Fast Romantics combine strings, horns and indie rock, although you wouldn’t get that impression by talking to lead songwriter Matthew Angus. Angus doesn’t think in terms of genres or terminology, but in terms of what sound he’s looking for. Fast Romantics have an alternative rock core, but add various chamber instrumentation…

The Montalvo Arts Center has announced the lineup for its 2017 Summer Concert Series. The shows will have a wide array of artists, ranging from classic pop bands like The B-52s to comedian Jay Leno. Other artists include Gregory Porter, Jerry Douglas’ Earls of Leicester & David Bromberg Quintet, Dave Koz &…

A well-placed melody can turn noise into a memorable motif. The most chaotic and jumbled sounds can suddenly be given a direction solely based on how the track is produced, even though the composition itself has no obvious chorus or structure. Experimental instrumental compositions, in particular, often lack the repetition for…

Photos: Alessio Neri OAKLAND — Sigur Rós brought their visually stunning show to the Fox Theater Sunday, the second of two Bay Area concerts. Their setlist was comprised of songs from throughout their discography, including classics like “Starálfur” and “Ný batterí,” along with some newer songs like “Kveikur,” from their newest (2013) album with the…

Annual benefit concert Acoustic-4-A-Cure returns to The Fillmore on May 15 for a fourth year. The concert, which doubles as a fundraiser, promotes awareness and raises money for the pediatric cancer program at UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital. Tickets will go on sale Friday at 10 a.m. This year’s lineup includes Mick…

Jamie Stewart started Xiu Xiu 15 years ago and has been going strong with the project ever since. Just last month, Xiu Xiu released new album Forget, which is gaining critical praise and is generally considered to be the band’s more accessible albums yet. Where before Stewart was not bound to…

SFJAZZ today announced its lineup for the 35th annual San Francisco Jazz Festival and 2017 summer sessions. The festival will run June 6 through 19, with the sessions following from July 13 through Aug. 20 Tickets for both go on sale to SFJAZZ members Friday at 11 a.m., and everyone else can…

Photos: Alessio Neri SAN FRANCISCO — London is currently on the cutting edge of electronic music. Whether it’s hip-hop with a dash of grime, satires of mainstream commercial electronic with bombastic production, or alternative R&B combined with the improvisation and looseness of jazz and minimalist electronic production. Jamie Isaac‘s music…

M. Lockwood Porter photographed before a concert at the Independent in San Francisco on Jan. 28, 2017. Photo: Amanda Limond SAN FRANCISCO — The sound of singer-songwriter M. Lockwood Porter is a finely mixed blend of alt-country, Americana and indie rock sensibilities. But despite having such a strong country sound,…

Hazel English performs at the Rickshaw Stop in San Francisco during Noise Pop on Feb. 21, 2017. Alessio Neri/STAFF. SAN FRANCISCO — One glance at the lineup for the Hazel English-headlined Noise Pop show at the Rickshaw Stop Tuesday, you might see several female-fronted pop acts. But each performer offered a…