• Tuesday Tracks: Your Weekly New Music Discovery – March 2
    Mar 02 2021
    12:30 AM

    Tuesday Tracks: Your Weekly New Music Discovery – March 2

    Daniel J. Willis No Comments 0
    Clockwise from top left: Stage Moms, Jetty Bones, Elise Davis, Slothrust, Jaguar Jonze and Cane Hill. Every week, there’s a plethora of new music at our fingertips. Artists on platforms like Spotify and Bandcamp are plentiful, and the radio offers a steady deluge of new singles, but who…
  • Interview: Hip-hop/bluegrass band Gangstagrass bridges genres, racial divides
    Mar 01 2021
    01:00 AM

    Interview: Hip-hop/bluegrass band Gangstagrass bridges genres, racial divides

    Daniel J. Willis No Comments 0
    Gangstagrass, courtesy. New songs and bands end up on our radar because of the Spotify or YouTube algorithms based on listening habits. However, it creates a problem for bands with a unique sound, like Gangstagrass and their innovative mix of bluegrass and hip-hop. “Describing us with labels tends…
  • Insert Foot: What's that sound? Music (but coronavirus is still goin' round)
    Feb 28 2021
    01:00 AM

    Insert Foot: What’s that sound? Music (but coronavirus is still goin’ round)

    Tony Hicks No Comments 0
    Insert Foot vs. music in the park. I heard something the other day so stunning that I nearly went and crashed my car. Well, maybe not that bad. It wasn’t like one of my daughters told me I’m becoming a grandpa, which would certainly run me off the…
  • REVIEW: Fans turn out for Jackie Greene Quartet's Fairfield livestream
    Feb 27 2021
    09:53 PM

    REVIEW: Fans turn out for Jackie Greene Quartet’s Fairfield livestream

    Arianna Cook-Thajudeen No Comments 0
    Jackie Greene performs during a livestream concert at the Downtown Theatre in Fairfield, Calif. on Feb. 27, 2021. Nathan McKinley/STAFF. There’s no getting around the fact that livestream concerts are a pallid substitute for live shows. However Jackie Greene and his band made an effort to make up…
  • REWIND: You may not know the Yardbirds, but you know their guitarists
    Feb 27 2021
    12:30 AM

    REWIND: You may not know the Yardbirds, but you know their guitarists

    Daniel J. Willis No Comments 0
    The Yardbirds in 1966. Left to right: Jeff Beck, Chris Dreja, Jim McCarty, Jimmy Page and Keith Relf. Courtesy. Way, way back in the early ’00s, when I was at Diablo Valley College (that’s in the East Bay), I took a lot of random and unnecessary classes to…
  • Guest column: Destroy Boys' Violet Mayugba on outside perceptions
    Feb 23 2021
    10:36 PM

    Guest column: Destroy Boys’ Violet Mayugba on outside perceptions

    Violet Mayugba of Destroy Boys No Comments 0
    Destroy Boys, courtesy. Editor’s note: The last time Violet Mayugba of the Bay Area’s Destroy Boys checked in with us, nearly a year ago, she (like everyone) was trying to adjust to the pandemic lifestyle. The music the band released back then strangely fit the newly uncertain times, even…
  • Butthole Surfers' Paul Leary on the band's SF jump-start, new solo LP
    Feb 22 2021
    02:30 AM

    Butthole Surfers’ Paul Leary on the band’s SF jump-start, new solo LP

    David Gill 1 Comment 0
    Paul Leary of the Butthole Surfers, courtesy. Few stories in the annals of rock and roll rival the legend of the Butthole Surfers. The band of mega-misfits from San Antonio, which launched its career in 1981, embodied the ethos of excess in the triptych pleasures of sex, drugs…
  • INTERVIEW: Pell shining a light on New Orleans, yet going 'glbl'
    Feb 17 2021
    12:01 AM

    INTERVIEW: Pell shining a light on New Orleans, yet going ‘glbl’

    Roman Gokhman No Comments 0
    Pell, courtesy. New Orleans hip-hop artist Pell (Jared Pellerin) spent the first three months of the pandemic split between boredom and action. Living in L.A., where he had opened his own studio, Pell was already more than a year into a new venture that aimed to empower emerging…
  • INTERVIEW: Canadian Haviah Mighty breaks down barriers with "Obeah"
    Feb 15 2021
    12:01 AM

    INTERVIEW: Canadian Haviah Mighty breaks down barriers with “Obeah”

    Gabriella Ferlita No Comments 0
    Haviah Mighty. Photos courtesy Yung Yemi. Canadian hip-hop artist Haviah Mighty has seen her rapid success dominate her home country and beyond. She’s made waves with her breakthrough 2019 album, 13th Floor, becoming the first Black female rap artist to win the prestigious Polaris Prize. Now, she continues to break…
  • INTERVIEW: In divided times, Steve Hackett believes art can bring people together
    Feb 08 2021
    01:00 AM

    INTERVIEW: In divided times, Steve Hackett believes art can bring people together

    Daniel J. Willis No Comments 0
    Like so many people around the world, Steve Hackett is not happy with how things are going. Speaking from his London home, he was clear about his disgust for what’s happening around the world and in his country, specifically. Under a Mediterranean Sky Steve Hackett Insideout Music, out…
  • When will concerts return to the Bay Area? Promoters speak up
    Feb 04 2021
    12:26 PM

    When will concerts return to the Bay Area? Promoters speak up

    Roman Gokhman No Comments 0
    The Smashing Pumpkins perform at Oracle Arena (now Oakland Arena) in Oakland on Aug. 27, 2018. When will concerts return to such a high-density attendance? Alessio Neri/STAFF. In 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic, Ineffable Music booked and oversaw 1,100 concerts at the five venues it either owns or at…
  • INTERVIEW: New York producers Zach & Roger revel in strangeness
    Feb 03 2021
    01:00 AM

    INTERVIEW: New York producers Zach & Roger revel in strangeness

    Sara London No Comments 0
    Zach & Roger, courtesy. Zach & Roger, the Brooklyn-based production duo, have had a career so exciting that it borders on the bizarre. “We’ve been doing this for so long that so many strange things have happened to us,” Zach Seman says. “Traveling around the world, working with…

