Author Archives: Mel Bowman
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Tuesday Tracks: Ben Hazlewood, Superheaven, Flight Facilities and Sunny War
Sunny War, courtesy Joshua Black Wilkins. This week we dive into an emotional musical rollercoaster to help relieve post-election blues. You’ve got euphoric pop by Ben Hazlewood, funky dance music by Flight Facilities and DRAMA; melancholic downtempo jazz by Out Of/Into, dark pop by Bay Area locals Decant, angsty…
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REVIEW: Kehlani crowns homecoming show with Bay Area guests
Kehlani performs at Chase Center in San Francisco on Nov. 2, 2024. SAN FRANCISCO — Oakland’s Kehlani wrapped up the majority their Crash Tour on Friday with a homecoming show that delivered drama and several local guests. The set, focused on their latest album, CRASH, was jam-packed with hits.…
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REVIEW: Maxwell and friends all about the ‘real singing’ at Oakland Arena
Maxwell performs at Oakland Arena in Oakland on Oct. 25, 2024. OAKLAND — With five albums through the years, Maxwell has plenty of material to pull from, even though his last release was back in 2016. The Grammy-winning vocalist brought his Serenade Tour to Oakland Arena on Friday, on…
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REVIEW: Tems shows her ‘wild’ side at sold-out Warfield show
Tems performs at the Warfield in San Francisco on Sept. 27, 2024. Onome Uyovbievbo/STAFF. SAN FRANCISCO — Grammy-winning artist Tems performed to a sold-out house at the Warfield on Friday night. The Nigerian singer-songwriter, born Temilade Openiyi, is on her first headlining tour, in support of her June debut…
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André 3000, Ledisi, Musiq Soulchild close out Black Radio Experience
Robert Glasper and Musiq Souldchild perform during the Black Radio Experience at Meritage Resort & Spa in Napa on Sept. 1, 2024. Matt Pang/STAFF. NAPA — André 3000 struck a high note with his final three sets of improvisational flute music during the Black Radio Experience at the Meritage…
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Blue Note reimagines Napa jazz fest as Black Radio Experience, with Jill Scott
Jill Scott performs during the Black Radio Experience at Meritage Resort & Spa in Napa on Aug. 30, 2024. Martin Lacey/STAFF. NAPA — The Blue Note Jazz Festival’s Black Radio Experience kicked off on Friday at The Meritage Resort & Spa in Napa on Friday. The three-day event, an…
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Tuesday Tracks: Allen Stone, Magdalena Bay and Mallrat
Magdalena Bay, courtesy Lissyelle Laricchia. Love songs by Rat Boy and Allen Stone, gritty reality checks by Chat Pile and Balance and Composure, and upbeat—and uplifting—dance tracks by Magdalena Bay and Mallrat make the cut. Rat Boy, “She’s The One” — U.K. band Rat Boy brings back the nostalgia…
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Chaka Khan concludes Stern Grove’s 87th year with iconic repertoire
Chaka Khan performs during Stern Grove Festival at Sigmund Stern Grove in San Francisco on Aug. 25, 2024. Matt Pang/STAFF. SAN FRANCISCO — The legendary Chaka Khan closed out the 87th Stern Grove Festival on Sunday afternoon, on the second of back to back Big Picnic fundraiser concerts for…
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REVIEW: Chris Brown takes flight at Oakland Arena
Chris Brown performs at Oakland Arena in Oakland on July 31, 2024. Derek Fisher/STAFF. OAKLAND — Rapper and singer Chris Brown showed why he’s considered one of the greatest entertainers of the times at Oakland Arena on Wednesday during his 11:11 Tour stop in the Bay Area. Brown hit…
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Tuesday Tracks: Wasia Project, Nubya Garcia, HiFi Sean and David McAlmont
Hifi Sean and David McAlmont, courtesy Rob Martin. Warren Zeiders leads us through a country-flavored descent into the darkness of addiction before we venture into modern takes on classical jazz by Ashley Henry and Nubya Garcia. After a melancholy musing or two by Wasia Project and Luna Li, we…
