Why do I travel to places like New Orleans to listen to jazz when there are great options here in…read moreSan Francisco? Case in point is the Mission Delirium band. The high spirited 20 piece brass band plays New Orleans style tunes as well as other diverse musical genres. I found them totally by chance at the Fillmore Jazz Festival. Seems like they were having as much fun performing for the crowd as the crowd was enjoying listening to their music. Can't wait to hear them again! BTW. I read that one of the co-founders has a PhD in ethnomusicology at the University of California, Berkeley. Just goes to show you that sometimes great music isn't entirely accidental.

This is probably my favorite steakhouse in town but the staff can sometimes be a bit gruff!…read more The drinks are cheaper when you are a great customer and have a good time! You're gonna get occasional shocked by some of the Endless Grab Bag of World Famous Multiply Diverse Misfits.

"Wow! One of the best shows ever! Again!"…read more These guys are solid. Very consistent. Very funny. Very professional. Seen them in 3 or 4 shows so far and each time has been better than previous. Last time in "A Very Merry Murder Mystery" which was a great show even though it was done in the murder mystery genre (which im not a fan of - apparently). Also only 2 of the 3 were in the show, along with at least one other troupe, but it didnt take away from the quality. Totally worth the money! These guys should get their own TV show, or at least a special.

Forget what you think about know about improv. Except that it can be hilariously funny…read more 3 For All takes improv to a whole new level--as if it's "real time playwriting" so that as well as being hilarious, you have real characters in real situations, and stories that can be emotionally moving as well as laugh-out-loud funny. Watching them is like watching magic--you're amazed, you don't know how it even happened, and you're delighted you were there to witness it. Their shows are REAL magic--every show is a unique experience--you have to be there to appreciate it--and participate in it. These guys are without a doubt, among the very best improvisers on the planet. Their shows always sell out, and with good reason--it's a true expression of what live theater is and should be--absolutely alive!

We visited the Palo Alto Festival of the Arts this past Sunday, and had a wonderful time exploring…read morethe many activities and vendors along University Avenue, a row of seemingly endless booths. Food, art, and merchandise  galore, to be viewed and/or purchased. Fascinating art displays caught my eye at every corner, so unique and simply remarkable. The Italian Street Painting Expo featured pastel paintings by chalk artists (my fave was the Sleeping Beauty piece... cuz how could I not love the rabbits in the boots!). Chopin & Chandeliers was an interactive piano with a "play me" sign just calling for musicians among the crowd to showcase their talents and entertain attendees under a shaded tent decorated with chandeliers sculpted from upcycling materials (ie. plastic bottles). The live entertainment was amazing and enjoyable, getting the crowd on its feet and in the mood for this joyous event. The rhythmic sounds of the violin and keyboard, by Tom Rigney & John R Burr, was a treat for my ears. And the late afternoon band on the Waverley Stage, The Cook 'n Fenny Combo, kept the good vibes going, heavy on the harmonica, tambourine, and guitar, performing hits like Joan Osborne's One Of Us. This was a great festival with free admission, lots to see and do, well organized, welcoming atmosphere, friendly people, and easy street parking less than a block away in the afternoon.

First time here to this upscale art festival as after all the toney, well heeled folks in this area…read morehave disposable money. I really enjoyed this festival and unlike other festivals in the Bay Area there were not as many food vendors which was fine as University Ave has a plethora of great restaurants to choose from.

Travis and Dave put on a great show this past weekend at Gibson's Irish Pub in Walnut Creek. I…read morealready wrote a review for the venue, but I thought it would be appropriate to post a separate review for this entertainment company. The duo certainly knows how to engage an audience and get the whole room singing out loud with glee. And they are undoubtedly talented musicians, especially Dave as I noted in my yelp review of Gibson's. They brought the energy while playing a range of songs including Friends in Low Places, Crawling by Linkin Park, and Man I Need (Talk to Me) by Olivia Dean, as well as hits by Sabrina Carpenter, Britney Spears, Whitney Houston, Paula Abdul, The Cure, and Rage Against the Machine. But I felt that the sequence of the music could have been more strategic and attentive to the crowd as a whole for most of the show. Some of the dueling piano classics we know and love were missing from this experience, fun songs that make you wanna sing your heart out, such as Bohemian Rhapsody and Sweet Caroline. I don't think I even heard a single Billy Joel piece throughout the night. I know in some dueling piano shows, performers save the most iconic piano tunes and popular requests till the end, but the music selection felt strangely lopsided (I didn't stay for the last 25 minutes so I wouldn't know if the pair actually even played the biggest crowd pleasers). I do know that Travis and Dave would perform three rap songs in a row without reading the crowd, besides a small drunk party in the back that probably requested these songs. Even if the musicians are prioritizing the highest tippers, which is understandable, many other dueling piano shows will mix it up to prevent attendees from losing interest (I've been to enough dueling piano shows to know what a difference it makes when the musicians can appeal to an entire room and value all guests, not just the ones who pay the most). Luckily we still had an enjoyable time, and I recognize that it takes great dedication and skill to do what they do. West Coast's events are ideal for celebrating special occasions, including birthdays (I think there were about 7 or 8 bday celebrants in the audience this past Saturday). And they maintained a lively and respectful atmosphere full of upbeat tunes, which I can appreciate despite their shortcomings during my recent experience. The good news is, if you've never been to a dueling piano show before, you'll probably have a good time during your first show no matter where you go or who you see (as long as you like music) cuz it's such a unique form of live entertainment.

