Taylor Mac and Matt Ray’s Bark of Millions Coming to Berkeley!

Taylor Mac (a MacArthur Fellow, Kennedy Prize winner, and Pulitzer Prize finalist) and Obie award-winning composer Matt Ray visit with the West Coast premiere of Bark of Millions.Part rock opera, part reimagined pride parade, this epic production will stage 55 original songs—one to mark each year since the landmark Stonewall uprising. It’s both a celebration and a gift to the queer canon, expanding the archive for generations to come.

 

First Karaoke of 2024

by Vanessa Gil, Arts & Events Editor

I went to the Captain’s Chest in Concord for karaoke over the weekend. Sang Radiohead’s “Creep” for the first time in front of other humans. Definitely my first foray into “stepping out of my comfort zone” this new year. So, yay me! This year is getting underway and the calendar is filling up with so many more opportunities for making lasting memories. Here’s what I’m most excited about for the week of 1/9…

 

This Week’s Events

Tuesday, 1/9

Marina Comedy – Silver Cloud Showcase
1/9 | Silver Cloud SF | 1994 Lombard St, SF | 8 p.m. | Free, 21+

Every other Tuesday, see comedians who have performed all over including the Punchline, Cobb’s, and Cheaper than Therapy. Grab a drink, order up some food, and then stay for Karaoke once the comedy’s over.

 

Earl Scruggs 100th Birthday All-Star Bluegrass Celebration
1/9 | Freight & Salvage | 2020 Addison St, Berkeley | 8 p.m. | $20 – $25

In celebration of Scruggs’ 100 th birthday, Steve Martin Banjo Prize recipient Bill Evans has assembled an All-Star cast of northern California bluegrass greats to celebrate the music and career of this remarkable musician in this one-time-only Freight performance.

 

Arthur Gaus
1/9 | Punch Line SF | 444 Battery St, SF | 6:30 p.m. Doors | $20.25-$28.25

Arthur Gaus is a standup comic based out of San Francisco where he is a popular local fixture. Using his distinctive energetic delivery, he combines observations, stories and biting social commentary while weaving in and out of characters to create a style of comedy that is as whip-smart and unique as it is hilarious. 

 

Wednesday, 1/10

 

Atsuko Okatsuka: Full Grown Tour
1/10-1/12 | Palace of Fine Arts | 3301 Lyon St, SF | 7 p.m. | $39.50 – $59.50

Atsuko Okatsuka is a stand-up comedian, actor, and writer based in LA. Atsuko was born in Taiwan and spent her childhood in Japan. Her unique upbringing brings an artfully-offbeat resilient persona which is perfectly embodied in her blunt bangs and bowl cut.

 

Odie Leigh
1/10 | The Chapel | 777 Valencia St, SF | 8 p.m. | $22 – $25, All Ages

Once described as “folk-misfit,” Odie Leigh’s songwriting reflects the classic folk, blues, and country music that floods the southern soundscape, and shaped by her self-taught finger-picking style, Leigh’s music is an eclectic glimpse into feeling stuck in all of life’s in-betweens.

 

The Avengers / Kid Congo Powers + The Pink Monkey Birds
1/10 | Great American Music Hall | 859 O’Farrell St SF | 8 p.m. | $24 – $27

While much has been written about The Avengers in the past four decades, rock critic Greil Marcus puts it succinctly, “The word I always come back to is mystical, and that remains almost theirs alone.”

 

9 to 5: Live!
1/11-2/3 | OASIS | 298 11th St, SF | 7 p.m. | $30-$50

In this brand-new show, a cast of fabulous drag artists breathes new life into the iconic film “9 to 5,” a beloved (and still all-too-timely) workplace comedy! It’s a fun, funny, and fresh take on this tale of three coworkers who become fast friends as they smash the glass ceiling and put a sexist, egotistical, lying, hypocritical bigot in his place!

 

Thursday, 1/11

 

Van Zweden Conducts Beethoven
1/11-1/13 | Davies Symphony Hall | 201 Van Ness Ave, SF | 7:30 p.m. | $39-$169

Two Fifths: two symphonic triumphs. Beethoven’s Fifth represents the human capacity for heroism in the face of adversity—or, as he put it, “through suffering to joy.” Conducted by Jaap van Zweden.

 

Grace Kuhlenschmidt
1/11 | Make-Out Room | 3225 22nd St, SF | 7 p.m. Doors | $18/advance, $20/dos, 21+

Grace Kuhlenschmidt is an NYC based stand-up comedian, actress and writer who was recognized by the New York Times as one of the top 7 Comedians to Watch.

 

Pardoner
1/11 | Rickshaw Stop | 155 Fell St, SF | 8 p.m. | $17-$20

San Francisco based rock band Pardoner was forged by members Max Freeland, Trey Flanigan, and River Van Den Berghe, who stuck together realizing they had an artful, frenetic musical connection and a truly radical friendship.

 

Friday, 1/12

 

The 13th Annual Bowie Bash!
1/12-1/13 | Great Amerian Music Hall | 859 O’Farrell St, SF | 8:30 p.m. Doors | $25

The First Church of the Sacred Silversexual is the world’s only Worship Band devoted to the teachings of David Bowie.  This “Church of Bowie” has held services in San Francisco since 2011, with yearly Bowie Birthday Bashes going back to 2012.  

 

Harlem Globetrotters
1/12 | Oakland Arena | 7000 Coliseum Way, Oakland | 7 p.m. | $40.75+

See the Globetrotter stars LIVE as they DRIBBLE, SPIN, SLAM, and DUNK their way past their relentless rivals, the Washington Generals!

