Lettuce keep the funk flowing in Oakland

April 6, 2017 by Leave a Comment

LettuceBy Sterling Munksgard

Lettuce //
Fox Theater Oakland – Oakland
March 17th, 2017 //

When Lettuce come to town, you know you’re in for a funk-filled night.

The funk ensemble formed at Berklee College of Music in Boston more than 25 years ago has been performing without guitarist and founding member Eric Krasno of late, but that hasn’t slowed it down by any means. In the meantime, they’ve added another funk master in Nigel Hall, formerly of The Nth Power, as their primary vocalist/secondary keyboardist, and more than a year ago we saw how well Hall fits in when the group played in Los Angeles on a bill that included ethnotronic trio Beats Antique strangely enough (read our show review here).

Hitting the road in support of their fifth LP, 2016’s Mt. Crushmore, Lettuce headlined the Fox Theater in Oakland on St. Patrick’s Day for the Bay Area stop on their latest tour. With Adam Smirnoff (guitar), Erick Coomes (bass), Adam Deitch (drums), Neal Evans (keyboards), Ryan Zoidis (saxophone), Eric Bloom (trumpet) and Hall firing on all cylinders like they’ve shown before with and without Krasno, they kicked off a three-night run through California in style.

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PHOTOS: Steve Winwood at Fox Theater Oakland 6/26

July 9, 2014 by Leave a Comment

Steve Winwood #1


Steve Winwood performing at the Fox Theater Oakland.

By Sterling Munksgard //

Steve Winwood with Cris Jacobs //
Fox Theater Oakland – Oakland, CA
June 26th, 2014 //

Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Steve Winwood returned to the Bay Area last month, headlining the Fox Theater Oakland as part of his latest West Coast tour. Famous for the many years he spent playing in Traffic, The Spencer Davis Group, Blind Faith and Go, Winwood proved at the Fox that he’s still got it at the age of 66.

Cris Jacobs of Baltimore’s The Bridge opened the evening with a solo acoustic set, and Sterling Munksgard was on hand to capture the action from Winwood and his bandmates.

Steve Winwood

Steve Winwood

Steve Winwood

Steve Winwood

Steve Winwood

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PHOTOS: Dispatch, Yeasayer at Frost Fest 5/17

May 19, 2014 by Leave a Comment

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By Sterling Munksgard //

Frost Music & Arts Festival featuring Dispatch, Yeasayer & Paper Void //
Frost Amphitheater — Stanford University
May 17th, 2014 //

As the year comes to a finish on campus at Stanford, Frost Amphitheater played host to Dispatch, Yeasayer & Paper Void, an act comprised of Stanford students. It was a day of good times and fun in the sun, and Sterling Munksgard was on the scene capturing all the moments.

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O.A.R. treat fans with an ‘Extended Stay’ in San Francisco

May 14, 2014 by Leave a Comment

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By Sterling Munksgard //

O.A.R. //
The Independent — San Francisco
May 11th, 2014 //

Of a Revolution wrapped up their sold out residency Sunday at The Independent. The band hand-picked the venue as part of their Extended Stay tour, and the shows were a rare treat for Bay Area O.A.R. fans to see the group up close and personal. The group usually plays much larger venues like The Fillmore or The Warfield.

Sunday’s show encapsulated the awesomeness of the tour with a well rounded set list spanning their entire catalogue.

Fan favorites mixed with a few new songs kept the high energy show going throughout the night. The band treated the fans to sing alongs like “Hey Girl”, “Black Rock”, and of course their anthem “That Was A Crazy Game of Poker”, complete with playing card confetti from the crowd. As the venue emptied out after the show one thing was clear, O.A.R. proved that they still have what it takes to please a packed house.

