By Shikha Kaiwar
From Taylor Swift’s and Kendrick Lamar’s “Bad Blood” to Major Lazer’s and MØ’s “Lean On,” 2015 was the year of musical collaboration. There were so many joint features and mergers that it’s become difficult to classify oneself as a fan of exclusively one genre.
And it’s not going to slow down in 2016. Music lovers nowadays know that good music often transcends genres.
That also means that live music just became that much more fun. You can go to a deep-house show and expect anything from a Destiny’s Child remix to a Kygo guest appearance (more on that later). As artists continue to collaborate with each other, they use live shows to showcase their musical experiments. As listeners, we get to open our ears to new sounds, styles and even dance moves.
Which brings us to 2016. From sold-out concerts to casual weeknight events, the Bay Area is about to experience a slew of new and familiar artists. Whether you’re a SoundCloud junkie or a curious listener, these are the shows you should be seeing to experience the best of all music worlds:
Shiba San, January 8, 1015 Folsom
This French artist’s deep-house and hip-hop beats make for a good, dance-y, 3:00 a.m. kind of a night.
Listen: “Started from the Bottom” remix
Kygo, January 15, Bill Graham Civic Auditorium
Whether he’s headlining at Lollapalooza or making guest appearances at Harlot SF, Kygo really does steal the show, and his official San Francisco stop won’t be any different.
Listen: “Stay”
Lupe Fiasco, January 20, Mezzanine
Lupe Fiasco’s political undertones have always set him apart. His new album follows a similar formula as he carries on with his trademark brand of conscious hip-hop.
Listen: “Next to It” featuring Ty Dolla $ign
Jess Glynne, February 8, Mezzanine
It’s impressive to see singers who were previously featured only in hit songs garner their own shows. Jess Glynne’s debut album will make for a powerful show.
Listen: “Rather Be”
G-Eazy, February 11, Bill Graham Civic Auditorium
As a Bay Area native, I’m a little biased toward the locals. But Oakland-based G-Eazy knows what’s up, and his new album features collaborations with artists ranging from Big Sean to Too $hort.
Listen: “Me, Myself, & I”
Logic, February 12, The Warfield
If East Coast rap is more your jam, look no further. Logic slips between rapping and singing (à la Drake). He also dropped a new album this past year.
Listen: “Lord Willin’”
Le Youth, February 13, The Independent
A combination of ’90s, R&B, house and dance: that’s Le Youth in a nutshell. Seeing them live is the best way to spend a night showing off your moves.
Listen: “C O O L”
William Singe, February 18, Social Hall SF
YouTube-star-turned-performing-artist William Singe does some of the best covers of hit songs I’ve seen. His versions are smooth and easy to groove to, and span from Drake’s “Hotline Bling” to Fetty Wap’s “679.”
Listen: “Sorry”
Galantis, March 4, The Warfield
You can never go wrong with Swedish house, especially when there’s a hefty dose of pop mixed in. You’ve probably already heard various remixes of their songs, so you might as well see them live.
Listen: “Runaway (U and I)”
Wolfmother, March 28, The Fillmore
For the inner headbanger in us all who still listens to the White Stripes and Queen, Wolfmother is the heir to both and is bound to keep you on your toes.
Listen: “Joker and the Thief”
Above & Beyond Acoustic, May 26 and 27 (May 26 is sold out), Greek Theatre
There’s something extremely intimate about seeing a band perform unplugged, even more so when it’s Above & Beyond, who, with each song, click into your soul and lift you up. With the unparalleled sound quality of the Greek Theatre, this show is bound to be an epic one.
Listen: “On a Good Day”
