Government center (bar/cafe/record store), Thunderbird, Whisper Nest, Club cafe, Collision, Brillow, Mr Smalls/funhouse, Roboto, Rock Room, Gooskis, Enclave, plus all the dope basement venues in S. Oakland, Bloomfield, and Mt Washington

Tons of bands. Good rock bands:

Natural Rat, Same, Ex Pilots, Water Trash, Silver Car Crash, Rex Tycoon, Sleeping Witch & Saturn, The Zells, Gundy, Merce Lemon, among others.

The scene is thriving at the moment. Many talented songwriters and performers dahwn here