01) Wonderful Day
02) Heaven
03) Black Rock
04) This Town
05) Untitled
06) Shattered
07) Here’s to You
08) Watching the Detectives
09) Hey Girl
10) James
11) About Mr. Brown
12) Delicate Few
13) About an Hour Ago
14) Love and Memories
15) Night Shift

Encore:
16) Peace
17) The Architect
18) That Was A Crazy Game of Poker
19) Missing Pieces

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PHOTOS: Bicycle Day Weekend with Lotus, Gramatik, MiMOSA

April 28, 2014 by Leave a Comment

Bicycle-Fest_post

By Sterling Munksgard //

Bicycle Day Weekend //
Lotus, Gramatik, Mimosa, Star Slinger, Opiuo
The Regency Ballroom — San Francisco
April 19th & 20th, 2014 //

Tigers and EDM and 4/20, Oh My!

Bicycle Day SF went down for two nights April 19th & 20th, featuring speakers on drugs, live painting, people in costumes, light shows, and multiple floors of dance music! Sterling Munksgard was there to capture the scene on day two.

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PHOTOS: Preservation Hall Jazz Band with Bob Weir at Sweetwater 4/18

April 21, 2014 by 1 Comment

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By Sterling Munksgard //

Preservation Hall Jazz Band with Bob Weir & Maria Muldaur, Howell Devine //
Sweetwater Music Hall – Mill Valley, CA
April 18th, 2014

A New Orleans institution, Preservation Hall Jazz Band hit the road every year when they aren’t delighting local audiences in the French Quarter. When visiting Preservation Hall in NOLA, the group take requests from show-goers in the hallowed 100-person space — just don’t request “Saints”, it’ll set ya back ten bucks.

In between consecutive weekend dates at Coachella, the legendary group played at Sweetwater Music Hall just over the Golden Gate Bridge, and one of the Bay Area’s own local icons Bob Weir graced the stage, along with folk songstress Maria Muldaur. Weir also joined opener Howell Devine. View the snaps below from Sterling Munksgard.

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PHOTOS: Widespread Panic at the Fox Theater Oakland 3/28

March 31, 2014 by 1 Comment

Widespread-Panic_postBy Sterling Munksgard //

Widespread Panic //
Fox Theater Oakland – Oakland
Friday March 28th, 2014 //

It had been a couple of years since the Bay Area got a proper Widespread Panic run, and that patience was rewarded with massive early-Spring tour along the West Coast. The first of two nights at Oakland’s Fox Theater featured a well-oiled band playing to a rather ravenous crowd of locals and out-of-towners. The photos and stacked setlist speak for themselves.

Set 1: The Take Out > Ain’t Life Grand > Big Wooly Mammoth > Makes Sense To Me, Dirty Side Down, Down, Good People, Gimme > Machine > Barstools and Dreamers*, Tail Dragger

Set 2: All Time Low, Solid Rock, Happy, Second Skin > Greta > Entering a Black Hole Backwards > Chilly Water > Me and the Devil Blues, Henry Parsons Died > Jack > Henry Parsons Died

Encore:
Tall Boy, Pilgrims > Stop Breakin’ Down Blues

Notes: * w/ Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin) rap

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PHOTOS: Zepparella at Sweetwater Music Hall 3/22

March 28, 2014 by Leave a Comment

Zepparella_post

By Sterling Munksgard //

Zepparella with Michael Lee Firkins //
Sweetwater Music Hall — Mill Valley, CA
Saturday March 22, 2014 //

Zepperella rocked out before a sold out Sweetwater crowd on last weekend. The All Female Led Zeppelin Tribute band busted out hits such as “Ramble On”, “Whole Lotta Love”, “Immigrant Song”, “Communication Breakdown” and countless others.

The band announced an extensive summer tour with dates across the USA this summer. Show include Kansas City, Omaha, Chicago, Salt Lake City, New Orleans, Austin, Dallas and more. Check out the bands official Facebook page to RSVP for the show in your town. Visit the bands official website for photos, videos, show dates, and merch.

