmo Pl, San Francisco 7:00 PM-10:00 PM Showtime Le Hot Jazz The spirit of Django is alive and well in San Francisco. This is a great ensemble. Highly recommended!! N/C

If you are near Santa Cruz check out

Rio Theatre For Performing Arts 1205 Soquel Ave, Santa Cruz 8:00 PM-10:00 PM Showtime David Rawlings the acclaimed singer songwriter and guitarist is on tour promoting his recently released Poor David’s Almanac. This is a great opportunity to see David solo. Highly recommended..$39 Cover Charge

Wednesday February 28st

The Fillmore 1805 Geary Blvd, San Francisco 9:00 PM Showtime Gogol Bordello One of the great party bands in the universe. I have been lucky enough to see the purveyors of gypsy punk a few times and just had a great time. Highly recommended!!! $39.50 Cover Charge

Bar Fluxus 18 Harlan Pl, San Francisco 5:00 PM-7:00 PM Showtime The Deep Basement Shakers specialize in primal, joint-rocking boogie, barrelhouse, blues and early R&B. With a powerful, stripped-down featuring piano and an assortment of unique percussion – including washboard, spoons, hand drum, suitcase and more – the Shakers bring to life old-school, steady-rolling tunes from the deep musical traditions of places like St. Louis, Texas, Chicago and New Orleans. Vintage, foot-stomping American roots music designed for good times. Let’s get down! N/C

Brick and Mortar 1710 Mission St, San Francisco 9:00 PM Showtime VIQUEEN I really like what I have heard so far from this all-female powerhouse band featuring heavy sound and thoughtful melodies. Great venue for them as well. $10 Cover Charge

Tupelo 1337 Grant Ave, San Francisco 9:00 PM-1:00 AM Showtime If you don’t know Johnny Z and the Camarros you should. They are such a fun rock and roll band. They will have Tupelo rockin’ out. N/C

Yoshis 510 Embarcadero West, Oakland 8:00 PM & 10:00 PM Showtimes.. For over four decades, The Dramatics, with their dazzling vocal blend, has wowed audiences all over the world. With over 38 top 10 singles to date, Including one of my alltime favorite I Want To Go Outside In The Rain, The Dramatics display a distinctive, rich harmony and a dynamic blend of lead and background vocals, that has transcended time, music genres, and generations alike. With L.J. Reynolds’ powerful tenor, soulful delivery, and charismatic energy, The Dramatics’ star continues to shine. $37-$69 Cover Charge

Thursday March 1st

Bottom Of The Hill 1233 17th St, San Francisco 8:30 PM Showtime Super Vague Band The Campbell Apartment The Royal Panics Three really good San Francisco bands. I especially like the Royal Panics-a real old school garage band. $10 Cover Charge

Hemlock Tavern 1131 Polk St, San Francisco 8:30 PM-11:55 PM Showtime Bill MacKay Matt Baldwin Golden Gram. Good lineup led by Chicago based Bill MacKay who has energized the experimental folk, rock and avant scenes around town with his polyglot approach to the guitar, combining the folk of Appalachia, the blues and gospel with rock, jazz, western-country and an array of eastern modes. $7 Cover Charge

Pier 23 Pier 23 The Embarcadero, San Francisco 6:00 PM-9:00 PM Showtime Vince Lateano Trio Vince Lateano’s resume reads like a who’s who of American bebop. The Bay Area drummer has played and recorded with Cal Tjader, Stan Getz, Dizzy Gillespie, Carmen McRae and countless others. Great venue to see this living legend of jazz. N/C

The Fillmore 1805 Geary Blvd, San Francisco 8:00 PM Showtime David Rawlings the acclaimed singer songwriter and guitarist is on tour promoting his recently released Poor David’s Almanac. This is a great opportunity to see David solo. Highly recommended..$35 Cover Charge

