Benmont Tench, “The Melancholy Season.” A case could be made that the world has become much more terrible since Tom Petty died in 2017. It’s also hard to believe we’re closing in on a decade since the legendary singer-songwriter’s passing. Life goes on. For Benmont Tench, the keyboardist in…

Neil Young, “Oceanside Countryside.” Neil Young has returned with what is to some a holy grail, another unreleased album from the 1970s. Oceanside Countryside Neil Young Reprise, March 7 8/10 Get the album on Amazon Music. Much like Chrome Dreams, reissued in its original intended form a couple of…

Earl Sweatshirt performs at Great American Music Hall in San Francisco on Feb. 25, 2025. SAN FRANCISCO — The crowd at Great American Music Hall erupted in cheers as Earl Sweatshirt emerged on stage to the iconic guitar loop of his hit song “Riots.” Clad in jeans and a…

SAN FRANCISCO — During a quiet moment about halfway through his set at Herbst Theater on Sunday, an attendee yelled out a request to Ty Segall for “Girlfriend” from the SoCal rocker’s 2010 album, Melted. “I’ve never played that song acoustic, but I’ll give it a try, I guess,” Segall…

Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats perform at Bill Graham Civic Auditorium in San Francisco on Feb. 22, 2025. Karen Goldman/STAFF. SAN FRANCISCO — Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats closed out the West Coast leg of their tour in support of their latest album at Bill Graham Civic…

070 Shake performs at Fox Theater in Oakland on Feb. 19, 2025. Michael Chan/STAFF. OAKLAND — About two-thirds of the way through her concert Wednesday night, singer and rapper 070 Shake thanked fans for their continuing support for her as an artist. “I’ve evolved coming out of hip-hop, and…

Howard Jones performs at the Masonic in San Francisco on Feb. 6, 2024. Photos: Vanessa Solis. SAN FRANCISCO — British synth-pop progenitor Howard Jones kicked off a month-long tour with fellow new-wavers ABC on Thursday night at the Masonic. Jones emerged onstage in sunglasses and a long furry coat…

SAN FRANCISCO — Chicano rockers Los Lobos kicked off their Disconnected tour Friday night at the Fillmore. Playing hits, deep cuts and covers, the band performed a largely acoustic set that lasted more than two hours with material spanning its 50-year career. “Happy new year,” said founding guitarist César…

Alan Sparhawk peforms at Great American Music Hall in San Francisco on Jan. 20, 2025. Photos: Vanessa Solis. SAN FRANCISCO — There was an unexpected question-and-answer portion of Alan Sparhawk‘s performance Monday night at Great American Music Hall. “Do you need any help figuring anything out?” the founding member…

Digable Planets perform at the Warfield in San Francisco on Dec. 21, 2024. Michael Chan/STAFF. SAN FRANCISCO — The Warfield served as a time capsule on Saturday night as a trio of hip-hop acts popular in the early ’90s shared the stage. The show’s headliners, East Coast trio Digable…