03-28 Point Arena, CA – The Arena Theater
03-29 Arcata, CA – Humboldt Brews
05-02 Half Moon Bay, CA – Old Princeton Landing
05-23 Portland, OR – Dantes
05-24 Seattle, WA – Tractor Tavern
06-13 Nevada City, CA – Miner’s Foundry
06-21 Petaluma, CA – The Mystic Theatre
06-27 Denver, CO – Oriental Theater
06-28 Billings, MT – Railyard Ale House
07-05 Lake Tahoe, Nevada – Crystal Bay Casino
07-06 Salt Lake City, UT – Urban Lounge
07-08 Omaha, NE – The Waiting Room
07-09 Kansas City, MO – The Record Bar
07-10 Milwaukee, WI – Shank Hall
07-11 Chicago, IL – Bottom Lounge
07-17 Northampton, MA – Iron Horse Music Hall
07-18 Poughkeepsie, NY – The Chance
07-22 Vienna, VA – Jammin Java
07-26 New Orleans, LA – One Eyed Jacks
07-29 Austin, TX – Red 7
07-30 Dallas, TX – Trees

Until then, check out the bands official music video for Dazed and Confused:

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PHOTOS: Jackie Greene, The Mother Hips, Tumbleweed Wanderers at the Fox 3/21

March 26, 2014 by Leave a Comment

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By Sterling Munksgard //

Jackie Greene with The Mother Hips, Tumbleweed Wanderers //
Fox Theater Oakland – Oakland, CA
Friday, March 21st, 2014 //

This past Friday in Oakland featured three rockin’ Bay Area groups. “The Pride of San Francisco”, a nickname bestowed upon Jackie Greene by legendary bassist Phil Lesh during his years with Phil & Friends, headlined at Fox Theater Oakland this past weekend with a three-set performance. The third set featured a suite of Grateful Dead cuts, as Greene once again channeled the Jerry Garcia role while performing the classic songs with his own style. Local legends The Mother Hips, led by Tim Bluhm, along with Oakland’s fast-rising Tumbleweed Wanderers got things going. Check out these exquisite snaps from all three performances by Sterling Munksgard.

Jackie Greene Setlist:
Set One: Gone Wanderin’, Uphill Mountain, I’m So Gone, A Moment of Temporary Color, Medicine, Till the Light Comes, Closer To You
Set Two (Acoustic): About Cell Block #9, Captain’s Daughter, Another Love Gone Bad, Prayer for Spanish Harlem
Set Three: So Hard To Find My Way*, Shaken*, Tell Me Mama, Tell Me Right*, Animal, New Speedway Boogie > Bird Song jam > The Other One jam > New Speedway Boogie

Encore: What’s Going On, White Headphones^
Notes: Entire show with Adam MacDougall (Black Crowes) on keys, *Jackie on piano, ^w/The Mother Hips

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PHOTOS: Umphrey’s McGee, The California Honeydrops at Fox Theater Oakland 3/8

March 12, 2014 by 1 Comment

Umphreys-McGee_postBy Sterling Munksgard //

Umphrey’s McGee with The California Honeydrops //
Fox Theater Oakland – Oakland
March 8th, 2014 //

When progressive rock meets a jam mentality, one must be discussing road warriors Umphrey’s McGee. The double-bass drum wielding behemoth did what they do best last Saturday, delivering a high-energy show as intense as any metal or punk performance, weaving in elements of jazz, bluegrass, electronic music and all points between. Umphree’s McGee isn’t simply a jam band — they are a band for lovers of music.

Straight out of Oakland, The California Honeydrops got things warmed up with their rich R&B and soul flavor. Sterling Munksgard was in the middle of it all to capture the moment.

Set 1: In the Kitchen, Mullet (Over), There’s No Crying in Mexico, Spires, Glory, Wife Soup, Nothing Too Fancy, In Bloom, Wappy Sprayberry, In the Kitchen

Set 2: Wizard Burial Ground, Bad Friday, Mulche’s Odyssey, Tango Mike, Higgins, Life During Exodus, Partyin’ Peeps

Encore: Bridgeless, Regulate, Bridgeless

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PHOTOS: Robert Randolph & The Family Band at Sweetwater Music Hall 3/1

March 6, 2014 by Leave a Comment

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By Sterling Munksgard//

Robert Randolph and The Family Band with Michael Lee Firkins
Sweetwater Music Hall — Mill Valley, CA
Saturday March 1st, 2014

Pedal steel guitarist extraordinaire Robert Randolph and The Family Band PACKED Sweetwater Music Hall in Marin over the weekend for a sold out show. Dripping upbeat funk and soul, a great mix of old and new tunes graced the setlist, while Jason Crosby come out and guested on a few efforts. Michael Lee Firkins got the evening started, and the show provided another reason to LOVE the Sweetwater — we hope to get there more often!