Yoshis 510 Embarcadero West, Oakland 8:00 PM & 10:00 PM Showtimes.. For over four decades, The Dramatics, with their dazzling vocal blend, has wowed audiences all over the world. With over 38 top 10 singles to date, Including one of my alltime favorite I Want To Go Outside In The Rain, The Dramatics display a distinctive, rich harmony and a dynamic blend of lead and background vocals, that has transcended time, music genres, and generations alike. With L.J. Reynolds’ powerful tenor, soulful delivery, and charismatic energy, The Dramatics’ star continues to shine. $37-$69 Cover Charge

Friday March 2nd

Biscuits and Blues 401 Mason St, San Francisco 7:30 Pm & 10:00 PM Showtime Popa Chubby, born Ted Horowitz, has been hard rocking the blues in his fierce and soulful way for more than 25 years. Over the course of a career that dates back to 1994, he has been a force of to be reckoned with on the guitar, and his tempestuous, soulful playing has never been more powerful. An imposing figure with a shaven head, tattooed arms, a goatee and a performance style he describes as “the Stooges meets Buddy Guy, Motörhead meets Muddy Waters, and Jimi Hendrix meets Robert Johnson,” Popa Chubby is an endearing character who is one of the genre’s most popular figures. Should be a great show..$35 Cover Charge

Boom Boom Room 1601 Fillmore St, San Francisco 9:30 PM Showtime Snarky Puppy’s Offical After Party with The W-BEEZ featuring members of Snarky Puppy & Pamela Parker’s Fantastic Machine & DJ K-OS. This might tuyrn out to be one of the best shows of the year. I am really looking forward to this funk extravaganza. $20 Cover Charge

The Freight & Salvage 2020 Addison St, Berkeley 8:00 PM Showtime Blame Sally I been able to see this great ensemble a few times now. Great songwriters, singers and performers from this group that includes Pam Delgado (percussion and vocals), Renee Harcourt (guitar and vocals), Rob Strom (bass guitar), Jeri Jones (guitar, bass and vocals), and Monica Pasqual (piano, accordion, and vocals). Highly recommended!! $34 Cover Charge

Tupelo 1337 Grant Ave, San Francisco 9:30 PM-1:30 AM Showtime Virtuoso guitarist and Legendary Rockabilly powerhouse Jinx Jones and the Kingtones are a great band. This will be a rockin great time.. N/C

Yoshis 510 Embarcadero West, Oakland 8:00 PM & 10:00 PM Showtimes Multi GRAMMY®-winning pianist/singer/composer/ producer Eliane Elias is known for her distinctive and immediately recognizable musical style which blends her Brazilian roots and sensuous, alluring voice with her virtuosic instrumental jazz, classical and compositional skills. This should be a great show.. $39-$75 Cover Charge

If you live in the North Bay checkout

Rancho Nicasio 1 Old Rancheria Rd, Nicasio, 8:30 PM Showtime Blazing soul-blues rocker Tommy Castro & The Painkillers unleashes his high-energy music this weekend at Rancho Nicasio. This is a great band. Highly recommended!! $20 Cover Charge

If you live around Santa Cruz check out

Kuumbwa Jazz 320 Cedar St # 2, Santa Cruz 7:00 PM & 9:00 PM Showtime It can be easily argued that it was Booker T. Jones who set the cast for modern soul music and is largely responsible for its rise and enduring popularity. On classic Stax hits like “Green Onions”, “Hang ‘Em High”, “Time Is Tight”, and “Melting Pot” the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee, Musicians Hall of Fame inductee, Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award recipient and four-time Grammy-winner pushed the genre’s boundaries, refined it to its essence and then introduced it to the nation. Outside of the band, Jones made the charts as a solo artist also lent his trademark keyboards to many artists ranging in genre from Ray Charles to Neil Young. Highly Recommended.. $40 Cover Charge

Saturday March 3rd

Ashkenaz 1317 San Pablo Ave, Berkeley 8:00 PM-11:00 PM Showtime Hailed for its spirited performances and fascinating fusion of Venezuelan folk music with adventurous jazz explorations, The VNote Ensemble gives voice to the hidden treasure of Venezuelan music. Original compositions, keen arrangements and great musicianship blend together to deliver a unique musical sound.This group of superstar Maestrasled by the great Jackeline Rago on Venezuelan Cuatro and Bandola, features Donna Viscuso on Flute, Dan Feiszli on Bass and the one and only Michaelle Goerlitz on Percussion. Special Guests for tonight’s performance include Anna Marai Violich on vocals, and Mara Fox on Trombone. $25 Cover Charge