News

    • Andrew St. James creates virtual series to fundraise for the Chapel staff, nonprofits
      Andrew St. James creates virtual series to fundraise for the Chapel staff, nonprofits
      February 24, 2021 at 11:43 am
      Andrew St. James performs with Fast Times at The Independent in San Francisco on Feb. 25, 2020. Derek Tobias/STAFF. San Francisco musician Andrew St. James is…
      Former ALT 105.3 music director Aaron Axelsen to helm FLOOD streaming audio venture
      Former ALT 105.3 music director Aaron Axelsen to helm FLOOD streaming audio venture
      February 16, 2021 at 1:15 pm
      DJ Aaron Axelsen performs at the Rickshaw Stop in San Francisco on Sept. 16, 2016. Alessio Neri/STAFF. Former longtime ALT 105 music director Aaron Axelsen, who…
    • SF Symphony marks Lunar New Year virtually with free concert Saturday
      SF Symphony marks Lunar New Year virtually with free concert Saturday
      February 14, 2021 at 12:13 pm
      San Francisco Symphony Chinese New Year Virtual Celebration: Year of the Ox. For the first time in 21 years, the San Francisco Symphony‘s annual Lunar New…
      Taylor Swift kicks off effort to reclaim her music with new ‘Love Story’
      Taylor Swift kicks off effort to reclaim her music with new ‘Love Story’
      February 11, 2021 at 10:10 pm
      Taylor Swift: “Fearless.” Taylor Swift’s long-anticipated campaign to re-record and reissue her first six studio albums began tonight with the release of a new version of…
    • Obituary: Prolific jazz pianist Chick Corea, 23-time Grammy winner, dead at 79
      Obituary: Prolific jazz pianist Chick Corea, 23-time Grammy winner, dead at 79
      February 11, 2021 at 6:02 pm
      Chick Corea performs at Blue Note in Milan, Italy, on March 8, 2013. Photo: Sergione Infuso/Corbis. When I covered several Grammy Awards presentations in Los Angeles…
      OBITUARY: The Supremes' cofounder Mary Wilson dead at 76
      OBITUARY: The Supremes’ cofounder Mary Wilson dead at 76
      February 9, 2021 at 3:04 pm
      Mary Wilson of The Supremes in 1994. Courtesy: Kingkongphoto/Wikicommons. Mary Wilson, who, along with Florence Ballard, Diana Ross and Betty Martin, founded The Supremes in 1961,…
    • Motown Records relaunches Black Forum with Grammy-winning MLK speech
      Motown Records relaunches Black Forum with Grammy-winning MLK speech
      February 5, 2021 at 6:29 pm
      Motown Records on Friday announced it’s re-launching its Black Forum label with Martin Luther Ling, Jr.’s “Why I Oppose The War In Vietnam” speech, followed by spoken…
      When will concerts return to the Bay Area? Promoters speak up
      When will concerts return to the Bay Area? Promoters speak up
      February 4, 2021 at 12:26 pm
      The Smashing Pumpkins perform at Oracle Arena (now Oakland Arena) in Oakland on Aug. 27, 2018. When will concerts return to such a high-density attendance? Alessio Neri/STAFF.…
    • Florida-set Moon Crush gifting tix to frontline workers in contest
      Florida-set Moon Crush gifting tix to frontline workers in contest
      February 3, 2021 at 6:10 pm
      Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit performs at the Greek Theatre in Berkeley on June 8, 2019. Joaquin Cabello/STAFF. The producers of Moon Crush, touted as…
      Lookout! Zoomout will reunite Lookout! Records artists online
      Lookout! Zoomout will reunite Lookout! Records artists online
      January 30, 2021 at 5:48 pm
      Dr. Frank performs at Bottom of The Hill in San Francisco on April 1, 2017. He will appear at a Lookout! Records artist reunion live-streamed event…
    • Influential PC music artist-producer SOPHIE, 34, dead after fall in Greece
      Influential PC music artist-producer SOPHIE, 34, dead after fall in Greece
      January 30, 2021 at 10:39 am
      SOPHIE, courtesy. Influential experimental PC pop artist SOPHIE died early Saturday after a fall in Athens, Greece, where she lived, according to her record label, Transgressive.…
      Concert promoters nationwide offer up venues as vaccination centers
      Concert promoters nationwide offer up venues as vaccination centers
      January 27, 2021 at 3:56 pm
      The Fillmore, closed, on the afternoon of March 17, 2020, the first day of a shelter-in-place to combat coronavirus. Large and small concert promoters nationwide have…
    • SF Ballet's Helgi Tomasson addresses his 2022 departure, future
      SF Ballet’s Helgi Tomasson addresses his 2022 departure, future
      January 23, 2021 at 8:00 am
      SF Ballet Artistic Director and Principal Choreographer Helgi Tomasson. Courtesy: Erik Tomasson/SF Ballet. The San Francisco Ballet earlier this month announced the 2022 departure of Artistic…
      Derick Almena pleads guilty for Ghost Ship deaths
      Derick Almena pleads guilty for Ghost Ship deaths
      January 22, 2021 at 1:22 pm
      Derick Almena booking photo. After his first trial in September of 2019 ended with a hung jury, Derick Almena, the master tenant of the Ghost Ship…
    • SF Ballet opens digital season with 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' film
      SF Ballet opens digital season with ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ film
      January 20, 2021 at 5:56 pm
      Esteban Hernandez as Puck in Balanchine’s ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream.’ Rendering courtesy of Erik Tomasson and Sky Alsgaard. San Francisco Ballet launches its 2021 Digital Season on…
      The music artists performing at the Biden-Harris Inauguration
      The music artists performing at the Biden-Harris Inauguration
      January 19, 2021 at 9:21 pm
      John Legend is one of numerous music artists performing at the Joe Biden inauguration on Wednesday. The inauguration of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris will, out…
    • Sierra Leone's Refuge All Stars fundraising in midst of yet another disaster
      Sierra Leone’s Refuge All Stars fundraising in midst of yet another disaster
      January 17, 2021 at 6:12 pm
      Sierra Leone’s Refuge All Stars, courtesy: Cumbancha. The members of Sierra Leone’s Refuge All Stars, the music group that was formed in 2002 in a refugee…
      Obituary: Fairness demands remembering Phil Spector for who he was
      Obituary: Fairness demands remembering Phil Spector for who he was
      January 17, 2021 at 2:01 pm
      Phil Spector photographed in the 1970s, and a recent booking photo. I heard Phil Spector died and immediately thought of the end of “Fast Times at…
    • Kronos Quartet, Meklit, Rep. Barbara Lee to appear at virtual MLK celebration
      Kronos Quartet, Meklit, Rep. Barbara Lee to appear at virtual MLK celebration
      January 13, 2021 at 4:13 pm
      “In the Name of Love” is co-produced by Living Jazz and UnderCover, and includes performances by Kronos Quartet and Meklit. Bay Area artists like Kronos Quartet, Meklit…
      SF Ballet Artist Director Helgi Tomasson announces 2022 departure
      SF Ballet Artist Director Helgi Tomasson announces 2022 departure
      January 6, 2021 at 12:53 pm
      SF Ballet Artistic Director and Principal Choreographer Helgi Tomasson. Courtesy: Erik Tomasson/SF Ballet. After nearly four decades as artistic director and principal choreographer of the San…
    • Hip-hop artist MF DOOM dead at 49
      Hip-hop artist MF DOOM dead at 49
      December 31, 2020 at 7:49 pm
      MF DOOM performs during the Pitchfork Music Festival at Union Park on July 18, 2009 in Chicago. Courtesy: Roger Kisby/Getty Images. The wife of underground hip-hop…
      SF Symphony's Esa-Pekka Salonen awarded British honorary knighthood
      SF Symphony’s Esa-Pekka Salonen awarded British honorary knighthood
      December 24, 2020 at 9:03 am
      New San Francisco Symphony Music Director Esa-Pekka Salonen. Courtesy: Andrew Eccles. Queen Elizabeth II awarded an honorary knighthood to San Francisco Symphony Music Director Esa-Pekka Salonen…
    • Former Nico Vega members put Trump on blast for using their song
      Former Nico Vega members put Trump on blast for using their song
      December 22, 2020 at 11:09 am
      Nico Vega performs at America’s Cup Pavilion in San Francisco on May 31, 2013. Roman Gokhman/STAFF. Aja Volkman-Reynolds and Dan Epand of the band TWO, formerly…
      COVID relief to include $15B for music venues: The specifics
      COVID relief to include $15B for music venues: The specifics
      December 20, 2020 at 9:51 pm
      First Avenue in Minneapolis photographed on May 19, 2020. Photo: Todd Johnson. While most headlines about the newly-passed, long-awaited second round of COVID relief are focused…