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PHOTOS: Pixies, Best Coast at Fox Theater Oakland 2/21

March 3, 2014 by Leave a Comment

Pixies_Post

By Sterling Munksgard//

Pixies with Best Coast //
Fox Theater Oakland – Oakland, CA
February 21st, 2014 //

Pixies, back on the road, played a blend of songs from Surfer Rosa, Come on Pilgrim, Doolittle, Trompe le Monde, and a handful of new tunes from their recent releases EP 1 and EP2. The band played 33 songs in total, a vast group of tunes to entertain new and old fans alike. Bethany Cosentino’s cheery outfit Best Coast got things started, and Sterling Munksgard was there to capture the moment.

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PHOTOS: Amos Lee and Langhorne Slim at Fox Theater Oakland 2/19

February 24, 2014 by Leave a Comment

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By Sterling Munksgard//

Amos Lee with Langhorne Slim (solo) //
Fox Theater Oakland — Oakland, CA
February 19th, 2014

Singer-Songwriter Amos Lee and his band brought his seriously soothing soul-folk songs to the Fox Theater last week. The all-seated show featured many tracks from Lee’s most recent record, Mountains of Sorrow, Rivers Of Song. Lee told stories and gave some background throughout the evening, inviting the concert-goers into his creative thought process. Langhorn Slim opened the night with a delightful solo set.

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Sly & the Family Stone receive proper tribute from 9 Bay Area Bands

January 20, 2014 by 4 Comments

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Photos by Sterling Munksgard // Written by Kevin Quandt //

A Tribute to Sly & The Family Stone’s Stand! Feat. Guest Music Director, David Möschler
Awesöme Orchestra Collective feat. The Bengsons, Bayonics, Ensemble Mik Nawooj, Marcus Shelby, Jazz Mafia feat. Crossroads, Tumbleweed Wanderers, Will Magid & Friends, Zakiya Harris, Con Brio
The Independent // San Francisco
January 17, 2014

When a show starts with a 50 person ensemble playing Sly and the Family Stone’s seminal album opener “Stand!”, you know you are in for something pretty unique. That was the case for the 3-night stand put on by Undercover & Faultline Studios at the Independent over the past weekend which featured 9 different groups and ensembles, each playing a song off the the album Stand!. A well attended, and dressed, crowd was extremely receptive to the various formations which played a song each while adding their own flair via musicianship, dancing or spoken word. Ensemble Mik Nawooj deconstructed and reconfigured “Don’t Call Me Nigger, Whitey”, while Tumbleweed Wanderers offered a folk-soul rendition of the classic track, “Everyday People”. David Möschler acted as guest music director, a massive task for the various moving parts that this album, and subsequent live shows, required. This project was purely a Bay Area endeavor, showcasing it’s musical diversity in a way that would make Sly and the Family Stone proud.

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PHOTOS: Rex Foundation Benefit at The Fillmore 12/7

December 13, 2013 by 2 Comments

Rex BenefitBy Sterling Munksgard

The Rex Foundation Benefit //
The Fillmore – San Francisco
December 7th, 2013 //

The Grateful Dead was always known for generosity and the performance of numerous benefits. In the fall of 1983, the Rex Foundation was established as a non-profit charitable organization by members of the Grateful Dead and friends to further this tradition. The Rex Foundation enabled the Grateful Dead to go beyond responding to multiple requests for contributions, and proactively provide extensive community support to creative endeavors in the arts, sciences, and education. The first benefit concerts for the Rex Foundation were held in the spring of 1984 at the Marin Veteran’s Memorial Auditorium. Since 1984 the Rex Foundation has granted $8.9 million to over 1,200 recipients.