Biscuits and Blues 401 Mason St, San Francisco 7:30 Pm & 10:00 PM Showtime Popa Chubby, born Ted Horowitz, has been hard rocking the blues in his fierce and soulful way for more than 25 years. Over the course of a career that dates back to 1994, he has been a force of to be reckoned with on the guitar, and his tempestuous, soulful playing has never been more powerful. An imposing figure with a shaven head, tattooed arms, a goatee and a performance style he describes as “the Stooges meets Buddy Guy, Motörhead meets Muddy Waters, and Jimi Hendrix meets Robert Johnson,” Popa Chubby is an endearing character who is one of the genre’s most popular figures. Should be a great show..$35 Cover Charge

Bottom Of The Hill 1233 17th St, San Francisco 8:30 PM Showtime The Dears The Asteroid No.4 Tabernacle Three really good bands with The Dears headlining.. Big fan of this indie rock Canadian band led by the husband-and-wife duo of singer-guitarist Murray Lightburn and keyboardist Natalia Yanchak. . Highly recommend this show.. $18 Cover Charge

Club Deluxe 1511 Haight St, San Francisco 6:00 PM-9:00 PM Showtime Howell Devine My favorite Bay Area blues band. They will have the house rockin at the Deluxe. N/C

Great American Music Hall 859 O’Farrell St, San Francisco 8:00 PM Showtime David Nelson Band David who is the co-founder and longtime member of the New Riders of the Purple Sage puts on a great show. He has a great group of musicians backing him up including Steve Kimock, Michael Falzarano, Pete Sears, Mookie Siegel, Johnny Markowski and Pete Grant. MC for the night is none other than the clown prince of Bay Area rock band roll Wavy Gravy. Highly recommended.. $45 Cover Charge

The Fillmore 1805 Geary Blvd, San Francisco 9:00 PM Showtime They Might be Giants have been delivering highly energetic, highly melodic and highly imaginative music for over thirty years. They write, record and perform continuously. Brooklyn’s original alternative rockers have made more than a dozen albums, sold more than a million, and won a couple of Grammys. They are a great band.. Highly recommended..$30 Cover Charge

The Independant 628 Divisadero St, San Francisco 7:00 PM & 9:00 PM Showtimes It can be easily argued that it was Booker T. Jones who set the cast for modern soul music and is largely responsible for its rise and enduring popularity. Booker T’s Stax Revue is a presentation of Booker’s hits with the MGs, such as “Green Onions,” “Hang ‘Em High” and “Time is Tight” and of the classics recorded on Stax Records by legendary artists such as “Try a Little Tenderness” by Otis Redding, “When Something is Wrong with my Baby” by Sam and Dave and “Gee Whiz” by Carla Thomas. The Stax Revue features a ten-piece big band with three lead vocalists, a three-piece horn section and Booker’s usual rhythm section and delivers a high energy experience curated to take the audience on a journey through Booker’s eyes. Highly recommended!!$35 Cover Charge

The Riptide 3639 Taraval St, San Francisco 9:00 PM-12:00 PM Showtime John Clifton Blues Band This is a great blues party band out of Fresno. They will have the Riptide rockin.. N/C

Yoshis 510 Embarcadero West, Oakland 8:00 PM & 10:00 PM Showtimes Multi GRAMMY®-winning pianist/singer/composer/ producer Eliane Elias is known for her distinctive and immediately recognizable musical style which blends her Brazilian roots and sensuous, alluring voice with her virtuosic instrumental jazz, classical and compositional skills. This should be a great show.. $39-$75 Cover Charge

