• Tuesday Tracks: Your Weekly New Music Discovery – Jan. 18
    Jan 18 2022
    12:01 AM

    Tuesday Tracks: Your Weekly New Music Discovery – Jan. 18

    Tim Hoffman No Comments 0
    Big Boss Vette, courtesy. This week we feature the bars of Big Boss Vette, the harmonized and vocoded vocals of Arctic Lake, the heavy metal throwback of Annihilator, the soft acoustics of Sun June, garage-burnout of Interesting Hobbies Club and funk-rock of White Lies. Big Boss Vette, “Heavy”…
  • REVIEW: Tool rocks Chase Center from the shadows to the light
    Jan 17 2022
    05:44 AM

    REVIEW: Tool rocks Chase Center from the shadows to the light

    Mike DeWald 1 Comment 0
    Tool performs at Chase Center in San Francisco on Jan. 16, 2022. Nathan McKinley/STAFF. SAN FRANCISCO — The slow-burn evolution of the opening song by Tool Sunday night at Chase Center was in some ways a microcosm of the band’s full set. “Fear Inoculum” opens with a single repeating…
  • Insert Foot: So, why don't we talk about Bruno?
    Jan 16 2022
    12:00 AM

    Insert Foot: So, why don’t we talk about Bruno?

    Tony Hicks No Comments 0
    Insert Foot joins the “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” bandwagon. My editor gave me an assignment this week, which I took very seriously because A) The topic is music-related and I used to write about music in a professional capacity until my kids told me I was old.…
  • REWIND: Martin Luther King's life and legacy in music
    Jan 15 2022
    12:01 AM

    REWIND: Martin Luther King’s life and legacy in music

    Daniel J. Willis 1 Comment 0
    Johnny Cash poses for a portrait in Memphis in 1957. Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images. This Monday is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, so it’s worth taking some time to remember the man and his legacy rather than just treating it like whatever President’s Day is supposed…
  • Interview: Miles Kane finds his soul with new solo LP 'Change The Show'
    Jan 10 2022
    12:01 AM

    Interview: Miles Kane finds his soul with new solo LP ‘Change The Show’

    Roman Gokhman 1 Comment 0
    Miles Kane, courtesy. It wasn’t until after Brit rocker Miles Kane had mostly finished his new solo album, Change The Show, that he realized much of it had to do with him coming to grips with his own aging. The 35-year-old guitarist, more recently best known as Lana…
  • The 14 tours we're anticipating most in 2022, starring Olivia Rodrigo
    Jan 05 2022
    12:01 AM

    The 14 tours we’re anticipating most in 2022, starring Olivia Rodrigo

    Staff report 1 Comment 0
    Clockwise from top right: Olivia Rodrigo, Shawn Mendes, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Chris Stapleton, The Weeknd, Dua Lipa, HAIM, Roger Waters, Tyler, The Creator, Billie Eilish, Lorde and John Mayer. After the pandemic canceled concerts in 2020, we crossed out fingers that our favorites would be rescheduled. Slowly,…
  • The worst of 2021 in real life (with a soundtrack)
    Jan 04 2022
    12:01 AM

    The worst of 2021 in real life (with a soundtrack)

    Daniel J. Willis 3 Comments 0
    Lana del Rey performs at Outside Lands in San Francisco on Aug. 7, 2016. Adrian Jusue/STAFF, I used to do Worst of the Year in Music columns as a jokey little counterpoint to all the best of the year lists floating around. Then 2020 happened and I did the…
  • 22 albums we're anticipating in 2022
    Jan 03 2022
    12:01 AM

    22 albums we’re anticipating in 2022

    Staff report No Comments 0
    Row 1: Charli XCX, Camila Cabello, The Weeknd, Khalid, Weezer. Row 2: Janet Jackson, Vince Staples, SPOON, GZA, Sky Ferreira, Row 3: Meg Myers, Rina Sawayama, Eddie Vedder, Black Country, New Road, and My Bloody Valentine. Row 4: Elvis Costello, BROCKHAMPTON, Alt-J, Avril Lavigne, Lykke Li. Not pictured:…
  • Our favorite concerts of 2021, starring Jon Batiste and Beck
    Dec 29 2021
    12:01 AM

    Our favorite concerts of 2021, starring Jon Batiste and Beck

    Staff report 1 Comment 0
    Clockwise from top left: Jon Batiste, Beck, Run The Jewels, Tinashe, The Eagles, The Black Angels, Jayhawks, Lucy Dacus, Eyelids and Fred Armisen. Staff and courtesy composite. Concerts began returning in 2021 as artists cautiously hit the road, still balancing their safety and health with their livelihoods. Some…
  • INTERVIEW: Mongolian rockers The HU conquer the world, one festival at a time
    Dec 28 2021
    12:01 AM

    INTERVIEW: Mongolian rockers The HU conquer the world, one festival at a time

    Daniel J. Willis No Comments 0
    The HU, courtesy. Performance photos and portrait: Adam Pardee/STAFF. SAN FRANCISCO — Chances are, if you’ve never heard The HU, you’ve never heard anything like their music. The HU performs at Outside Lands in San Francisco on Oct. 29, 2021. Adam Pardee/STAFF. The band hails from Ulaanbaatar in…
  • RIFF's best concert photography of 2021, starring Lil Baby and Lindsey Stirling
    Dec 27 2021
    12:01 AM

    RIFF’s best concert photography of 2021, starring Lil Baby and Lindsey Stirling

    Staff report No Comments 0
    RIFF photographers’ best work in 2021 included these shots of (clockwise from top left) Lil Baby, Lindsey Stirling, J Balvin, Murs, Black Veil Brides, Tinashe, Bleachers, MisterWives, J. Cole, Korn, Megan Thee Stallion and KISS. Concerts returned, first tentatively and then in full force. We asked our photographers…
  • INSERT FOOT: 50 years in, Blue Bear School of Music is just getting started
    Dec 26 2021
    12:01 AM

    INSERT FOOT: 50 years in, Blue Bear School of Music is just getting started

    Tony Hicks No Comments 0
    Steven Savage, the founder of Blue Bear School of Music. Original photo: Jay Blakesberg. The world needs more music, of that there’s little doubt. But saying so and doing something about it are two very different concepts. Steven Savage brings music to people in the simplest and most…
  • REVIEW: Kamasi Washington brings frenetic enthusiasm to August Hall
    Dec 19 2021
    05:34 AM

    REVIEW: Kamasi Washington brings frenetic enthusiasm to August Hall

    David Gill No Comments 0
    Kamasi Washington performs at August Hall in San Francisco on Dec. 18, 2021. Sean Liming/STAFF. SAN FRANCISCO —Whale sounds are almost always the sign of a really good jazz show. When the horns take on an otherworldly, aquatic twang in the chaotic roar of the musical maelstrom, when…
  • REVIEW: Metallica honors fans, history at first 40th anniversary show in SF
    Dec 18 2021
    01:34 AM

    REVIEW: Metallica honors fans, history at first 40th anniversary show in SF

    Daniel J. Willis 1 Comment 0
    Metallica performs at Chase Center in San Francisco on Dec. 17, 2021. Steve Carlson/STAFF. SAN FRANCISCO — Metallica sure knows how to throw a birthday party. Tickets to the band’s two 40th anniversary concerts were offered to members of their fan club. At the first of those on…
  • PHOTOS: White Reaper, Taipei Houston kick off Metallica takeover at August Hall
    Dec 17 2021
    07:20 AM

    PHOTOS: White Reaper, Taipei Houston kick off Metallica takeover at August Hall

    Derek Tobias No Comments 0
    White Reaper performs at August Hall in San Francisco on Dec. 16, 2021. Derek Tobias/STAFF. SAN FRANCISCO — White Reaper kicked off the city’s “Metallica Takeover” on Thursday at August Hall dressed in black and red. The Kentucky power-poppers, who were recently featured on the Metallica Blacklist covers album…

