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In the late 70s and early 80s, San Francisco was home to a thriving punk and new wave scene and a scrappy independent label that launched the careers of bands like Romeo Void, Translator, and the Red Rockers. Music journalist Bill Kopp captures this moment in time in a new book called Disturbing the Peace: 415 Records and the Rise of New Wave published by HoZac Books. Listen to Bill chat with Pam about the label's brief but fascinating history, and five of his favorite tunes from the 415 Records catalog. Bill's Selections: 1. Pearl Harbor and The Explosions - Drivin' (1979) 2. SVT - Always Come Back (1980) 3. Romeo Void - Never Say Never (1981) 4. Pop-O-Pies - Truckin' (1981) 5. Translator - I Need You To Love (1986) Dive into the 415 Records catalog by listening to Bill's companion playlist: https://tinyurl.com/y7nrfy2u Check out the book or read more of Bill's music writing: https://blog.musoscribe.com/ Get Liberation Hall's reissue of 415 Records early (pre-Columbia) recordings: https://tinyurl.com/mr2rdwxw

Shaina Evoniuk is a classically trained violinist who leads the string section for the Bay Area-based musical collective Jazz Mafia. She has also has lent her talents to some of the biggest pop stars in the world. Hear Shaina share with Pam what it's really like being a recording artist, and how the violin adds texture and emotion to all styles of music, as demonstrated in five different tunes she performs on. Shaina's Selections: 1. St. Panther - These Days (2020) 2. Monophonics - Last One Standing (2020) 3. Shawn Mendes & Camilla Cabello - The Christmas Song (2020) 4. Dougie Stu - Henny (2020) 5. Otis McDonald - Holiday (2019) Bonus Track: Lizzo - Lingerie (2019) Hear a complete playlist of recorded songs Shaina performs on: https://tinyurl.com/2p95s7wv Shaina's website: https://www.shainaevoniuk.com/ Find out when Shaina is playing with Jazz Mafia: http://www.jazzmafia.com/calendar Watch the live version of St. Panther's "These Days" featuring Jazz Mafia: https://youtu.be/uI5QObq-N-4

We're trying new things, folks! In the first of our "Five Questions With" mini-episodes, we're honored to feature Philly-based/Pacific Northwest-bred musician Karl Blau. Karl is a prolific DIY artist with over 40 albums under his belt. His adventurous pop tunes have often defied genre, but he's been traveling down country roads since his breakout 2016 album Introducing Karl Blau, and his brand new album Love & Harm follows a similar soulful country path. Hear Karl talk to Pam about the making of this album in his hometown of Anacortes, Washington, and his own spin on what "cosmic country" music is. Download Karl's new album "Love & Harm" (or buy the LP version called "Scream Time"):

Getting a new bar & restaurant off the ground is hard enough. But during the height of the pandemic it became a crazy roller coaster ride for Matt Meyer and Daniel Paez, the co-owners of Low Bar in uptown Oakland. Now that their business is one year old and thriving, Matt & Daniel reflect on the wild journey that got them here and five songs that capture the vibe of this popular Chicano bar/eatery. Matt & Daniel's Selections: 1. Time Hard - The Pioneers (1972) 2. Como La Flor - Selena (1992) 3. Un-Break My Heart - Toni Braxton (1996) 4. For You - Ago (1982) 5. I Want To Be Your Man - Roger (1987) Listen to the Low Bar companion playlist, featuring the five songs we talked about in this episode + more. Follow Low Bar’s Instagram to find out about events, specials, and what-nots.

Another crappy pandemic year comes to a close, but at least we had good music to get us through it. And for the first time since early 2020, the Select Five team got their vaxxed and boosted selves together IRL to record this very special year-ender episode at their old stomping grounds, Bar Shiru! Whether it's old comforts or new discoveries, we'll dive into the five albums Brian, Kate, and Pam loved the most in 2021. BRIAN’S ALBUMS Joyce Wrice - Overgrown (2021) Hiatus Kaiyote - Mood Valiant (2021) Little Simz - Sometimes I Might Be an Introvert (2021) Herbie Hancock - Headhunters (1973) Lewis Taylor - Lewis Taylor (1996) KATE’S ALBUMS  Alice Coltrane - Ptah, the El Daoud (1970) Sofiane Pamart - Planet Gold (2021) St. Vincent - Masseducation (2017)  Tash Sultana - Flow State (2018) Lorde - Melodrama (2017) PAM’S ALBUMS Sitka Sun - All the Way West (2021) Brijean - Feelings (2021) Sun Ra - Lanquidity (1978/2021 Reissue) Emma Jean Thackray - Yellow (2021) BadBadNotGood - Talk Memory (2021) Listen to all the songs we discussed and many more in our year-ender companion playlist:https://tinyurl.com/4ctkdf92