 

Howie Day
1/12 | The Guild Theatre | 949 El Camino Real, Menlo Park | 8 p.m. | $28-$68

This year finds Howie Day actively touring North America—marking the 20 year anniversary of Australia—a work that kick-started a lasting pursuit of creativity and artistic expression. 

 

Donnell Rawlings
1/12-1/14 | Cobb’s Comedy Club | 915 Columbus Ave, SF | 7:30 p.m. | $35.25-$50.25

You’ve seen him on Comedy Central’s award winning and critically celebrated “Chappelle’s Show”. Since Dave Chappelle had business to take care of in Africa, Donnell was asked to step into the huge shoes Dave left behind, and host the Lost Episodes. 

 

Whiskerman & King Dream (Album Release)
1/12 | Cornerstone | 2367 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley | 8 p.m. | $16 – $18, All Ages

King Dream is a Bay Area rock ‘n’ roll band helmed by Oakland native Jeremy Lyon, a lifelong songwriter and multi-instrumentalist who crafts dive bar anthems with heart, brains and soul. Over the last 12 years the Oakland band, Whiskerman, have released four studio albums, their most recent, “Kingdom Illusion”, is a rock and roll vision quest that ushers the band’s elegiac psychedellia towards a louder, pushier, more colorful sound. 

 

50 First Jokes
1/12 | Sports Basement Presidio | 610 Old Mason St, SF | 7 p.m. | $12-$20

This show celebrates the diverse and thriving stand-up comedy scene of the Bay Area, bringing together a dynamic mix of 50 seasoned comedians and the most promising rising stars, where they will perform the 1st new joke they’ve written since the turn of the new year!

 

Saturday, 1/13

 

Welcome to Night Vale w/ Musical Guest Danny Schmidt
1/13 | The Castro Theatre |  429 Castro St, SF | 7 p.m. Doors | $35, All Ages

Welcome to the Night Vale is a twice-monthly podcast in the style of community updates for the small desert town of Night Vale, featuring local weather, news, announcements from the Sheriff’s Secret Police, mysterious lights in the night sky, dark hooded figures with unknowable powers, and cultural events.

 

The Itals with Kava Jah and the Remedy
1/13 | Sweetwater Music Hall | 19 Corte Madera Ave, Mill Valley | 8 p.m. Doors | $28

The Itals have been one of the forefront touring reggae acts since the early eighties spreading the message of love and oneness to humanity. Under the strong influence and example of his father, Kava Jah started playing instruments at a young age, practicing and playing multiple instruments. He soon found his love for the guitar as his first instrument and he has now also become quite accomplished on the keyboards.

 

Your Fucked Up Relationship
1/13 | Endgames Improv | 2965 Mission St, SF | 9 p.m. | $20

Since 2011, San Francisco’s hottest improv show remains “Your Fucked Up Relationship.” — Improvised scenes inspired by your ridiculous, fucked up relationships. Everyone’s had at least one. You tell us your stories, we show you ours.

 

HOME
1/13 | Drawing Room Annex | 780 Valencia St, SF | 4 p.m. | $5-$25

Join the opening reception of this exhibition that invited artists from the SF Bay Area to submit a piece of work related to the theme of HOME, designed to invite works from local artists that address a multitude of issues including the social and physical constructs of housing, immigration, identity and the histories of urban and land development.

Insomnia Presents: Dillon Francis
1/13 | The Midway | 900 Marin St, SF | 9 p.m. | $30-$79, 21+

Come dance the night away as Dillon Francis spins!

 

Tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. ft. the Music of Stevie Wonder
1/13 | Paramount Theatre | 2025 Broadway, Oakland | 6 p.m. Doors | $13.50-$103.50

This special celebration will feature an exclusive artist lineup of Bay Area musical luminaries performing the music of Stevie Wonder. It was Wonder’s version of “Happy Birthday” and his tireless campaigning with the King family that led directly to the enshrinement of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, observed for the first time in 1986.

 

Sunday, 1/14

 

Darcy & Jer
1/14 | Regency Ballroom | 1300 Van Ness Ave, SF | 8 p.m. | $49.50

Together for over 20 years, Darcy & Jer are first and foremost proud dads to their daughter Grace and their golden retriever Yuma. And second, they’re idiots on the internet. Known for their hilarious videos around their relationship, ADHD, plants and more, Darcy & Jer have quickly become household names with a global audience.

 

Wifisfuneral
1/14 | Brick & Mortal Music Hall | 1710 Mission Street, SF | 8 p.m. | $20

Florida-based rapper, Wifisfuneral, is noted for his smooth, agile flow and his brutally honest lyrics about his struggles with drug abuse and depression.

 

Jazz & RnB Brunch w/ Uncle Los
1/14 | Mission Bowling Club | 3176 17th St, SF | 12 p.m. | $5

Uncle Los and his band deliver the perfect soundtrack for a Sunday brunch at MBC.

 

Monday, 1/15

 

Krazy for Karaoke
1/15 | The Knockout | 3223 Mission St, SF | 9 p.m. | Free

The weekly Krazy for Karaoke singing & screaming party. Jump on stage and unleash your inner Ringo!

 

Girls Just Wanna Have Fun
1/15 | DNA Lounge | 375 11th St, SF | 8 p.m. Doors | $10-$15, 18+

Each Monday night is a fun-filled, shimmering showcase of local, national and international burlesque and variety talent — and a chance to see the most dazzling debuts before they hit it big!

 

Rad Upcoming Events

 

Don’t forget to check out our Big Bad List of Rad Ongoing Events right here!

 

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