• Q&A: Colin Dieden of the Mowgli's sets out on his own as Little Hurt
    Mar 25 2020
    02:30 AM

    Q&A: Colin Dieden of the Mowgli’s sets out on his own as Little Hurt

    Roman Gokhman No Comments 312
    Little Hurt, Courtesy: KayKay Blaisdell. Colin Dieden became friends with Cameron Walker-Wright and brothers John and Stephen Gomez (pop trio TWIN XL), when he was still the lead vocalist of The Mowgli’s. It began as a common songwriting session—one of many—where Walker-Wright co-wrote the Mowgli’s “I Feel Good About This.” Later, while…
  • Tuesday Tracks: Your Weekly New Music Discovery – March 24
    Mar 24 2020
    05:30 AM

    Tuesday Tracks: Your Weekly New Music Discovery – March 24

    Aarushi Nanda 1 Comment 350
    Clockwise from top left: Alexander 23, Vistas, lilspirit, Mikhala Jené, Alec Wigdahl and Nilo Blues. 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 has…
  • Insert Foot: Whitney Houston is back! And not earning a penny for herself
    Mar 22 2020
    05:30 AM

    Insert Foot: Whitney Houston is back! And not earning a penny for herself

    Tony Hicks No Comments 646
    Whitney Houston’s hologram has performed so flawlessly on its (her?) European tour that it’s getting its own Las Vegas residency. No, no … I’m very serious, and it’s no laughing matter. There hasn’t been anything remotely funny about Whitney Houston since she said Bobby Brown was the king…
  • Professor Music: This column is getting nostalgic
    Mar 21 2020
    05:30 AM

    Professor Music: This column is getting nostalgic

    David Gill No Comments 289
    The Technicolor Dream Coat. Photo by Quinn Gill. David Gill. Original art: Julia Kovaleva. “It’s more than a feeling (more than a feeling) When I hear that old song they used to play (more than a feeling) I begin dreaming (more than a feeling)” – “More Than a…
  • INTERVIEW: Radnor & Lee look at the broader picture with new album
    Mar 20 2020
    05:30 AM

    INTERVIEW: Radnor & Lee look at the broader picture with new album

    Roman Gokhman No Comments 470
    Radnor & Lee, Courtesy: Liz Bretz. Since best friends Ben Lee and Josh Radnor last made a record, a self-titled debut in 2017, the two have seemingly never stopped moving. Golden State Radnor & Lee Flower Moon Records, May 8 Lee, a lifelong musician, made a record from…
  • From Madonna to construction cranes: 3 stories of coronavirus' impact on the music industry
    Mar 18 2020
    01:27 AM

    From Madonna to construction cranes: 3 stories of coronavirus’ impact on the music industry

    Roman Gokhman No Comments 725
    The Independent in San Francisco, closed, on March 16, 2020. Ohio singer-songwriter Angela Perley began March by canceling her band’s important first showcase appearance at South by Southwest, followed by a 100-capacity hometown show, and eventually the rest of her March concerts. On Sunday, Ohio’s governor closed the…
  • Life goes on: a look at the first day of the Bay Area's shelter-in-place
    Mar 18 2020
    01:15 AM

    Life goes on: a look at the first day of the Bay Area’s shelter-in-place

    Roman Gokhman No Comments 4,089
    The Chapel, closed, on the afternoon of March 17, 2020, the first day of a shelter-in-place to combat coronavirus. Photos: Roman Gokhman. SAN FRANCISCO and OAKLAND — Six of nine Bay Area counties on Tuesday began an official shelter-in-place to try and prevent the spread of coronavirus.. What…
  • Coronavirus impact: Artists turn to live-streaming to connect with fans
    Mar 16 2020
    12:23 AM

    Coronavirus impact: Artists turn to live-streaming to connect with fans

    Staff report No Comments 467
    Colm Mac Con Iomaire of The Frames live-streams a performance on Sunday. Courtesy: Facebook. In response to most of the country’s St. Patrick’s Day festivities being canceled, Celtic punk band Dropkick Murphys on Sunday announced that it would stream a performance for free Tuesday at 4 p.m. PDT on the…
  • INTERVIEW: Tim Rice-Oxley of Keane on finding new motivation, 'Cause and Effect'
    Mar 13 2020
    05:30 AM