Features

    • Butthole Surfers' Paul Leary on the band's SF jump-start, new solo LP
      Butthole Surfers’ Paul Leary on the band’s SF jump-start, new solo LP
      February 22, 2021 at 2:30 am
      Paul Leary of the Butthole Surfers, courtesy. Few stories in the annals of rock and roll rival the legend of the Butthole Surfers. The band of…
    • INTERVIEW: Pell shining a light on New Orleans, yet going 'glbl'
      INTERVIEW: Pell shining a light on New Orleans, yet going ‘glbl’
      February 17, 2021 at 12:01 am
      Pell, courtesy. New Orleans hip-hop artist Pell (Jared Pellerin) spent the first three months of the pandemic split between boredom and action. Living in L.A., where…
    • INTERVIEW: In divided times, Steve Hackett believes art can bring people together
      INTERVIEW: In divided times, Steve Hackett believes art can bring people together
      February 8, 2021 at 1:00 am
      Like so many people around the world, Steve Hackett is not happy with how things are going. Speaking from his London home, he was clear about…
    • INTERVIEW: New York producers Zach & Roger revel in strangeness
      INTERVIEW: New York producers Zach & Roger revel in strangeness
      February 3, 2021 at 1:00 am
      Zach & Roger, courtesy. Zach & Roger, the Brooklyn-based production duo, have had a career so exciting that it borders on the bizarre. “We’ve been doing…
    • Interview: Aaron Lee Tasjan turns the mirror on himself on 4th solo LP
      Interview: Aaron Lee Tasjan turns the mirror on himself on 4th solo LP
      February 1, 2021 at 2:00 am
      Aaron Lee Tasjan, Courtesy: Curtis Wayne. There’s a song on Tasjan! Tasjan! Tasjan!, the new solo album by singer-songwriter Aaron Lee Tasjan, that speaks to some…
    • Interview: Baby Queen knocking on the palace gate after breakthrough year
      Interview: Baby Queen knocking on the palace gate after breakthrough year
      January 25, 2021 at 1:00 am
      Baby Queen, courtesy. It’s an overnight success story—during a pandemic, no less—that’s two years in the making. South-Africa-born, London-based pop singer-songwriter Baby Queen didn’t sign her…
    • INTERVIEW: Saxophonist Jake Clemons balancing solo career with E Street Band legacy
      INTERVIEW: Saxophonist Jake Clemons balancing solo career with E Street Band legacy
      January 18, 2021 at 1:30 am
      Jake Clemons, courtesy. Jake Clemons loves to connect with people. A couple of years ago, he did a national tour of … living rooms, performing intimate…
    • INTERVIEW: Elohim finds solid ground amid pandemic chaos
      INTERVIEW: Elohim finds solid ground amid pandemic chaos
      January 4, 2021 at 12:01 am
      Elohim, courtesy: Chase O’Black. Elohim presumed she had averted a personal tragedy on March 3. A couple of weeks into a headlining tour, she and her…

Podcasts

    • RIFF Radio: Chris Daughtry finds creative freedom amid a chaotic world
      RIFF Radio: Chris Daughtry finds creative freedom amid a chaotic world
      September 7, 2020 at 2:30 am
      Daughtry. Courtesy photo. Chris Daughtry‘s enthusiam over his band’s upcoming sixth record is palpable. Speaking from his home in Nashville in a room decked out in…
    • Rock'N Vino: 'The Delicacy' documentary dives into treacherous waters
      Rock’N Vino: ‘The Delicacy’ documentary dives into treacherous waters
      May 22, 2020 at 3:30 am
      Filmmaker Jason Wise working on his new documentary, ‘The Delicacy,’ off the coast of Santa Barbara. Courtesy. Filmmaker Jason Wise, best known for “The Somm,” a hit…
    • Rock'N Vino: Jackson Family Wines pivot to preserve jobs, deliver wine
      Rock’N Vino: Jackson Family Wines pivot to preserve jobs, deliver wine
      May 10, 2020 at 12:30 am
      Courtesy: Jackson Family Wines. As unemployment caused by the coronavirus pandemic continues to rise, some are taking steps to adapt to keep their employees working. Much…
    • RIFF RADIO: Talinda Bennington turns adversity into strength with 320 Changes Direction
      RIFF RADIO: Talinda Bennington turns adversity into strength with 320 Changes Direction
      May 6, 2020 at 12:30 am
      Talinda Bennington, Courtesy: Big Picture Media. The many shelter-in-place orders nationwide have impacted just about every part of society. While the circumstances are difficult for some,…

