The Jesus Lizard, “Rack.” There are those for whom rock and roll is a transformative experience, people who are remade in the crucible of overdriven guitars and pummeling drumming. As someone who’s been through it, I can tell you that my baptism, my immersion into the vocal fry, guitar…

Osees perform at The Chapel in San Francisco on Aug. 31, 2024. Karen Goldman/STAFF. SAN FRANCISCO — Even as an established international act, John Dwyer’s Osees have worked to make their shows as punk as possible. This includes setting up their own gear as well as playing multiple-night stints…

Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, “Wild God.” One of the surest signs that our culture is in decline is that we don’t have that many ways of discussing truly great art anymore. Take the new Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds album, Wild God. Wild God Nick Cave…

The Smashing Pumpkins, “Aghori Mhori Mei.” Billy Corgan’s Smashing Pumpkins have reached the level of cultural wallpaper. The band’s ’90s hits like “Today” and “Cherub Rock” are as well known as Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Sweet Home Alabama” and Bachmann Turner Overdrive’s “Takin’ Care of Business.” But over the band’s nearly…

Jack White, “No Name.” Capitalism makes a product out of everything. We don’t just purchase clothing, food and all of the other stuff we need to survive. Capitalism also sells us notions about who we are, what we want, and — ironically — even how to resist the system.…

Childish Gambino, “Bando Stone and The New World.” The shapeshifter or body snatcher able to invade and occupy people and objects is a recurring character type in science fiction and fantasy. From John Carpenter’s arctic horror film “The Thing” to science fiction legend Philip K. Dick’s early short story…

The B-52s perform during Mosswood Meltdown at Mosswood Park in Oakland on July 6, 2024. Karen Goldman/STAFF. OAKLAND — Mosswood Meltdown lived up to its name with scorching temperatures on Saturday, the first day of the two-day alternative culture celebration, topped by The B-52s. Mosswood Meltdown: Mummies, Pure Hell,…

Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats, “South of Here.” Rags-to-riches stories are easy to write. What is considerably more difficult is telling the story of what happens next. Often, the hero, who we have staunchly supported through tough times, becomes an insufferable egoist, a petty tyrant or a tremendous…

Kamasi Washington performs at the Warfield in San Francisco on June 7, 2024. Aaron Lee/STAFF. SAN FRANCISCO — “What up, Frisco?” saxophonist Kamasi Washington asked the crowd before delivering a marathon set with his eight-member band Friday night at the Warfield. Stretching the nine songs, all of which were…

Mike Campbell & the Dirty Knobs, “Vagabonds, Virgins & Misfits.” While it’s been almost seven years since Tom Petty left us for the great wide open, Mike Campbell & the Dirty Knobs continue rocking in his wake. Campbell is the longtime Heartbreakers guitarist whose legendary collaborations with Petty date…