“Oakland just seemed like a cauldron of creativity and expansiveness, like there were no rules and everyone wanted to break all the molds possible.”
Ahead of the San Francisco Public Library’s Bay Beats Bandshell party—the program’s biggest event of the year—we sat down with East Bay legends Skip the Needle. Fusing blues, punk, funk, and soul into a seamless collective force, the group embodies the raw, uncompromising spirit of the Bay Area music scene.
Read the full, unedited conversation below as we discuss coming of age in Oakland’s late-70s music scene, finding sanctuary at the Ivy Room, using music as a tool for equity and liberation, and why Bay Area audiences are unlike any other on earth.
Skip the Needle merges blues, punk, funk, and soul into a distinct collective sound. Is that fluid approach to genre something you feel the Bay Area’s eclectic music history naturally encourages?
Skip The Needle: As an east Bay resident since the late 70’s, I came of age in this peculiar convergence of musical styles, playing in latin, funk, soul, rock, and jazz bands and many combinations of those and other genres. Oakland just seemed like a cauldron of creativity and expansiveness, like there were no rules and everyone wanted to break all the molds possible. Because Oakland was outside of the centers of the music business in NY and LA, we were a little off the radar and it felt much less constricting. People were playing music for the joy and expression of it, not to get rich and successful, (although many did,) and the lack of strict limits also encouraged us to speak to political and social justice issues that were frowned on in the mainstream corridors.
With four distinct leads, songwriters, and musical backdrops coming together, how do your individual histories in the Bay Area music scene influence the way you write and harmonize as a unit?
First of all our common love of rock is the starting point. the way we write is often organic: one of us will begin a beat or a bass line or a guitar riff. the others will add parts and we’ll keep experimenting until we find something that makes us all happy. Generally one of us will feel moved to take the song and write lyrics to it, but just as often (especially with Kofy being a free-style MC) we will riff in the moment and develop a lyrical theme. Another way we write is that someone will have a song they’ve been working on and bring it to the group for additional ideas.
Your music confronts issues of justice, equity, Black, queer, and women’s rights with exuberance and joy. How do you see your music functioning within the Bay’s current political and cultural landscape?
One of the gifts that music offers is the ability to bring the community together, making a big noise together with love and passion and support for one another. This is the power of the people, and this is the power we need to break the broken systems that we are fighting against. Until we Overcome!
If you could reshape one aspect of the local scene—whether it’s venue access, community funding, or support for queer/BIPOC artists—what change would make the biggest impact?
Well if I was in charge, we would have a state arts grant (I’ve given up hope that the federal government will recover from the damage done) that would support local art, music, theater and dance spaces and companies and bands. I would raise those funds from the liquor and weed industries, which depend on venues for the massive profits they make and yet don’t return the favor. And billionaires, of course.
Independent spaces have always been vital for queer and Black artists in the East Bay. What local venue, space, or community hub feels most like home to Skip the Needle right now?
We have always had a home at the Ivy Room in Albany. it’s such a haven and refuge and has always made it clear that their love and acceptance of our wider community is the real goal. They are a safe and comfortable space for queer, trans, disabled, Black, indigenous, immigrant, young, old; in other words our audience. They have always been a shining light in the scene.
How would you describe the spirit and health of the local music community today? Where are you seeing the most exciting energy or solidarity?
Groups like Soulovely come to mind: a joyous, luscious, celebration of Oakland’s queer and trans BIPOC communities with monthly events featuring DJs and live performers.
When the reality of living and creating in the Bay feels heavy, what specific aspect of this community or its history reminds you why it’s worth staying and pushing forward?
I honestly don’t think any of us has seriously considered living anywhere else, as this place is magical. Yes it’s hella expensive and has it’s issues, but our community is so rooted in love and justice and humanity, it’s hard to imagine that i – we – could. make the kind of music that we make here anywhere else on earth. There just aren’t audiences like Bay Area audiences: they love hard, they give back so much, they inspire us to keep pushing, and keep reaching out.
