• REWIND: Honoring Biz Markie with other irreverent rappers
    Jul 24 2021
    12:01 AM

    REWIND: Honoring Biz Markie with other irreverent rappers

    Daniel J. Willis No Comments 0
    Biz Markie performs at the Mecca Arena in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on Aug. 1, 1988. Photo: Raymond Boyd/Getty Images. Last week the world lost Biz Markie, the Clown Prince of Hip-Hop. I won’t go over everything from his obituary again but despite often being considered a one-hit wonder, Markie…
  • Tuesday Tracks: Your Weekly New Music Discovery – July 20
    Jul 20 2021
    12:01 AM

    Tuesday Tracks: Your Weekly New Music Discovery – July 20

    Tim Hoffman No Comments 0
    Clockwise from top left: Anjulie, Killval, SSGKobe, Butch Dawson, BIG30 and Darrin Bradbury. Ever find yourself skipping song after song on your playlist after the thousandth rotation? A fresh perspective often breathes life into music, so here are some new singles to give a spin! BIG30, Darrin Bradbury,…
  • INTERVIEW: The Jungle Giants buckle down in search of 'Love Signs'
    Jul 19 2021
    12:01 AM

    INTERVIEW: The Jungle Giants buckle down in search of ‘Love Signs’

    Mike DeWald No Comments 0
    The Jungle Giants, courtesy. For those in America, the saga of the pandemic is fairly well-defined, but the experience played out quite differently in in Australia, which faced earlier and stricter lockdowns. Three quarters of The Jungle Giants faced challenges. In a recent call, guitarist Cesira Aitken said the heaviest…
  • Insert Foot: Who holds the title of most un-rock rock star on the planet?
    Jul 18 2021
    12:01 AM

    Insert Foot: Who holds the title of most un-rock rock star on the planet?

    Tony Hicks 1 Comment 0
    You know how sometimes you can’t unsee something, no matter how violently your eyes leap back into your brain, screaming? I just witnessed a clip of something from 1976 featuring John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd, posing as CHP officers, pulling Brian Wilson from bed and forcing him to…
  • PHOTOS: Robert Glasper and friends join the Dinner Party at Frost Amphitheater
    Jul 16 2021
    04:38 AM

    PHOTOS: Robert Glasper and friends join the Dinner Party at Frost Amphitheater

    Matt Pang No Comments 0
    Dinner Party performs at the Frost Amphitheater in Palo Alto on July 15, 2021. Matt Pang/STAFF. PALO ALTO — Dinner Party consists of highly notable musicians behind your favorite hip-hop soundtracks (as well as some of your favorite jazz). Saxophonist Terrace Martin, pianist Robert Glasper, trumpeter Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah and…
  • Interview: Jawny tells the other side of 'For Abby' with 'The Story of Hugo'
    Jul 14 2021
    12:01 AM

    Interview: Jawny tells the other side of ‘For Abby’ with ‘The Story of Hugo’

    Daniel J. Willis No Comments 0
    Jawny, courtesy Alex Free. Before East Bay native Jawny could let his last project go, he had to finish the story. The Story of Hugo Jawny Interscope, July 15 That project—October’s part-album, part-mixtape, part narrative art project For Abby—was the fictionalized story of a man who was in…
  • Another Coogler rises in Richmond: White Dave ready for the 'Space Jam'
    Jul 12 2021
    12:01 AM

    Another Coogler rises in Richmond: White Dave ready for the ‘Space Jam’

    Roman Gokhman No Comments 0
    White Dave, courtesy Anshil Popli. While Richmond rapper White Dave has had his songs featured in soundtracks for weighty and dramatic films like “Black Panther,” “Judas and the Black Messiah” and “Creed,” all three of which were led by his all-star director brother Ryan Coogler (though White Dave…
  • PHOTOS: Murs, The Grouch and friends still Living Legends at Cornerstone
    Jul 09 2021
    06:07 AM

    PHOTOS: Murs, The Grouch and friends still Living Legends at Cornerstone

    Karen Goldman 1 Comment 0
    Murs performs with The Grouch, Eligh and DJ Fresh at the Cornerstone in Berkeley on July 8, 2021. Karen Goldman/STAFF. BERKELEY — West Coast underground hip-hop legends Murs, The Grouch and Eligh played to a packed house at The Cornerstone on Thursday, with a crowd eager to welcome…
  • INTERVIEW: Dead Can Dance collaborator Jules Maxwell is a musical travel agent
    Jul 08 2021
    12:01 AM

    INTERVIEW: Dead Can Dance collaborator Jules Maxwell is a musical travel agent

    David Gill No Comments 0
    Jules Maxwell, courtesy Tony Wadham. Cathedrals serve a special purpose in culture to lift people from the mindless drudgery of their everyday lives and connect them to something bigger. Mosh pits serve the same purpose, but the calm of the cathedral delivers this transcendence without bruised ribs or…
  • Interview: CMAT using Irish country music culture to regrow country roots
    Jul 07 2021
    12:01 AM

    Interview: CMAT using Irish country music culture to regrow country roots

    Daniel J. Willis No Comments 0
    CMAT, courtesy Sarah Doyle. CMAT, short for Ciara Mary-Alice Thompson, is Irish. She was born in Ireland and, for this video call, she was in her mom’s house in Dublin. She also sings country music, a quintessentially American art form. The combination of those two things tends to…
  • Q&A: Cola Boyy on how his prosthetic leg inspired 'Prosthetic Boombox'
    Jul 05 2021
    12:01 AM

    Q&A: Cola Boyy on how his prosthetic leg inspired ‘Prosthetic Boombox’

    Domenic Strazzabosco No Comments 0
    Cola Boyy, courtesy Ross Harris. Cola Boyy (Matthew Urango) has been changing the dialogue that mainstream music is willing to confront since his debut. A self-described “disco deviant,” his vibe is eclectic, to say the least. Incorporating styles and influences from hip-hop to French disco, he’s always trying…
  • REVIEW: SF Symphony pays homage to America at Stern Grove Festival
    Jul 04 2021
    06:47 PM

    REVIEW: SF Symphony pays homage to America at Stern Grove Festival

    Roman Gokhman No Comments 0
    The San Francisco Symphony, conducted by Edwin Outwater (center), performs at Stern Grove Festival in San Francisco on July 4, 2021. Courtesy. SAN FRANCISCO — There are very few things more American than jazz, and the San Francisco Symphony took every opportunity to highlight the influences of the…