    INTERVIEW: Tim Rice-Oxley of Keane on finding new motivation, ‘Cause and Effect’

    Amelia Parreira 1 Comment 1,752
    Tim Rice-Oxley performs with Keane at The Fox Theater in Oakland on March 9, 2020. Joaquin Cabello/STAFF. Drugs and reported infighting led to the demise of English soft rock band Keane in 2013. For frontman Tom Chaplin, it was a crippling drug addiction. Keyboardist Tim Rice-Oxley, the band’s chief songwriter,…
  • Pop singer-songwriter Cailin Russo on seeking the transformational and the earthly in her music
    Mar 11 2020
    05:30 AM

    Pop singer-songwriter Cailin Russo on seeking the transformational and the earthly in her music

    Cailin Russo No Comments 1,668
    Cailin Russo holding her cherished Baccarat butterfly. Editor’s note: The Drama is Cailin Russo’s second EP, which she describes as a blow-by-blow recounting of a crumbling relationship at which she hit rock bottom. The record follows a full-band effort, House With A Pool, in 2018. Russo, the daughter of…
  • RIFF RADIO: Jen Ledger's hard rock ride that almost never was
    Mar 09 2020
    03:30 AM

    RIFF RADIO: Jen Ledger’s hard rock ride that almost never was

    Mike DeWald 2 Comments 3,801
    SACRAMENTO — Jen Ledger is in an upbeat mood hours before her evening playing double duty: drumming for Skillet and fronting her own band, which will open the show at Ace of Spades. The band just arrived after a nine-hour bus ride from Portland the night before. Ledger…
  • DEVELOPING: San Francisco, Oakland, San Jose ban large gatherings; BottleRock still on
    Mar 07 2020
    09:24 AM

    DEVELOPING: San Francisco, Oakland, San Jose ban large gatherings; BottleRock still on

    Roman Gokhman No Comments 983
    SXSW. Courtesy. UPDATED 3:00 P.M. SUNDAY, MARCH 15 — California governor Gavin Newsom announced at a press conference Sunday that all bars, clubs, wineries, and brewpubs in California will be closed in an effort to slow the spread of coronavirus. Restaurants can say open, he says, but their…

