While the holidays are typically a joyous time of year, the cold weather and early nights can bring down the mood considerably for some. One treatment available for the seasonally affected who can’t afford a mood lamp: a spiritual trip to the Pacific at the Liquid Lounge’s island reggae club night. The Bay Area is filled with musicians taking the traditionally Jamaican genre through the lens of Hawaiian, Samoan and Filipino musical traditions, and some of the finest—including Knova, Makisi and Freddy Rutz—will be taking the stage at Liquid to help make the holidays go down smoothly.

Christmas Vibez
Fri, 9pm, $25
Liquid Lounge, San Jose

SLC rapper Bobby B Mac comes to the Bay Area to rock San Jose’s Liquid Lounge this weekend. In his icy music videos, the young Samoan MC—and son of noted battle rapper B Side—can be seen spitting bars in the snow about his trials and tribulations throughout his years growing up in Utah. With wintry cool, he raps about loyalty in the streets, being born in the year of Tupac (“95 Baby”), his rap group Ghost Family and putting on for the 801 area code. Increasingly popping up as a featured artist, Mac takes the whole spotlight Friday.

Bobby B Mac
Fri, 9pm, $20
Liquid Lounge, San Jose

Though the ocean may be a few miles from San Jo, the roots riddim of reggae and island music will be on full display Saturday at the Liquid Lounge for Island Jamz Night. There, showgoers can sample a wide mix of island reggae flavors with singer Chris Niu, Tongan reggae artist Molo Try, Sacramento reggae singer Rudemon and Oakland artist Will 84, who mixes it all together with some pop. Listening to these artists is like transporting to a paradise where fruit trees grow and there’s a cool, cool breeze blowing around—where skyscrapers aren’t the mission for locals, and where a shady patch in the sand is the congregation spot.

Island Jamz
Sat, 9pm, $30
Liquid Lounge, San Jose

Hype for SLC rapper Ceefoe’s debut full length has been steadily building since he dropped first single “Like Dat” on Soundcloud in 2017. Before long, fans had smashed play more than a million times, following Cee Foe on his string of online hits like 2020 trap anthems “Ride” and “Most Wanted” and the vibey 2000s throwback “Be Mine.” Though there’s still no full length yet, 2021 singles “The People’s Champ” and “Bloccboi” (ft. Phatboyy and RBO Stunna) both show why that hype is still growing. At Liquid, he’s joined by 408 legend Big Myke and SF MC Yung Lott.

Cee Foe
Sat, 9pm, $30
Liquid Lounge, San Jose

Local DJs ViLLAN and CASP3R threw down some high-energy EDM for the opening night of Liquid Gold at The Liquid Lounge.

Metro photographer Geoffrey Smith II caught these party people in action.