News

    • 25 local groups will play for 7 hours in 14th annual SF Music Day
      25 local groups will play for 7 hours in 14th annual SF Music Day
      January 18, 2022 at 9:36 pm
      Telegraph Quartet performs at a previous SF Music Day. Courtesy Scott Chernis. Twenty-five local jazz, classical, baroque and ethnic music groups will perform at the 14th…
      Celine Dion cancels rest of U.S. tour, including SF and Oakland shows
      Celine Dion cancels rest of U.S. tour, including SF and Oakland shows
      January 18, 2022 at 9:00 pm
      Celine Dion. Celine Dion has canceled the remainder of her tour U.S., which was previously postponed by the pandemic, due to health concerns. Dion has recently…
    • UPDATE: SF Sketchfest postponed to 2023 due to COVID-19
      UPDATE: SF Sketchfest postponed to 2023 due to COVID-19
      January 14, 2022 at 9:35 am
      SF Sketchfest, courtesy Bill Plympton. Updated Jan. 14 at 8 a.m.: There won’t be an SF Sketchfest this year after all. Producers of SF Sketchfest today announced…
      Obituary: Ronnie Spector of the Ronettes dead at 78
      Obituary: Ronnie Spector of the Ronettes dead at 78
      January 12, 2022 at 3:29 pm
      Ronnie Spector, courtesy Winston Vargas/RonnieSpector.com Singer Ronnie Spector, who with The Ronettes recorded a string of Brill Building pop hits like “Be My Baby,” “Walking In…
    • BottleRock releases daily lineups, one-day tickets on-sale Thursday
      BottleRock releases daily lineups, one-day tickets on-sale Thursday
      January 12, 2022 at 7:59 am
      Pink performs at Gila River Arena in Glendale, Ariz. on March 30, 2019. She’s one of two headliners at BottleRock on Sunday, May 29. After selling…
      SF Ballet announces Tamara Rojo as first female artistic director
      SF Ballet announces Tamara Rojo as first female artistic director
      January 11, 2022 at 5:05 pm
      Tamara Rojo is the first woman to serve as artistic director of the San Francisco Ballet in its history. Courtesy Karolina Kuras. The San Francisco Ballet, the…
    • Metallica, P!nk, Twenty One Pilots and Luke Combs to headline BottleRock Napa Valley
      Metallica, P!nk, Twenty One Pilots and Luke Combs to headline BottleRock Napa Valley
      January 10, 2022 at 8:00 am
      Metallica (photographed at Chase Center in San Francisco on Dec. 17, 2021) will headline BottleRock Napa in 2022. Steve Carlson/STAFF. Metallica, P!nk, Twenty One Pilots and…
      SF Ballet and Conservatory of Music partner on fellowship for Black musicians
      SF Ballet and Conservatory of Music partner on fellowship for Black musicians
      January 6, 2022 at 5:24 pm
      San Francisco Ballet Orchestra performs at the 2019 Opening Night Gala. Courtesy Drew Altizer. The San Francisco Ballet and the Conservatory of Music have announced a fellowship that…
    • Bay Area hip-hop producer Traxamillion, progenitor of hyphy, dies from cancer
      Bay Area hip-hop producer Traxamillion, progenitor of hyphy, dies from cancer
      January 3, 2022 at 8:10 am
      Traxamillion performs at Hot Import Nights in Pleasanton, California, on July 25, 2009. Courtesy Wikicommons. South Bay hip-hop producer and artist Sultan Banks, better known as Traxamillion, died…
      BroadwaySF cancels final 'A Christmas Carol' shows after COVID-19 cases
      BroadwaySF cancels final ‘A Christmas Carol’ shows after COVID-19 cases
      December 22, 2021 at 7:28 pm
      “A Christmas Carol,” courtesy BroadwaySF. BroadwaySF Wednesday evening canceled its remaining performances of “A Christmas Carol” at the Golden Gate Theatre following several breakthrough COVID-19 cases…
    • 3 conductors to lead SF Symphony honoring the late Michael Morgan
      3 conductors to lead SF Symphony honoring the late Michael Morgan
      December 21, 2021 at 12:01 am
      L to R: Akiko Fujimoto, Daniel Bartholomew-Poyser, mezzo-soprano Melody Wilson and Earl Lee will take part in a SF Symphony program that will honor the late…
      High Sierra Music Festival announces lineup, on-sales for rescheduled 30th anniversary
      High Sierra Music Festival announces lineup, on-sales for rescheduled 30th anniversary
      December 19, 2021 at 6:54 pm
      Pigeons Playing Ping Pong perform at High Sierra Music Festival at Plumas County Fairgrounds in Quincy on July 4, 2019 Michael Smyth/STAFF. After being canceled in…
    • San Jose Jazz unveils 2022 Winter Fest lineup
      San Jose Jazz unveils 2022 Winter Fest lineup
      December 19, 2021 at 6:16 pm
      La Santa Cecilia will perform at the 2022 San Jose Jazz Winter Fest in February. San Jose Jazz has announced the return of its annual winter…
      SF Mayor London Breed proclaims Thursday 'Metallica Day' on its 40th anniversary
      SF Mayor London Breed proclaims Thursday ‘Metallica Day’ on its 40th anniversary
      December 16, 2021 at 5:41 pm
      Robert Trujillo (l) and Lars Ulrich of Metallica, and San Francisco Mayor London Breed at an event proclaiming Metallica Day at Chase Center in San Francisco…
    • Obituary: Michael Nesmith of the Monkees dead at 78
      Obituary: Michael Nesmith of the Monkees dead at 78
      December 10, 2021 at 11:30 am
      Michael Nesmith, courtesy. When I last spoke to the Monkees’ Micky Dolenz, just a few months ago, he’d told me that rumors of the band’s “farewell…
      For the Golden State Warriors and the NBA, music is in the game
      For the Golden State Warriors and the NBA, music is in the game
      December 6, 2021 at 12:01 am
      DJ D Sharp performs before the Golden State Warriors’ game against the Portland Trail Blazers at Chase Center in San Francisco on Nov. 26, 2021. Sundays…
    • Hip-hop artists to honor Detroit rapper J. Dilla with SF show to benefit nonprofit
      Hip-hop artists to honor Detroit rapper J. Dilla with SF show to benefit nonprofit
      November 29, 2021 at 10:12 am
      J. Dilla Fest, courtesy. Talib Kweli, Imani from The Pharcyde and other artists will perform a memorial show in honor of the late Detroit rapper J.…
      BottleRock Napa Valley presale passes available before the holidays
      BottleRock Napa Valley presale passes available before the holidays
      November 29, 2021 at 8:00 am
      BottleRock Napa Valley 2019. Courtesy Christopher Helkey. The producers of BottleRock Napa Valley will sell a limited number of advance tickets to the 2022 iteration of…
    • Obituary: The singular genius of Stephen Sondheim
      Obituary: The singular genius of Stephen Sondheim
      November 28, 2021 at 5:36 pm
      Composer Stephen Sondheim speaks at the Great Writers Thank Their Lucky Stars annual gala hosted by The Dramatists Guild Fund on Oct. 21, 2013 in New…
      SF Sketchfest returns with Cheech & Chong, Laraine Newman, David Alan Grier, many more
      SF Sketchfest returns with Cheech & Chong, Laraine Newman, David Alan Grier, many more
      November 19, 2021 at 12:01 am
      SF Sketchfest, courtesy Bill Plympton. Tributes to Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong, original “Saturday Night Live” cast member and comedian Laraine Newman and actor David Alan Grier,…
    • Concertgoer struck by stray bullet in front of the Fox Theater
      Concertgoer struck by stray bullet in front of the Fox Theater
      November 10, 2021 at 9:44 pm
      The Fox Theater, closed, on the afternoon of March 17, 2020, the first day of a shelter-in-place to combat coronavirus. UPDATED on Nov. 11, 10:15 a.m.…
      Menlo Park theater reopens as a concert hall
      Menlo Park theater reopens as a concert hall
      November 9, 2021 at 1:49 pm
      Concept rendering, courtesy The Guild Theatre. The Guild Theatre in Menlo Park will reopen a a concert hall run by the nonprofit Peninsula Arts Guild. The remodeled 500-capacity…
    • Attendees welcome Halloween Outside Lands
      Attendees welcome Halloween Outside Lands
      October 30, 2021 at 12:46 am
      Attendees pose with Ranger Dave and Ranger Ruth at Outside Lands in San Francisco on Oct. 29, 2021. Adam Pardee/STAFF. SAN FRANCISCO — The last time…
      "Hamilton" actor Marja Harmon (Angelica Schuyler) on returning to the stage
      “Hamilton” actor Marja Harmon (Angelica Schuyler) on returning to the stage
      October 25, 2021 at 12:01 am
      “HAMILTON,” courtesy Joan Marcus/Broadway San Jose. Before regathering at San Francisco’s Orpheum Theatre in July to rehearse and re-kick-off their tour, the last time the cast…