News

    • G-Eazy and Larkin Street Youth Services to feed San Francisco at-risk youth for a month
      G-Eazy and Larkin Street Youth Services to feed San Francisco at-risk youth for a month
      March 26, 2020 at 1:29 pm
      G-Eazy performs at The New Parish in Oakland on Jan. 26, 2019. Joaquin Cabello/STAFF. Bay Area native G-Eazy and his Endless Summer Fund are partnering with…
      San Francisco to offer financial aid to local artists and arts organizations
      San Francisco to offer financial aid to local artists and arts organizations
      March 25, 2020 at 2:35 pm
      San Francisco band Terry Gross performs at The Ivy Room in Albany, Calf. on Feb. 7, 2020. San Francisco will offer financial assistance to local artists…
    • Sofi Tukker, Taking Back Sunday, Amanda Palmer and Tank and the Bangas to perform at Bandsintown fundraiser for artists
      Sofi Tukker, Taking Back Sunday, Amanda Palmer and Tank and the Bangas to perform at Bandsintown fundraiser for artists
      March 25, 2020 at 12:43 pm
      Concert discovery platform Bandsintown will host a two-day live music marathon Thursday and Friday to benefit the MusiCares COVID-19 Relief Fund. The marathon will be broadcast on the…
      Goldenvoice extends concert postponements through May
      Goldenvoice extends concert postponements through May
      March 23, 2020 at 12:47 pm
      The Warfield photographed on Nov. 26, 2016. STAFF FILE PHOTO. Goldenvoice, which books shows at the Warfield, the Regency Ballroom, as well as other halls and…
    • Bill Graham Civic Auditorium was considered to house homeless as COVID-19 prevention
      Bill Graham Civic Auditorium was considered to house homeless as COVID-19 prevention
      March 21, 2020 at 8:38 pm
      Bill Graham Civic Auditorium, Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons. The San Francisco Human Services Agency had considered using the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium to house people dealing…
      SF CHRONICLE: Slim's, venerable San Francisco night club, closes its doors
      SF CHRONICLE: Slim’s, venerable San Francisco night club, closes its doors
      March 21, 2020 at 8:20 pm
      Slim’s nightclub. Courtesy: Ted-Maider. After more than 30 years Slim’s has hosted its last concert. The nightclub will not be reopening when the regional shelter-in-place order…
    • How to Help: Donate to help keep Bay Area music alive during the shelter-in-place
      How to Help: Donate to help keep Bay Area music alive during the shelter-in-place
      March 21, 2020 at 11:09 am
      Healing Potpourri performs at Rickshaw Stop in San Francisco on April 11, 2017. STAFF PHOTO. With the entire state of California shut down for the foreseeable…
      Bandcamp donating 100 percent of all purchases directly to artists on March 20
      Bandcamp donating 100 percent of all purchases directly to artists on March 20
      March 20, 2020 at 12:12 pm
      Bandcamp is donating 100 percent of all purchases through 11:59 p.m. today directly to artists. The streaming and music download service, which works with many independent…
    • Bay Area artists to perform 17-hour streaming event this weekend
      Bay Area artists to perform 17-hour streaming event this weekend
      March 19, 2020 at 1:15 pm
      More than two dozen Bay Area artists have quickly organized a two-day streaming event called “Pandemica Online.” Led by Avi Vincour of Goodnight, Texas, the the…
      Run For Cover Records to donate all Bandcamp purchases directly to its artists
      Run For Cover Records to donate all Bandcamp purchases directly to its artists
      March 18, 2020 at 11:47 pm
      Wicca Phase Springs Eternal performs at Slim’s in San Francisco on Dec. 9, 2018. Joaquin Cabello/STAFF. Looking for a way to help independent artists? Then you…
    • BREAKING: BottleRock Napa Valley postponed to October
      BREAKING: BottleRock Napa Valley postponed to October
      March 18, 2020 at 12:29 pm
      Khalid performs on the Free Spirit World Tour at Oracle Arena in Oakland on June 28, 2019. The producers of BottleRock Napa announced that the festival…
      From Madonna to construction cranes: 3 stories of coronavirus' impact on the music industry
      From Madonna to construction cranes: 3 stories of coronavirus’ impact on the music industry
      March 18, 2020 at 1:27 am