News

Rapper Biz Markie dead at 57
Jul 17 2021
7:30 am

Rapper Biz Markie dead at 57

Biz Markie performs at the Mecca Arena in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on Aug. 1, 1988. Photo: Raymond Boyd/Getty Images. Biz Markie, Clown Prince of Hip-Hop and artist behind “Just a Friend,” died Friday at age…
    • SF Symphony announces 2021-'22 season schedule
      SF Symphony announces 2021-’22 season schedule
      June 29, 2021 at 3:38 pm
      San Francisco Symphony Music Director Esa-Pekka Salonen. Courtesy: Andrew Eccles. The San Francisco Symphony on Tuesday announced the lineup and schedule for its 2021-’22 season, the…
      Obituary: Quick-spitting Blackalicious MC Gift of Gab dead at 50
      Obituary: Quick-spitting Blackalicious MC Gift of Gab dead at 50
      June 27, 2021 at 12:51 am
      Gift of Gab performs with Blackalicious at Yoshi’s in Oakland on Jan. 9, 2020; his final Bay Area performance. Sean Liming/STAFF. Much-loved hip-hop MC Timothy J.…
    • 3,000 pack Sigmund Stern Grove for return of concerts with Ledisi
      3,000 pack Sigmund Stern Grove for return of concerts with Ledisi
      June 20, 2021 at 8:03 pm
      San Francisco Mayor London Breed cuts a ceremonial red ribbon on the official return of concerts on the first day of the 84th annual Stern Grove…
      Mountain Winery announces stacked 2021 season
      Mountain Winery announces stacked 2021 season
      June 14, 2021 at 9:07 am
      Roger Daltrey performs with The Who at Golden Gate Park at Outside Lands on Aug, 13, 2017. Alessio Neri/STAFF. The Mountain Winery in Saratoga on Monday…
    • Bay Area soul, jazz and hip-hop acts highlight Yerba Buena Gardens Festival
      Bay Area soul, jazz and hip-hop acts highlight Yerba Buena Gardens Festival
      June 10, 2021 at 12:11 pm
      LoCura performs at Outside Lands Music Festival in Golden Gate Park on Aug. 10, 2013. Roman Gokhman/STAFF. The Yerba Buena Gardens Festival will be back, starting…
      Tower of Power, Too $hort among headliners at 2021 Stern Grove Festival
      Tower of Power, Too $hort among headliners at 2021 Stern Grove Festival
      June 8, 2021 at 9:00 am
      Too $hort performs at BottleRock Napa Valley at the Napa Valley Expo on May 26, 2019. Shawn Robbins/STAFF. Thundercat, Fitz and the Tantrums, Joan Jett, Perfume…
    • BottleRock Napa Valley announces 2021 "AfterDark" shows
      BottleRock Napa Valley announces 2021 “AfterDark” shows
      June 8, 2021 at 8:00 am
      Jimmy Eat World performs at the Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View on Aug. 16, 2017. Alessio Neri/STAFF. The producers of BottleRock Napa Valley revealed a lineup…
      Stanford Live announces summer shows at Frost Amphitheater
      Stanford Live announces summer shows at Frost Amphitheater
      June 3, 2021 at 3:11 pm
      Lavay Smith & Her Red Hot Skillet Lickers, courtesy William Mercer McLeod. Stanford Live will kick off a six-week run of in-person performances at Frost Amphitheater…
    • SF Symphony announces summer season, Stern Grove Fest and Stanford Live appearances
      SF Symphony announces summer season, Stern Grove Fest and Stanford Live appearances
      June 3, 2021 at 2:25 pm
      Courtesy: San Francisco Symphony. The San Francisco Symphony on Thursday announced its summer season, including a free Fourth of July concert at Stern Grove Festival, residency…
      Artists mourn the passing of B.J. Thomas
      Artists mourn the passing of B.J. Thomas
      June 1, 2021 at 5:40 pm
      B.J. Thomas, courtesy. Artists in Nashville and beyond have offered condolences for five-time Grammy-winning singer-songwriter B.J. Thomas, who died last weekend following a fight with cancer.…
    • After 75 years, the 746th Far East Air Force Band released an album
      After 75 years, the 746th Far East Air Force Band released an album
      May 31, 2021 at 12:01 am
      In January of 1946, in a camp outside Manila in the Philippines, the 746th Far East Air Force Band was breaking up. Unlike most band breakups,…
      Noise Pop to bring back 20th Street Block Party in October, annual fest in 2022
      Noise Pop to bring back 20th Street Block Party in October, annual fest in 2022
      May 28, 2021 at 11:50 am
      Noise Pop’s 20th Street Block Party. Photo: Paige K. Parsons Music promoter Noise Pop on Thursday announced that it will bring back its annual San Francisco…
    • Fantastic Negrito leads funky Mare Island Dock of Bay Festival in September
      Fantastic Negrito leads funky Mare Island Dock of Bay Festival in September
      May 26, 2021 at 5:00 pm
      Fantastic Negrito performs during a livestream concert at the Downtown Theatre in Fairfield, California, on Jan. 23, 2021. He leads the lineup for Mare Island Dock…
      Freight & Salvage free music festival Freight Fest goes virtual on June 5
      Freight & Salvage free music festival Freight Fest goes virtual on June 5
      May 24, 2021 at 1:32 pm
      Freight & Salvage, Courtesy: Noah Salzman/Wikicommons. Berkeley’s Freight & Salvage will virtually host its free music festival, Freight Fest, on Saturday, June 5 with performances by…
    • BottleRock releases daily lineups, one-day tickets on-sale Thursday
      BottleRock releases daily lineups, one-day tickets on-sale Thursday
      May 24, 2021 at 8:00 am
      Megan Thee Stallion performs during the 2021 Grammy Awards in Los Angeles on March 14, 2021. She’s one of two headliners at BottleRock on Sunday, Sept.…
      Stern Grove Festival to return in June with in-person concerts
      Stern Grove Festival to return in June with in-person concerts
      May 20, 2021 at 9:22 am
      Courtesy: Stern Grove Festival. The Stern Grove Festival, which has provided admission-free concerts to hundreds of thousands in San Francisco for more than 80 years, will…
    • SFJAZZ goes virtual for 2021 festival
      SFJAZZ goes virtual for 2021 festival
      May 18, 2021 at 4:18 pm
      After being forced to cancel its 2020 San Francisco Jazz Festival due to the pandemic, SFJAZZ will present a virtual edition of the event next month. Running…
      BottleRock roars back with Guns N' Roses, Foo Fighters, Megan Thee Stallion
      BottleRock roars back with Guns N’ Roses, Foo Fighters, Megan Thee Stallion
      May 17, 2021 at 8:00 am
      Guns N’ Roses perform at the Oracle Arena in Oakland on Nov. 21, 2017. Courtesy. Producers of BottleRock Napa Valley Monday morning dropped arguably the biggest lineup…
    • San Francisco Symphony returns to Davies for "emotional" first shows in 14 months
      San Francisco Symphony returns to Davies for “emotional” first shows in 14 months
      May 8, 2021 at 10:05 am
      Music Director Esa-Pekka Salonen conducts the San Francisco Symphony in a program for first responders, featuring string works by Jean Sibelius, George Walker, Carl Nielsen, Caroline…
      SF Ballet announces 2022 season, grand exit for Artistic Director Helgi Tomasson
      SF Ballet announces 2022 season, grand exit for Artistic Director Helgi Tomasson
      May 6, 2021 at 2:47 pm
      San Francisco Ballet dancers Yuan Yuan Tan and Tiit Helimets in Helgi Tomasson’s “Swan Lake.” Courtesy: Erik Tomasson/SF Ballet. The San Francisco Ballet has announced its…
    • John McCrea spreads roots with reforestation, talks 1st CAKE LP in a decade
      John McCrea spreads roots with reforestation, talks 1st CAKE LP in a decade
      May 6, 2021 at 12:01 am
      John McCrea of CAKE performs during 94.7’s 20th Birthday Bash at Oregon Museum of Science and Industry on Aug. 16, 2015 in Portland, Oregon. Photo by…
      Porter Robinson's Second Sky Festival to return to the East Bay in September
      Porter Robinson’s Second Sky Festival to return to the East Bay in September
      May 5, 2021 at 10:24 pm
      Porter Robinson, courtesy Dan Regan. EDM producer and songwriter Porter Robinson aims to bring the one of the first music festivals of the COVID-19 pandemic era to…
    • Nonprofit puts cash into the hands of SF venues, directly from fans
      Nonprofit puts cash into the hands of SF venues, directly from fans
      May 5, 2021 at 9:39 pm
      The Great American Music Hall in San Francisco. Courtesy. Nonprofit The Giving Back Fund aims to help fund San Francisco entertainment venues by connecting them to individual…
      Fantastic Negrito gives Oakland Roots SC an anthem with "Root City"
      Fantastic Negrito gives Oakland Roots SC an anthem with “Root City”
      May 3, 2021 at 9:45 pm
      Three-time Grammy winner and Oakland native Fantastic Negrito has formally released “Root City,” the new official anthem of the Oakland Roots Sports Club. “Root City” was…