Album Reviews

    • REVIEW: Tigers Jaw wants everyone to know 'I Won't Care How You Remember Me'
      REVIEW: Tigers Jaw wants everyone to know ‘I Won’t Care How You Remember Me’
      March 2, 2021 at 12:01 am
      The rise of emo pop and pop-punk during the 2000s has served as both a source of nostalgia and revulsion from millennials and zoomers alike. Love…
      REVIEW: NOFX holds it together with rubber bands and duct tape on 'Single Album'
      REVIEW: NOFX holds it together with rubber bands and duct tape on ‘Single Album’
      February 26, 2021 at 5:45 am
      It seems that things have taken a toll on frontman Fat Mike of NOFX, because Single Album oozes with the sense of decay and instability that comes with…
    • Quick Takes: K-pop refugee Wonho finds a safe haven on 'Love Synonym #2'
      Quick Takes: K-pop refugee Wonho finds a safe haven on ‘Love Synonym #2’
      February 25, 2021 at 10:01 pm
      It’s no secret that K-pop artists, at least the successful ones, live and work in a high-pressure environment where every part of their lives is dissected…
      ALBUM REVIEW: The Melvins swap roles on 'Working With God'
      ALBUM REVIEW: The Melvins swap roles on ‘Working With God’
      February 24, 2021 at 1:00 am
      It’s a safe bet that whatever apocalypse befalls our planet, the catastrophic end of everything will be survived by cockroaches, tardigrades and grunge progenitors the Melvins.…
    • ALBUM REVIEW: Altin Gün goes new wave on 'Yol'
      ALBUM REVIEW: Altin Gün goes new wave on ‘Yol’
      February 24, 2021 at 12:01 am
      Altin Gün is an Amsterdam-based psychedelic rock band with funk and Turkish folk influences. Yol Altin Gün ATO Records, Feb. 26 7/10 Usually that description wouldn’t…
      ALBUM REVIEW: Maxïmo Park returns as a trio with ‘Nature Always Wins’
      ALBUM REVIEW: Maxïmo Park returns as a trio with ‘Nature Always Wins’
      February 23, 2021 at 10:00 am
      Maxïmo Park took the U.K. by storm in 2005 with A Certain Trigger, a blend of catchy, infectious fun. After I went to the Newcastle, England band’s first…
    • ALBUM REVIEW: Willie Nelson covers Sinatra again on ‘That’s Life’
      ALBUM REVIEW: Willie Nelson covers Sinatra again on ‘That’s Life’
      February 23, 2021 at 12:01 am
      Just shy of two and a half years since Willie Nelson last covered Frank Sinatra on My Way, his take on the Great American Songbook, he’s geared…
      ALBUM REVIEW: Julien Baker gets loud on 'Little Oblivions'
      ALBUM REVIEW: Julien Baker gets loud on ‘Little Oblivions’
      February 23, 2021 at 12:01 am
      Julien Baker has never been one to shy away from depicting dramatic and intimate parts of life in her music. Since her 2015 debut, Sprained Ankle, her…
    • ALBUM REVIEW: Madison Beer alive and kicking after decade on 'Life Support'
      ALBUM REVIEW: Madison Beer alive and kicking after decade on ‘Life Support’
      February 21, 2021 at 9:00 pm
      Madison Beer has been waiting a lifetime to release her debut album. The 21-year-old pop singer-songwriter got her record deal almost a decade ago, after posting…
      ALBUM REVIEW: Alice Cooper revisits his hard rock impetus on 'Detroit Stories'
      ALBUM REVIEW: Alice Cooper revisits his hard rock impetus on ‘Detroit Stories’
      February 21, 2021 at 9:00 pm
      It could be said that rock legend Alice Cooper is a hard man to pin down. Is he a decadent, glammed-out creep or an affable guy…
    • ALBUM REVIEW: The Hold Steady talk you through it on 'Open Door Policy'
      ALBUM REVIEW: The Hold Steady talk you through it on ‘Open Door Policy’
      February 16, 2021 at 1:00 pm
      The world of rock and roll is full of stories: rags to riches, burning out instead of fading away, beating the devil in a fiddle contest…
      Mogwai celebrates a quarter-century with powerful 'As The Love Continues'
      Mogwai celebrates a quarter-century with powerful ‘As The Love Continues’
      February 16, 2021 at 12:01 am
      Mogwai records are like stumbling through a beautiful, sprawling valley you’ve seen before, yet keep returning with even more enthusiasm. Not only is the basic nature…
    • ALBUM REVIEW: Tash Sultana touches down on 'Terra Firma'
      ALBUM REVIEW: Tash Sultana touches down on ‘Terra Firma’
      February 15, 2021 at 12:01 am
      Watching Tash Sultana on YouTube–which more than 100 million people have done at this point–it’s equal parts obvious and arcane why the Australian artist has made…
      REVIEW: JPEGMAFIA stews in anguish on exploratory 'EP2!'
      REVIEW: JPEGMAFIA stews in anguish on exploratory ‘EP2!’
      February 12, 2021 at 5:35 am
      There’s something to be said regarding the rise of awareness regarding mental health in hip-hop over the last few years, with an array of artists covering…
    • ALBUM REVIEW: Florida Georgia Line underwhelms with 'Life Rolls On'
      ALBUM REVIEW: Florida Georgia Line underwhelms with ‘Life Rolls On’
      February 11, 2021 at 9:00 pm
      Florida Georgia Line has consistently pumped out country hits for a number of years now, leaving its mark on the genre in many ways. The duo’s…
      ALBUM REVIEW: Slowthai plays it safe on sophomore album, 'TYRON'
      ALBUM REVIEW: Slowthai plays it safe on sophomore album, ‘TYRON’
      February 10, 2021 at 5:00 am
      By Mason Meyers After his incredibly well-received and critically acclaimed first album, Nothing Great About Britain, Slowthai had cemented himself as an artist that wasn’t afraid…
    • ALBUM REVIEW: Pale Waves give pop-punk a makeover on 'Who Am I?'
      ALBUM REVIEW: Pale Waves give pop-punk a makeover on ‘Who Am I?’
      February 10, 2021 at 1:00 am
      Despite its delayed launch, Pale Waves’ sophomore album, Who Am I?  is not a record that was consumed by the pandemic—it was born in the face…
      REVIEW: Hayley Williams cultivates quarantine intimacy on 'Flowers for Vases'
      REVIEW: Hayley Williams cultivates quarantine intimacy on ‘Flowers for Vases’
      February 9, 2021 at 3:42 pm
      Hayley Williams thought she exorcised the memories of broken love on her debut solo effort, Petals for Armor, but it seems that the Paramore singer had…
    • REVIEW: Jon Foreman of Switchfoot 'goes on and on' with 'Departures'
      REVIEW: Jon Foreman of Switchfoot ‘goes on and on’ with ‘Departures’
      February 9, 2021 at 10:00 am
      If you were a part of the youth-group, church-basement set, you may fondly remember the rise of alt-rockers Switchfoot from Christian act to a cross-over success.…
      REVIEW: The Pretty Reckless find new life in 'Death By Rock And Roll'
      REVIEW: The Pretty Reckless find new life in ‘Death By Rock And Roll’
      February 9, 2021 at 12:01 am
      The Pretty Reckless, courtesy. It’s quite impressive how unassumingly Taylor Momsen and The Pretty Reckless have made their way to the upper echelon of the modern…
    • ALBUM REVIEW: Sia fails to strike a chord with 'MUSIC'
      ALBUM REVIEW: Sia fails to strike a chord with ‘MUSIC’
      February 7, 2021 at 9:00 pm
      It took five albums and a hiatus from performing before Sia’s jarringly profound voice and style took off with American fans. Her songwriting and features on…
      REVIEW: Fela Kuti lives on with 2-LP tribute by Femi Kuti and Made Kuti
      REVIEW: Fela Kuti lives on with 2-LP tribute by Femi Kuti and Made Kuti
      February 3, 2021 at 6:00 am
      L: Femi Kuti, ‘Stop The Hate.’ R: Made Kuti, ‘For(e)ward.’ Fela Kuti was a force of nature. The Nigerian percussionist blended potent anti-colonial political messages with…
    • ALBUM REVIEW: The Staves find harmony and humility on ‘Good Woman'
      ALBUM REVIEW: The Staves find harmony and humility on ‘Good Woman’
      February 3, 2021 at 12:01 am
      British trio The Staves‘ newest album Good Woman, makes one thing clear: It’s really hard to always be a really good person. It’s been nearly six years…
      REVIEW: John Carpenter strikes again on 'Lost Themes III: Alive After Death'
      REVIEW: John Carpenter strikes again on ‘Lost Themes III: Alive After Death’
      February 2, 2021 at 7:00 am
      Lost Themes III: Alive After Death is the third in a series of what you might call John Carpenter soundtracks to the films he never made.…
    • ALBUM REVIEW: CNCO does it again on 'Déja Vu'
      ALBUM REVIEW: CNCO does it again on ‘Déja Vu’
      January 31, 2021 at 9:00 pm
      It wasn’t fate that brought CNCO together. It was Simon Cowell. All five members—the name is a play on “cinco,” for the uninitiated—were winners of the…