      The Independent in San Francisco, closed, on March 16, 2020. Ohio singer-songwriter Angela Perley began March by canceling her band’s important first showcase appearance at South…
    • Coronavirus impact: Artists turn to live-streaming to connect with fans
      Coronavirus impact: Artists turn to live-streaming to connect with fans
      March 16, 2020 at 12:23 am
      Colm Mac Con Iomaire of The Frames live-streams a performance on Sunday. Courtesy: Facebook. In response to most of the country’s St. Patrick’s Day festivities being…
      Donald Glover streams new album of soulful R&B
      Donald Glover streams new album of soulful R&B
      March 15, 2020 at 12:46 pm
      Childish Gambino performs at Golden Gate Park in San Francisco during the Outside Lands Music Festival on Aug. 10, 2019. Joaquin Cabello/STAFF. Donald Glover, also known…
    • Insert Foot: Coronavirus slamming musicians where it hurts
      Insert Foot: Coronavirus slamming musicians where it hurts
      March 15, 2020 at 5:30 am
      Bill Graham Civic Auditorium is shuttered on March 12, 2020. Photo: Another Planet Entertainment/Instagram. The life of a traveling musician sounds very romantic. Except when they’re…
      UPDATE: San Francisco Ballet, Symphony expand cancelations
      UPDATE: San Francisco Ballet, Symphony expand cancelations
      March 13, 2020 at 5:12 pm
      Inside the orchestra pit of the War Memorial Opera House. ADAM PARDEE/STAFF. UPDATE: MARCH 19 — The San Francisco Ballet has now canceled the remainder of…
    • Outside Lands Eager Beaver tickets go on sale Thursday
      Outside Lands Eager Beaver tickets go on sale Thursday
      March 10, 2020 at 10:00 am
      Twenty One Pilots perform at Golden Gate Park in San Francisco during the Outside Lands Music Festival on Aug. 11, 2019. Joaquin Cabello/STAFF. The producers of…
      Empire of the Sun, Modest Mouse headline annual Sonoma Harvest Music Festival
      Empire of the Sun, Modest Mouse headline annual Sonoma Harvest Music Festival
      March 9, 2020 at 7:59 am
      Empire of the Sun performs at Golden Gate Park at Outside Lands on Aug, 12, 2017. Alessio Neri/STAFF. Sonoma Harvest Music Festival producers Monday announced the…
    • DEVELOPING: San Francisco, Oakland, San Jose ban large gatherings; BottleRock still on
      DEVELOPING: San Francisco, Oakland, San Jose ban large gatherings; BottleRock still on
      March 7, 2020 at 9:24 am
      SXSW. Courtesy. UPDATED 3:00 P.M. SUNDAY, MARCH 15 — California governor Gavin Newsom announced at a press conference Sunday that all bars, clubs, wineries, and brewpubs…
      SF Ballet brings back 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' for the first time in three decades
      SF Ballet brings back ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ for the first time in three decades
      March 5, 2020 at 12:01 am
      SF Ballet dancer Esteban Hernandez as Puck in Balanchine’s ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream.’ Rendering courtesy of Erik Tomasson and Sky Alsgaard. Rehearsal photos: Adam Pardee/STAFF. UPDATE:…
    • SFJAZZ announces 38th festival and summer concert series
      SFJAZZ announces 38th festival and summer concert series
      February 20, 2020 at 9:30 pm
      Deltron 3030. Courtesy of SFJAZZ. SFJAZZ this week announced the lineup for the 37th annual San Francisco Jazz Festival and 2019 Summer Sessions concert series. The festival…
      SF Symphony to undertake final international tour with Michael Tilson Thomas
      SF Symphony to undertake final international tour with Michael Tilson Thomas
      February 17, 2020 at 1:34 pm
      The San Francisco Symphony and Chorus perform at Chase Center in San Francisco on Dec. 5, 2019. Onome Uyovbievbo/STAFF. The San Francisco Symphony and its lauded…
    • K-pop group NCT 127 returns with second album on March 6
      K-pop group NCT 127 returns with second album on March 6
      February 13, 2020 at 11:44 pm
      K-pop superstars NCT 127 on Thursday night announced their forthcoming sophomore album, NCT #127 Neo Zone. The album will be released on March 6 and come in…
      Rage Against the Machine expands reunion to full tour, to play Oakland Arena
      Rage Against the Machine expands reunion to full tour, to play Oakland Arena
      February 10, 2020 at 2:23 pm
      Rage Against the Machine Public Service Announcement Tour. UPDATE 2/13/2020: Ticketmaster announced a second show on April 23 due to high demand. Tickets are now on…