Features

    • Interview: Jawny tells the other side of 'For Abby' with 'The Story of Hugo'
      Interview: Jawny tells the other side of ‘For Abby’ with ‘The Story of Hugo’
      July 14, 2021 at 12:01 am
      Jawny, courtesy Alex Free. Before East Bay native Jawny could let his last project go, he had to finish the story. The Story of Hugo Jawny…
    • Another Coogler rises in Richmond: White Dave ready for the 'Space Jam'
      Another Coogler rises in Richmond: White Dave ready for the ‘Space Jam’
      July 12, 2021 at 12:01 am
      White Dave, courtesy Anshil Popli. While Richmond rapper White Dave has had his songs featured in soundtracks for weighty and dramatic films like “Black Panther,” “Judas…
    • INTERVIEW: Dead Can Dance collaborator Jules Maxwell is a musical travel agent
      INTERVIEW: Dead Can Dance collaborator Jules Maxwell is a musical travel agent
      July 8, 2021 at 12:01 am
      Jules Maxwell, courtesy Tony Wadham. Cathedrals serve a special purpose in culture to lift people from the mindless drudgery of their everyday lives and connect them…
    • Interview: CMAT using Irish country music culture to regrow country roots
      Interview: CMAT using Irish country music culture to regrow country roots
      July 7, 2021 at 12:01 am
      CMAT, courtesy Sarah Doyle. CMAT, short for Ciara Mary-Alice Thompson, is Irish. She was born in Ireland and, for this video call, she was in her…
    • Cassidy King channels warmth and excitement with "Four in the Morning"
      Cassidy King channels warmth and excitement with “Four in the Morning”
      July 2, 2021 at 12:01 am
      Cassidy King, courtesy. “Four in the Morning,” the new single from Cassidy King, is a departure from her first EP, Not So Picture Perfect. While the EP…
    • INTERVIEW: Tessa Violet works through anger with "Games" and a mosh pit
      INTERVIEW: Tessa Violet works through anger with “Games” and a mosh pit
      June 28, 2021 at 12:01 am
      Tessa Violet, courtesy Sarah Pardini. Tessa Violet released Bad Ideas in 2019 and was set to take her second album on the road the following year.…
    • Interview: Ida Maria roars back against 'Dirty Money'
      Interview: Ida Maria roars back against ‘Dirty Money’
      June 21, 2021 at 12:01 am
      Ida Maria, courtesy. After moving from Los Angeles back home to rural coastal Norway several years ago, rock singer-songwriter Ida Maria turned to other pursuits to break…
    • INTERVIEW: Jake Miller charts the highs and lows on 'Silver Lining II'
      INTERVIEW: Jake Miller charts the highs and lows on ‘Silver Lining II’
      June 18, 2021 at 12:11 am
      Jake Miller, courtesy Zack Caspary. Singer, songwriter and producer Jake Miller wanted to take his time working on his fourth album, Silver Lining II, but this probably wasn’t…

Podcasts

    • 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…
    • ROCK'N VINO: Jen Janet takes hard rock dreams westward
      ROCK’N VINO: Jen Janet takes hard rock dreams westward
      December 17, 2020 at 2:30 am
      Jen Janet, courtesy. Jen Janet picked a decidedly inopportune time to pack up and move her life to the opposite coast. “I moved to California right…
    • RIFF Radio: Chris Daughtry finds creative freedom amid a chaotic world
      RIFF Radio: Chris Daughtry finds creative freedom amid a chaotic world
      September 7, 2020 at 2:30 am
      Daughtry. Courtesy photo. Chris Daughtry‘s enthusiam over his band’s upcoming sixth record is palpable. Speaking from his home in Nashville in a room decked out in…