On December 7th, The Rex Foundation Benefit included a Keller Williams solo set, Keller Williams with Nicki Bluhm (Nicki Bluhm and the Gramblers) and Tim Bluhm (The Mother Hips), Grateful Grass with Keller Williams, Keith Moseley (String Cheese Incident), Michael Kang (String Cheese Incident) and Jeff Austin (of Yonder Mountain String Band), and Mickey Hart joined as a special guest, paying tribute to Nelson Mandela.

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PHOTOS: Emilie Autumn at Oakland Metro Operahouse

December 10, 2013 by Leave a Comment

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Photos by Sterling Munksgard

Emilie Autumn
Oakland Metro Operahouse – Oakland, CA
December 8, 2013

Emilie Autumn brought her asylum stage production to the Oakland Metro Opera House and swung open the gates to show the audience elegance, madness & everything in between.

Audience participation, costume changes, burlesque, elaborate makeup and even a make-out session between a cast member and audience member went down on stage. A unique show indeed…

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Tea Leaf Green jam on at The Independent 11/30

December 5, 2013 by 1 Comment

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Photos by Sterling Munksgard //

Tea Leaf Green with The Loyal Scam //
The Independent – San Francisco
November 30th, 2013 //

The City’s premier progressive rock band played to its local faithful at a totally-packed Independent, performing new material with plenty of special guests on hand. Sterling Munksgard was on the scene capturing moments from both Tea Leaf Green and opener The Loyal Scam.

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Alice Cooper’s pyrotechnics, guillotines & 12-foot tall creatures

November 27, 2013 by Leave a Comment

Alice-Cooper_post

Photos by Sterling Munksgard

Alice Cooper
Wells Fargo Center for the Arts – Santa Rosa, CA
November 25, 2013

Alice Cooper wowed an enthusiastic and diversified Wells Fargo Center for the Arts crowd, Monday. This action-packed musical adventure featured a smartly curated setlist of classic hits, filled with clever theatrics that included pyrotechnics (a first for the Wells Fargo Center), guillotines, and twelve-foot tall creatures.

Browse shots of the wonderfully goulish legend below, shot by Sterling Munksgard.

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PHOTOS: JJ Grey & Mofro with The Stone Foxes at The Fillmore 11/15

November 21, 2013 by 1 Comment

JJ-Grey

Photos by Sterling Munksgard

JJ Grey & Mofro with The Stone Foxes
The Fillmore – San Francisco, CA
November 15, 2013

JJ Grey & Mofro, along with local favorites the Stone Foxes, lit up the Fillmore stage with a blend of rock and roll tinged with Southern blues, funkified soul and folky americana. This national tour has criss-crossed the states touring behind the release This River, and a ruckus crowd ate up JJ’s heartfelt ballads and grooved away to his jammed-out sonic odysseys.

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Steve Aoki gives SF champagne wishes and cake-in-your-face dreams

November 19, 2013 by 1 Comment

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Photos by Sterling Munksgard // Written by Mike Frash

Steve Aoki with Borgore, Waka Flocka Flame, Keys N Krates, and Kryoman
Bill Graham Civic Auditorium – San Francisco
November 16, 2013

Steve Aoki did his best to prove the internet wrong in San Francisco Saturday by mashing together old favorites with new jams for this hyperactive, sold out Aokify America Tour stop — but that’s not to say his performance wasn’t layered in sweet, sticky spectacle. In the world of EDM, Aoki and cake have become somewhat synonymous (see the crowd signs in the photos below). The genre-bending American DJ has made a habit out of tossing a huge cake at whomever he thinks deserves it most. Aoki’s cake-lore spread further this past summer at VELD Music Fest when Aoki caked a dude being held up in his wheelchair 80 feet away from the stage. Bullseye. Aoki also brought along his massive neon-lit robots and inflatable rafts for ragers to go on faux-whitewater adventures above the crowd.

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Borgore preceded Aoki with stage aesthetics that revolved around strippers, poles, pasties and champagne that kept the young crowd in a hyper-sexualized state of mind. Waka Flocka Flame curated the crazy early with a high energy set that forced the kandi kids and cake-heads to pump and jump early.

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