2021 in Review

    • 22 albums we're anticipating in 2022
      22 albums we’re anticipating in 2022
      January 3, 2022 at 12:01 am
      Row 1: Charli XCX, Camila Cabello, The Weeknd, Khalid, Weezer. Row 2: Janet Jackson, Vince Staples, SPOON, GZA, Sky Ferreira, Row 3: Meg Myers, Rina Sawayama,…
      Our favorite concerts of 2021, starring Jon Batiste and Beck
      Our favorite concerts of 2021, starring Jon Batiste and Beck
      December 29, 2021 at 12:01 am
      Clockwise from top left: Jon Batiste, Beck, Run The Jewels, Tinashe, The Eagles, The Black Angels, Jayhawks, Lucy Dacus, Eyelids and Fred Armisen. Staff and courtesy…
    • RIFF's best concert photography of 2021, starring Lil Baby and Lindsey Stirling
      RIFF’s best concert photography of 2021, starring Lil Baby and Lindsey Stirling
      December 27, 2021 at 12:01 am
      RIFF photographers’ best work in 2021 included these shots of (clockwise from top left) Lil Baby, Lindsey Stirling, J Balvin, Murs, Black Veil Brides, Tinashe, Bleachers,…
      Bennett: 'Blue Weekend' by Wolf Alice; the album that moved me in 2021
      Bennett: ‘Blue Weekend’ by Wolf Alice; the album that moved me in 2021
      December 22, 2021 at 12:01 am
      Wolf Alice, “Blue Weekend.” “I am what I am and I’m good at it/ And you don’t like me, well that isn’t fucking relevant.” Of all…
    • Rachel Goodman’s top 35 alt-rock and alt-pop songs of 2021
      Rachel Goodman’s top 35 alt-rock and alt-pop songs of 2021
      December 20, 2021 at 12:01 am
      Rachel Goodman’s top alt-rock and alt-pop songs of 2021. L to R; Row 1: Paul McCartney and Phoebe Bridgers; Maxïmo Park; Kings of Leon; Black Country,…
      In Memoriam: DMX, Charlie Watts and 30 other artists we lost in 2021
      In Memoriam: DMX, Charlie Watts and 30 other artists we lost in 2021
      December 17, 2021 at 12:01 am
      Row 1: DMX, Biz Markie, Dusty Hill, Charlie Watts, Joey Jordison, Nanci Griffith and B.J. Thomas. Row 2: Mary Wilson, George Wein, Michael Nesmith, Terence “Astro”…
    • The 20 best hip-hop albums of 2021
      The 20 best hip-hop albums of 2021
      December 13, 2021 at 12:01 am
      Our list of the 20 best hip-hop albums of 2021 includes (L to R): Row 1: Lil Nas X, Polo G, Tyler, the Creator, J. Cole,…
      The 108 best albums of 2021: 10-1
      The 108 best albums of 2021: 10-1
      December 10, 2021 at 12:01 am
      The best albums of 2021 include Billie Eilish, Brandi Carlile, Tyler, The Creator, Little Simz, Olivia Rodrigo, Wolf Alice, Gojira, Rise Against, Yola and Lord Huron.…
    • The 108 best albums of 2021: 20-11
      The 108 best albums of 2021: 20-11
      December 9, 2021 at 12:01 am
      The best albums of 2021 include Adele, Chvrches, Sufjan Stevens and Angelo de Augustine, Halsey, Lil Nas X, J. Cole, Orla Gartland, Black Country, New Road,…
      The 108 best albums of 2021: 30-21
      The 108 best albums of 2021: 30-21
      December 8, 2021 at 12:01 am
      The best albums of 2021 include Doja Cat, Poppy, Desperate Journalist, Demi Lovato, Garbage, James McMurtry, Deafheaven, Parquet Courts and Polo G. Best of 2021 We’re…
    • The 108 best albums of 2021: 40-31
      The 108 best albums of 2021: 40-31
      December 7, 2021 at 12:01 am
      The best albums of 2021 include St. Vincent, Dave, Madlib, Floating Points with Pharaoh Sanders and the London Symphony Orchestra, The Pretty Reckless, Mogwai, José González,…
      The 108 best albums of 2021: 50-41
      The 108 best albums of 2021: 50-41
      December 6, 2021 at 12:01 am
      The best albums of 2021 include Evanescence, Vince Staples, Julien Baker, Lindsey Buckingham, Black Midi, Lucy Dacus, Leon Bridges, Faye Webster and Shame. Best of 2021…
    • The 108 best albums of 2021: 60-51
      The 108 best albums of 2021: 60-51
      December 5, 2021 at 12:01 am
      The best albums of 2021 include BROCKHAMPTON, Taylor Swift, Isaiah Rashad, Injury Reserve, Lana Del Rey, Genesis Owusu, Los Lobos, Jungle, The Mountain Goats and DMX.…
      The 108 best albums of 2021: 70-61
      The 108 best albums of 2021: 70-61
      December 4, 2021 at 12:01 am
      The best albums of 2021 include Wale, Torres, Eric Church, serpentwithfeet, Mdou Moctar, Valerie June, Danny Elfman, Bobby Gillespie and Jehnny Beth, Japanese Breakfast and Mastodon.…
    • The 108 best albums of 2021: 82-71
      The 108 best albums of 2021: 82-71
      December 3, 2021 at 12:01 am
      The best albums of 2021 include Jackson Browne, J Balvin, Cheekface, Jame Blake, Tori Amos, Billy Gibbons, IDLES, Paul Weller, Jon Batiste, Rostam, The Killers and…
      The 108 best albums of 2021: 95-83
      The 108 best albums of 2021: 95-83
      December 2, 2021 at 12:01 am
      The best albums of 2021 include Bleachers, My Morning Jacket, Ryley Walker, ZHU, Diana Ross, Made Kuti and Femi Kuti, Allison Russell, Chris Pierce, Hand Habits,…
    • The 108 best albums of 2021: 108-96
      The 108 best albums of 2021: 108-96
      December 1, 2021 at 12:01 am
      The best albums of 2021 include Marina Diamandis, The Marias, The Fratellis, Maximo Park, Morgan Wallen, Wardruna, Prince, At the Gates, Hayley Williams, Andrew W.K., Miranda…
      RIFF's 2020 in Review... in review!
      RIFF’s 2020 in Review… in review!
      January 7, 2021 at 1:00 am
      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…