Album Reviews

    • REVIEW: David Crosby experiences another bright day on 'For Free'
      REVIEW: David Crosby experiences another bright day on ‘For Free’
      July 21, 2021 at 5:06 am
      The singular career of folksinger David Crosby is, by and large, defined by his hippie coterie. Coming up and partying with many of the biggest names…
      Joshua Radin breaks down internal barriers on 'The Ghost and the Wall'
      Joshua Radin breaks down internal barriers on ‘The Ghost and the Wall’
      July 21, 2021 at 12:01 am
      Nearly two decades into his music career, singer-songwriter Joshua Radin is back with his ninth studio album, The Ghost and the Wall, which once again showcases…
    • ALBUM REVIEW: Descendents unearth buried treasures on '9th & Walnut'
      ALBUM REVIEW: Descendents unearth buried treasures on ‘9th & Walnut’
      July 21, 2021 at 12:01 am
      Legendary Southern California punk rockers Descendents‘ eighth studio album, 9th & Walnut, shows they still have the same thrashy, proto-skate and pop-punk energy from their early days. This…
      REVIEW: Leon Bridges is organic and flourishing on 'Gold-Diggers Sound'
      REVIEW: Leon Bridges is organic and flourishing on ‘Gold-Diggers Sound’
      July 20, 2021 at 12:01 am
      Simply put, Leon Bridges has one of those voices that is just plain beautiful and works in any situation. From appearances in “Big Little Lies” as Reese…
    • Jackson Browne works through life, again, on 'Downhill From Everywhere'
      Jackson Browne works through life, again, on ‘Downhill From Everywhere’
      July 19, 2021 at 12:01 am
      The new album by Jackson Browne is heartening for several reasons, not the least of which is that almost 50 years after touchstone works like For…
      REVIEW: Tones and I flies high on 'Welcome to the Madhouse'
      REVIEW: Tones and I flies high on ‘Welcome to the Madhouse’
      July 15, 2021 at 9:00 pm
      Australian singer-songwriter and producer Tones and I certainly makes a statement with her full-length debut, Welcome to the Madhouse. On the heels of her smash hit, “Dance…
    • ALBUM REVIEW: Clairo and collaborators create new styles for 'Sling'
      ALBUM REVIEW: Clairo and collaborators create new styles for ‘Sling’
      July 15, 2021 at 9:00 pm
      Twenty-two-year-old internet sensation Clairo has grown from recording in her dorm room in 2017 to the beautiful Allaire studios in the Catskill Mountains, where David Bowie and…
      ALBUM REVIEW: Barenaked Ladies are a real 'Detour de Force'
      ALBUM REVIEW: Barenaked Ladies are a real ‘Detour de Force’
      July 13, 2021 at 12:01 am
      “And after three decades it’s still a good hang,” the Barenaked Ladies rap-sing on the bridge of “Good Life,” the second track off their 16th album, Detour…
    • ALBUM REVIEW: The 'Influences' of BSS' Kevin Drew reflect the values of freedom
      ALBUM REVIEW: The ‘Influences’ of BSS’ Kevin Drew reflect the values of freedom
      July 13, 2021 at 12:01 am
      By Red Drizi As K.D.A.P., Toronto indie rock outfit Broken Social Scene frontman Kevin Drew circumvents the constraints of playing in a band for his first solo album,…
      ALBUM REVIEW: John Mayer blends his various eras on 'Sob Rock'
      ALBUM REVIEW: John Mayer blends his various eras on ‘Sob Rock’
      July 12, 2021 at 12:00 am
      Sob Rock is an ode to all the different eras of the sound of John Mayer. The album, his eighth, feels like a trip through the ages,…
    • ALBUM REVIEW: Vince Staples' self-titled LP a worthwhile between-project listen
      ALBUM REVIEW: Vince Staples’ self-titled LP a worthwhile between-project listen
      July 8, 2021 at 9:00 pm
      Vince Staples‘ new self-titled LP should be just enough to hold fans over until he follows it up with the previously announced Ramona Park Broke My Heart. He’s…
      REVIEW: The Wallflowers return for reinvigorated "Exit Wounds"
      REVIEW: The Wallflowers return for reinvigorated “Exit Wounds”
      July 5, 2021 at 12:01 am
      The brainchild of singer-songwriter Jakob Dylan, Exit Wounds is The Wallflowers‘ seventh studio album. After a decade-long hiatus, Dylan turned to ace producer Butch Walker to helm the…
    • ALBUM REVIEW: G Herbo expands his introspection on '25'
      ALBUM REVIEW: G Herbo expands his introspection on ’25’
      July 2, 2021 at 5:24 am
      The Chicago drill scene is alive and well. Between Polo G’s Hall of Fame and, now, G Herbo‘s 25—we may have a new trend setting up to define the next…
      REVIEW: Desperate Journalist gives maximum pleasure with ‘Maximum Sorrow!’
      REVIEW: Desperate Journalist gives maximum pleasure with ‘Maximum Sorrow!’
      June 30, 2021 at 12:01 am
      It’s telling that U.K. post-punk band Desperate Journalist takes its name from a joke—specifically, a track from a 1979 John Peel session with The Cure, “Desperate…
    • Bobby Gillespie, Jehnny Beth grapple with their love's 'Utopian Ashes'
      Bobby Gillespie, Jehnny Beth grapple with their love’s ‘Utopian Ashes’
      June 28, 2021 at 12:02 am
      Bobby Gillespie, lead singer of Primal Scream, has teamed up with Jehnny Beth of Savages for their first collaborative endeavor, Utopian Ashes, a gorgeously grim and…
      REVIEW: At The Gates persevere into the void on 'The Nightmare Of Being'
      REVIEW: At The Gates persevere into the void on ‘The Nightmare Of Being’
      June 28, 2021 at 12:01 am
      Back in 1996, on the heels of their career-defining Slaughter Of The Soul, Gothenburg, Sweden’s At The Gates suddenly called it quits. Band members persisted through…
    • ALBUM REVIEW: Tyler, the Creator wants you to 'Call Me If You Get Lost'
      ALBUM REVIEW: Tyler, the Creator wants you to ‘Call Me If You Get Lost’
      June 25, 2021 at 12:43 am
      Much to the glee of Odd Future fans, Tyler, the Creator is back with Call Me If You Get Lost. Announced just a week earlier, the album follows 2019’s IGOR and maintains the…
      ALBUM REVIEW: Doja Cat charts new territories on ‘Planet Her’
      ALBUM REVIEW: Doja Cat charts new territories on ‘Planet Her’
      June 24, 2021 at 5:57 pm
      Doja Cat has followed a rare, strictly upward trajectory career since her debut with viral single “Mooo!” and wacky “Go To Town,” off 2018 debut Amala. On…
    • REVIEW: Saint Motel sugary sweet on new 'Soundtrack'
      REVIEW: Saint Motel sugary sweet on new ‘Soundtrack’
      June 23, 2021 at 12:02 am
      From 2007 to 2021, dream-pop band SAINT MOTEL has been making listeners move and groove to the soothing beats of their soft funk, both in person…
      ALBUM REVIEW: Get lost in a dream with The Marías on 'Cinema'
      ALBUM REVIEW: Get lost in a dream with The Marías on ‘Cinema’
      June 23, 2021 at 12:01 am
      How do you describe a band like The Marías? Billed as alt-pop, the Angelenos incorporate a span of genres from jazz to reggaeton on their first…
    • ALBUM REVIEW: Lucy Dacus nostalgic for her youth on 'Home Video'
      ALBUM REVIEW: Lucy Dacus nostalgic for her youth on ‘Home Video’
      June 23, 2021 at 12:01 am
      There are few things as nostalgic as pulling out a home movie on VHS and seeing your childhood self. Running around in dress-up clothes, with high-pitched…
      REVIEW: UB40 mines roots, partnerships on 'Bigga Baggariddim'
      REVIEW: UB40 mines roots, partnerships on ‘Bigga Baggariddim’
      June 22, 2021 at 12:03 am
      When a band gets to the level of entrenchment that England’s UB40 has achieved, it can make the album it wants. Referenced by jam-champions Phish and…
    • REVIEW: Buckcherry takes a raucous 'Hellbound' ride on new album
      REVIEW: Buckcherry takes a raucous ‘Hellbound’ ride on new album
      June 22, 2021 at 12:01 am
      SoCal hard rockers Buckcherry return with their ninth studio effort, bringing an old friend along for the ride. For Hellbound, the band reunited with producer Marti…
      ALBUM REVIEW: The Mountain Goats shine a light on 'Dark in Here'
      ALBUM REVIEW: The Mountain Goats shine a light on ‘Dark in Here’
      June 22, 2021 at 12:01 am
      The Mountain Goats’ latest album, Dark in Here, feels so timely that it’s hard to believe the band recorded it more than a year ago. According…
    • Modest Mouse's 'The Golden Casket' is more cheery than it sounds
      Modest Mouse’s ‘The Golden Casket’ is more cheery than it sounds
      June 21, 2021 at 12:01 am
