• REVIEW: Sting celebrates 72nd birthday at Toyota Pavilion

    REVIEW: Sting celebrates 72nd birthday at Toyota Pavilion

    Sting performs at Toyota Pavilion in Concord, Calif. on Oct. 2, 2023. Sean Liming/STAFF. CONCORD, Calif. — Singer-songwriter and rocker Sting brought his My Songs Tour and a positive life outlook to Toyota Pavilion on Monday. After a fun, slightly ramshackle take on “If You Love Somebody Set…
  • Tuesday Tracks: Your weekly new music discovery for Oct. 3

    Tuesday Tracks: Your weekly new music discovery for Oct. 3

    Sleepy Hallow, courtesy. This week, we bring you hip-hop from Sleepy Hallow, pop from Will Joseph Cook, JHart and NEIKED with Ayra Starr, and soul from Honey Bxby and Robert Finley. Sleepy Hallow featuring Doechii, “ANXIETY” — Brooklyn rapper Sleepy Hallow knows how to match catchy samples with…
  • Portola Festival: Skrillex fires up on second day as the cold settles in

    Portola Festival: Skrillex fires up on second day as the cold settles in

    Skrillex performs at Portola Festival in San Francisco on Oct. 1, 2023. Photos: Gavin Legaspi and Chloe Catajan/STAFF. SAN FRANCISCO — For the second day in a row, Portola Festival delivered an enticing lineup of dance, hip-hop and underground acts, even as intermittent light rain and chilly weather…
  • Portola Festival: Eric Prydz and Nelly Furtado star on day 1

    Portola Festival: Eric Prydz and Nelly Furtado star on day 1

    Nelly Furtado performs at Portola Festival in San Francisco on Sept. 30, 2023. Matt Pang/STAFF. SAN FRANCISCO — Portola Festival returned to Pier 80 near the city’s Dogpatch neighborhood on Saturday. The two-day fest included headliner Eric Prydz on the first day, along with pop singer-songwriter Nelly Furtado…
  • REVIEW: Despite fancy Las Vegas Sphere, U2 reaffirms its strengths lie in connection

    REVIEW: Despite fancy Las Vegas Sphere, U2 reaffirms its strengths lie in connection

    U2 performs during the opening night of its U2:UV Live at Sphere residency in Las Vegas on Sept. 29, 2023. Photo: Rich Fury. Others by Kevin Mazur. Sept. 30 photos: Roman Gokhman/STAFF. LAS VEGAS — Sphere at the Venetian is truly a visual and sonic marvel. The bubble-like…
  • VIDEO PREMIERE: Caroline Jones calls to a guardian angel on 'Talking to Milo'

    VIDEO PREMIERE: Caroline Jones calls to a guardian angel on ‘Talking to Milo’

    Caroline Jones, courtesy. Country singer-songwriter Caroline Jones is just a few weeks from releasing her third album, Homesite (Oct. 20), and today she’s premiering the final video ahead of the album, for single “Talking to Milo.” Jones, who’s performed with the likes of Jimmy Buffett and Kenny Chesney and more…
  • Q&A: The Darkness' Frankie Poullain wants to cry, climax on Permission to Land 20 Tour

    Q&A: The Darkness’ Frankie Poullain wants to cry, climax on Permission to Land 20 Tour

    The Darkness, courtesy Gareth Parker. Brit rockers The Darkness are celebrating the release of their 2003 debut, Permission to Land, with a re-release of the multi-platinum album and a tour that kicks off in San Francisco next week. The Darkness 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 3 The Masonic Tickets:…
  • REVIEW: Arctic Monkeys deliver hits and swagger at Chase Center

    REVIEW: Arctic Monkeys deliver hits and swagger at Chase Center

    Arctic Monkeys perform at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif. on Sept. 26, 2023. Chloe Catajan/STAFF. SAN FRANCISCO — Over their nearly two-decade reign, the Arctic Monkeys have gained a reputation as one of the biggest rock bands of the new millennium. The reasons why were still apparent…
  • INTERVIEW: Brett Emmons of The Glorious Sons in it for the long haul

    INTERVIEW: Brett Emmons of The Glorious Sons in it for the long haul

    The Glorious Sons, courtesy. Brett Emmons said all he wants is to travel the world and play music for a hundred years with his band, The Glorious Sons. The Ontario, Canada band has twice topped Billboard’s Mainstream Rock chart and is known for its energetic rock show back…
  • REVIEW: Tori Kelly 'takes control' at intimate Independent gig

    REVIEW: Tori Kelly ‘takes control’ at intimate Independent gig

    Tori Kelly performs at the Independent in San Francisco on Sept. 24, 2023. Roman Gokhman/STAFF. SAN FRANCISCO — It’s been a few years since Tori Kelly’s been under a spotlight that wasn’t animated, but that didn’t stop several hundred fans from showing up early to see her perform…
  • REVIEW: Rob Zombie and Alice Cooper lead the 'Freaks' in the East Bay