Festival News

    • BottleRock releases daily lineups, one-day tickets on-sale Thursday
      BottleRock releases daily lineups, one-day tickets on-sale Thursday
      January 12, 2022 at 7:59 am
      Pink performs at Gila River Arena in Glendale, Ariz. on March 30, 2019. She’s one of two headliners at BottleRock on Sunday, May 29. After selling…
      Metallica, P!nk, Twenty One Pilots and Luke Combs to headline BottleRock Napa Valley
      Metallica, P!nk, Twenty One Pilots and Luke Combs to headline BottleRock Napa Valley
      January 10, 2022 at 8:00 am
      Metallica (photographed at Chase Center in San Francisco on Dec. 17, 2021) will headline BottleRock Napa in 2022. Steve Carlson/STAFF. Metallica, P!nk, Twenty One Pilots and…
    • High Sierra Music Festival announces lineup, on-sales for rescheduled 30th anniversary
      High Sierra Music Festival announces lineup, on-sales for rescheduled 30th anniversary
      December 19, 2021 at 6:54 pm
      Pigeons Playing Ping Pong perform at High Sierra Music Festival at Plumas County Fairgrounds in Quincy on July 4, 2019 Michael Smyth/STAFF. After being canceled in…
      BottleRock Napa Valley presale passes available before the holidays
      BottleRock Napa Valley presale passes available before the holidays
      November 29, 2021 at 8:00 am
      BottleRock Napa Valley 2019. Courtesy Christopher Helkey. The producers of BottleRock Napa Valley will sell a limited number of advance tickets to the 2022 iteration of…
    • SF Sketchfest returns with Cheech & Chong, Laraine Newman, David Alan Grier, many more
      SF Sketchfest returns with Cheech & Chong, Laraine Newman, David Alan Grier, many more
      November 19, 2021 at 12:01 am
      SF Sketchfest, courtesy Bill Plympton. Tributes to Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong, original “Saturday Night Live” cast member and comedian Laraine Newman and actor David Alan Grier,…
      Outside Lands 2021: The best and worst of Sunday
      Outside Lands 2021: The best and worst of Sunday
      November 1, 2021 at 1:39 am
      A concertgoer at the Lands End stage at Outside Lands in San Francisco on Oct. 31, 2021. Adam Pardee/STAFF. Once again, Outside Lands has come to…
    • Outside Lands: J Balvin, Burna Boy and 5 more we loved Sunday
      Outside Lands: J Balvin, Burna Boy and 5 more we loved Sunday
      November 1, 2021 at 1:02 am
      J Balvin performs at Outside Lands in San Francisco on Oct. 31, 2021. Adam Pardee/STAFF. SAN FRANCISCO — There are a lot of accolades you can…
      Outside Lands 2021: The best and worst of Friday and Saturday
      Outside Lands 2021: The best and worst of Friday and Saturday
      October 31, 2021 at 1:48 am
      Attendees walk under the windmills at Outside Lands in San Francisco on Oct. 30, 2021. Adam Pardee/STAFF. Usually, I write up the best and worst of…
    • Outside Lands: Lizzo, Lord Huron, 8 more we loved Saturday
      Outside Lands: Lizzo, Lord Huron, 8 more we loved Saturday
      October 31, 2021 at 1:06 am
      Lizzo performs at Outside Lands in San Francisco on Oct. 30, 2021. Adam Pardee/STAFF. SAN FRANCISCO — There was only one point in her show at…
      Outside Lands: The Strokes, Tyler, the Creator and 8 more Friday highlights
      Outside Lands: The Strokes, Tyler, the Creator and 8 more Friday highlights
      October 30, 2021 at 1:42 am
      The Strokes perform at Outside Lands in San Francisco on Oct. 29, 2021. Adam Pardee/STAFF and courtesy. SAN FRANCISCO — Indie rock band The Strokes’ set…
    • Attendees welcome Halloween Outside Lands
      Attendees welcome Halloween Outside Lands
      October 30, 2021 at 12:46 am
      Attendees pose with Ranger Dave and Ranger Ruth at Outside Lands in San Francisco on Oct. 29, 2021. Adam Pardee/STAFF. SAN FRANCISCO — The last time…
      Interview: A R I Z O N A, back in the studio, ready to get weird
      Interview: A R I Z O N A, back in the studio, ready to get weird
      October 27, 2021 at 12:01 am
      A R I Z O N A, courtesy Christian Lanza It’s been two years since A R I Z O N A released its second album, Asylum,…
    • Interview: Marc E. Bassy welcomes the haters with 'Little Men'
      Interview: Marc E. Bassy welcomes the haters with ‘Little Men’
      October 26, 2021 at 12:01 am
      Marc E. Bassy, courtesy Blair Brown. On his first two albums, Marc E. Bassy was decidedly inspired by hip-hop. For his third, Little Men, he decided…
      Interview: EarthGang finds a higher calling with 'Ghetto Gods'
      Interview: EarthGang finds a higher calling with ‘Ghetto Gods’
      October 25, 2021 at 12:01 am
      EarthGang, courtesy Ant Soulo. After recording their past recent albums and EPs either while on the road or in brief breaks between tours, inventive hip-hop duo…
    • Interview: Bay Area native Camaron Ochs (Cam) pursuing difficult conversations
      Interview: Bay Area native Camaron Ochs (Cam) pursuing difficult conversations
      October 22, 2021 at 12:01 am
      Camaron Ochs, better known as Cam. Courtesy Chelsea Kornse. Looking at it with hindsight, longtime Bay Area resident Camaron Ochs sees the clear connection between the…
      Navigating Outside Lands 2021: An hour-by-hour guide for all three days
      Navigating Outside Lands 2021: An hour-by-hour guide for all three days
      October 21, 2021 at 6:43 pm
      Attendees at Outside Lands at Golden Gate Park in San Francisco photographed on Aug. 11, 2019. Outside Lands 2021 includes headliners Lizzo, Tame Impala and The…
    • Interview: Trevor Daniel putting the past behind him on 'That Was Then'
      Interview: Trevor Daniel putting the past behind him on ‘That Was Then’
      October 20, 2021 at 12:10 am
      Trevor Daniel, courtesy Grant Spanier. Like many of us, Trevor Daniel had to come to terms with the highs and lows of 2020 before he could look to the…
      Aftershock Day 4: Metallica, Rise Against, 6 more we loved Sunday
      Aftershock Day 4: Metallica, Rise Against, 6 more we loved Sunday
      October 11, 2021 at 1:04 am
      Metallica performs at Aftershock Fest in Sacramento on Oct. 10, 2021. Courtesy Aftershock. SACRAMENTO — Aftershock Fest couldn’t contain Metallica to just one night night. For the…
    • INTERVIEW: Claud puts in the work on Bleachers tour, Outside Lands next
      INTERVIEW: Claud puts in the work on Bleachers tour, Outside Lands next
      October 11, 2021 at 12:01 am
      Claud, courtesy. Pop singer-songwriter Claud is in Texas, where the next day they’ll take the stage at Austin City Limits. Just a few weeks later they’ll…

Features

    • INTERVIEW: Mongolian rockers The HU conquer the world, one festival at a time
      INTERVIEW: Mongolian rockers The HU conquer the world, one festival at a time
      December 28, 2021 at 12:01 am
      The HU, courtesy. Performance photos and portrait: Adam Pardee/STAFF. SAN FRANCISCO — Chances are, if you’ve never heard The HU, you’ve never heard anything like their…
    • For the Golden State Warriors and the NBA, music is in the game
      For the Golden State Warriors and the NBA, music is in the game
      December 6, 2021 at 12:01 am
      DJ D Sharp performs before the Golden State Warriors’ game against the Portland Trail Blazers at Chase Center in San Francisco on Nov. 26, 2021. Sundays…
    • Interview: Yung Bae 'straight up relaxin' yet won't stop creating
      Interview: Yung Bae ‘straight up relaxin’ yet won’t stop creating
      December 3, 2021 at 12:01 am
      Yung Bae, courtesy. SAN FRANCISCO — There may be an alternate reality where producer and artist Yung Bae ends up, permanently, as a cart pusher at…
    • Interview: The 24kGoldn life of SF's Golden Landis Von Jones
      Interview: The 24kGoldn life of SF’s Golden Landis Von Jones
      November 24, 2021 at 12:01 am
      24kGoldn performs at Outside Lands in San Francisco on Oct. 30, 2021. Adam Pardee/STAFF. Las Vegas photos courtesy Mike Kirschbaum. SAN FRANCISCO — Hip-hop artist 24kGoldn…
    • Interview: Dan Wilson of Semisonic on his songwriting breakthroughs
      Interview: Dan Wilson of Semisonic on his songwriting breakthroughs
      November 11, 2021 at 12:01 am
      Dan Wilson of Semisonic, courtesy. In the late ’90s, Dan Wilson was the frontman for Semisonic. The band went on hiatus in 2001 and, by the…
    • INTERVIEW: OTTTO ready to break through, preps heavy new record
      INTERVIEW: OTTTO ready to break through, preps heavy new record
      November 4, 2021 at 12:01 am
      OTTTO, courtesy Justin Mohlman. Performance photos: Adam Pardee/STAFF. NAPA — We first meet our protagonists at BottleRock Napa Valley. The fest is known for bringing in…
    • Interview: The Verve Pipe embraces fate on new album 'Threads'
      Interview: The Verve Pipe embraces fate on new album ‘Threads’
      November 1, 2021 at 11:30 am
      The Verve Pipe, courtesy Jamie Geysbeek. On the day this conversation was first supposed to happen, The Verve Pipe vocalist and bandleader Brian Vander Ark was…
    • Interview: A R I Z O N A, back in the studio, ready to get weird
      Interview: A R I Z O N A, back in the studio, ready to get weird
      October 27, 2021 at 12:01 am
      A R I Z O N A, courtesy Christian Lanza It’s been two years since A R I Z O N A released its second album, Asylum,…

Podcasts

    • RIFF RADIO: Halestorm roars 'Back From the Dead' on new LP
      RIFF RADIO: Halestorm roars ‘Back From the Dead’ on new LP
      October 21, 2021 at 12:04 am
      Halestorm, courtesy Jimmy Fontaine. Finishing up a tour press day might typically be just a part of the job for a musician, but today Halestorm drummer…
    • RIFF RADIO: The Warning prep 'heavy,' diverse major label debut
      RIFF RADIO: The Warning prep ‘heavy,’ diverse major label debut
      June 14, 2021 at 12:01 am
      The Warning, courtesy Chino Zenteno. There’s much to be excited about for the sisters of rock trio The Warning. Hailing from Monterrey, Mexico, the band is…
    • RIFF RADIO: Lacey Sturm finds raw honesty in return to hard rock roots
      RIFF RADIO: Lacey Sturm finds raw honesty in return to hard rock roots
      March 29, 2021 at 12:30 am
      Lacey Sturm, courtesy. Initially, Lacey Sturm wasn’t quite ready for the release of her latest two singles, “State of Me” and “The Decree.” The duo of…
    • RIFF RADIO: Serena Ryder embraces mental health on 'The Art of Falling Apart'
      RIFF RADIO: Serena Ryder embraces mental health on ‘The Art of Falling Apart’
      March 8, 2021 at 1:00 am
      Serena Ryder, courtesy. As we enter another year of physical distancing and health protocols while waiting on vaccinations, the isolation of it all has increased an…