      It’s expected a band’s sound will change over time and Modest Mouse is no exception, releasing nine records since 1996. Its newest, The Golden Casket, offers a…
      ALBUM REVIEW: Beartooth pummels and punishes on heavy 'Below'
      ALBUM REVIEW: Beartooth pummels and punishes on heavy ‘Below’
      June 21, 2021 at 12:01 am
      Columbus, Ohio’s Beartooth may revel in themes of misery, but frontman Caleb Shomo’s real goal is to have fun. Perhaps that’s why their brand of punk-influenced…
    • ALBUM REVIEW: Gucci Mane leaves a cold impression with 'Ice Daddy'
      ALBUM REVIEW: Gucci Mane leaves a cold impression with ‘Ice Daddy’
      June 18, 2021 at 5:34 am
      Gucci Mane has made a name for himself as a cornerstone of the trap movement that dominated the last decade of hip-hop. His prolific output of…
      ALBUM REVIEW: Push Baby finds its voice on 'Wow, Big Legend'
      ALBUM REVIEW: Push Baby finds its voice on ‘Wow, Big Legend’
      June 16, 2021 at 8:29 am
      After an array of musical and label mishaps, including rebranding to Push Baby from Rixton, losing two members of the quartet and then a record deal…
    • REVIEW: Mykki Blanco transcends on 'Broken Hearts & Beauty Sleep'
      REVIEW: Mykki Blanco transcends on ‘Broken Hearts & Beauty Sleep’
      June 15, 2021 at 12:01 am
      Broken Hearts and Beauty Sleep, the newest album by Mykki Blanco, deserves a spotlight to be shining directly on it. Undercutting vocal traditions and mixing pop,…
      STYX's ‘Crash Of The Crown’ is classic rock with modern drama
      STYX’s ‘Crash Of The Crown’ is classic rock with modern drama
      June 14, 2021 at 12:01 am
      If you’re a STYX fan but haven’t thought about the ’70s rockers in a while, 17th album Crash Of The Crown will bring memories rushing back. Their classic rock…
    • ALBUM REVIEW: Migos close their trilogy with 'Culture III'
      ALBUM REVIEW: Migos close their trilogy with ‘Culture III’
      June 11, 2021 at 5:29 am
      Culture III is a worthy final chapter to Migos‘ trilogy. The album, coming three years following the middle installment, shines in its robust production that’s sure to…
      REVIEW: Maroon 5 pays the most lackluster of tributes on 'Jordi'
      REVIEW: Maroon 5 pays the most lackluster of tributes on ‘Jordi’
      June 10, 2021 at 11:36 pm
      When Maroon 5 and Christina Aguilera wrote “Moves Like Jagger,” the band developed a sound and style of production that guarantees a certain level of chart success.…
    • King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard dial down the eclecticism on 'Butterfly 3000'
      King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard dial down the eclecticism on ‘Butterfly 3000’
      June 10, 2021 at 9:29 pm
      By Thomas Richards Australian band King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard is still able to surprise even longtime listeners with the directions its music takes it.…
      REVIEW: MARINA gets angry on 'Ancient Dreams in a Modern Land'
      REVIEW: MARINA gets angry on ‘Ancient Dreams in a Modern Land’
      June 10, 2021 at 9:00 pm
      Marina Diamandis is no stranger to poignant-but-kitschy glam-pop. She’s slowly been popularizing it since 2012 as Marina and the Diamonds. Her second album, Electra Heart, skyrocketed her…
    • ALBUM REVIEW: Polo G is grinning through the pain on 'Hall of Fame'
      ALBUM REVIEW: Polo G is grinning through the pain on ‘Hall of Fame’
      June 10, 2021 at 9:00 pm
      Hall of Fame, the third album from Chicago drill rapper Polo G, presents a veneer of glamour and success, from the artwork and title suggesting prestige to the…
      REVIEW: ShitKid squeezes out every last song on 'Sort Stjerne!'
      REVIEW: ShitKid squeezes out every last song on ‘Sort Stjerne!’
      June 9, 2021 at 12:01 am
        Perhaps you’ve never heard of ShitKid, and if not, you’re finding out too late, since the release of their newest album, Sort Stjerne! (translated from Swedish…
    • Review: Does Wolfgang Van Halen's 'Mammoth WVH' live up to lofty expectations?
      Review: Does Wolfgang Van Halen’s ‘Mammoth WVH’ live up to lofty expectations?
      June 8, 2021 at 9:00 pm
      There are a couple ways to listen to the debut of Wolfgang Van Halen’s Mammoth WVH. Mammoth WVH Wolfgang Van Halen Explorer1 Music Group, June 11 7/10 The first comes through expectations of the 30-year-old son of a man who…
      Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real shine bright on 'A Few Stars Apart'
      Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real shine bright on ‘A Few Stars Apart’
      June 8, 2021 at 3:00 am
      It’s fascinating to see legendary musicians’ children follow in their parents’ footsteps, some bringing their own voices to the craft, others diverging from the path their…
    • ALBUM REVIEW: Danny Elfman conducts a frenetically glorious 'Big Mess'
      ALBUM REVIEW: Danny Elfman conducts a frenetically glorious ‘Big Mess’
      June 8, 2021 at 1:08 am
      To fully recognize Danny Elfman‘s expansive CV would take up the rest of the word count of this review. The singer, songwriter and composer began his…
      ALBUM REVIEW: Garbage decries the status quo with 'No Gods No Masters'
      ALBUM REVIEW: Garbage decries the status quo with ‘No Gods No Masters’
      June 7, 2021 at 12:01 am
      No Gods No Masters, the new album from Garbage, shares its name with a popular anarchist slogan that has become more prominent in public discourse as of…
    • REVIEW: AFI tramples fresh acreage on 'Bodies'
      REVIEW: AFI tramples fresh acreage on ‘Bodies’
      June 7, 2021 at 12:01 am
      AFI emerged in the late 1990s, one of the last bands to get in on that era’s wave of anthemic, melodic emo bands. At the time…
      REVIEW: Gary Louris of the Jayhawks breaks past roots rock on 'Jump for Joy'
      REVIEW: Gary Louris of the Jayhawks breaks past roots rock on ‘Jump for Joy’
      June 2, 2021 at 12:11 am
      Gary Louris has been best known as the longtime leader of the Jayhawks, a Minneapolis-based band that once was one of the leading lights of the…
    • ALBUM REVIEW: Rise Against takes the gloves off on 'Nowhere Generation'
      ALBUM REVIEW: Rise Against takes the gloves off on ‘Nowhere Generation’
      June 1, 2021 at 12:01 am
      Between the increasingly fascistic nature of U.S. politics, climate crisis, economic disparity, crumbling infrastructure and rampant gun violence, things are still really, really bad. Older generations…
      Rostam counters 'Changephobia' with jazz and synths on new LP
      Rostam counters ‘Changephobia’ with jazz and synths on new LP
      June 1, 2021 at 12:01 am
      Changephobia, a term Rostam coined to surmise the feeling of wrestling with our ever-changing lives, is the ambient, glossy album we need to bring us into…
    • Japanese Breakfast hits offbeat notes stylishly on 'Jubilee'
      Japanese Breakfast hits offbeat notes stylishly on ‘Jubilee’
      June 1, 2021 at 12:01 am
      Ever thought about using paprika, a spice from central Mexico that spread to Europe during the 1500s, to describe someone who is the center of attention…
      Some things change, others remain the same for Liz Phair on 'Soberish'
      Some things change, others remain the same for Liz Phair on ‘Soberish’
      May 31, 2021 at 2:00 am
      Liz Phair recently told Variety that you can go home again, only things progress and people change. That was a great way to describe her first…
    • ALBUM REVIEW: Wolf Alice triumphs with 'Blue Weekend'
      ALBUM REVIEW: Wolf Alice triumphs with ‘Blue Weekend’
      May 31, 2021 at 1:00 am
      While London quartet Wolf Alice remains a bit of a secret here in the U.S., it’s a chart-topping cover star and festival main-stage mainstay across much of…
      REVIEW: Billy Gibbons brings the desert heat on 'Hardware'
      REVIEW: Billy Gibbons brings the desert heat on ‘Hardware’
      May 31, 2021 at 12:01 am
      Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top has been paying with drummer Matt Sorum and guitarist Austin Hanks on the side for a while now, and his third solo…
    • ALBUM REVIEW: 'Exodus' a bold closing chapter to the life of DMX
      ALBUM REVIEW: ‘Exodus’ a bold closing chapter to the life of DMX
      May 28, 2021 at 1:20 am
      A bold and bittersweet closing chapter for one of the greatest rappers of all time, the long-awaited album from DMX, Exodus, comes a little over a month and…

