Still Woozy perfoms at the Warfield in San Francisco on March 7, 2022. Onome Uyovbievbo/STAFF.

SAN FRANCISCO — Moraga native Sven Eric Gamsky, better known as Still Woozy, took the stage on Monday at The Warfield to a hero’s welcome; the first of a three-night homecoming stand in support of 2021 full-length debut If This Isn’t Nice, I Don’t Know What Is.

Walking onto a stage made out to look like a jungle, with ficus, ferns, palms, snake plants and smoke making its way through the leafy greens—which created a dreamlike effect—Gamsky and two backing musicians kicked into a solid hour-long set of 18 songs.

Still Woozy started off with “Window,” best known for its inclusion in the “FIFA 21” video game. He energetically punched the air.

He followed that up with “Rocky” and “Get By” after asking the crowd, “Who wants to hear some funky-ass bass?” Apparently the question wasn’t immediately answered.

“Who wants to move their butt a little bit tonight?” Gamsky asked leading into “Woopie.” Later in the evening, during “Woof” and “Lucy,” Still Woozy took turns with his guitarist, Oakland artist Legwurk, singing and dancing on one of the planters on the side of the stage.

Still Woozy perfoms at the Warfield in San Francisco on March 7, 2022.

He eventually slowed it down for “Cooks,” a song written about his fiancée, “Drake” and “Kenny.”

The sold-out crowd included Gamsky’s parents, to whom he asked everyone to shout, “Thank you mom, thank you dad!” Other highlights included “Lava,” “Wolfcat,” “Get Down,” “BS” and “That’s Life.”

For “Foolsong,” he sat down on the stage while Legwurk leaned over his back while playing guitar. Then during “WTF,” opener Wallice and her group returned to dance. 

Still Woozy concluded the show with single “Goodie Bag.”

L.A. artist Wallice started her set on a mellower note with “Off the Rails,” “Wisdom Tooth” and “Little League.” She performed with a drummer and two guitarists, one of whom she introduced as her boyfriend during “Hey Michael.”

Wallice perfoms at the Warfield in San Francisco on March 7, 2022.

A cover of Nirvana’s “Heart-Shaped Box” was a highlight, after which singer-songwriter Wallice Hana Watanabe shared a story about how she had reached out to Still Woozy to collaborate years ago. He replied asking her to send him something she played, but she didn’t have anything to send him at the time.

She concluded her set with “John Wayne” (about how she wanted to be a cowboy), “Funeral” and “23.”

Legwurk, from Still Woozy’s band, opened the show in casual loungewear and gold hoop earrings, playing songs like “Favor” and “Waiting on Me.” The artist introduced “Home” as a song, “for the she’s, the bae’s and the gays,” and ended the set with an upbeat jam and a cover of “Stacy’s Mom.”

— Aparna Choudhury

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