Album Reviews

    • ALBUM REVIEW: Years & Years returns to his dance floor on 'Night Call'
      ALBUM REVIEW: Years & Years returns to his dance floor on ‘Night Call’
      January 18, 2022 at 12:01 am
      When Years & Years released their last album, Palo Santo, nearly four years ago, they were a trio. In the subsequent years, the group went through various…
      Review: John Mellencamp searches for rainbows on 'Strictly a One-Eyed Jack'
      Review: John Mellencamp searches for rainbows on ‘Strictly a One-Eyed Jack’
      January 18, 2022 at 12:01 am
      The course of John Mellencamp has been fairly well established for the past 20 years or so. It consists of tales of lessons learned (or not)…
    • Album Review: Aurora grounded in humanity on 'The Gods We Can Touch'
      Album Review: Aurora grounded in humanity on ‘The Gods We Can Touch’
      January 17, 2022 at 12:01 am
      Aurora, “The Gods We Can Touch.” Norwegian singer-songwriter Aurora Aksnes had the concept for her new album, The Gods We Can Touch, within days of finishing…
      ALBUM REVIEW: Earl Sweatshirt is resigned and restless on 'Sick!'
      ALBUM REVIEW: Earl Sweatshirt is resigned and restless on ‘Sick!’
      January 14, 2022 at 5:21 am
      It’s time for Earl Sweatshirt to get off the pavement and brush the dirt off of his psyche, as the Odd Future alum returns with his contribution to…
    • REVIEW: FKA twigs follows her sun on mixtape 'Caprisongs'
      REVIEW: FKA twigs follows her sun on mixtape ‘Caprisongs’
      January 13, 2022 at 11:59 am
      “Hey, I made you a mixtape,” FKA twigs whispers in the opening interlude to her new mixtape over a very distorted background voice. “Because when I…
      ALBUM REVIEW: The Lumineers find the 'Brightside'
      ALBUM REVIEW: The Lumineers find the ‘Brightside’
      January 11, 2022 at 12:01 am
      Though 2022 may not have started as calmly as we all had hoped with the new COVID Omicron surge, politics and hospitalizations do seem to be…
    • ALBUM REVIEW: Skillet claims its 'Dominion' on dynamic new record
      ALBUM REVIEW: Skillet claims its ‘Dominion’ on dynamic new record
      January 11, 2022 at 12:01 am
      Skillet. “Dominion.” For Dominion, its dynamic 11th studio album, Skillet takes a familiar formula while adding some extra ingredients that elevate the Wisconsin band’s sound to both heavier…
      ALBUM REVIEW: Elvis Costello returns with smart, feisty ‘The Boy Named If’
      ALBUM REVIEW: Elvis Costello returns with smart, feisty ‘The Boy Named If’
      January 11, 2022 at 12:01 am
      What is it with rock musicians and children’s books? These days, it seems like every other songwriter or band is putting out some kind of storybook-themed…
    • Album Review: The Weeknd drives off into that long good night on 'Dawn FM'
      Album Review: The Weeknd drives off into that long good night on ‘Dawn FM’
      January 7, 2022 at 5:22 am
      As we close one chapter and open another in the wake of the new year, The Weeknd delivered his fifth studio album Dawn FM. It comes…
      ALBUM REVIEW: Roddy Ricch isn't quite ready to 'Live Life Fast'
      ALBUM REVIEW: Roddy Ricch isn’t quite ready to ‘Live Life Fast’
      December 17, 2021 at 5:30 am
      While Live Life Fast, the second album by Roddy Ricch, has a promising premise—how living to excess can be tempting but isn’t sustainable—Roddy struggles to deliver on this…
    • REVIEW: Juice WRLD reveals what it's like to always be 'Fighting Demons'
      REVIEW: Juice WRLD reveals what it’s like to always be ‘Fighting Demons’
      December 10, 2021 at 5:55 am
      Just after the two-year anniversary of the passing of emo-rap’s patron saint, Juice WRLD, we received the second posthumous album from the rapper, aptly titled Fighting Demons.…
      ALBUM REVIEW: Alicia hits just mediocre 'Keys' on new album
      ALBUM REVIEW: Alicia hits just mediocre ‘Keys’ on new album
      December 9, 2021 at 11:52 pm
      Though she may not be the biggest artist on Billboard’s charts in 2021, there’s no denying that at 40, Alicia Keys is widely regarded as one…
    • REVIEW: Monsta X enchanting on new English album 'The Dreaming'
      REVIEW: Monsta X enchanting on new English album ‘The Dreaming’
      December 9, 2021 at 9:01 pm
      The Dreaming is the second all-English album release by Monsta X, following last year’s All About Luv. This new album showcases the South Korean pop group’s…
      REVIEW: Fleet Foxes commemorate lockdown with 'A Very Lonely Solstice'
      REVIEW: Fleet Foxes commemorate lockdown with ‘A Very Lonely Solstice’
      December 8, 2021 at 9:56 pm
      Right after New York City shut down in the winter of 2020, Robin Pecknold played a livestream concert at the historic St. Ann & the Holy…
    • ALBUM REVIEW: Neil Young and Crazy Horse head back to the ‘Barn’
      ALBUM REVIEW: Neil Young and Crazy Horse head back to the ‘Barn’
      December 6, 2021 at 12:01 am
      Of course Barn, named after the place where Neil Young and Crazy Horse recorded it, sounds rough and unpolished. That in itself isn’t a bad thing—the…
      REVIEW: New Found Glory delivers a pop-punk Christmas on 'December's Here'
      REVIEW: New Found Glory delivers a pop-punk Christmas on ‘December’s Here’
      November 30, 2021 at 8:10 am
      New Found Glory, “December’s Here.” It’s difficult to pull off something that feels new when it comes to holiday-themed music, but pop-punk stalwarts New Found Glory…
    • REVIEW: LP tells their own story on 'Churches'
      REVIEW: LP tells their own story on ‘Churches’
      November 29, 2021 at 12:01 am
      The beauty of pop is how expansive and malleable it can sound. The music and lyrics can be pushed in various directions, emulating instruments and writing…
      REVIEW: Deep Purple 'Turning to Crime' is unexpected, audacious, sometimes great
      REVIEW: Deep Purple ‘Turning to Crime’ is unexpected, audacious, sometimes great
      November 22, 2021 at 12:01 am
      One could ask whether the world needs another cover of “Rockin’ Pneumonia and the Boogie Woogie Flu,” “See See Rider”  (part of Mitch Ryder medley “Jenny…
    • ALBUM REVIEW: Adele continues her reign over pop on '30'
      ALBUM REVIEW: Adele continues her reign over pop on ’30’
      November 18, 2021 at 11:03 pm
      Whether you’re someone who has been anxiously anticipating the return of Adele after a six-year break, or if you’re simply aware of her return due to…
      ALBUM REVIEW: Elbow makes a quiet, understated return with 'Flying Dream 1'
      ALBUM REVIEW: Elbow makes a quiet, understated return with ‘Flying Dream 1’
      November 17, 2021 at 12:01 am
      If you followed Elbow during the early days of the pandemic, you saw the British band create “elbow rooms” online but in real-time. It was new,…
    • REVIEW: Sting searches for connection and common ground on 'The Bridge'
      REVIEW: Sting searches for connection and common ground on ‘The Bridge’
      November 16, 2021 at 1:06 pm
      Sting, “The Bridge.” Sting has stayed busy in recent years, releasing three albums and staging a Broadway musical; yet his musical output has centered largely on…
      ALBUM REVIEW: The Darkness gives fans its big, beating ‘Motorheart’
      ALBUM REVIEW: The Darkness gives fans its big, beating ‘Motorheart’
      November 16, 2021 at 12:01 am
      Like Orson Welles with Citizen Kane, The Darkness was both blessed and cursed to achieve perfection on its first try. Eighteen years after its release, Permission…
    • REVIEW: Willie Nelson employs his kin for their first collaborative album
      REVIEW: Willie Nelson employs his kin for their first collaborative album
      November 15, 2021 at 12:31 am
      Just nine months after his tribute album to long-time friend Frank Sinatra, Willie Nelson, now 88 and a half years old, is back with his second…
      REVIEW: Aesop Rock and Blockhead reunite in refuse on 'Garbology'
      REVIEW: Aesop Rock and Blockhead reunite in refuse on ‘Garbology’
      November 12, 2021 at 6:14 am
      After spending the last year away from others, perhaps we all got a glimpse into the isolation and madness that colors the mind of hip-hop hermit Aesop…
    • Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak seduce on 'An Evening With Silk Sonic'
      Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak seduce on ‘An Evening With Silk Sonic’