Listen Now

    • Tuesday Tracks: Your Weekly New Music Discovery – July 20
      Tuesday Tracks: Your Weekly New Music Discovery – July 20
      July 20, 2021 at 12:01 am
      Clockwise from top left: Anjulie, Killval, SSGKobe, Butch Dawson, BIG30 and Darrin Bradbury. Ever find yourself skipping song after song on your playlist after the thousandth…
      REWIND: Bridge the gap between Marvel movies with their soundtracks
      REWIND: Bridge the gap between Marvel movies with their soundtracks
      July 17, 2021 at 12:01 am
      Loki, courtesy Disney+ and Marvel. This probably won’t come as a shock to anyone who’s ever been within earshot of me or read anything I’ve ever…

Q&A Interviews

    • Q&A: Pianist Ben Cosgrove on finding natural beauty outside his door
      Q&A: Pianist Ben Cosgrove on finding natural beauty outside his door
      June 7, 2021 at 12:30 am
      Ben Cosgrove, courtesy. For more than a decade pianist Ben Cosgrove has quietly combined his lifelong passion for nature and music. He traipses around beautiful wilderness…
    • Q&A: Gary Louris of the Jayhawks on the 'purity of creating,' writing as architecture
      Q&A: Gary Louris of the Jayhawks on the ‘purity of creating,’ writing as architecture
      May 27, 2021 at 12:11 am
      Gary Louris (The Jayhawks) courtesy Tim Geaney. Gary Louris has, off and on since the late 1980s, been one of the mainstays of The Jayhawks, a…
    • Q&A: Zachary Carothers on Portugal. The Man excavating 'Oregon City Sessions,' next LP
      Q&A: Zachary Carothers on Portugal. The Man excavating ‘Oregon City Sessions,’ next LP
      April 23, 2021 at 12:01 am
      Portugal. The Man performs at Live 105’s Not So Silent Night at Oracle Arena on Dec. 8, 2017. Alessio Neri/STAFF. John Gourley and Zachary Carothers may…
    • Q&A: Indian vocalist and doctor Janalynn Castelino breaking stereotypes
      Q&A: Indian vocalist and doctor Janalynn Castelino breaking stereotypes
      April 19, 2021 at 12:01 am
      Janalynn Castelino, courtesy. By Rebecca Somers Rising Indian singer-songwriter Janalynn Castelino, who recently completed her academic training as a doctor, is living the best of both professions. The…
    • Q&A: Alice Merton faces off with herself in "Vertigo," her first song of 2021
      Q&A: Alice Merton faces off with herself in “Vertigo,” her first song of 2021
      April 17, 2021 at 2:02 pm
      Alice Merton, courtesy. In the video for “Vertigo,” Alice Merton finds herself trying to escape an grungy industrial underground dystopia, only to find herself ensnared by…
    • Interview: The Fratellis' John Lawler lets the music guide the way
      Interview: The Fratellis’ John Lawler lets the music guide the way
      March 22, 2021 at 1:00 am
      The Fratellis, courtesy. The Fratellis, and frontman John Lawler in particular, have had a career of ups and downs. Their rush to stardom almost 15 years…
    • INTERVIEW: Canadian Haviah Mighty breaks down barriers with "Obeah"
      INTERVIEW: Canadian Haviah Mighty breaks down barriers with “Obeah”
      February 15, 2021 at 12:01 am
      Haviah Mighty. Photos courtesy Yung Yemi. Canadian hip-hop artist Haviah Mighty has seen her rapid success dominate her home country and beyond. She’s made waves with…
    • SF Ballet's Helgi Tomasson addresses his 2022 departure, future
      SF Ballet’s Helgi Tomasson addresses his 2022 departure, future
      January 23, 2021 at 8:00 am
      SF Ballet Artistic Director and Principal Choreographer Helgi Tomasson. Courtesy: Erik Tomasson/SF Ballet. The San Francisco Ballet earlier this month announced the 2022 departure of Artistic…
    • Q&A: Einar Selvik of Wardruna bridging old Norse myths to today's audiences
      Q&A: Einar Selvik of Wardruna bridging old Norse myths to today’s audiences
      January 11, 2021 at 12:01 am
      Wardruna (Einar Selvik center), Courtesy: Kim Ohrling. Einar Selvik was once known as “kvitravn,” which translates from old Norse to “the white raven.” That was back…