      REVIEW: Foo Fighters' 'Medicine at Midnight' offers more of the same
      REVIEW: Foo Fighters’ ‘Medicine at Midnight’ offers more of the same
      January 31, 2021 at 9:00 pm
      The Foo Fighters should rename themselves The Old Standbys. No band produces as consistently at a decently high level. Dave Grohl and company can’t be accused…
    • Quick Takes: Madlib astounds with nostalgic summoning of 'Sound Ancestors'
      Quick Takes: Madlib astounds with nostalgic summoning of ‘Sound Ancestors’
      January 29, 2021 at 5:38 am
      Rapper Madlib didn’t wait long between albums. Following a jan record in November as Jahari Massamba Unit, he’s already back with a new collaborative venture with electronic…
      REVIEW: Chris Baio explores doom, joy and kindness on 'Dead Hand Control'
      REVIEW: Chris Baio explores doom, joy and kindness on ‘Dead Hand Control’
      January 27, 2021 at 5:00 am
      For many who lived through the nuclear fear of the 1980s, these past few years may have felt like the first real societal existential crisis since…
    • REVIEW: Langhorne Slim spins anxiety into hope on 'Strawberry Mansion'
      REVIEW: Langhorne Slim spins anxiety into hope on ‘Strawberry Mansion’
      January 27, 2021 at 12:01 am
      It’s difficult to believe that leading into the writing for Strawberry Mansion, Langhorne Slim hadn’t written a song for the better part of a year. A clinical…
      REVIEW: Old souls Clap Your Hands Say Yeah display some 'New Fragility'
      REVIEW: Old souls Clap Your Hands Say Yeah display some ‘New Fragility’
      January 26, 2021 at 2:00 pm
      Alec Ounsworth has been around the block. Eloquent and verbose, his band Clap Your Hands Say Yeah has been a stable pillar in indie rock. Through all…
    • REVIEW: Ani DiFranco looks for answers and new kind of ‘Revolutionary Love’
      REVIEW: Ani DiFranco looks for answers and new kind of ‘Revolutionary Love’
      January 26, 2021 at 10:00 am
      It is not hard to relate to what’s been on Ani DiFranco’s mind the last year that inspired Revolutionary Love. The veteran artist and activist found…
      Porcupine Tree's Steven Wilson focuses on the message on 'The Future Bites'
      Porcupine Tree’s Steven Wilson focuses on the message on ‘The Future Bites’
      January 26, 2021 at 12:01 am
      Prog rock is a strange beast. Over time, “progressive” has become synonymous with “difficult” and, even worse, up its own ass. The self-indulgence of some bands…
    • ALBUM REVIEW: Weezer surprises with introspective 'OK Human'
      ALBUM REVIEW: Weezer surprises with introspective ‘OK Human’
      January 24, 2021 at 9:00 pm
      Think of the most on-brand thing that Weezer could do. Was your answer to surprise-drop a Beach-Boys-inspired album in the middle of a pandemic while everyone…
      ALBUM REVIEW: Wardruna channels the essence of Nordic culture with 'Kvitravn'
      ALBUM REVIEW: Wardruna channels the essence of Nordic culture with ‘Kvitravn’
      January 20, 2021 at 12:01 am
      It’s been two years since Wardruna dropped Skald, and half a decade since the last album featuring the full Nordic folk collective. Skald featured solo performances…
    • QUICK TAKES: Rhye finds a new 'Home' in '70s funk and disco
      QUICK TAKES: Rhye finds a new ‘Home’ in ’70s funk and disco
      January 19, 2021 at 12:00 pm
      Toronto alt-R&B musician Rhye‘s newest album, Home, takes the ambient trends of today’s most popular acts like Joji and blends them together with the stylings of ’70s funk…
      Steve Hackett conjures brooding musical history on 'Under A Mediterranean Sky'
      Steve Hackett conjures brooding musical history on ‘Under A Mediterranean Sky’
      January 18, 2021 at 2:30 am
      According to a 1970 ad he placed in British music magazine Melody Maker, guitarist and songwriter Steve Hackett displayed an early interest in pushing “beyond existing…
    • ALBUM REVIEW: Illy looks back to 'The Space Between' his life
      ALBUM REVIEW: Illy looks back to ‘The Space Between’ his life
      January 15, 2021 at 5:35 am
      Introspection continues to be the name of the game on The Space Between, the newest album by Melbourne rapper Illy, which took him three years to…
      ALBUM REVIEW: 'Nobody is Listening' to Zayn Malik, but you should be
      ALBUM REVIEW: ‘Nobody is Listening’ to Zayn Malik, but you should be
      January 14, 2021 at 7:03 pm
      In 2016 he was the American Music Awards’ New Artist of the Year and one of Glamour Magazine’s Top 100 Sexiest Men. The following he was Billboard’s…
    • ALBUM REVIEW: Melvins' Dale Crover gets heavily weird on 'Rat-A-Tat-Tat!'
      ALBUM REVIEW: Melvins’ Dale Crover gets heavily weird on ‘Rat-A-Tat-Tat!’
      January 13, 2021 at 4:00 am
      Dale Crover is perhaps the most interesting man in grunge music. The Melvins’ drummer formed a band with Kurt Cobain in the 1980s called Fecal Matter…
      ALBUM REVIEW: You Me At Six land an uppercut On 'Suckapunch'
      ALBUM REVIEW: You Me At Six land an uppercut On ‘Suckapunch’
      January 12, 2021 at 1:00 am
      English rockers You Me At Six wanted to travel to uncharted musical territory on their seventh studio album, Suckapunch, so they did just that by.going to a…
    • ALBUM REVIEW: Why Don’t We have some ‘Good Times and the Bad Ones’ on new LP
      ALBUM REVIEW: Why Don’t We have some ‘Good Times and the Bad Ones’ on new LP
      January 10, 2021 at 9:00 pm
      Why Don’t We, the five-member boy band from Los Angeles, went completely dark on social media in January 2019. Their fans, in a panic, started a…
      ALBUM REVIEW: Viagra Boys' 'Welfare Jazz' is a blend of inspired hijinks
      ALBUM REVIEW: Viagra Boys’ ‘Welfare Jazz’ is a blend of inspired hijinks
      January 6, 2021 at 2:51 pm
      Viagra Boys play off a European stereotype that hardly exists in the U.S.: dirtbag leftist spongers on the social welfare system who live a bohemian life,…
    • REVIEW: Passenger wallows in despair on 'Songs for the Drunk and Broken Hearted'
      REVIEW: Passenger wallows in despair on ‘Songs for the Drunk and Broken Hearted’
      January 6, 2021 at 5:51 am
      Folk-pop sensation Passenger (Michael David Rosenberg) follows up his 2020 quarantine baby, Patchwork, with a solemn examination of dissatisfaction on his latest release, Songs for the Drunk and Broken Hearted.…
      Barry Gibb goes country on 'Greenfields: The Gibb Brothers Songbook, Vol. 1'
      Barry Gibb goes country on ‘Greenfields: The Gibb Brothers Songbook, Vol. 1’
      January 5, 2021 at 2:30 am
      Most folks associate the Bee Gees with John Travolta’s strut down gritty New York City sidewalks in the classic 1977 film “Saturday Night Fever.” The famous…
    • ALBUM REVIEW: Morgan Wallen does it all on sophomore LP 'Dangerous'
      ALBUM REVIEW: Morgan Wallen does it all on sophomore LP ‘Dangerous’
      January 4, 2021 at 4:00 pm
      A 30-song album is ambitious, no matter who you are. Morgan Wallen was up to the challenge with Dangerous: The Double Album. Heralded by a handful…
      ALBUM REVIEW: Burner Herzog contains multitudes on 'Big Love'
      ALBUM REVIEW: Burner Herzog contains multitudes on ‘Big Love’
      December 22, 2020 at 2:30 am
      A lot of music nerds are like John Cusack’s character in the 2000 film, “High Fidelity”—otaku geeks who click their tongues, critiquing and ranking the musical…
    • ALBUM REVIEW: An old Beatle surprises with 'McCartney III'
      ALBUM REVIEW: An old Beatle surprises with ‘McCartney III’
      December 14, 2020 at 12:01 am
      It’s usually too much to ask for: a legitimately good new chunk of music standing on merit alone from the guy who could’ve retired 40 years…
      ALBUM REVIEW: Osees rearrange with 'Panther Rotate,' their third LP of 2020
      ALBUM REVIEW: Osees rearrange with ‘Panther Rotate,’ their third LP of 2020
      December 11, 2020 at 7:25 pm
      If only we could all have such a creative incubation as John Dwyer and company during the pandemic. Osees (or Thee Oh Sees, Oh Sees or…
    • REVIEW: Kid Cudi comes back down to earth 'Man on the Moon III: The Chosen'
      REVIEW: Kid Cudi comes back down to earth ‘Man on the Moon III: The Chosen’
      December 11, 2020 at 12:11 am
      On his last Man on the Moon album, released 10 years ago, Kid Cudi explored the darker recesses of his mind, primarily, his substance abuse and depression around…