      November 11, 2021 at 11:42 pm
      Anderson .Paak and Bruno Mars have finally released their debut album as Silk Sonic. Mars has been playing with the idea of funk since 2015’s global…
      ALBUM REVIEW: Little Mix stays above the fray on 'Between Us'
      ALBUM REVIEW: Little Mix stays above the fray on ‘Between Us’
      November 11, 2021 at 8:50 am
      Little Mix, “Between Us.” Little Mix is celebrating 10 years with its first greatest hits album, Between Us, which includes four new tracks (five in the deluxe…
    • REVIEW: IDLES show a more introspective side on 'Crawler'
      REVIEW: IDLES show a more introspective side on ‘Crawler’
      November 9, 2021 at 5:02 pm
      IDLES are back with their fourth studio album, Crawler, a grating and explosive collection of rock from the Bristol rockers who have continued to make waves…
      Album Review: Courtney Barnett reminds us that 'Things Take Time, Take Time'
      Album Review: Courtney Barnett reminds us that ‘Things Take Time, Take Time’
      November 9, 2021 at 12:01 am
      Remember that your grass and your fingernails take a long time to grow. And that your car might rust in the snow and you’ll have to…
    • REVIEW: Dave Gahan is moody and magnificent on 'Imposter'
      REVIEW: Dave Gahan is moody and magnificent on ‘Imposter’
      November 9, 2021 at 12:01 am
      Dave Gahan of Depeche Mode is a master interpreter. Having sung lyrics handed to him by bandmate Martin Gore for most of his career, it makes sense…
      ALBUM REVIEW: Walk the Moon rises to the occasion on "Heights"
      ALBUM REVIEW: Walk the Moon rises to the occasion on “Heights”
      November 8, 2021 at 12:01 am
      From bassist Kevin Ray leaving the band due to “actions out of alignment with the band’s values” to a pandemic recording pause, the last two years have…
    • ALBUM REVIEW: ABBA finds it's better late than never for a grand reunion
      ALBUM REVIEW: ABBA finds it’s better late than never for a grand reunion
      November 4, 2021 at 9:00 pm
      ABBA, “Voyage.” It’s the most unorthodox of comeback stories for Swedish pop megastars ABBA. One of the most commercially successful pop groups in history, the band…
      Aimee Mann is a woman, interrupted on 'Queens of the Summer Hotel'
      Aimee Mann is a woman, interrupted on ‘Queens of the Summer Hotel’
      November 3, 2021 at 12:01 am
      Aimee Mann, Queens of the Summer Hotel If a musical version of “Girl, Interrupted” sounds tasteless to you, then Queens of the Summer Hotel, the latest…
    • Even with that golden voice, Steve Perry delivers few gifts on 'The Season'
      Even with that golden voice, Steve Perry delivers few gifts on ‘The Season’
      November 2, 2021 at 9:00 pm
      Does the world need a Steve Perry Christmas record? Beyond the shadow of any human doubt … no. It doesn’t. The Season Steve Perry Fantasy Records, Nov.…
      Review: Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats mine the past on 'The Future'
      Review: Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats mine the past on ‘The Future’
      November 2, 2021 at 12:01 am
      Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats, ‘The Future.’ Denver singer-songwriter Nathaniel Rateliff produced two of the most emotionally wrenching albums of the last decade in a…
    • ALBUM REVIEW: James Arthur learns 'It'll All Make Sense In The End'
      ALBUM REVIEW: James Arthur learns ‘It’ll All Make Sense In The End’
      November 1, 2021 at 12:46 pm
      James Arthur, It’ll All Make Sense In The End “The X Factor UK” winner James Arthur, best known in the United States for his tender and…
      ALBUM REVIEW: Diana Ross shows that she's still the boss on 'Thank You'
      ALBUM REVIEW: Diana Ross shows that she’s still the boss on ‘Thank You’
      November 1, 2021 at 12:01 am
      Considered by some to be one of the greatest female vocalists of all time, Diana Ross is back with her 25th studio album, Thank You. As…
    • REVIEW: Ed Sheeran returns to dominate pop with '='
      REVIEW: Ed Sheeran returns to dominate pop with ‘=’
      October 28, 2021 at 11:34 pm
      Ed Sheeran’s album ÷ was so widely played and internationally successful it’s hard to believe it’s been over three and a half years since its release. Though…
      Review: The War On Drugs looks for answers on 'I Don't Live Here Anymore'
      Review: The War On Drugs looks for answers on ‘I Don’t Live Here Anymore’
      October 27, 2021 at 8:29 am
      For its fifth album, The War On Drugs looked inward for musical and lyrical inspiration. While the songs weren’t specifically written for post-pandemic times, the lyrical…
    • Black Veil Brides keep it simple on conceptual 'The Phantom Tomorrow'
      Black Veil Brides keep it simple on conceptual ‘The Phantom Tomorrow’
      October 26, 2021 at 2:31 pm
      For a band whose early days was marked by bombastic larger-than-life emo-meets-metal, L.A. rockers Black Veil Brides have matured and focused their sound, leading to some…
      Album Review: Mastodon gets epic, big and long on 'Hushed and Grim'
      Album Review: Mastodon gets epic, big and long on ‘Hushed and Grim’
      October 25, 2021 at 12:19 pm
      Mastodon had a lot of steam to blow off. Hushed and Grim Mastodon Warner, Oct. 29 7/10 Between the death of the band’s longtime manager, Nick…
    • ALBUM REVIEW: Wale displays unflinching confidence on 'Folarin II'
      ALBUM REVIEW: Wale displays unflinching confidence on ‘Folarin II’
      October 22, 2021 at 6:53 am
      Wale wastes no time whatsoever on Florian II, getting at the heart of his frustration with critics, superficiality of his peers and asserting his status within the…
      ALBUM REVIEW: Lana Del Rey connects her past via 'Blue Banisters'
      ALBUM REVIEW: Lana Del Rey connects her past via ‘Blue Banisters’
      October 21, 2021 at 11:41 pm
      Blue Banisters has arrived. After one of the most confusing and ill-planned album releases in recent memory, the eighth studio effort from Lana Del Rey is finally out.…
    • REVIEW: Duran Duran travels between musical eras on 'Future Past'
      REVIEW: Duran Duran travels between musical eras on ‘Future Past’
      October 20, 2021 at 10:41 am
      For the release of the band’s 15th studio album, Future Past, Duran Duran looked to fuse old and new, and no more is that present than…
      REVIEW: Lee Chae-rin (CL) is the ‘ALPHA’ on her solo debut
      REVIEW: Lee Chae-rin (CL) is the ‘ALPHA’ on her solo debut
      October 19, 2021 at 9:00 pm
      Lee Chae-rin, better known as CL, is one of the most formidable female artists in the K-Pop industry to date. After breaking away from the popular…
    • REVIEW: Elton John makes a yearbook for his 2020 on 'The Lockdown Sessions'
      REVIEW: Elton John makes a yearbook for his 2020 on ‘The Lockdown Sessions’
      October 18, 2021 at 9:23 am
      Elton John, “The Lockdown Sessions.” Like many of us, Elton John found some extra time in 2020 after his plans came crashing down. At the time,…
      REVIEW: My Morning Jacket feels lucky to be alive on self-titled LP
      REVIEW: My Morning Jacket feels lucky to be alive on self-titled LP
      October 18, 2021 at 12:01 am
      Jim James feels lucky to be alive, and you can hear his exultation on the new self-titled album from My Morning Jacket. “Lucky to be Alive” is…
    • ALBUM REVIEW: Young Thug shows his hand on 'Punk'
      ALBUM REVIEW: Young Thug shows his hand on ‘Punk’
      October 15, 2021 at 8:46 am
      It’s kind of wild that Punk is only the second album from Young Thug, considering his prolific output of 19 mixtapes. The rapper had expressed a desire to embrace…
      Kelly Clarkson celebrates the season on 'When Christmas Comes Around...'
      Kelly Clarkson celebrates the season on ‘When Christmas Comes Around…’
      October 15, 2021 at 12:17 am
      Kelly Clarkson, “When Christmas Comes Around…” It’s become trendy for artists to put out Christmas songs and albums as the season rolls around. Some are serious,…
    • REVIEW: Coldplay delights and disappoints on 'Music of the Spheres'
      REVIEW: Coldplay delights and disappoints on ‘Music of the Spheres’
      October 14, 2021 at 11:45 pm
      Music of the Spheres, the ninth album from Coldplay, is the auditory culmination of years of electronic experimentation. Over the course of about two decades, Coldplay…