Festival news

    • BottleRock Napa Valley announces 2021 "AfterDark" shows
      BottleRock Napa Valley announces 2021 “AfterDark” shows
      June 8, 2021 at 8:00 am
      Jimmy Eat World performs at the Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View on Aug. 16, 2017. Alessio Neri/STAFF. The producers of BottleRock Napa Valley revealed a lineup…
    • Noise Pop to bring back 20th Street Block Party in October, annual fest in 2022
      Noise Pop to bring back 20th Street Block Party in October, annual fest in 2022
      May 28, 2021 at 11:50 am
      Noise Pop’s 20th Street Block Party. Photo: Paige K. Parsons Music promoter Noise Pop on Thursday announced that it will bring back its annual San Francisco…
    • BottleRock releases daily lineups, one-day tickets on-sale Thursday
      BottleRock releases daily lineups, one-day tickets on-sale Thursday
      May 24, 2021 at 8:00 am
      Megan Thee Stallion performs during the 2021 Grammy Awards in Los Angeles on March 14, 2021. She’s one of two headliners at BottleRock on Sunday, Sept.…
    • Stern Grove Festival to return in June with in-person concerts
      Stern Grove Festival to return in June with in-person concerts
      May 20, 2021 at 9:22 am
      Courtesy: Stern Grove Festival. The Stern Grove Festival, which has provided admission-free concerts to hundreds of thousands in San Francisco for more than 80 years, will…
    • SFJAZZ goes virtual for 2021 festival
      SFJAZZ goes virtual for 2021 festival
      May 18, 2021 at 4:18 pm
      After being forced to cancel its 2020 San Francisco Jazz Festival due to the pandemic, SFJAZZ will present a virtual edition of the event next month. Running…

Opinion

    • Insert Foot: Celebrating Four Seasons Total Landscaping Day with Laura Jane Grace
      Insert Foot: Celebrating Four Seasons Total Landscaping Day with Laura Jane Grace
      July 11, 2021 at 12:01 am
      INSERT FOOT, Laura Jane Grace and Four Seasons Total Landscaping Day. Laura Jane Grace, who fronts punk band Against Me!, just announced she’ll play a solo…
      Insert Foot: Bill Cosby has his freedom on Independence Day, but should anyone buy tickets?
      Insert Foot: Bill Cosby has his freedom on Independence Day, but should anyone buy tickets?
      July 4, 2021 at 12:02 am
      Bill Cosby speaks to reporters outside of his home in Cheltenham, Pennsylvaniaon June 30, 2021. Cosby was released from prison after court overturned his sex assault…
    • Insert Foot: Aren't we a little late to the Britney Spears sympathy party?
      Insert Foot: Aren’t we a little late to the Britney Spears sympathy party?
      June 27, 2021 at 12:01 am
      Protesters attend a #FreeBritney Rally at Stanley Mosk Courthouse in Los Angeles on March 17, 2021. Original photo: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images. You’re being told to care…
      Insert Foot: Music City San Francisco celebrates the Bay Area's music past and its future
      Insert Foot: Music City San Francisco celebrates the Bay Area’s music past and its future
      June 20, 2021 at 12:17 am
      SAN FRANCISCO — I think I might have overdosed my 13-year-old daughter. On music. C’mon. Rendering: Adam Pardee/STAFF. She wouldn’t be the first of my daughters…

