Author Archives: Daniel J. Willis
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SF Sketchfest: The Rocky Horror Picture Show is still as good as it’s been for 45 years
Barry Bostwick, Patricia Quinn, and Nell Campbell at Castro Theatre in San Francisco on Jan. 12, 2020. Onome Uyovbievbo/Staff. SAN FRANCISCO — The night began with Barry Bostwick’s backside. OK, that’s not completely true. The night at the Castro Theatre began with Trixxie Carr singing “Science Fiction/Double Feature,” the…
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REWIND: Five songs to help you chill out in a stressful year
Pictured: Enya leading a SoulCycle class through meditation on the night the president tried to start a war with Iran. The year 2020 is excruciatingly long, and we’re only a week and a half in. Fortunately music has your back. Just as it can help you get hyped, it…
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RIFF’s 2019 in Review… in review!
Are you already nostalgic for 2019? Did holiday events make you miss any of RIFF’s 2019 in Review coverage? Is it your first day back at work and you just don’t feel like working yet? Well good news! Just because it’s 2020 doesn’t mean you can’t still relive the…
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REWIND: Since it might come up, here are five of the best anti-war songs
Edwin Starr: Not a fan of war. So… 2020, huh? Been a long year. For no reason in particular I thought this might be a good time to do a list of the best anti-war protest songs. You know, just because the music is good. Not with any particular…
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REVIEW: Dead & Company put on a one-of-a-kind show at Chase Center
Dead & Company perform at Chase Center in San Francisco on Dec. 30, 2019. Photos: Gary Chancer. SAN FRANCISCO — Dead & Company’s Dec. 30 show at Chase Center was both a Grateful Dead concert and, at the same time, not a Grateful Dead concert. Dead & Company 8…
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RIFF REWIND 2019: Lizzo, Gary Clark Jr., and Babymetal
Gary Clark Jr. performs at BottleRock Napa Valley at the Napa Valley Expo on May 25, 2019. Shawn Robbins/Staff. For those who haven’t been reading this column for its entire two-year run, the reason it’s called “RIFF Rewind” is because for its first year I listed the top five…
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Daniel J. Willis: The death of Dick Dale and the worst of 2019 in music
Editor Daniel J. Willis shortly after hearing “Baby Shark” again. Design: Roman Gokhman. It’s the end of 2019 so, as I did at the end of 2018, it’s time to revisit all the things that were just profoundly awful in music. I don’t mean the music is awful, mind…
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REWIND: Music and ‘Star Wars’ have come a long way since 1977
Ed Sheeran could never shoot straight. He tragically passed away shortly after his appearance in the ‘Star Wars’ series. Condolences, in the form of cash, may be sent to the RIFF office. This weekend marks one of the most pervasive and joyous of American traditions: something beloved by young…
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REWIND: Sick of Christmas music already? Well, here’s five of the worst
The man is a songwriting legend, but Bob Dylan is no Al Yankovic with accordion-led Christmas music. Welcome to the second RIFF Rewind Hater Special! That special time when I get to let all the pent-up vitriol out of my system by ripping on things I specifically dislike. You…
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REWIND: Recap the decade with our editor’s top Spotify song of each year
Andrew WK gave everyone the permission to party hard. Yes, even to Cat Stevens. This week Spotify rolled out its annual Year in Review app, for subscribers to see what their top songs and artists of 2019 were. This year, since 2020 is right around the corner, they stretched…