Listen Now

    • REWIND: Martin Luther King's life and legacy in music
      REWIND: Martin Luther King’s life and legacy in music
      January 15, 2022 at 12:01 am
      Johnny Cash poses for a portrait in Memphis in 1957. Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images. This Monday is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, so it’s…
      Tuesday Tracks: Your Weekly New Music Discovery – Jan. 11
      Tuesday Tracks: Your Weekly New Music Discovery – Jan. 11
      January 11, 2022 at 12:01 am
      Moonchild, courtesy Taryn Dudley. The moonlit soul of Moonchild and Brittany Campbell, the unapologetic ruthlessness of Jaguar Jonze, the luminous pop of Tim Atlas, the soft…

Q&A Interviews

    • Q&A: Matt Nathanson going back to the '90s with remake of U2's 'Achtung Baby'
      Q&A: Matt Nathanson going back to the ’90s with remake of U2’s ‘Achtung Baby’
      December 9, 2021 at 12:01 am
      Matt Nathanson Bay area musician Matt Nathanson was nice enough to take a break from a family vacation to speak with RIFF about his newest release,…
    • Q&A: The 'untidy soul' of Samm Henshaw comes from many influences
      Q&A: The ‘untidy soul’ of Samm Henshaw comes from many influences
      November 17, 2021 at 12:01 am
      Samm Henshaw, courtesy. You may know U.K. musician Samm Henshaw for his catchy 2018 song “Broke,” or his recent joyous gospel-flavored collaboration with EarthGang, “Church.” Speaking…
    • "Hamilton" actor Marja Harmon (Angelica Schuyler) on returning to the stage
      “Hamilton” actor Marja Harmon (Angelica Schuyler) on returning to the stage
      October 25, 2021 at 12:01 am
      “HAMILTON,” courtesy Joan Marcus/Broadway San Jose. Before regathering at San Francisco’s Orpheum Theatre in July to rehearse and re-kick-off their tour, the last time the cast…
    • Q&A: Erika Wennerstrom of Heartless Bastards learns to go with the flow
      Q&A: Erika Wennerstrom of Heartless Bastards learns to go with the flow
      October 18, 2021 at 12:01 am
      Heartless Bastards, courtesy Aaron Conway. Erika Wennerstrom has been fronting Heartless Bastards since 2003. The Austin roots-rock band’s sixth studio album, A Beautiful Life, which came…
    • Q&A: Molly Moore focusing on herself in life and new music
      Q&A: Molly Moore focusing on herself in life and new music
      October 13, 2021 at 12:01 am
      Molly Moore performs at BottleRock Napa Valley at the Napa Valley Expo on Sept. 4, 2021. Adam Pardee/STAFF. NAPA — After Molly Moore first moved from…
    • Q&A: Chris Pierce opening hearts and changing the face of Americana
      Q&A: Chris Pierce opening hearts and changing the face of Americana
      October 7, 2021 at 12:01 am
      Chris Pierce performs at BottleRock Napa Valley at the Napa Valley Expo on Sept. 5, 2021. Adam Pardee/STAFF. Chris Pierce has been busy. Between his Americana-flavored…
    • Q&A: Work ethic pays off for former auto dealership porter JJ Wilde
      Q&A: Work ethic pays off for former auto dealership porter JJ Wilde
      October 6, 2021 at 12:01 am
      JJ Wilde performs at BottleRock Napa Valley at the Napa Valley Expo on Sept. 4, 2021. Adam Pardee/STAFF. NAPA — Building momentum off a tremendous run…
    • Q&A: Nick Urata of DeVotchKa on how the pandemic reaffirmed his priorities
      Q&A: Nick Urata of DeVotchKa on how the pandemic reaffirmed his priorities
      August 25, 2021 at 12:01 am
      Nick Urata of DeVotchKa performs at SXSW in Austin, Tex. in 2011. Jane Hu/STAFF. Denver quartet DeVotchKa may not have released an album in three years,…
    • Jerry Harrison, Adrian Belew and Turkuaz reimagine the Talking Heads' 'Remain In Light'
      Jerry Harrison, Adrian Belew and Turkuaz reimagine the Talking Heads’ ‘Remain In Light’
      August 9, 2021 at 12:01 am
      Jerry Harrison of the Talking Heads (second from left) and Adrian Belew (second from right) perform with Turkuaz. Courtesy Michael Weintrob. Guitarist Jerry Harrison has wanted…

Festival news

    • BottleRock releases daily lineups, one-day tickets on-sale Thursday
      BottleRock releases daily lineups, one-day tickets on-sale Thursday
      January 12, 2022 at 7:59 am
      Pink performs at Gila River Arena in Glendale, Ariz. on March 30, 2019. She’s one of two headliners at BottleRock on Sunday, May 29. After selling…
    • Metallica, P!nk, Twenty One Pilots and Luke Combs to headline BottleRock Napa Valley
      Metallica, P!nk, Twenty One Pilots and Luke Combs to headline BottleRock Napa Valley
      January 10, 2022 at 8:00 am
      Metallica (photographed at Chase Center in San Francisco on Dec. 17, 2021) will headline BottleRock Napa in 2022. Steve Carlson/STAFF. Metallica, P!nk, Twenty One Pilots and…
    • High Sierra Music Festival announces lineup, on-sales for rescheduled 30th anniversary
      High Sierra Music Festival announces lineup, on-sales for rescheduled 30th anniversary
      December 19, 2021 at 6:54 pm
      Pigeons Playing Ping Pong perform at High Sierra Music Festival at Plumas County Fairgrounds in Quincy on July 4, 2019 Michael Smyth/STAFF. After being canceled in…
    • BottleRock Napa Valley presale passes available before the holidays
      BottleRock Napa Valley presale passes available before the holidays
      November 29, 2021 at 8:00 am
      BottleRock Napa Valley 2019. Courtesy Christopher Helkey. The producers of BottleRock Napa Valley will sell a limited number of advance tickets to the 2022 iteration of…
    • SF Sketchfest returns with Cheech & Chong, Laraine Newman, David Alan Grier, many more
      SF Sketchfest returns with Cheech & Chong, Laraine Newman, David Alan Grier, many more
      November 19, 2021 at 12:01 am
      SF Sketchfest, courtesy Bill Plympton. Tributes to Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong, original “Saturday Night Live” cast member and comedian Laraine Newman and actor David Alan Grier,…

Opinion

    • Insert Foot: Thanks, Omicron. But things could be way worse
      Insert Foot: Thanks, Omicron. But things could be way worse
      January 9, 2022 at 12:01 am
      Insert Foot vs. Omicron. I was literally writing this column when I got COVID-19. Well, when my test came back positive. I got it at some…
      The worst of 2021 in real life (with a soundtrack)
      The worst of 2021 in real life (with a soundtrack)
      January 4, 2022 at 12:01 am
      Lana del Rey performs at Outside Lands in San Francisco on Aug. 7, 2016. Adrian Jusue/STAFF, I used to do Worst of the Year in Music columns…
    • The most important resolution of 2022: No gym dating
      The most important resolution of 2022: No gym dating
      January 2, 2022 at 12:01 am
      There’s a lot to ponder while transitioning into 2022. But no whining about germs, forest fires destroying half of Colorado in December, and parts of Alaska…
      INSERT FOOT: 50 years in, Blue Bear School of Music is just getting started
      INSERT FOOT: 50 years in, Blue Bear School of Music is just getting started
      December 26, 2021 at 12:01 am
      Steven Savage, the founder of Blue Bear School of Music. Original photo: Jay Blakesberg. The world needs more music, of that there’s little doubt. But saying…