Listen Now

    • REWIND: You may not know the Yardbirds, but you know their guitarists
      REWIND: You may not know the Yardbirds, but you know their guitarists
      February 27, 2021 at 12:30 am
      The Yardbirds in 1966. Left to right: Jeff Beck, Chris Dreja, Jim McCarty, Jimmy Page and Keith Relf. Courtesy. Way, way back in the early ’00s,…
      Tuesday Tracks: Your Weekly New Music Discovery – Feb. 23
      Tuesday Tracks: Your Weekly New Music Discovery – Feb. 23
      February 23, 2021 at 12:30 am
      Clockwise from top left: Kalie Shorr, Elhae, Alice Phoebe Lou, Unusual Demont, DijahSB and carobae. Every week, there’s a plethora of new music at our fingertips.…

Q&A Interviews

    • SF Ballet's Helgi Tomasson addresses his 2022 departure, future
      SF Ballet’s Helgi Tomasson addresses his 2022 departure, future
      January 23, 2021 at 8:00 am
      SF Ballet Artistic Director and Principal Choreographer Helgi Tomasson. Courtesy: Erik Tomasson/SF Ballet. The San Francisco Ballet earlier this month announced the 2022 departure of Artistic…
    • Q&A: Einar Selvik of Wardruna bridging old Norse myths to today's audiences
      Q&A: Einar Selvik of Wardruna bridging old Norse myths to today’s audiences
      January 11, 2021 at 12:01 am
      Wardruna (Einar Selvik center), Courtesy: Kim Ohrling. Einar Selvik was once known as “kvitravn,” which translates from old Norse to “the white raven.” That was back…
    • Q&A: Songhoy Blues spread 'Optimisme' on their boldest statement yet
      Q&A: Songhoy Blues spread ‘Optimisme’ on their boldest statement yet
      October 26, 2020 at 12:30 am
      Songhoy Blues, Courtesy. At one point a decade ago, the members of Malian rock band Songhoy Blues weren’t allowed to play shows. The ban had nothing to do…
    • Q&A: The real Sammy Brown on Zach Sobiech, 'Clouds,' Saturday's livestream
      Q&A: The real Sammy Brown on Zach Sobiech, ‘Clouds,’ Saturday’s livestream
      October 23, 2020 at 3:12 pm
      Thanks to the new Disney+ film “Clouds,” Zach Sobiech‘s 2012 hit song of the same name is again at the top of streaming charts, seven years…
    • Q&A: Argentinean Nicki Nicole crashes through 'Mala Vida' waiting out the world's longest quarantine
      Q&A: Argentinean Nicki Nicole crashes through ‘Mala Vida’ waiting out the world’s longest quarantine
      October 12, 2020 at 2:30 am
      Nicki Nicole, Courtesy: Pull&Bear. Rising Argentine R&B and pop artist Nicki Nicole has taken the world by storm with her electrifying dance anthems. She broke out with…
    • Q&A: Gaidaa on self-discovery, accepting pandemic 'Overture'
      Q&A: Gaidaa on self-discovery, accepting pandemic ‘Overture’
      September 30, 2020 at 3:00 am
      Gaidaa, Courtesy: Segraphy. Just two years ago, Sudanese-born and Netherlands-based R&B singer-songwriter Gaidaa caught the attention of Dutch producer Full Crate with a cover of a Kehlani…
    • INTERVIEW: Lydia Loveless looks to find herself on 'Daughter'
      INTERVIEW: Lydia Loveless looks to find herself on ‘Daughter’
      September 23, 2020 at 1:30 am
      Lydia Loveless, Courtesy: Megan Toenyes. After crisscrossing the country in support of her 2016 album, Real, singer-songwriter Lydia Loveless was emotionally and physically spent. By that…
    • Rexx Life Raj on his family history of activism, systemic racism, how to help
      Rexx Life Raj on his family history of activism, systemic racism, how to help
      August 28, 2020 at 12:01 am
      Rexx Life Raj photographed at the Berkeley Marina on Aug. 18, 2020. Matt Pang/STAFF. Additional photos by Pang and Karen Goldman/STAFF. Singer and rapper Rexx Life…
    • Q&A: Biffy Clyro calls for action to avoid ultimate 'endings'
      Q&A: Biffy Clyro calls for action to avoid ultimate ‘endings’
      August 17, 2020 at 2:30 am
      Biffy Clyro, Courtesy: Ash Roberts. A Celebration of Endings, the new album from Scottish rockers Biffy Clyro ends with a screamo-prog-metal-funk journey “Cop Syrup,” on which…

Festival news

    • SF Sketchfest announces Festpocalypse!, star-studded livestream fundraiser
      SF Sketchfest announces Festpocalypse!, star-studded livestream fundraiser
      December 17, 2020 at 12:28 pm
      SF Sketchfest announces Festpocalypse! SF Sketchfest on Thursday announced Festpocalypse!, a virtual fundraiser for the annual wintertime event. Festpocalypse! will include cast reunions of “The Kids…
    • BottleRock 2021 postponed to Labor Day Weekend, likely with new headliners
      BottleRock 2021 postponed to Labor Day Weekend, likely with new headliners
      November 17, 2020 at 10:59 am
      Mumford & Sons perform at BottleRock Napa Valley at the Napa Valley Expo on May 26, 2019. BottleRock Napa Valley, which was scrapped in 2020 following…
    • National Independent Venue Association, YouTube announce virtual fest to save venues
      National Independent Venue Association, YouTube announce virtual fest to save venues
      October 8, 2020 at 1:15 pm
      First Avenue in Minneapolis (photographed on May 19, 2020) will host Dizzy Fae as part of #SOSFEST this month. Photo: Todd Johnson. YouTube Music and the…
    • SXSW going online in 2021; still hopes for physical festival
      SXSW going online in 2021; still hopes for physical festival
      September 22, 2020 at 11:53 pm
      CNN’s Jake Tapper and The Daily Show’s Trevor Noah speak onstage at the 2019 SXSW Conference and Festivals on March 9, 2019 in Austin, Texas. Courtes:…
    • SF Sketchfest 2021 postponed, virtual series planned
      SF Sketchfest 2021 postponed, virtual series planned
      September 17, 2020 at 12:15 pm
      Dana Gould performs at SF Sketchfest at the Speakeasy in San Francisco on Jan. 18, 2019. Jon Bauer/STAFF. Producers of SF Sketchfest, the annual San Francisco…

Opinion

    • Guest column: Destroy Boys' Violet Mayugba on outside perceptions
      Guest column: Destroy Boys’ Violet Mayugba on outside perceptions
      February 23, 2021 at 10:36 pm
      Destroy Boys, courtesy. Editor’s note: The last time Violet Mayugba of the Bay Area’s Destroy Boys checked in with us, nearly a year ago, she (like everyone)…
      Insert Foot: Soundgarden's fight discredits the magic of distant rehearsal rooms
      Insert Foot: Soundgarden’s fight discredits the magic of distant rehearsal rooms
      February 21, 2021 at 1:00 am
      Insert Foot wants Soundgarden and Vicky Cornell to get along. It’s truly awful and terribly ironic what’s going on between the surviving members of Soundgarden and…
    • Insert Foot storming the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame if there's no Iron Maiden
      Insert Foot storming the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame if there’s no Iron Maiden
      February 14, 2021 at 1:00 am
      Insert Foot vs. Iron Maiden haters. If you didn’t notice, it’s time to get hysterical again over Rock and Roll Hall of Fame selections. I don’t…
      Opinion: Getting the poke of 'old normal' in a COVID-19 vaccine
      Opinion: Getting the poke of ‘old normal’ in a COVID-19 vaccine
      February 9, 2021 at 9:19 am
      California Gov. Gavin Newsom watches as the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine is prepared by Director of Inpatient Pharmacy David Cheng at Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles Medical Center…