Features

    • INTERVIEW: Tim Rice-Oxley of Keane on finding new motivation, 'Cause and Effect'
      INTERVIEW: Tim Rice-Oxley of Keane on finding new motivation, ‘Cause and Effect’
      March 13, 2020 at 5:30 am
      Tim Rice-Oxley performs with Keane at The Fox Theater in Oakland on March 9, 2020. Joaquin Cabello/STAFF. Drugs and reported infighting led to the demise of…
    • SF Ballet brings back 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' for the first time in three decades
      SF Ballet brings back ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ for the first time in three decades
      March 5, 2020 at 12:01 am
      SF Ballet dancer Esteban Hernandez as Puck in Balanchine’s ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream.’ Rendering courtesy of Erik Tomasson and Sky Alsgaard. Rehearsal photos: Adam Pardee/STAFF. UPDATE:…
    • INTERVIEW: Nashville singer-songwriter Hailey Whitters living 'The Dream' of her own making
      INTERVIEW: Nashville singer-songwriter Hailey Whitters living ‘The Dream’ of her own making
      March 2, 2020 at 5:30 am
      Hailey Whitters. Courtesy photo. Just last summer, Hailey Whitters was still waiting tables at a mom-and-pop Cajun café outside of Nashville. Jordan Davis, Hailey Whitters 8…
    • INTERVIEW: Richard Marx on rediscovering his passion for songwriting
      INTERVIEW: Richard Marx on rediscovering his passion for songwriting
      February 28, 2020 at 11:52 am
      Richard Marx. Courtesy photo. Richard Marx faced a professional dilemma in the months leading up to recording his new album, Limitless. He was happy with his…
    • INTERVIEW: William DuVall of Alice In Chains finds musical rediscovery on 'One Alone'
      INTERVIEW: William DuVall of Alice In Chains finds musical rediscovery on ‘One Alone’
      February 19, 2020 at 1:30 am
      William DuVall, Courtesy Photo. William DuVall has covered a lot of musical ground over his expansive nearly 30-year career. From the mid-’80s to the present day,…
    • Interview: How actor-comedian Brian Posehn made an album with Slipknot's Corey Taylor and Weird Al
      Interview: How actor-comedian Brian Posehn made an album with Slipknot’s Corey Taylor and Weird Al
      February 17, 2020 at 5:30 am
      Brian Posehn performs at ID10T Festival at Shoreline Amphitheater in Mountain View on June 25, 2017. Chloe Catajan/Staff. You’ve definitely seen Brian Posehn as an actor.…
    • INTERVIEW: Lisa Loeb ready to share her life more openly on her first 'adult' album in 7 years
      INTERVIEW: Lisa Loeb ready to share her life more openly on her first ‘adult’ album in 7 years
      February 13, 2020 at 5:30 am
      Lisa Loeb, Courtesy: Juan Patino. Lisa Loeb was in uncharted waters when, in 1994, “Stay (I Missed You)” rose to the top spot of the Billboard…
    • INTERVIEW: Walk Off the Earth grapple with loss by looking for what's most important
      INTERVIEW: Walk Off the Earth grapple with loss by looking for what’s most important
      February 6, 2020 at 5:30 am
      Walk Off the Earth, Courtesy: Andrea Hunter. It’s a typical day for Walk Off the Earth, so the Ontario, Canada band is working on multiple songs,…

Podcasts

    • BottleRock Napa 2020: Red Hot Chili Peppers, Miley Cyrus and Khalid to headline
      BottleRock Napa 2020: Red Hot Chili Peppers, Miley Cyrus and Khalid to headline
      January 6, 2020 at 7:59 am
      The Red Hot Chili Peppers are among the headliners at BottleRock 2020. Here they perform at Oakland Arena on March 12, 2017. Alessio Neri/Staff. The Red…
    • Rock'N Vino: Joy Sterling prepares for her third act with Iron Horse Vineyards
      Rock’N Vino: Joy Sterling prepares for her third act with Iron Horse Vineyards
      December 18, 2019 at 10:18 pm
      Joy Sterling of Iron Horse Vineyards. Courtesy. Iron Horse Vineyards CEO Joy Sterling sees her life as a series of acts. Her first was rooted in journalism.…
    • Rock'N Vino: Distiller Rob Dietrich plays metal for Metallica's Blackened Whiskey barrels
      Rock’N Vino: Distiller Rob Dietrich plays metal for Metallica’s Blackened Whiskey barrels
      November 16, 2019 at 9:22 am
      Rob Dietrich of Blackened American Whiskey. The fusion of music and the development of craft beverage is not a foreign concept at its core. Vintners have…
    • Rock'N Vino: Live from Aftershock with Motionless In White, Sick Puppies and Evan Konrad
      Rock’N Vino: Live from Aftershock with Motionless In White, Sick Puppies and Evan Konrad
      October 16, 2019 at 11:51 pm
      Chris Cerulli of Motionless in White photographed backstage at Aftershock in Sacramento, California on Oct. 11, 2019. Last weekend’s Aftershock Festival had not only great hard…

