Welcome to Under The Stars, people. A quasi-weekly column that presents new music releases, upcoming shows, and is still with the strong-ass opinions all day! We’re deeply immersed in the local music festival commotion, and it’s freaking awesome. You’ll read about that soon enough, but for now? We keep it bouncing, moving with the changes, and checking for music that has that pulse. We’ve been doing this for a while… and lovin’ it. Thanks for the great hang, let’s get into it!
CARLOS NIÑO & FRIENDS, BUBBLE BATH FOR GIANTS (CARLOS NIÑO AND GOOD NEIGHBOR)
Anytime this LA-based master percussionist, experimental composer, and human decides to perform, produce, or contribute to any musical project, it’s “glad to be alive” moment happening in real time. As I found out—dang, like three years ago—watching his sound vibration corner filled with shells, bowls, and that true Carlos energy, cause Mang, you never know what you are gonna get, which I’ve come to find is a blessing.
He was performing at SFJAZZ’s Joe Henderson Lab with other spiritual improvisational music heavyweights Nate Mercereau and Jesse Peterson, backing up and supporting SF’s own Idris Ackamoor’s modal vibrations. The multi-dimensional soundtrack emanating from this performance at times resembled a day spa sound machine gone rogue. Carlos Niño sat to the far left, deep in a corner full of shakers and whisks, directing the gentle wind inside. On the mic, he was guiding us with lines like “stretch with us, ahhhhh” or purposefully filling short gaps in Ackamoor’s emotional sax solos with the heightened chant of “IDREEES,” floating out from that corner of rattles, locked on with ambient Rick Rubin hypeman energy.
For me, this initial taste confirmed that all new projects from Carlos Niño’s musical community are essential listening. In past years, he’s worked alongside, recorded, and toured with André 3000, Saul Williams, and calls Madlib, Knxwledge, Theo Parrish, and Sam Gendel both contemporaries and friends.
So his upcoming self-released project Bubble Bath for Giants is not just a big deal, but an opportunity for Niño to represent where he is at, artist-wise, these days. He calls it “an ode, a Tribute, a reverence for Oceans, for the Mighty Magnificent Power of Fairies, to the energy that we are all everything, whole, well, but in different-sized and shaped vessels at times.” After giving the advance stream a quick listen, I can confirm that it’s just as majestic, beautiful, and naturally strange of a “space collage” (again his wording)- type of a release you’d want and expect from a one-of-a-kind master musician whose influence has lowkey energized the global ambient music movement.
Pre-order here.
DIRECTIONS IN STEREO AT 540 BAR, FRI/27
Listen, the second 2026 edition of the Directions In Stereo listening party is about to cue up an eclectic, all-vinyl sonic backdrop for that well-earned Friday night feel. This time it takes place during Noise Pop week, and DJ Circuit73 and guests will be presenting a Chicago theme featuring a cross-genre emphasis on the International Anthem, Thrill Jockey, Hefty Records, and other imprints from that Windy City. You’ve got a lot of incredible live music choices this week, but be sure to make 540 Bar your pregame go-to. Slide in before 7pm, grab a cocktail, give an ear, and then after getting warmed up, go out and conquer your list of impressive artists playing throughout the city. Or just hang around for more tuneage. You have options, people. Good ones. And we guarantee with one listen, you will be a monthly patron at this human-curated, sound and vision event that goes down in the heart of the Inner Richmond. See ya on Friday!
CELEBRATION AT MABUHAY GARDENS, SAT/28
Punk was once a significant part of San Francisco’s culture. I was amazed to learn that local band The Tubes lived, rehearsed, and performed in a warehouse during the 1970s on the same block in the Mission where decades later, I spent a couple of years living in a warehouse myself. Trippy, right?
This Saturday, San Francisco’s counterculture history returns to its roots to mark the 50th anniversary of the city’s punk rock at an iconic venue where it all began. That’s right: the legendary Mabuhay Gardens, affectionately known as the “Fab Mab” at 435 Broadway, will host “Flipper and Friends: A Celebration of 50 Years of Punk in San Francisco.” This venue famously hosted Blondie in March of 1977 during their first West Coast tour, along with other punk and punk-adjacent icons like the Ramones, Talking Heads, and Patti Smith.
The event is divided into afternoon and evening programs that will feature a video presentation, an oral history panel, and several live performances. It’s a fantastic opportunity to learn about yet another subculture that helped put San Francisco on the music map.
Grab tickets and more info here.
DJ HARRISON, “TURN AWAY FT. ANGÉLICA GARCIA”, ELECTROSOUL (STONES THROW)
Oh, I’ll give you a reason to gush, for real, Son. “Turn Away,” featuring Angélica Garcia, sounds like a minute-and-a-half beat machine, with a “tite, Mane” collection of frequencies and proper vocals that respond to questions the listener may not be privy to. Meanwhile, DJ Harrison works the bass line, piano chords, and some type of chimes, creating an ethereal accompaniment that keeps it pushin’, with a boulevard of weighted breeze.
Pick up Electrosoul here, it’s fire.
DJ SEP EVERY WEDNESDAY AT THE RIPTIDE
New party alert! The timing couldn’t be better. DJ Sep, a long-time Bay Area DJ and producer, founder of Dub Mission, and expert in dub, reggae, dancehall, Jungle/DnB, Afrobeats, and more, is bringing all that feel-good cool runnings to the Bay Area’s best little honky-tonk by the beach. Every Wednesday, you can enjoy DJ Sep’s expertise while watching surf movies on the big screen. It’s the midweek wave, featuring a comfy fireplace, adding that warmth next to the lovers’ rock. Come down and feel it.
8pm to midnight every Wednesday. No cover. More info here.
LUKE TEMPLE AND THE CASCADING MOMS, “SHAKE ME AWAKE” HUNGRY ANIMAL(WESTERN VINYL)
“Shake Me Away,” with its art-punk vibe and scraping rhythm, offers long-time fans of LA-based songwriter and producer Luke Temple a fresh perspective on his artistry. Courtesy his new project The Cascading Moms, featuring Doug Stuart of Brijean and Kosta Galanopoulos of Rio Kosta, this catchy track, reminiscent of early XTC, quickly turns on the charm jets with its cool and straightforward appeal. Throughout their second album, the trio investigates the fine line between the personal and the cosmic, shaping songs that operate amid pensive folk and groove-infused arrangements. As a longtime listener of both Temple and Stuart, they’ve never sounded so chilly and frank like this before; it’s yet another plateau for these boundless musicians.
Purchase the project here.
