Sleigh Bells perform at Neumos in Seattle on Nov. 19, 2016. Ian Young/STAFF. This story originally appeared in the Oakland Tribune. Noise-rock duo Sleigh Bells’ guitarist-songwriter Derek Miller didn’t intend to take a break from performing when he left his Florida hard-core rock band in 2004. Sleigh Bells, Neon Indian …

A train that will house members of Old Crow Medicine Show, Mumford & Sons and Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros sits idle at Middle Harbor Shoreline Park in Oakland during the Railroad Revival Tour on April 22, 2011. Photos: Roman Gokhman/STAFF. This story originally appeared in the Oakland…

Jamaica, courtesy. This story originally appeared in the Oakland Tribune. When up-and-coming French electro-rock band Poney Poney changed its name to Jamaica in 2009 after the trio lost its drummer, the name change wasn’t meant to create any controversy. It was a calculated effort to stay hip. Jamaica, Chain Gang…

Duran Duran, courtesy. This story originally appeared in the Oakland Tribune. Many musicians who have lasted a decade or more try to reinvent themselves to stay fresh. Not Duran Duran. Duran Duran 9 p.m., April 16 The Fillmore Tickets: $72. The seminal British new wave band, celebrating the 30th…

Ha Ha Tonka, courtesy: Jason Gonulson. This story originally appeared in the Oakland Tribune. The Oscar-nominated film “Winter’s Bone” portrays the Ozarks region of Missouri as dirt-poor, dreary and rampant with methamphetamine production. Brian Roberts, lead singer of Ha Ha Tonka, a southern rock and bluegrass band from the…

Linkin Park, courtesy. This story originally appeared in the Oakland Tribune. Linkin Park emerged at the tail end of the nu metal and rap-rock music scene in 2000. But while bands like Korn and Limp Bizkit have gone the way of the dinosaur, Linkin Park began to evolve its…

Daniel Lanois, courtesy. This story originally appeared in the Oakland Tribune. You may not recognize the name Daniel Lanois, but you have almost certainly listened to his work. DANIEL LANOIS’ BLACK DUB 7:30 p.m., Jan. 27 The Independent Tickets: Sold out. The 59-year-old Canadian multi-Grammy Award recipient has produced…

Ra Ra Riot, courtesy. This story originally appeared in the Oakland Tribune. New England indie-pop band Ra Ra Riot was in the midst of a breakout year in 2007, riding the “next it-band” wave, when tragedy struck. Ra Ra Riot, Givers 9 p.m., Friday Great American Music Hall Tickets:…

The National, courtesy. This story originally appeared in the Oakland Tribune. Why are the men of the now-soaring Brooklyn quintet The National so sad? Maybe it’s because their fans want them to be. Treasure Island Music Festival, with LCD Soundsystem, Belle & Sebastian, the National, more 12 p.m., Oct…

Moonalice, courtesy. This story originally appeared in the Oakland Tribune. It turns out that fronting a rock band is similar to running an investment firm. Just ask 54-year-old Moonalice frontman and businessman Roger McNamee, a founding partner — along with U2’s Bono — of the venture capital firm Elevation…