Concert Reviews

    • 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…
    • Noise Pop Review: Joan and Ralph hold power pop rendezvous at Swedish American Hall
      Noise Pop Review: Joan and Ralph hold power pop rendezvous at Swedish American Hall
      February 27, 2020 at 6:14 am
      Joan performs at Swedish American Hall in San Francisco on Feb. 26, 2020. Sean Liming/STAFF. SAN FRANCISCO — One of the most compelling aspects of Noise…
      REVIEW: Warpaint's Jennylee and TT converge solo endeavors at Noise Pop
      REVIEW: Warpaint’s Jennylee and TT converge solo endeavors at Noise Pop
      February 26, 2020 at 8:55 am
      Jennylee & TT perform at Bottom of the Hill in San Francisco on Feb. 25, 2020. Joaquin Cabello/STAFF. SAN FRANCISCO — “We have some special things…
    • Noise Pop: The Jungle Giants mess around and make a new friend at the Independent
      Noise Pop: The Jungle Giants mess around and make a new friend at the Independent
      February 26, 2020 at 7:27 am
      The Jungle Giants perform at The Independent in San Francisco on Feb. 25, 2020. Derek Simmons/STAFF. SAN FRANCISCO — For those worried that indie rock has…
      REVIEW: Injury Reserve puts the noise in Noise Pop at the New Parish
      REVIEW: Injury Reserve puts the noise in Noise Pop at the New Parish
      February 25, 2020 at 7:15 am
      Injury Reserve performs at the New Parish in Oakland on Feb. 25, 2020. Onome Uyovbievbo/STAFF. OAKLAND — For a festival with “noise” right there in the…
    • REVIEW: Alter Bridge gets down to business at the Regency Ballroom
      REVIEW: Alter Bridge gets down to business at the Regency Ballroom
      February 24, 2020 at 7:20 am
      Alter Bridge performs at The Regency Ballroom in San Francisco on Feb. 23, 2020. Photos: Chloe Catajan. SAN FRANCISCO — The idea that a band mellows…
      REVIEW: Electric Hot Tuna darts between schools of guitar at the Fillmore
      REVIEW: Electric Hot Tuna darts between schools of guitar at the Fillmore
      February 23, 2020 at 7:47 am
      Hot Tuna performs at The Sing out for SEVA benefit concert at The Fillmore in San Francisco, on Nov. 2, 2013. Derek Simmons/STAFF. SAN FRANCISCO —…
    • REVIEW: George Clinton and Parliament-Funkadelic create joyful chaos at Cornerstone
      REVIEW: George Clinton and Parliament-Funkadelic create joyful chaos at Cornerstone
      February 19, 2020 at 8:17 am
      George Clinton and Parliament-Funkadelic perform at Cornerstone in Berkeley on Feb. 18, 2020. BERKELEY — “Godfather of Funk” George Clinton performed for two full hours Tuesday at…
      REVIEW: Chris Carrabba leads Dashboard Confessional in night of singalongs at The Fillmore
      REVIEW: Chris Carrabba leads Dashboard Confessional in night of singalongs at The Fillmore
      February 16, 2020 at 9:20 am
      Dashboard Confessional performs at The Fillmore in San Francisco on Feb. 15, 2020. Joaquin Cabello/STAFF. SAN FRANCISCO — Dashboard Confessional singer-songwriter Chris Carrabba was the first to…
    • REVIEW: Tones and I bring 'Dance Monkey' and a whole lot of intimacy to Popscene
      REVIEW: Tones and I bring ‘Dance Monkey’ and a whole lot of intimacy to Popscene
      February 16, 2020 at 8:06 am
      Tones and I perform at Popscene in San Francisco on Feb. 15, 2020. Alessio Neri/STAFF. SAN FRANCISCO — Riding a wave of success with smash hit…

Photos + Recaps

    • PHOTOS: Colony House leaves it all behind in San Francisco
      PHOTOS: Colony House leaves it all behind in San Francisco
      March 1, 2020 at 3:02 am
      Colony House performs at August Hall in San Francisco on Feb. 29, 2020. Steve Carlson/STAFF. SAN FRANCISCO – Indie rockers Colony House returned to the Bay…
      PHOTOS: Olivia O’Brien brings her 'Sad F**king Tour' to the Regency Ballroom
      PHOTOS: Olivia O’Brien brings her ‘Sad F**king Tour’ to the Regency Ballroom
      February 29, 2020 at 3:45 am
      Olivia O’Brien performs at the Regency Ballroom in San Francisco on Feb. 28, 2020. Onome Uyovbievbo/STAFF. SAN FRANCISCO — Olivia O’Brien kicked off her Friday concert…

