Author Archives: Alexander Baechle
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REVIEW: Chris Carrabba leads Dashboard Confessional in night of singalongs at The Fillmore
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 take the stage at the Fillmore on Saturday, performing “Best Deceptions” alone, with his down-tuned acoustic guitar. It could have been an intimate…
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ALBUM REVIEW: Tame Impala gets lost in the mellow on ‘The Slow Rush’
Tame Impala, “The Slow Rush.” On the sun-drenched shores of remote western Australia, Kevin Parker, the man behind Tame Impala, became dazed long ago, but he never sounded confused. Happily, this circumstance gave rise to a succulent flavor of toothy, interesting electronic psych-rock that had college students and critics glowing…
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REVIEW: Caroline Polachek balances brooding and bounce at The Independent
SAN FRANCISCO — The stage at The Independent was bare save for a small shrine lit by electric candles. Projected onto the back curtain was a blackened image of a wrought iron gate. A witchy, silent blonde stood at the shrine in a gold-sequined black jumpsuit, summoning long drones…
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ALBUM REVIEW: Wire illuminates odd corners of life on ‘Mind Hive’
Arguably the first post-punk band, England’s arty export Wire has sowed its reputation for intelligent songwriting far and wide. Over a 43-year career and a slew of notable albums, the band explored avant-garde song structures, big-beat synth-pop, and a compositional approach that falls somewhere between a musical blueprint and…
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REVIEW: Rex Orange County revels in pop delight at the Masonic
Rex Orange County performs at The Masonic in San Francisco on Jan. 16, 2020. Onome Uyovbievbo/Staff. SAN FRANCISCO — In a year when cynicism is widely available, and often quite convincing, a pop star’s optimism invokes a healthy skepticism. On record, Rex Orange County wavers at times from tween-pop…
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REVIEW: Ramblin’ Jack Elliott entertains with folk standards at The Chapel
Ramblin’ Jack Elliot performs at The Chapel in San Francisco on Jan. 12, 2020. Photos: Onome Uyovbievbo. SAN FRANCISCO — Fans of folk and Americana got a rare opportunity Sunday to witness one of the early progenitors of the style. Ramblin’ Jack Elliott, a contemporary of Woody Guthrie and…
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REVIEW: Blackalicious wows with relentless raps at Yoshi’s
Blackalicious performs at Yoshi’s in Oakland on Jan. 9, 2020. Photos: Sean Liming. OAKLAND — Yoshi’s hosted the connoisseur’s choice in hip-hop Thursday as celebrated duo Blackalicious returned to Oakland. Performing a career-spanning set in just over an hour, the energetic team thrived in the friendly atmosphere of the 310-seat…
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REVIEW: Willie Nelson blazes through hot set at the Fillmore
Willie Nelson performs at the Fillmore on Jan. 8, 2020. Photo: Nick Buckmaster. SAN FRANCISCO — An eclectic audience turned up at the Fillmore Wednesday to witness country superstar Willie Nelson perform the second of three sold-out nights in the City. Willie Nelson and Family Tennessee Jet 8 p.m.,…
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REVIEW: Thurston Moore Group refines audacious noise at The Chapel
Thurston Moore Group performs at The Chapel in San Francisco on Dec. 16, 2019. Onome Uyovbievbo/Staff. SAN FRANCISCO — The Chapel hosted Thurston Moore Group Monday for an arty and unusual experience. Alternative rock icon Thurston Moore led a formidable assemblage of credentialed bohemians, including My Bloody Valentine bassist…
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REVIEW: DIIV plays with heart, practices obscurantism at The Fillmore
DIIV performs at The Fillmore in San Francisco on Dec. 8, 2019. Photos: Joaquin Cabello. SAN FRANCISCO — Indie rockers DIIV bathed the Fillmore in warm baritone layers of sound on Sunday, playing songs from their new album, Deceiver. The Brooklyn shoegaze quartet explored punchy and mysterious guitar rock and…