Concert Reviews

    • REVIEW, VIDEOS: Ledisi brings Stern Grove Festival back to life
      REVIEW, VIDEOS: Ledisi brings Stern Grove Festival back to life
      June 20, 2021 at 8:46 pm
      Ledisi performs on the first day of the 84th annual Stern Grove Festival at Sigmund Stern Grove Park in San Francisco on June 20, 2021. Courtesy…
    • REVIEW: Marina takes to the desert for 'Ancient Dreams' stream
      REVIEW: Marina takes to the desert for ‘Ancient Dreams’ stream
      June 12, 2021 at 7:30 pm
      Marina Diamandis performs during her “Ancient Dreams” streamed performance on June 12, 2021. Courtesy Brendan Walter for Moment House. On the heels of the release of…
    • REVIEW: Twenty One Pilots show warmth on 'Scaled and Icy' stream
      REVIEW: Twenty One Pilots show warmth on ‘Scaled and Icy’ stream
      May 22, 2021 at 10:19 am
      Twenty One Pilots perform during a livestream even on May 21, 2021. Images courtesy: Maestro. By Mason Meyers Twenty One Pilots dip into the world of…
    • REVIEW: Korn lights up the sky on electrifying 'Monumental' stream
      REVIEW: Korn lights up the sky on electrifying ‘Monumental’ stream
      April 24, 2021 at 3:57 pm
      Korn performs during its “Korn: Monumental” stream in Los Angeles, airing on April 24, 2021. Courtesy: Steve Thrasher. Streamed concerts have come in many forms throughout…
    • REVIEW: Postmodern Jukebox has fun turning back the clock
      REVIEW: Postmodern Jukebox has fun turning back the clock
      March 20, 2021 at 4:12 pm
      Ariana Savalas, Sunny Holiday and Aubrey Logan of Postmodern Jukebox perform during a livestream concert on March 20, 2021. Screenshot courtesy Sessions. Unlike many bands dipping…
    • REVIEW: Taj Mahal streams a good time from The UC Theatre
      REVIEW: Taj Mahal streams a good time from The UC Theatre
      March 13, 2021 at 9:21 pm
      Taj Mahal performs at The UC Theatre in Berkeley during a livestream concert on March 13, 2021. Courtesy: Mandolin. Not every band can pull off a…
    • REVIEW: Madison Beer provides a glimpse of the future in 'Life Support' livestream
      REVIEW: Madison Beer provides a glimpse of the future in ‘Life Support’ livestream
      March 6, 2021 at 9:13 pm
      Madison Beer performs during the East Coast feed of her “Life Support in Concert” livestream on March 6, 2021. Courtesy: Headliner. While Madison Beer‘s coronation in…
    • REVIEW: Fans turn out for Jackie Greene Quartet's Fairfield livestream
      REVIEW: Fans turn out for Jackie Greene Quartet’s Fairfield livestream
      February 27, 2021 at 9:53 pm
      Jackie Greene performs during a livestream concert at the Downtown Theatre in Fairfield, Calif. on Feb. 27, 2021. Nathan McKinley/STAFF. There’s no getting around the fact…
    • REVIEW: Bob Weir and Wolf Bros shine in Chinese New Year livestream
      REVIEW: Bob Weir and Wolf Bros shine in Chinese New Year livestream
      February 12, 2021 at 10:33 pm
      Bob Weir performs at TRI Studios in San Rafael, California, in celebration of the Chinese New Year, on Feb. 12, 2021. Bob Weir, the legendary cofounder…
    • REVIEW: Fantastic Negrito gets back in the groove at Fairfield livestream
      REVIEW: Fantastic Negrito gets back in the groove at Fairfield livestream
      January 23, 2021 at 9:01 pm
      Fantastic Negrito performs during a livestream concert at the Downtown Theatre in Fairfield, California, on Jan. 23, 2021. Photos courtesy: Nathan McKinley. Fantastic Negrito is a…
    • REVIEW: Morgan Wallen gets 'Dangerous' at the Ryman in Nashville
      REVIEW: Morgan Wallen gets ‘Dangerous’ at the Ryman in Nashville
      January 12, 2021 at 8:55 pm
      Morgan Wallen performs during a livestream at Ryman Auditorium in Nashville on Jan. 12, 2021. Courtesy: John Shearer/Getty Images for Ryman Auditorium. Country star Morgan Wallen‘s…
    • REVIEW: MisterWives flourish in vivid 'Superbloom' live dream stream
      REVIEW: MisterWives flourish in vivid ‘Superbloom’ live dream stream
      December 13, 2020 at 9:00 am
      Misterwives perform during their “SUPERBLOOM: The Live Dream” livestream on Dec. 12, 2020. Courtesy of the band. MisterWives’ streamed performance on Saturday was an embodiment of…
    • REVIEW: Liam Gallagher flips a low-flying bird to the London Eye in cinematic livestream
      REVIEW: Liam Gallagher flips a low-flying bird to the London Eye in cinematic livestream
      December 5, 2020 at 5:24 pm
      Liam Gallagher performs during his livestream concert “Down by the River Thames” in London on Dec. 5, 2020. By Mason Meyers LONDON — Liam Gallagher’s Saturday…
    • REVIEW: Blossoms’ livestream not ‘The Keeper’ but fit for the times
      REVIEW: Blossoms’ livestream not ‘The Keeper’ but fit for the times
      December 5, 2020 at 9:44 am
      Blossoms perform at The O2 in London on Dec. 3, 2020. Courtesy: MelodyVR. LONDON – Blossoms’ show at The O2 Academy on Thursday was a far cry…
    • REVIEW: Jayhawks' faithful 'Sound of Lies' livestream rings true
      REVIEW: Jayhawks’ faithful ‘Sound of Lies’ livestream rings true
      November 30, 2020 at 11:39 am
      The Jayhawks perform in Minnesota during their livestream on Nov. 29, 2020. Courtesy: Mandolin. Sound of Lies was the perfect album for the Jayhawks to showcase…
    • REVIEW: COIN sets its winning pop-rock combo free at virtual concert
      REVIEW: COIN sets its winning pop-rock combo free at virtual concert
      November 21, 2020 at 9:42 am
      COIN performs during “An Immersive Virtual Experience,” a virtual show. Courtesy: SingleMusic. It’s been eight months since a pandemic-induced lockdown sent live music spontaneously combusting into…
    • REVIEW: Thundercat lays a funky foundation at the Fox Theater
      REVIEW: Thundercat lays a funky foundation at the Fox Theater
      March 7, 2020 at 8:12 am
      Thundercat performs at the Fox Theater in Oakland on March 6, 2020. Onome Uyovbievbo/STAFF. OAKLAND — Stephen Lee Bruner is a man who can really play the…
    • REVIEW: KISS and David Lee Roth say goodbye to Oakland (maybe)
      REVIEW: KISS and David Lee Roth say goodbye to Oakland (maybe)
      March 7, 2020 at 2:12 am
      KISS performs at the Oakland Arena in Oakland on March 6, 2020. Gary Chancer/STAFF. OAKLAND — The Centers for Disease Control was likely not happy with…
    • REVIEW: Brothers of a Feather Chris and Rich Robinson take SF to The Chapel
      REVIEW: Brothers of a Feather Chris and Rich Robinson take SF to The Chapel
      March 7, 2020 at 1:33 am
      Chris and Rich Robinson of The Black Crowes perform as Brothers of a Feather at The Chapel in San Francisco on March 6, 2020. Roman Gokhman/STAFF.…

Photos

    • PHOTOS: Murs, The Grouch and friends still Living Legends at Cornerstone
      PHOTOS: Murs, The Grouch and friends still Living Legends at Cornerstone
      July 9, 2021 at 6:07 am
      Murs performs with The Grouch, Eligh and DJ Fresh at the Cornerstone in Berkeley on July 8, 2021. Karen Goldman/STAFF. BERKELEY — West Coast underground hip-hop…
    • PHOTOS: WRECKNO, VEIL and Summ1t drop the bass at the Midway
      PHOTOS: WRECKNO, VEIL and Summ1t drop the bass at the Midway
      April 9, 2021 at 5:58 am
      WRECKNO performs during an outdoor concert at The Midway in San Francisco on April 8, 2021. Onome Uyovbievbo/STAFF SAN FRANCISCO – Live music continued to inch…
    • PHOTOS: Thrice revisits the past at The Novo in Los Angeles
      PHOTOS: Thrice revisits the past at The Novo in Los Angeles
      March 1, 2020 at 9:41 am
      Thrice performs at The Novo in Los Angeles on Feb. 29, 2020. Aaron Marquez/STAFF. LOS ANGELES — Revisiting the past often has negative connotations. Unless, of…
    • 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…
    • PHOTOS: Tove Lo, Broods and Alma bring their dark pop show to the Masonic
      PHOTOS: Tove Lo, Broods and Alma bring their dark pop show to the Masonic
      February 28, 2020 at 7:12 am
      Tove Lo performs at The Masonic in San Francisco on Feb. 28, 2020. Adam Pardee/STAFF. SAN FRANCISCO — Even with a tour injury, Tove Lo could…
    • PHOTOS: Dijon, Deaton Chris Anthony blend R&B with pop at Swedish American Hall
      PHOTOS: Dijon, Deaton Chris Anthony blend R&B with pop at Swedish American Hall
      February 20, 2020 at 7:16 am
      Dijon performs at Swedish American Hall on Feb. 19, 2020. SAN FRANCISCO – Approaching the stage with a laid-back and friendly demeanor, Dijon, proved that his…