Concert Reviews

    • REVIEW: Bob Weir and Wolf Bros shine in Chinese New Year livestream
      REVIEW: Bob Weir and Wolf Bros shine in Chinese New Year livestream
      February 12, 2021 at 10:33 pm
      Bob Weir performs at TRI Studios in San Rafael, California, in celebration of the Chinese New Year, on Feb. 12, 2021. Bob Weir, the legendary cofounder…
      REVIEW: Fantastic Negrito gets back in the groove at Fairfield livestream
      REVIEW: Fantastic Negrito gets back in the groove at Fairfield livestream
      January 23, 2021 at 9:01 pm
      Fantastic Negrito performs during a livestream concert at the Downtown Theatre in Fairfield, California, on Jan. 23, 2021. Photos courtesy: Nathan McKinley. Fantastic Negrito is a…
    • REVIEW: Morgan Wallen gets 'Dangerous' at the Ryman in Nashville
      REVIEW: Morgan Wallen gets ‘Dangerous’ at the Ryman in Nashville
      January 12, 2021 at 8:55 pm
      Morgan Wallen performs during a livestream at Ryman Auditorium in Nashville on Jan. 12, 2021. Courtesy: John Shearer/Getty Images for Ryman Auditorium. Country star Morgan Wallen‘s…
      REVIEW: MisterWives flourish in vivid 'Superbloom' live dream stream
      REVIEW: MisterWives flourish in vivid ‘Superbloom’ live dream stream
      December 13, 2020 at 9:00 am
      Misterwives perform during their “SUPERBLOOM: The Live Dream” livestream on Dec. 12, 2020. Courtesy of the band. MisterWives’ streamed performance on Saturday was an embodiment of…
    • REVIEW: Liam Gallagher flips a low-flying bird to the London Eye in cinematic livestream
      REVIEW: Liam Gallagher flips a low-flying bird to the London Eye in cinematic livestream
      December 5, 2020 at 5:24 pm
      Liam Gallagher performs during his livestream concert “Down by the River Thames” in London on Dec. 5, 2020. By Mason Meyers LONDON — Liam Gallagher’s Saturday…
      REVIEW: Blossoms’ livestream not ‘The Keeper’ but fit for the times
      REVIEW: Blossoms’ livestream not ‘The Keeper’ but fit for the times
      December 5, 2020 at 9:44 am
      Blossoms perform at The O2 in London on Dec. 3, 2020. Courtesy: MelodyVR. LONDON – Blossoms’ show at The O2 Academy on Thursday was a far cry…
    • REVIEW: Jayhawks' faithful 'Sound of Lies' livestream rings true
      REVIEW: Jayhawks’ faithful ‘Sound of Lies’ livestream rings true
      November 30, 2020 at 11:39 am
      The Jayhawks perform in Minnesota during their livestream on Nov. 29, 2020. Courtesy: Mandolin. Sound of Lies was the perfect album for the Jayhawks to showcase…
      REVIEW: COIN sets its winning pop-rock combo free at virtual concert
      REVIEW: COIN sets its winning pop-rock combo free at virtual concert
      November 21, 2020 at 9:42 am
      COIN performs during “An Immersive Virtual Experience,” a virtual show. Courtesy: SingleMusic. It’s been eight months since a pandemic-induced lockdown sent live music spontaneously combusting into…
    • REVIEW: Thundercat lays a funky foundation at the Fox Theater
      REVIEW: Thundercat lays a funky foundation at the Fox Theater
      March 7, 2020 at 8:12 am
      Thundercat performs at the Fox Theater in Oakland on March 6, 2020. Onome Uyovbievbo/STAFF. OAKLAND — Stephen Lee Bruner is a man who can really play the…
      REVIEW: KISS and David Lee Roth say goodbye to Oakland (maybe)
      REVIEW: KISS and David Lee Roth say goodbye to Oakland (maybe)
      March 7, 2020 at 2:12 am
      KISS performs at the Oakland Arena in Oakland on March 6, 2020. Gary Chancer/STAFF. OAKLAND — The Centers for Disease Control was likely not happy with…
    • REVIEW: Brothers of a Feather Chris and Rich Robinson take SF to The Chapel
      REVIEW: Brothers of a Feather Chris and Rich Robinson take SF to The Chapel
      March 7, 2020 at 1:33 am
      Chris and Rich Robinson of The Black Crowes perform as Brothers of a Feather at The Chapel in San Francisco on March 6, 2020. Roman Gokhman/STAFF.…
      REVIEW: I've seen The Struts' act before, but it worked again at the Warfield
      REVIEW: I’ve seen The Struts’ act before, but it worked again at the Warfield
      March 4, 2020 at 7:42 am
      The Struts perform at The Warfield in San Francisco on March 3, 2020. Gary Chancer/STAFF. SAN FRANCISCO —  Somewhere near the end of their wild rock…
    • Noise Pop Review: Slow Hollows plays their last SF show at Cafe Du Nord
      Noise Pop Review: Slow Hollows plays their last SF show at Cafe Du Nord
      March 1, 2020 at 5:54 am
      Slow Hollows perform at Cafe Du Nord in San Francisco on Feb. 29, 2020. Gary Chancer/STAFF. SAN FRANCISCO — San Fernando Valley’s Slow Hollows had been…
      Noise Pop Review: Best Coast celebrates all things California at the Regency Ballroom
      Noise Pop Review: Best Coast celebrates all things California at the Regency Ballroom
      March 1, 2020 at 4:33 am
      Best Coast performs at the Regency Ballroom in San Francisco on Feb. 29, 2020. Onome Uyovbievbo/STAFF. SAN FRANCISCO — Best Coast, fresh off releasing its fourth…
    • Noise Pop Review: Jacques Greene, NAVVI look like the past's future at Starline Social Club
      Noise Pop Review: Jacques Greene, NAVVI look like the past’s future at Starline Social Club
      March 1, 2020 at 3:31 am
      Jacques Greene performs at Starline Social Club in Oakland on February 29, 2020. Kate Vides/STAFF. OAKLAND — Saturday night’s show at the Starline Social Club was…
      Noise Pop Review: Bag Raiders unleash signature synth-and bass-combo at the Independent
      Noise Pop Review: Bag Raiders unleash signature synth-and bass-combo at the Independent
      February 29, 2020 at 9:29 am
      Bag Raiders perform at The Independent in San Francisco on Feb. 28, 2020. Gary Chancer/STAFF. SAN FRANCISCO — Australian turned L.A. electro-disco duo Bag Raiders came out…
    • Noise Pop Review: Raphael Saadiq comes home to Oakland
      Noise Pop Review: Raphael Saadiq comes home to Oakland
      February 29, 2020 at 2:57 am
      Raphael Saadiq. Courtesy of Sony Music. OAKLAND — Raphael Saadiq is from here. East Oakland, specifically. He’s an alum of Castlemont High, his mom worked at…
      REVIEW: Miranda Lambert in cruise control at SAP Center 'Wildcard' stop
      REVIEW: Miranda Lambert in cruise control at SAP Center ‘Wildcard’ stop
      February 29, 2020 at 1:41 am
      Miranda Lambert performs at SAP Center in San Jose on Feb. 28, 2020. Courtesy: Tyler Conrad. SAN JOSE — Miranda Lambert covered all the bases at…
    • Noise Pop Review: Shigeto Live Ensemble blends jazz and electronic loops at the New Parish
      Noise Pop Review: Shigeto Live Ensemble blends jazz and electronic loops at the New Parish
      February 28, 2020 at 8:08 am
      Shigeto Live Ensemble performs at The New Parish in Oakland on Feb. 27, 2020. Sean Liming/STAFF. OAKLAND — Underground electronic musician Zachary Saginaw, better known by…

The Most OK of 2020

RIFF's 2020 in Review... in review!
Jan 07 2021
1:00 am

RIFF’s 2020 in Review… in review!

