Whether you just need a break from the manic holiday prep or are looking for an early knock-’em-over sort of present that you just can’t deliver in the form of a gift card, a spin through our guide to upcoming concerts might just be what the doctor ordered. We’ve picked

Oakland’s got soul. Period. No debate necessary. Just facts on facts on facts. While there are some who still want to believe that Oakland is nothing more than the ugly step-sister to San Francisco’s glittery Cinderella, those in the know recognize Oakland for the jewel it truly is—a complex, many-splendored