HERBWISE There is a land where talk of marijuana legalization barely penetrates the pungent cloud of ganja smoke. In this world, blunts are the size of carrots, and you get so high that you forget to finish your rum and coke. You rarely have to pay to get in, the crowd is equal parts dancing and chilling, and — sigh — you can wear your Bob Marley shirt.
You already know what I’m talking about: it’s your local reggae night.
Here in the Bay, we’re blessed (up) with some good ones. I recently kicked it backstage with Lymie Murray before his performance at Sebastopol’s Monday Night Edutainment at the Hopmonk Tavern. That show’s been attracting reggae heads to the tiny Sonoma County town for over a decade now, which gives you a good idea of how dedicated the genre’s fans are. And new shows pop up all the time — for proof, check out the fresh-this-year Boomshot Saturdays at Tope Lounge in North Beach.
We’ve assembled a list of spots where you can jam seven days a week, so feel free to clip out and hang by your jars of sativa. And hey, couch lock — you can even chill in-house. Radio Valencia (www.radiovalencia.fm), 87.9 FM broadcasts Adam Tadesse of Revival Sound System and Bryan Martin from the SF Vintage Reggae Society’s show “Wake The Town” every Saturday from 6-8 p.m. The two spin irie from back in the day, plus 1960s ska and rocksteady.
So you’re set for tunes. Don’t stop smoking and keep the vibes lovely.
MONDAY
Monday Night Edutainment Hopmonk Tavern, 230 Petaluma, Sebastopol. www.hopmonk.com. 10 p.m.-2 a.m., $5-10.
Skylarkin’ Skylark, 3089 16th St., SF. (415) 621-9294, www.skylarkbar.com.
TUESDAY
Bless Up Milk, 1840 Haight, SF. (415) 387-6455, www.milksf.com. 9 p.m.-2 a.m., free–$5.
WEDNESDAY
Rocksteady The Oasis Restaurant and Bar, 135 12th St., Oakl. 9 p.m.-2 a.m., free.
Coo-Yah Som Bar, 2925 16th St., SF. www.som-bar.com. 10 p.m.-2 a.m., free–$3 after 10:30 p.m.
THURSDAY
Back to Basics Little Baobab, 3388 19th St., SF. (415) 643-3558,www.bissapbaobab.com. 9:30 p.m.-1:45 a.m., free.
Feel Good Rockit Room, 406 Clement, SF. (415) 387-6343, www.rock-it-room.com. 10 p.m.-2 a.m., $5.
FRIDAY
Music Like Dirt Gestalt Haus, 3159 16th, SF. , p.m., free.
Pier 23 (415) 362-5125, www.pier23cafe.com. Weekly reggae shows, various times and prices.
Mighty Irie Luka’s Tap Room, 2221 Broadway, Oakl. (510) 451-4677,www.lukasoakland.com. 10 p.m.-2 a.m. (Fourth and second Fridays)
SATURDAY
Boomshot Tope Lounge, 1326 Grant, SF. Facebook: Boomshot Saturdays. 10 p.m.-2 a.m., free.
Reggae Gold Club Six, 60 Sixth St., SF. p.m.-4 a.m., $10-15. (Last Saturdays); The New Parrish, 579 18th St., Oakl. (510) 444-7474, www.reggaegoldsf.com. (Second Saturdays)
SUNDAY
King of Kings Shattuck Down Low, 2284 Shattuck, SF.www.kingofkingsreggae.com. 9 p.m.-2 a.m., free.
Ragga Ragga Il Pirata, 2007 16th St., SF. Facebook: Ragga Ragga. 9 p.m.-2 a.m., free. (Last Sundays)
For a complete list of Northern California reggae events, www.reggaegyals.com has got that fi-yah — it was a great resource in compiling the list above.