Back in the mid-'80s, Vietnamese American teens bonded over a shared love of sports cars, spiked hair, and a style of electronic dance music they called New Wave (now known as Euro and Italo disco). Vietnamese New Wave is now the subject of a forthcoming documentary by filmmaker Elizabeth Ai, who discusses the fascinating history of this subculture through five songs she grew up with. Elizabeth's Selections: 1. Brother Louie - Modern Talking 2. Jump In My Car - CC Catch 3. You're a Woman - Bad Boys Blue 4. Say You'll Never - Lian Ross 5. I Like Chopin - Gazebo There's a lot more where that came from! Check out Elizabeth's companion playlist of Viet New Wave classics, including the five songs discussed in the episode: https://tinyurl.com/4zmz76ks

Hey bands, don't be afraid - take a Beatles song, and make it better ... is that even possible? Ponder that question in this episode with Bay Area filmmaker and crate digger extraordinaire, Jim Granato! Listen to DJ Jim G chat with Pam about five genre-spanning Beatles cover songs he loves, and what makes them unique. Jim's selections: 1. Eleanor Rigby - Zoot (1971) 2. I Want To Hold Your Hand - Al Green (1969) 3. Happiness Is a Warm Gun - The Breeders (1990) 4. Everybody's Got Something To Hide (Except Me and My Monkey) - The Feelies (1980) 5. Tomorrow Never Knows - Junior Parker (1970) Want even more of the Fab Four? Listen to Jim's handcrafted all-vinyl mix of Beatles covers you may have never heard before: https://www.mixcloud.com/wax_crackle_pop/miles-above-you/

Music is a powerful emotive force in romantic comedy films, and the right song placed in the right scene can leave us not only with lifelong memories, they can also affect our life decisions. In this episode we go to the movies with Bar Shiru co-owner and rom-com fanatic Shirin Raza, who picks five songs from some of her favorite soundtracks and draws parallels to her own romantic and professional journeys. Shirin's selections: 1. Loose Caboose - Henry Mancini (Breakfast at Tiffany's, 1961) 2. Bad Reputation - Joan Jett (10 Things I Hate About You, 1999) 3. Love of My Life (An Ode To Hip-Hop) - Erykah Badu (Brown Sugar, 2002) 4. Turn Me On - Kevin Lyttle (Hitch, 2005) 5. This Must Be The Place (Naive Melody) - Talking Heads (Rom-Com film TBD) Listen to Shirin's companion playlist for even more rom-com soundtrack goodness and other songs that evoke cinematic love: https://tinyurl.com/zs7r3c93

Pandemic or not, Antibalas bandleader and saxophonist Martín Perna always stays busy. But what tunes does this Grammy-nominated musician groove to when he's not laying down grooves of his own? In this episode we find out, as Martín raps with Pam about five soul-soothing tracks from five of his favorite jazz sax players and bandleaders of the early 70s. (Photo courtesy of Martín Perna) Martín's selections: 1. Astral Traveling - Artist: Pharoah Sanders (1971) 2. Journey in Satchidananda - Artist: Alice Coltrane (1971) 3. Earth - Artist: Joe Henderson (1974) 4. Eight Years After - Artist: Tommy McCook (1972) 5. Never Can Say Goodbye - Artist: Rahsaan Roland Kirk (1972) Listen to these tracks and many more in this companion playlist curated by Martín: https://tinyurl.com/33pevrfb

It's Pride Month, folks! A time to reflect on how far we've come and the work still to do in the movement for LGBTQ+ rights. With that in mind, this episode introduces us to new organization called Oakland Black Pride and its fearless leader, Olaywa Austin. Olaywa is an Oakland native and a community-minded entrepreneur whose mission is serve and support the needs of Black, LGBTQ+ communities. In a candid chat with Pam, Olaywa talks about five songs that tell the story of their journey to discover and accept their own queerness. Olaywa's Selections: I Would Die 4 U – Artist: Prince (1984) That’s the Way Love Is – Artist: Ten City (1989) Heaven Help Me – Artist: Deon Estus/George Michael (1989) Can We Talk? – Tevin Campbell (1993) Criterion – Artist: Me’shell Ndegeocello (2002) Hear these five hot tracks and many more in this companion playlist curated by Olaywa: https://tinyurl.com/urb53wu3

Just as sure as the full moon rises, the musical journey continues for The Long Road Society -- an independent label, studio, and artist collective formed in Oakland with the goal of bringing people together around music rooted in tradition and bound by a "cosmic, universal soul." In this episode, co-founder Lisa Pezzino tells us in five genre-spanning songs how a community of like-minded songwriters turned a small, full moon performance series in Oakland into a bona fide label and recording studio. Photo by Kit Center Hear Lisa's five selections in full, plus a healthy sampling of tracks from the Long Road Society's stable of eclectic artists: https://tinyurl.com/2553mdar

The yearlong pandemic shutdowns have taken a toll on us all, but after a prolonged hiatus Select Five is finally back! Unfortunately, live music is not (yet). How much longer do we have to wait before our favorite musicians can tour safely again? And what's a concert fanatic to do while stages remain dark? Join host Pam Torno and Bar Shiru co-owner Daniel Gahr as they wax nostalgic about five of their most beloved live music spaces in the Bay and the fascinating history behind each of them. Plus, find out what's up at Bar Shiru as they inch towards reopening sometime in the coming months. Listen to our companion playlist of famous live performances recorded in the Bay Area: https://tinyurl.com/4mcs7d6y

Greetings and salutations from the Select Five team! Thanks to everyone who listened and supported us through the very first season of the podcast. Plans are currently underway for Season 2 and we’re looking forward to recording again at Bar Shiru, our favorite neighborhood hi-fi vinyl bar. In the meantime, we wanna get input from YOU, our listeners. What guests should Pam talk to next? What do you want us to talk about? Drop us an email, DM us on Instagram, tweet at us, send a telepathic message - we’d love to hear from you!

