.Most Consistent (and Consistently Mellow) Local Music Series

The better Bay Area bands are, and the bigger they get, the less likely you’ll get to see them this side of the bridge. This despite the fact that all of the Bottom of the Hill headliners and Great American Music Hall opening acts worth their salt live in our own ‘hoods. The bitch of it is, the bands’ pay guarantees are in the West Bay. It seems that the only time you can count on seeing those up-and-coming rock stars bust it out with a home-field advantage is on the third Sunday of the month at Mama Buzz. That’s when Liam Carey, of country-blues-punk outfit Mandrake, invites anyone of Oaklandish musical note down to his unplugged afternoon showcase, Ace of Spades. Since September, Carey has been hosting the likes of Rogue Wave, Faun Fables, Dave Gleason, the Sour Mash Hug Band, Sweetbriar, Jason Webley, Sean Hayes, Black Bird Stitches, and many more. Coming to the free, all-ages chillfest in April will be Bart Davenport, the Moore Brothers, Laura Weinbach, and Matt Herz. The shows run from 1 to 3 p.m.