Concert Reviews

    • REVIEW: Kamasi Washington brings frenetic enthusiasm to August Hall
      REVIEW: Kamasi Washington brings frenetic enthusiasm to August Hall
      December 19, 2021 at 5:34 am
      Kamasi Washington performs at August Hall in San Francisco on Dec. 18, 2021. Sean Liming/STAFF. SAN FRANCISCO —Whale sounds are almost always the sign of a…
    • REVIEW: Metallica honors fans, history at first 40th anniversary show in SF
      REVIEW: Metallica honors fans, history at first 40th anniversary show in SF
      December 18, 2021 at 1:34 am
      Metallica performs at Chase Center in San Francisco on Dec. 17, 2021. Steve Carlson/STAFF. SAN FRANCISCO — Metallica sure knows how to throw a birthday party.…
    • REVIEW: CHVRCHES bring 'Screen Violence,' Wet Leg to Bill Graham Civic
      REVIEW: CHVRCHES bring ‘Screen Violence,’ Wet Leg to Bill Graham Civic
      December 17, 2021 at 6:25 am
      CHVRCHES perform at Bill Graham Civic Auditorium in San Francisco on Dec. 16, 2021. Onome Uyovbievbo/STAFF. SAN FRANCISCO — Known more for their infectious brand of…
    • REVIEW: Black Pumas welcomed at a sensational first night at the Masonic
      REVIEW: Black Pumas welcomed at a sensational first night at the Masonic
      December 16, 2021 at 5:46 am
      Black Pumas perform at The Masonic in San Francisco on Dec. 15, 2021. Steve Carlson/STAFF. SAN FRANCISCO  — Texas psychedelic soul band Black Pumas took the…
    • REVIEW: MisterWives full of flower power and resilience at the Regency Ballroom
      REVIEW: MisterWives full of flower power and resilience at the Regency Ballroom
      November 24, 2021 at 7:43 am
      MisterWives perform at the Regency Ballroom in San Francisco on Nov. 23, 2021. Gary Chancer/STAFF. SAN FRANCISCO — New York pop band MisterWives took to the…
    • REVIEW: Joji brings 'Nectar' to life at the Warfield
      REVIEW: Joji brings ‘Nectar’ to life at the Warfield
      November 21, 2021 at 2:23 am
      Joji performs at The Warfield in San Francisco on Nov. 20, 2021. Nathan McKinley/STAFF. SAN FRANCISCO — Joji made one of the best albums of 2020.…
    • REVIEW: Lupe Fiasco celebrates 'Food & Liquor' in return to the stage at The Warfield
      REVIEW: Lupe Fiasco celebrates ‘Food & Liquor’ in return to the stage at The Warfield
      November 20, 2021 at 7:34 am
      Lupe Fiasco performs at The Warfield in San Francisco on Nov. 19, 2021. Derek Tobias/STAFF. SAN FRANCISCO — Lupe Fiasco made a triumphant return to the…
    • REVIEW: LANY brings energy to its last show of 2021 at Bill Graham Civic
      REVIEW: LANY brings energy to its last show of 2021 at Bill Graham Civic
      November 19, 2021 at 9:23 am
      LANY performs at Bill Graham Civic Auditorium in San Francisco on Nov. 18, 2021. Steve Carlson/STAFF. SAN FRANCISCO — L.A. alt-pop trio LANY brought their gg bb…
    • REVIEW: Ricky Martin and Enrique Iglesias still livin' la vida loca at SAP Center
      REVIEW: Ricky Martin and Enrique Iglesias still livin’ la vida loca at SAP Center
      November 15, 2021 at 2:25 am
      Ricky Martin performs at SAP Center in San Jose on Nov. 14, 2021. Roman Gokhman/STAFF. SAN JOSE — It’s tough to pull off a truly equal…
    • REVIEW: Evanescence, Halestorm deliver heavyweight performance at SAP Center
      REVIEW: Evanescence, Halestorm deliver heavyweight performance at SAP Center
      November 10, 2021 at 5:59 am
      Evanescence performs at SAP Center in San Jose on Nov. 9, 2021. Chloe Catajan/STAFF. SAN JOSE — Two of modern rock’s heavyweight vocalists teamed up for…
    • Outside Lands: J Balvin, Burna Boy and 5 more we loved Sunday
      Outside Lands: J Balvin, Burna Boy and 5 more we loved Sunday
      November 1, 2021 at 1:02 am
      J Balvin performs at Outside Lands in San Francisco on Oct. 31, 2021. Adam Pardee/STAFF. SAN FRANCISCO — There are a lot of accolades you can…
    • Outside Lands: Lizzo, Lord Huron, 8 more we loved Saturday
      Outside Lands: Lizzo, Lord Huron, 8 more we loved Saturday
      October 31, 2021 at 1:06 am
      Lizzo performs at Outside Lands in San Francisco on Oct. 30, 2021. Adam Pardee/STAFF. SAN FRANCISCO — There was only one point in her show at…
    • Outside Lands: The Strokes, Tyler, the Creator and 8 more Friday highlights
      Outside Lands: The Strokes, Tyler, the Creator and 8 more Friday highlights
      October 30, 2021 at 1:42 am
      The Strokes perform at Outside Lands in San Francisco on Oct. 29, 2021. Adam Pardee/STAFF and courtesy. SAN FRANCISCO — Indie rock band The Strokes’ set…
    • REVIEW: The Jayhawks make the Chapel jump for joy on a rainy Sunday
      REVIEW: The Jayhawks make the Chapel jump for joy on a rainy Sunday
      October 25, 2021 at 7:35 am
      SAN FRANCISCO — Two veteran American bands had two-day stands in San Francisco this past weekend, both with loyal fan bases and generous back catalogs from…
    • REVIEW: The Eagles bring 'Hotel California' and more to Chase Center
      REVIEW: The Eagles bring ‘Hotel California’ and more to Chase Center
      October 24, 2021 at 10:39 am
      The Eagles, courtesy Ron Koch. SAN FRANCISCO — For a band that put out only seven studio albums—six of those during the 1970s—The Eagles have retained a…
    • REVIEW: Wilco gets down to business at the Fox in Oakland
      REVIEW: Wilco gets down to business at the Fox in Oakland
      October 18, 2021 at 6:07 am
      Wilco performs at the Fox Theater in Oakland on Oct. 17, 2021. Karen Goldman/STAFF. OAKLAND — A light drizzle fell on Sunday night as Chicago rock…
    • REVIEW: Jack Antonoff and Bleachers bring the Jersey sound to the Masonic
      REVIEW: Jack Antonoff and Bleachers bring the Jersey sound to the Masonic
      October 17, 2021 at 2:02 am
      Bleachers perform at The Masonic in San Francisco on Oct. 16, 2021. Steve Carlson/STAFF. SAN FRANCISCO — Jack Antonoff is a huge star now, thanks to…
    • Aftershock Day 4: Metallica, Rise Against, 6 more we loved Sunday
      Aftershock Day 4: Metallica, Rise Against, 6 more we loved Sunday
      October 11, 2021 at 1:04 am
      Metallica performs at Aftershock Fest in Sacramento on Oct. 10, 2021. Courtesy Aftershock. SACRAMENTO — Aftershock Fest couldn’t contain Metallica to just one night night. For the…
    • Aftershock Day 3: Mudvayne, The Original Misfits, 3 more we loved Saturday
      Aftershock Day 3: Mudvayne, The Original Misfits, 3 more we loved Saturday
      October 10, 2021 at 6:17 am
      Mudvayne performs at Aftershock Fest in Sacramento on Oct. 9, 2021. Courtesy Aftershock. SACRAMENTO —Saturday night Aftershock line-up was marked by two reunions, of sorts. The…

Photos

    • PHOTOS: We Came As Romans celebrates 'To Plant a Seed' in L.A.
      PHOTOS: We Came As Romans celebrates ‘To Plant a Seed’ in L.A.
      October 21, 2021 at 12:23 pm
      We Came As Romans perform at The Regent Theater in Los Angeles on Oct. 20, 2021. Aaron Marquez/STAFF. LOS ANGELES — Michigan metalcore group We Came…
    • PHOTOS: J. Cole and 21 Savage hit the court at Oakland Arena
      PHOTOS: J. Cole and 21 Savage hit the court at Oakland Arena
      October 21, 2021 at 6:47 am
      J. Cole performs at Oakland Arena in Oakland on Oct. 20, 2021. Matt Pang/STAFF. OAKLAND — Months following the release of his acclaimed new album, The Off-Season,…
    • PHOTOS: Tinashe sees the future at the Warfield
      PHOTOS: Tinashe sees the future at the Warfield
      October 20, 2021 at 6:15 am
      Tinashe performs at the Warfield in San Francisco on Oct. 19, 2021. Onome Uyovbievbo/STAFF. SAN FRANCISCO — Tinashe brought her 333 Tour to the Warfield Tuesday. The…
    • PHOTOS: System of a Down brings Korn and chaos to Oakland Arena
      PHOTOS: System of a Down brings Korn and chaos to Oakland Arena
      October 19, 2021 at 6:25 am
      System of a Down performs at Oakland Arena in Oakland, Oct. 18, 2021. Derek Tobias/STAFF. OAKLAND — Los Angeles hard rockers System of a Down powered…
    • PHOTOS: Phoebe Bridgers 'reunites'—and ignites—at the Greek Theatre
      PHOTOS: Phoebe Bridgers ‘reunites’—and ignites—at the Greek Theatre
      October 17, 2021 at 3:10 am
      Phoebe Bridgers performs at the Greek Theatre in Berkeley on Oct. 16, 2021. Onome Uyovbievbo/STAFF. BERKELEY – Phoebe Bridgers brought her “Reunion Tour” to the Greek Theatre…
    • PHOTOS: Bell Biv DeVoe and friends recreate '90s R&B magic at Chase Center
      PHOTOS: Bell Biv DeVoe and friends recreate ’90s R&B magic at Chase Center
      October 3, 2021 at 6:54 am
      Bell Biv DeVoe performs at Chase Center in San Francisco on Oct. 2, 2021. Sean Liming/STAFF. SAN FRANCISCO — It’s been nearly 31 years since New…
    • PHOTOS: Luke Combs brings his 'Five Leaf Clover' to Chase Center
      PHOTOS: Luke Combs brings his ‘Five Leaf Clover’ to Chase Center
      October 2, 2021 at 6:39 am
      Luke Combs performs at Chase Center in San Francisco on Oct. 1, 2021. Sean Liming/STAFF. SAN FRANCISCO — Luke Combs embraced the isolation of the pandemic and used…