    REVIEW: Rob Zombie and Alice Cooper lead the ‘Freaks’ in the East Bay

    Rob Zombie performs at Toyota Pavilion in Concord, Calif. on Sept. 22, 2023. Nate McKinley/STAFF. CONCORD, Calif. — It was a rock and roll show meets a horror film and a Broadway show seen through the lens of an insane fever dream. Friday’s Freaks On Parade Tour stop…
  • REVIEW: Ed Sheeran breaks records, brings Mathematics Tour to Levi's Stadium

    REVIEW: Ed Sheeran breaks records, brings Mathematics Tour to Levi’s Stadium

    Ed Sheeran performs at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif. on Sept. 16, 2023. Steve Carlson/STAFF. SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Leave it to Ed Sheeran to stand in front of 77,000 people and make time stand still. The English singer-songwriter brought the Mathematics Tour (+-=÷x) to Levi’s Stadium…
  • REVIEW: Ed Sheeran shares his grief at intimate Subtract Tour gig at the Fox

    REVIEW: Ed Sheeran shares his grief at intimate Subtract Tour gig at the Fox

    Ed Sheeran performs during a Subtract Tour club show at Fox Theater in Oakland on Sept. 15, 2023. Courtesy Mark Surridge. OAKLAND — Going on two tours simultaneously may have initially raised some eyebrows, but there’s a clear reason pop star Ed Sheeran separated his stadium Mathematics Tour…
  • REVIEW: Jelly Roll introduces himself to the Bay Area at stellar Toyota Pavilion show

    REVIEW: Jelly Roll introduces himself to the Bay Area at stellar Toyota Pavilion show

    Jelly Roll performs at Toyota Pavilion in Concord, Calif. on Sept. 14, 2023. Sean Liming/STAFF. CONCORD, Calif. — Don’t doubt someone who’s completely sold on the power of love, redemption and music being able to lift everyone higher. Nashville singer-songwriter and rapper Jelly Roll used his tremendous story…
  • Foo Fighters rock for a cause during Dreamforce show at Chase Center

    Foo Fighters rock for a cause during Dreamforce show at Chase Center

    Foo Fighters perform during Dreamfest benefitting Benioff Children’s Hospitals at Chase Center in San Francisco on Sept. 13, 2023. Photos by Drew Altizer. SAN FRANCISCO — Just a month after headlining Outside Lands, rockers Foo Fighters returned to the Bay Area to perform at Dreamfest, benefitting UCSF Benioff…
  • INTERVIEW: Shakey Graves breaks the simulation on 'Movie of the Week'

    INTERVIEW: Shakey Graves breaks the simulation on ‘Movie of the Week’

    Shakey Graves (Alejandro Rose-Garcia), courtesy. It’s been an unusual day for Alejandro Rose-Garcia. The artist, better known as Shakey Graves, meant to sit down to write out song descriptions for his new album, Movie of the Week, that would be sent to reviewers. But that activity turned an eight-page…
  • REVIEW: Jungle explosive and 'volcanic' at Bill Graham Civic tour stop

    REVIEW: Jungle explosive and ‘volcanic’ at Bill Graham Civic tour stop

    Jungle performs at Bill Graham Civic Auditorium in San Francisco on Sept. 9, 2023. Matt Pang/STAFF. SAN FRANCISCO — British duo Jungle took its signature nu-disco electronic funk to new new electrifying heights at Bill Graham Civic Auditorium on Saturday. The tour was in support of Tom McFarland’s and…
  • REVIEW: Lionel Richie and Earth, Wind & Fire pull an 'all-nighter' at Chase Center

    REVIEW: Lionel Richie and Earth, Wind & Fire pull an ‘all-nighter’ at Chase Center

    Lionel Richie performs at Chase Center in San Francisco on Sept. 8, 2023. Derek Fisher/STAFF. SAN FRANCISCO — Grammy-winning artist Lionel Richie brought his Sing A Song All Night Long tour to Chase Center on Friday, headlining a bill that also included Earth, Wind & Fire. Richie kicked…
  • REVIEW: Maluma arrives as Don Juan at SAP Center

    REVIEW: Maluma arrives as Don Juan at SAP Center

    Maluma performs at SAP Center in San Jose, Calif. on Sept. 6, 2023. Italie Penaloza/STAFF. SAN JOSE — After taking a year off from touring to create and release his new album, Don Juan, Colombian singer and rapper Maluma brought it to SAP Center on Wednesday, the fourth…
  • REVIEW: Osees go the distance at The Chapel

    REVIEW: Osees go the distance at The Chapel

    SAN FRANCISCO — Psychedelic musical chameleons Osees played the first of four sold-out shows at The Chapel on Sunday night. One of the busiest bands in show business, was fresh off the release of new album Intercepted Message and a string of shows in Europe, with the San…