Hyde Street Studios - the legendary San Francisco recording space where so many iconic albums were created - is struggling to stay alive in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. Our fifth and final episode of Season 1 with guest selector Otis McDonald gives you all the reasons why it’s important to keep this crucial landmark in music history alive. Otis, aka Joe Bagale, is a multi-talented music maker whose personal recording space is Studio D, the same room where Herbie Hancock, the Pointer Sisters, Betty Davis, and so many other amazing artists made music. Hear Joe wax poetic about five of his favorite funky tunes recorded in the space he now calls his own. Listen to Otis McDonald's latest album "People Music" on vinyl or online: https://www.otismacmusic.com/ Follow the Select Five playlist on Spotify or Pandora to hear the songs discussed in this episode: https://tinyurl.com/uvpxa59 https://pandora.app.link/fAy59i4Mo4 Follow Bar Shiru's Instagram @BarShiruOakland to see how you can support them during the COVID-19 closure.

From Chilean folk to Latin Hip-Hop to G-Funk, the "The North Pole" web series is chock full of amazing sounds from around the Bay. Locally sourced music is a big part of what makes this sharp political comedy about Oakland so ... Oakland. So we invited director Yvan Iturriaga for a deep conversation about five cuts from the series soundtrack (shout out to music supervisor Dion Decibels!) and why they matter to him. Plus, we've got two album recommendations from Bar Shiru's music director Daniel Gahr: one classic compilation from Luaka Bop, and the debut from an up-and-coming avant garde jazz musician from Seattle. Watch “The North Pole” on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/y2ydlo4o Follow the Select Five playlist on Spotify or Pandora to hear the songs discussed in this episode: https://tinyurl.com/uvpxa59 https://pandora.app.link/fAy59i4Mo4 This episode was recorded in pre-pandemic times. Follow Bar Shiru's Instagram @BarShiruOakland to see how you can support their staff during the COVID-19 lockdown.

What makes Miss Ollie's fried chicken so remarkable? Why is the callaloo so comforting? The secret ingredient may be music. Back in the day before COVID-19, Pam had a lovely in-person chat with Miss Ollie's chef and owner Sarah Kirnon about five songs she keeps in heavy rotation when she's cooking her Caribbean comfort food, and how her musical menu enhances the restaurant's ambience. We look forward to the day when Miss Ollie's welcomes customers in the dining room again. Until the shelter-in-place is lifted, you can still order takeout. Check Miss Ollie's Facebook page for hours and menu updates: https://tinyurl.com/uvq8tp9

Choosing your Top 5 favorite songs of all time is serious business, but Umber Magazine founder Mike Nicholls came here ready to make that declaration. In episode 2 of Select Five, Mike goes deep on his five beloved selections—from Marvin Gaye to Wham!—and talks about what inspired him to create Umber, a print-only publication made in Oakland dedicated to the perspectives of Black and Brown people. Plus, Bar Shiru’s musical director Daniel Gahr takes us from the Bay to the U.K. with his two exquisite record picks. Find out more about Umber Magazine: https://www.umbermagazine.net Follow the Select Five playlist on Spotify or Pandora to hear the songs discussed in this episode: https://tinyurl.com/uvpxa59 https://pandora.app.link/fAy59i4Mo4

Oakland native David Allen is an architectural engineer on a mission to bring a world class jazz history museum to the Town. David is the creative visionary of the proposed Museum of Jazz & Art, and recently his dream project received unanimous support from the Oakland City Council to be developed on a historic site near Lake Merritt. Hear David talk about his ambitions for the museum, his synesthetic way of approaching architectural design through musical language, and a classic selection of jazz songs he holds near and dear. Plus, Bar Shiru's musical director Daniel Gahr selects two recent releases from jazz label Impulse! Records that you need to hear. Songs discussed in this episode: "Hot House" - Charlie Parker & Dizzy Gillespie "If Only We Knew" - John Handy "Fly Me To The Moon (In Other Words)" - Frank Sinatra & Count Basie "Soul Sauce" - Cal Tjader "Manteca" - Dizzy Gillespie "Take Five" - The Dave Brubeck Quartet "The Blessing Song" - Michael White "Blood of the Past" - The Comet Is Coming "Blue World" - John Coltrane Check out the Museum of Jazz & Art website to stay updated on its progress. https://www.moja-us.org/ Follow the Select Five playlist to hear the songs discussed in this episode. Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/uvpxa59 Pandora: https://tinyurl.com/ttmk2kk

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