We had the most incredible experience with West Coast Dueling Pianos. They traveled down the coast…read moreto our event in Encinitas and were extremely flexible with timing (everyone was having such a great time that they even extended a bit for us!). I would absolutely hire Dave and team if you are in the state of California. They're absolutely incredible and such good business men.

If you're looking for a wedding band, look no further. Seriously. From the moment we walked into…read moreour reception people were commenting on how awesome the music was. Notorious is a high-energy and talented group who will keep the party rocking with a great mix of old and new. Our wedding guests danced for hours as did we, and we're loving seeing all the photos of people grinning and dancing the night away. Would absolutely hire them for an event again.

We've hired Notorious the past six years for Fur Ball, our annual young professional fundraiser at…read morethe SF Zoo, and it is the best decision we ever made! If you want to throw an incredibly fun party where every guest feels like dancing, look no further. They literally make the event every year and are one of the primary keys to its success. The band is made up of some of the most talented musicians and vocalists in San Francisco and can play ANYTHING. On top of that, they are an absolute pleasure to do business with and I look forward to working with their amazing team every year. Thank you Notorious and the entire crew at Jay Siegan Presents- it wouldn't be Fur Ball without you!

I love the show... OK I'm a little biased - but the crew works really hard and they showcase great…read moretalent in the Bay and Beyond. The interviews they get are nothing like the rehearsed blah blah one that everyone gets. Its always entertaining - I wish it was longer. I like the "word on the street" segment - real people from the bay area, and I especially like interview with nationally-know artists with fresh questions: ie - Halo's DJ Quik Interview and the question about the Hair... ha ha ha... P.S. The D2S Love Movement parties are always CRACKIN - great always stylin mixed crowd - girls dress up - like not black top,heels and jeans dress up but fashion forward...

From the bay area hyphy movement to abstract s**t, these d2s cats sure know their hip hop. Forget…read moreBET, MTV, and all that corporate driven' rap stuff, D2S represents the best in hip hop with a homegrown, grassroots, diggin' (for records) in your grandparent's basement type of vibe. Do you miss the good ole days of yo mtv raps or wanna know whats going down in the underground hip hop scene? Tune in every sunday on midnight on the WB...and get educated.

We hired Brassworks Music for our wedding and they definitely added great energy for our outdoor…read moreceremony. Franklin the leader of the group was very knowledgeable and enthusiastic about the planning process and gave great recommendations for the setlist. All members of the band were able to handle multiple sets of instruments and they switched between instruments between songs to provide fuller sound. They came earlier than the contracted hours and stayed for extra time just because our guests enjoyed their music a lot. Amazing people to work with.

Franklin Davis and the Brassworks team helped me organise a surprise proposal for my (now) fianceé…read morein Golden Gate Park. It was beautiful! Frank was a great help in arranging everything from the instrumentation, to the tune, to the location. The location was especially important because we needed a spot that wouldn't be too crowded. Frank met with me personally to look at potential spots and we found the perfect one. He also found a battery-powered PA for us to rent for the performance. Brassworks is a top-notch group musically and professionally. They get my highest recommendation!

Took a figure drawing/painting workshop here with Noah Buchanan. The figure model and co-owner,…read moreChristina and her partner Aaron were unbelievably professional! From modeling, to lighting setup, and equipment handling, the workshop was smooth sailing! Lovely moody space as well, and I have no doubts if they relocate that they will make it their own! Super kind people, multi-purpose professional services, and there is so much creative energy that happens here! highly recommend

I attended a New Years Eve circus and burlesque show produced by Smoke and Mirrors Menagerie, and…read morecan say this is certainly a charming little theater. And I mean LITTLE! For an event space, it's probably not the most ideal, but they made it work for a small, intimate crowd this past Saturday night. It's just really cozy, if you're comfortable with that. Plus it's confusing to find. The location seems really isolated, and you need to get buzzed in to what seems like an industrial building, then find the studio entrance down the hall on the 2nd floor. The lighting and decor inside are amazing, and looking upon the photos on the wall, and the props all around, I can tell they have the ability/potential to do really great photography and events here. They even have a vertical pole right at the front center of the stage, and plenty of equipment hung from the ceiling on stage to do aerial performances. The staff for the event we attended was friendly for sure, but seemed a little less professional, and things didn't seem as organized as I would expect. But it wasn't a problem for us, just an observation. It was almost like organized chaos. Exposed and jumbled cables and wires along the ceiling and walls, a sound system that's less than ideal, a substandard concessions bar for event guests, just a quirky vibe overall. But a successful show, enjoyable for guests... it's like things are meant to be imperfect and perhaps a little "messy". And since Little Boxes Theater hosts a number of workshops and productions in the creative arts, perhaps that's what makes it unique.