The Backroom 1984 Bonita Ave, Berkeley 8:00 PM Showtime Stevie Coyle and Glenn Houston make up the dynamic guitar duo, The Quitters Having each quit some of the best bands in the business, both are late founding members of The Waybacks and each have performed at Strawberry in other configurations. Stevie Coyle has a long and illustrious career as an entertainer that began well before birth and Glenn Houston’s well decorated history in music is best known to berry heads for his founding role of powerhouse Americana quintet, Houston Jones. As individuals, both are renowned players in music circles. Now they have joined forces, to the delight of California audiences, to become a right-handed, right-side up fingerpicking and left-handed upside down flatpicking twosome. Mostly acoustic. Some electric. Much serendipity.” $20 Cover Charge

If you live in the North Bay check out

Rancho Nicasio 1 Old Rancheria Rd, Nicasio, 8:30 PM Showtime Blazing soul-blues rocker Tommy Castro & The Painkillers unleashes his high-energy music this weekend at Rancho Nicasio. This is a great band. Highly recommended!! $20 Cover Charge

Mystic Theatre 23 Petaluma Blvd N, Petaluma 8:00 PM Showtime Greg Brownis a great folk singer songwriter and performer. I have seen Greg a lot and he puts on a great show. Highly recommended!! $30 Cover Charge

Sunday March 4th

Yoshis 510 Embarcadero West, Oakland 7:00 PM Showtime Multi GRAMMY®-winning pianist/singer/composer/ producer Eliane Elias is known for her distinctive and immediately recognizable musical style which blends her Brazilian roots and sensuous, alluring voice with her virtuosic instrumental jazz, classical and compositional skills. This should be a great show.. $39-$75 Cover Charge

The Fillmore 1805 Geary Blvd, San Francisco 9:00 PM Showtime They Might be Giants have been delivering highly energetic, highly melodic and highly imaginative music for over thirty years. They write, record and perform continuously. Brooklyn’s original alternative rockers have made more than a dozen albums, sold more than a million, and won a couple of Grammys. They are a great band.. Highly recommended..$30 Cover Charge

Bird & Beckett 653 Chenery St, San Francisco 4:30 PM-6:30 PM Showtime Patrick Wolff Quintet featuring Patrick Wolff, tenor sax, Mike Olmos, trumpet, Keith Saunders, piano, Eric Markowitz, bass and Evan Hughes, drums..Five of the City’s top jazz musicians convene to play music composed by jazz greats Kenny Dorham, Clifford Jordan and Horace Silver, and a few originals as well! This should be a great show.. Highly recommended!! $10 Cover Charge

The Lucky Horseshoe Bar 453 Cortland Ave, San Francisco 4:00 PM-7:00 PM Showtime Bernal Hillbillies A great three hours of bluegrass music at a really great venue reminiscent of the jams at the Old Paul Saloon many years ago. N/C

The Freight & Salvage 2020 Addison St, Berkeley 8:00 PM Showtime The Squirrel Nut Zippers are a great band fusing delta blues, gypsy jazz, 1930s–era swing, klezmer, New Orleans Jazz, and blues into one of the most original musical ensembles. They are fun and entertaining and one of my favorite bands to see in concert. Highly recommended!!! $39 Cover Charge

If you live down the Peninsula check out

Savanna Jazz Club 1189 Laurel St, San Carlos 6:00 PM-9:00 PM Showtime SF Bay Jazz Big Band Jeff Sanford leads one tof the best jazz bands in the bay area. Great arrangements of standards and originals. Highly recommended!! N/C

Video Pick of the week

Beware of Mr. Baker Beware of Mr. Baker Trailer .. Drummer Ginger Baker first entered the public consciousness for his percussive contributions to early albums for the likes of Cream, Blind Faith and Fela Kuti. Over the course of his career, Baker has checked off all the major milestones that go along with becoming a living legend; including rampant drug usage, exotic pilgrimages, violence, broken relationships with family, and bankruptcy. Ginger Baker looks back on his musical career with Cream and Blind Faith; his introduction to Fela Kuti; his self-destructive patterns and losses of fortune; and his current life inside a fortified South African compound.