Modest Mouse performs at Fox Theater in Oakland, Calif. on Nov. 5, 2024. Chloe Catajan/STAFF. OAKLAND — On Tuesday night, people of the Bay Area gathered at the Fox Theater in hopes to hear some Good News. The occasion? Modest Mouse was in town. The Portland band delivered Good…

Cigarettes After Sex, “X’s.” Greg Gonzalez of Cigarettes After Sex cuts straight to the chase when it comes to the meaning of X’s. He briefly references it in an intimate verse on the album’s opening track. It calls out Bert Stern’s Marilyn Monroe crucifix photos, taken weeks before her…

Cage the Elephant performs at Bill Graham Civic Auditorium in San Francisco on July 2, 2024. Chloe Catajan/STAFF. SAN FRANCISCO — Cage the Elephant shows are not for the faint of heart. Flames, flashing LEDs and a BPM over 150 were in full force within the first song at…

Movements perform at The UC Theatre in Berkeley on March 28, 2024. Chloe Catajan/STAFF. BERKELEY — Stick around in a music scene long enough, and you’ll start to notice familiar faces at every show. Some songs will stay inevitable reminders of the past. And some lyrics will always hit…

The Postal Service performs at the Greek Theatre in Berkeley, Calif. on Oct. 9, 2023. Chloe Catajan/STAFF. BERKELEY, Calif. — Ten years ago, The Postal Service celebrated a decade of its sole and seminal 2003 album, Give Up, with a reunion tour. The group performed at the Greek Theatre…

Laufey performs at The Fillmore in San Francisco, Calif. on Oct. 8, 2023. SAN FRANCISCO — Listening to Laufey is a lot like spending Sundays in the city. Her music is a walk down a quiet street in the afternoon sun; unhurried and taking in the moment, you can’t…

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 Saturday,…

Clockwise from top left: Penelope Isles, ATARASHII GAKKO!, The Aquadolls, Bebi Monsuta, Dave Schulz and Deerhoof. Whether you’re listening to ATARASHII GAKKO!’s progressive J-pop, Deerhoof’s avant-garde rock or Dave Schulz’s latest endeavors, this week’s selections are a treat for the ears. We round out the best songs of the…

Dayglow performs at the Regency Ballroom in San Francisco on Sept. 22, 2021. Chloe Catajan/STAFF. SAN FRANCISCO — Since last year, Sloan Struble of Dayglow went from having a “sold-out tour that never existed” to making it a reality again—this time, with a new album in tow. The Fort…

Clockwise from top left: Cherry Glazerr, Deep Throat Choir, Crooked Teeth, Loyal Lobos, Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes, and Basement Revolver. Whether you’re listening to coming-of-age dream-pop from Loyal Lobos, hypnotizing melodies from Cherry Glazerr or adrenaline-boosting riffs from Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes, this week’s selections are a…