Slideshows

    • SLIDESHOW: Illenium concludes Ascend Tour with first of three hometown shows
      SLIDESHOW: Illenium concludes Ascend Tour with first of three hometown shows
      December 14, 2019 at 7:26 am
      Illenium performs at Bill Graham Civic Auditorium in San Francisco on Dec. 13, 2019. Click an image below to begin the slideshow. Nick Gentry/Staff. SAN FRANCISCO—…
      SLIDESHOW: Big Wild at Bill Graham Civic Auditorium
      SLIDESHOW: Big Wild at Bill Graham Civic Auditorium
      December 1, 2019 at 8:20 am
      Big Wild performs at Bill Graham Civic Auditorium in San Francisco on Nov. 30, 2019. Photos: Joaquin Cabello. SAN FRANCISCO — Having made the jump from producer…

Album Reviews

    • ALBUM REVIEW: 5 Seconds of Summer bring high energy to 'CALM'
      ALBUM REVIEW: 5 Seconds of Summer bring high energy to ‘CALM’
      March 27, 2020 at 12:01 am
      After their first three albums topped the charts worldwide, 5 Seconds of Summer bring forth a new musical density and electrifying nuance on CALM, with a misleading…
      ALBUM REVIEW: Dua Lipa delivers pop divinity on 'Future Nostalgia'
      ALBUM REVIEW: Dua Lipa delivers pop divinity on ‘Future Nostalgia’
      March 26, 2020 at 8:18 am
      Dua Lipa went into her sophomore album with about as unenviable a task as you can have for a rising pop superstar. Following up the success…
    • ALBUM REVIEW: Little Dragon delivers a thoughtful dance party on 'New Me, Same Us'
      ALBUM REVIEW: Little Dragon delivers a thoughtful dance party on ‘New Me, Same Us’
      March 25, 2020 at 9:34 pm
      Swedish electro-pop quartet Little Dragon‘s sixth studio LP, New Me, Same Us, delivers a polished collection of synthesized pop that draws heavily on both classic soul and contemporary…
      ALBUM REVIEW: Vanessa Carlton explores relational complexities on 'Love is an Art"
      ALBUM REVIEW: Vanessa Carlton explores relational complexities on ‘Love is an Art”
      March 25, 2020 at 5:30 am
      Vanessa Carlton returns with her first new album in five years with the expansive Love is an Art, a deep dive into the different ways relationships manifest and…
    • ALBUM REVIEW: Sufjan Stevens & Lowell Brams distill a new age sound bath on ‘Aporia’
      ALBUM REVIEW: Sufjan Stevens & Lowell Brams distill a new age sound bath on ‘Aporia’
      March 24, 2020 at 1:30 am
      Considering that his second album ever was an avant-garde electronica concept about the Chinese zodiac, anyone who categorizes Sufjan Stevens as a typical singer songwriter isn’t…
      ALBUM REVIEW: Pearl Jam's 'Gigaton' feels old and fresh all at once
      ALBUM REVIEW: Pearl Jam’s ‘Gigaton’ feels old and fresh all at once
      March 23, 2020 at 5:30 am
      By now, Pearl Jam has aged into many things. Perhaps the band is mere comfort food for middle-aged rock snobs. Maybe it represents one last steady,…
    • ALBUM REVIEW: Conan Gray holds nothing back on 'Kid Krow'
      ALBUM REVIEW: Conan Gray holds nothing back on ‘Kid Krow’
      March 17, 2020 at 5:30 am
      There’s a good chance you already know who Conan Gray is, even if you’re not familiar with his name. Rising to popularity with covers on YouTube, supporting…
      ALBUM REVIEW: Morrissey goes for blood on 'I Am Not A Dog On A Chain'
      ALBUM REVIEW: Morrissey goes for blood on ‘I Am Not A Dog On A Chain’
      March 16, 2020 at 3:30 am
      British singer-songwriter Morrissey thrives on the psychologically dubious. A flavor of malice runs through his work, lacing his sincere efforts in song-poetry with danger and distrust.…
    • ALBUM REVIEW: Huntsmen's Americana metal turns sci-fi Western on ‘Mandala of Fear’
      ALBUM REVIEW: Huntsmen’s Americana metal turns sci-fi Western on ‘Mandala of Fear’
      March 13, 2020 at 12:20 am
      The term “Americana Metal” might seem outlandish, but Chicago’s Huntsmen find the middle ground between alt-country and stoner rock through the two genres’ common ground in storytelling.…