Illustration: Skott Bennett/STAFF. None of us here at RIFF would blame you if you just wanted to forget 2020 ever happened. We certainly do. But one of the few brights spot was that some…
    • 13 albums we're anticipating in 2021, and one we're not
      13 albums we’re anticipating in 2021, and one we’re not
      January 1, 2021 at 12:01 am
      You should be excited about new albums from (clockwise from top left) Kelly Clarkson, Foo Fighters, Lorde, My Bloody Valentine, Lykke Li, Tierra Whack, Modest Mouse,…
      Daniel J. Willis: The worst of 2020 in music, and everything else
      Daniel J. Willis: The worst of 2020 in music, and everything else
      December 31, 2020 at 12:01 am
      Editor Daniel J. Willis’ reaction to just about everything this year. Here’s his 2020 in review. The last couple years I’ve done a column of the…
    • What will concerts look like in 2021? Our (not very) realistic predictions
      What will concerts look like in 2021? Our (not very) realistic predictions
      December 30, 2020 at 12:01 am
      The future of concerts. Rendering: Roman Gokhman and Chloe Catajan/STAFF. Yes, 2020 has lasted about two centuries, but eventually it will be over. Really, we promise.…
      Tuesday Tracks: RIFF's best finds of 2020
      Tuesday Tracks: RIFF’s best finds of 2020
      December 29, 2020 at 12:30 am
      Clockwise from top left: Mr. Bungle, Charlie Burg, Kurt Baker, Mobley, Teenage Wrist and Secret Machines. If there’s one silver lining in the dark cloud of…
    • The 22 concerts we missed most in 2020, starring Billie Eilish, BTS and Taylor Swift
      The 22 concerts we missed most in 2020, starring Billie Eilish, BTS and Taylor Swift
      December 29, 2020 at 12:01 am
      Among the shows we most regret were canceled or postponed: BTS, Taylor Swift, Billie Eilish, Nathaniel Rateliff, The Killers, Mew, Guns N’ Roses, Metallica, BottleRock Napa…
      PLAYLIST: Behind the scenes with Roman Gokhman’s year in interviews
      PLAYLIST: Behind the scenes with Roman Gokhman’s year in interviews
      December 28, 2020 at 12:01 am
      Roman Gokhman writes about some of his favorite interviews of the year: Loyal Lobos; Damian Lillard; Allan Rayman; Lindsey Stirling; Brandon Leake; James Hersey; Rufus Wainwright;…
    • Insert Foot: Was there a flip side to 2020?
      Insert Foot: Was there a flip side to 2020?
      December 27, 2020 at 1:00 am
      Insert Foot is ready for 2021 with a little help from John Wooden. I usually hate optimists; maybe out of jealousy. Maybe because they always seem…
      In Memoriam: Eddie Van Halen and 24 other artists we lost in 2020
      In Memoriam: Eddie Van Halen and 24 other artists we lost in 2020
      December 24, 2020 at 12:01 am
      Row 1: Neil Peart, Riley Gale, Martin Birch, Peter Green, Lee Kerslake. Row 2: Ken Hensley, Pete Way, McCoy Tyner, Billy Joe Shaver and Bill Withers. Row 3:…
    • Rachel Goodman’s top 30 alt-rock and alt-pop songs of 2020
      Rachel Goodman’s top 30 alt-rock and alt-pop songs of 2020
      December 23, 2020 at 12:01 am
      Rachel Goodman’s top alt-rock and alt-pop songs of 2020. L to R; Row 1: Tame Impala, Caribou, Washed Out, Trace Mountains, The Big Moon, Future Islands.…
      Joaquin Cabello’s top 10 concerts of 2020, starring Motion City Soundtrack
      Joaquin Cabello’s top 10 concerts of 2020, starring Motion City Soundtrack
      December 21, 2020 at 12:01 am
      Photographer Joaquin Cabello’s favorite concerts of the year included Thrice, Refused, Motion City Soundtrack, This Will Destroy You, Dashboard Confessional, Keane, Strife, Jennylee and TT of…
    • Max Heilman’s 60 best metal albums of 2020: 10-1
      Max Heilman’s 60 best metal albums of 2020: 10-1
      December 18, 2020 at 12:01 am
      The 60 best metal albums of 2020 include (clockwise from top left): Mr. Bungle, The Ocean Collective, Wailin’ Storms, Liturgy, Emma Ruth Rundle & Thou, Ulcerate,…
      Max Heilman’s 60 best metal albums of 2020: 20-11
      Max Heilman’s 60 best metal albums of 2020: 20-11
      December 17, 2020 at 12:01 am
      The 60 best metal albums of 2020 include (clockwise from top left): Code Orange, Napalm Death, Garganjua, Pallbearer, Xibalba, Imperial Triumphant, Bell Witch & Aerial Ruin,…
    • Max Heilman’s 60 best metal albums of 2020: 30-21
      Max Heilman’s 60 best metal albums of 2020: 30-21
      December 16, 2020 at 12:01 am
      The 60 best metal albums of 2020 include (clockwise from top left): Deftones, Tallah, Loathe, Ulthar, Pyrrhon, Bedsore, Orthodox, Katla, -(16)- and Boris. Thirty down, 30…
      Max Heilman’s 60 best metal albums of 2020: 40-31
      Max Heilman’s 60 best metal albums of 2020: 40-31
      December 15, 2020 at 12:01 am
      The 60 best metal albums of 2020 include (clockwise from top left): Killer Be Killed, Winterfylleth, Igorrr, Kall, Incantation, Wayfarer, Ether Coven, Eye of Nix, In…
    • RIFF's best concert photography of 2020, starring Tove Lo and KISS
      RIFF’s best concert photography of 2020, starring Tove Lo and KISS
      December 14, 2020 at 12:01 am
      RIFF photographers’ best work in 2020 included these shots of Poppy, Seventeen, The Struts, Colony House, Little Image, KISS, Injury Reserve, Suzi Analogue, Elbow, Tones &…
      Max Heilman’s 60 best metal albums of 2020: 50-41
      Max Heilman’s 60 best metal albums of 2020: 50-41
      December 14, 2020 at 12:01 am
      The 60 best metal albums of 2020 include (clockwise from top left): The Black Dahlia Murder, Elder, Sumac, Botanist, Vile Creature, Today is the Day, Cult…
    • Max Heilman’s 60 best metal albums of 2020: 60-51
      Max Heilman’s 60 best metal albums of 2020: 60-51
      December 13, 2020 at 12:01 am
      The 60 best metal albums of 2020 include (clockwise from top left): Great American Ghost, Azusa, Oranssi Pazuzu, Primitive Man, Obsidian Kingdom, Malokarpatan, My Dying Bride,…
      The 20 best hip-hop albums of 2020
      The 20 best hip-hop albums of 2020
      December 9, 2020 at 12:01 am
      Our list of the 20 best hip-hop albums of 2019 includes Megan Thee Stallion, Big Sean, Backxwash, Dizzee Rascal, Busta Rhymes, Aminé, Bambu, Nas, Public Enemy,…
    • The 75 best albums of 2020: 10-1
      The 75 best albums of 2020: 10-1
      December 8, 2020 at 12:01 am
      The best albums of 2020 include (clockwise from top left): Fiona Apple, Doves, Run The Jewels, Thurston Moore, Fantastic Negrito, Jónsi, Code Orange, Hayley Williams and…
      The 75 best albums of 2020: 20-11
      The 75 best albums of 2020: 20-11
      December 7, 2020 at 12:01 am
      The best albums of 2020 include (clockwise from top left): Dua Lipa, Taylor Swift, Caribou, The Chicks, Joji, Nathaniel Rateliff, Deftones, he Psychedelic Furs, Open Mike…
    • The 75 best albums of 2020: 30-21
      The 75 best albums of 2020: 30-21
      December 6, 2020 at 12:01 am
      The best albums of 2020 include (clockwise from top left): Sufjan Stevens, Jehnny Beth, John Frusciante, METZ, Pearl Jam, clipping., Hailey Whitters, Black Thought, Throwing Muses…
      The 75 best albums of 2020: 40-31
      The 75 best albums of 2020: 40-31
      December 5, 2020 at 12:01 am
      The best albums of 2020 include (clockwise from top left): Bob Dylan, Aesop Rock, Allan Rayman, The Cribs, Beabadoobee, Taemin, Bring Me The Horizon, Greg Puciato,…
    • The 75 best albums of 2020: 50-41
      The 75 best albums of 2020: 50-41
      December 4, 2020 at 12:01 am
      The best albums of 2020 include (clockwise from top left): The Jayhawks, Lady Gaga, Royce da 5’9”, Poppy, MisterWives, The Weeknd, Donna Missal, Caleb Landry Jones,…
      The 75 best albums of 2020: 60-51
      The 75 best albums of 2020: 60-51
      December 3, 2020 at 12:01 am
      The best albums of 2020 include (clockwise from top left): Benny the Butcher, Sault, The Soft Pink Truth, Jacob Collier, Lucinda Williams, Jahari Massamba Unit, Bruce…
    • The 75 best albums of 2020: 75-61
      The 75 best albums of 2020: 75-61
      December 2, 2020 at 12:01 am
      The best albums of 2020 include Washed Out, the Mountain Goats, Ethan Gruska, Tom Petty, Tyler Bryant and the Shakedown, Logic, The Strokes, Moses Sumney, Fleet…
      Year-end blitz: RIFF's 2020 in review lists are coming!
      Year-end blitz: RIFF’s 2020 in review lists are coming!
      December 1, 2020 at 12:01 am
      Illustration: Skott Bennett/STAFF. It’s been a year like no other. When the Bay Area shut down on March 11 and 12, RIFF had to quickly pivot…