3 Bay Area Singer Songwriters: Jennifer Greer, Amy Obenski & Michael Bang

Jennifer Greer is a multi-award-winning, self-taught singer/songwriter pianist who plays funky art-pop.

Growing up in a suburb outside New York City, poetry was her first love, and she wrote with great devotion for the first half of her life. Although she had also been singing since she was a little girl, she didn't begin to write songs until she was 28, being drawn to the piano like a magnet. Finding her way around the piano by ear, she was finally able to bring together these two sides of her artistic life into a joyous whole. Her songs stack layers of sound in ways that are delicious and endearing, funky and focused but never straightforward.

Jennifer’s first album, Jewel Machine (2001), won the WRSI singer/songwriter competition. In 2005 she released the Apiary, which got rave reviews and won Best Adult Alternative CD 2005 from the Muse’s Muse, and best unsigned pop artist from Verbicide Magazine in 2008. She was a Finalist in the NewSong Mountain Stage competition 2010 and 2012 after releasing Fistful of Stars. Her fourth album, Hey Tide, which she recorded with Tori Amos' bass player Jon Evans, was compared to the passion of Joni Mitchell. Jennifer just finished recording her fifth full-length studio album, Speaking with Ghosts, with Grammy-award winning producer Nahuel Bronzini. It was released in June 2024.

Amy Obenski creates connection by revealing the commonalities in all of us that make us human. Behind her crystalline voice and thought provoking lyrics, you’ll notice influences from Motown and jazz with glimpses of 1960s folk-rock greats such as Carole King or Joni Mitchell. Her biggest breakthrough so far was when her song, "Carousel," was featured on the hit TV show, Grey's Anatomy.

Michael Bang has been making music about addiction and death. He’s been dealing with personal loss like a musician, writing cathartic music that faces death head on.

Described by The Deli Magazine as “avant-classical-folk,” Bang counts among his influences Sufjan Stevens, Radiohead, and The Tallest Man on Earth. He is known for leading Tell Me Tell Me, a dance grunge band from Oakland. Music is all he does, and he wants you to hear it, at a live performance, on recordings, or just as the vibrating air that it is.

Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door. Children under 12 are free. Advance tickets are available here, or if the show is not sold out, you may purchase your tickets at the door before the show.

Doors open one half hour before show time. We accept cash or Venmo only at the door.

The Back Room is an all-ages, BYOB (for those 21+) space, dedicated to (mostly) acoustic music of all kinds. You are welcome to bring your own food and beverages. The venue is ADA accessible. If you need more information or have any questions, please call us: #510-381-1997.

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Please note: Although masks are no longer required, we strongly encourage their use to keep everyone safe in our intimate space.

Host or Publisher Sam Rudin