Week #2: Just A BART Away!


Bay Area vocalist shreds waves atop the rowdy crowd

Oh my God — the vocalist is crowdsurfing with a wedding dress on! 

Everyone has a comfort space, whether it be their room, a shop, a park, or any other place that isn’t locked behind some sort of expensive and gentrified boundary. Typically, comfort spaces are quiet and relaxing. Well, let me tell you about mine.

924 Gilman, a 40-year-old venue just past Oakland in Berkeley, known for being the birthplace of bands like Green Day and Operation Ivy, houses the loudest music (with genres like Powerviolence, Hardcore, and Riot Grrl) and the most impactful messaging for rebellious youth all across the Bay Area. The best part about Gilman is the fact that it is so accessible. If you can’t drive, Gilman is still easily reachable by taking the Richmond Orange Line BART down to Ashby, then taking Line 12 onto Gilman Street. Then, simply cross the street and reach the legendary all-ages music venue! 

Among the half-dozen shows I’ve attended, my favorite genre performed has to be Riot Grrl, which can be thought of as a “feminist” punk genre or, as my friend describes it, “girl angst punk.” The last Riot Grrl show I went to had the vocalist of one of the bands getting carried around by the crowd in a wedding dress while she held a flag, and finally putting everyone else to shame in a newly formed circle pit when a new band came onstage. You could see anything happen in the venue, and I saw everything. 

I find that Fremont, even with its large area, still lacks the necessary third spaces for its developing youth. Therefore, away from the shopping and away from the milk tea shops, I find it fun to partake in the Bay Area music scene in Berkeley, and I hope you will give it a chance, too. Who knows? Maybe you’ll even get to see a crowdsurfing bride.

Comments

  1. Riley WanSeptember 11, 2026 at 12:31 PM

    One of the things I enjoy most about the Bay is how accessible it is with our bus and train systems. As someone who is terrified of driving, I have used public transit more than I probably should.

    I've never been to Gilman, but I have been to the Greek Theatre at Berkeley! I enjoy live music as well, and I understand how a sweaty mosh pit could be your safe place, as odd as it sounds. I have visited the Greek Theatre twice, but honestly I prefer San Francisco. I've visited quite a few venues there for concerts, and I find everything just feels so much closer. SF is a scattered place, but I love doing trips there, collecting small trinkets at little shops and sightseeing during the day, and chanting some of my favorite songs at night during a concert.

    I am curious, why do you prefer the Berkeley scene? Or is this just one of the many places your enjoy?

    ReplyDelete
  2. emilySeptember 15, 2026 at 11:17 PM

    I really liked how you described Gilman as your comfort space because it doesn't follow that stereotypical idea that comfort always has to be somewhere quiet and peaceful. My mom always forgets that we have different comfort spaces, and my version of resting isn't the same as hers. I actually enjoy loud and crowded spaces too, and my comfort places aren’t always somewhere quiet either. I especially connected to the energy you described because I feel most comfortable at dance performances and events where there are a lot of people and excitement.
    Your point about Fremont not having enough third spaces for young people was also interesting; I agree with that.

    Do you think having more places like Gilman in Fremont would change how young people connect with each other?

    ReplyDelete
  3. NakulSeptember 16, 2026 at 7:02 PM

    Hello Eason! I also fully concur with you saying that Fremont needs more third places for the youth. I have not been to the berkelely counterculture scene but I would love to look into what you went to! I have not really immersed myself in bay area counterculture but your blog really gives some good insights into it and popular artists. I would also love to know how off-the-beaten-path this venue you have attended is?

    I am curious, do you prefer Berkely because of its proximity to Bart, or is it the best counterculture in the bay area?

    ReplyDelete

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