Listen Now

    • Tuesday Tracks: Your Weekly New Music Discovery – March 24
      Tuesday Tracks: Your Weekly New Music Discovery – March 24
      March 24, 2020 at 5:30 am
      Clockwise from top left: Alexander 23, Vistas, lilspirit, Mikhala Jené, Alec Wigdahl and Nilo Blues. Every week, there’s a plethora of new music at our fingertips.…
      Tuesday Tracks: Your Weekly New Music Discovery – March 17, 2020
      Tuesday Tracks: Your Weekly New Music Discovery – March 17, 2020
      March 17, 2020 at 5:30 am
      Clockwise from top left: The Dears, The Jacks, GUM (Tame Impala’s Jay Watson), Sparks, Gleemer, Sasami. Every week, there’s more new music waiting to be discovered.…

Videos

    • REVIEW: King Princess serenades her subjects at the Fox in Oakland
      REVIEW: King Princess serenades her subjects at the Fox in Oakland
      January 22, 2020 at 1:15 am
      King Princess performs at Fox Theater in Oakland on Jan. 21, 2020. OAKLAND — King Princess has found her audience on the “Cheap Queen Tour.” Brooklyn…
      REVIEW: Amber Liu lets the past go at self-affirming Warfield show
      REVIEW: Amber Liu lets the past go at self-affirming Warfield show
      January 19, 2020 at 2:50 am
      Amber Liu performs at the Warfield in San Francisco on Jan. 18, 2020. Onome Uyovbievbo/Staff. SAN FRANCISCO — Los-Angeles-born singer-songwriter Amber Liu, formerly of successful K-Pop…

Opinion

    • Professor Music: This column is getting nostalgic
      Professor Music: This column is getting nostalgic
      March 21, 2020 at 5:30 am
      The Technicolor Dream Coat. Photo by Quinn Gill. David Gill. Original art: Julia Kovaleva. “It’s more than a feeling (more than a feeling) When I hear…
      Life goes on: a look at the first day of the Bay Area's shelter-in-place
      Life goes on: a look at the first day of the Bay Area’s shelter-in-place
      March 18, 2020 at 1:15 am
      The Chapel, closed, on the afternoon of March 17, 2020, the first day of a shelter-in-place to combat coronavirus. Photos: Roman Gokhman. SAN FRANCISCO and OAKLAND…

Festival News

    • Outside Lands Eager Beaver tickets go on sale Thursday
      Outside Lands Eager Beaver tickets go on sale Thursday
      March 10, 2020 at 10:00 am
      Twenty One Pilots perform at Golden Gate Park in San Francisco during the Outside Lands Music Festival on Aug. 11, 2019. Joaquin Cabello/STAFF. The producers of…
      Empire of the Sun, Modest Mouse headline annual Sonoma Harvest Music Festival
      Empire of the Sun, Modest Mouse headline annual Sonoma Harvest Music Festival
      March 9, 2020 at 7:59 am
      Empire of the Sun performs at Golden Gate Park at Outside Lands on Aug, 12, 2017. Alessio Neri/STAFF. Sonoma Harvest Music Festival producers Monday announced the…
    • 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…
      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…
    • Noise Pop Review: Joan and Ralph hold power pop rendezvous at Swedish American Hall
      Noise Pop Review: Joan and Ralph hold power pop rendezvous at Swedish American Hall
      February 27, 2020 at 6:14 am
      Joan performs at Swedish American Hall in San Francisco on Feb. 26, 2020. Sean Liming/STAFF. SAN FRANCISCO — One of the most compelling aspects of Noise…