Q&A
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MS MR’s Game of Thrones theories, international upbringings and collegiate shortcuts
MS MR perform at the Independent in San Francisco on Oct. 15, 2013. Roman Gokhman/STAFF. I met up with Lizzy Plapinger and Max Hershenow in June, prior to MS MR‘s opening set for CSS at the Independent. It was the duo’s second time performing in San Francisco, and their…
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Interview: African nomad guitarist Bombino used to herd goats
Bombino, courtesy. Guitarist Bombino went from herding goats for a nomadic tribe in Niger to performing African desert blues songs about his people to the world — even though guitars were outlawed symbols of rebellion in the eyes of Niger’s government. Bombino at Outside Lands 4:30 p.m., Saturday, Aug.…
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Q&A: The National’s Matt Berninger on firing his brother, making ‘Trouble Will Find Me’
Matt Berninger (center) and The National, courtesy. Two weeks ago I spoke to Matt Berninger, lead singer for The National, who perform just prior to Sir Paul McCartney next Friday at Outside Lands. I have twice before interviewed the band’s bassist, Scott Devendorf. You can read a story here and…
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Q&A: Phoenix guitarist Christian Mazzalai on the year of Anglo-French pop
Christian Mazzalai (R) and Thomas Mars of Phoenix perform at Outside Lands Music Festival in Golden Gate Park on Aug. 10, 2013. Roman Gohman/STAFF. Today’s Outside Lands Music Festival preview is about French rockers Phoenix. We spoke to guitarist Christian Mazzalai’s thoughts on the definition of “cool” and what he…
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Central America’s Garifuna Collective is carrying out the legacy of Andy Palacio
Garifuna Collective, courtesy. Andy Palacio was one of the most interesting musicians I’ve spoken to. I was interested in his Central American culture and people, the Garifuna, because I previously traveled to Honduras and Belize several times. The Garifuna are an indigenous minority, the descendants of African slaves who…
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Bastille’s Dan Smith on celebrating his birthday and disaster storytelling
Bastille, with Dan Smith second from right. Courtesy. Bastille has seemingly come out of nowhere in 2013, but band leader Dan Smith has been working on his project since 2010. Now the band has two Bay Area shows coming up. Monday, July 22 at Popscene and Sept. 19 at…
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Interview: K.Flay is between homes but busier than ever
K.Flay, courtesy. Chicago born and raised, Stanford-educated and Brooklyn-based rapper K.Flay is homeless. It’s a temporary predicament, but less than two years after moving to New York to pursue her career with RCA Records, 27-year-old Kristine Flaherty finds herself on the road through the end of September, touring in…
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Nashville’s Tyler Bryant on being a ‘virtuoso’ and jamming with his heroes
Tyler Bryant and the Shakedown. COURTESY. Before he was 22, guitar prodigy Tyler Bryant shared the stage with Jeff Beck and Eric Clapton. But it was a 63-year-old bluesman from Honey Grove, Texas, who inspired the musician when he was just a boy. Tyler Bryant and the Shakedown 9…
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Royal Teeth on sports loyalties and appreciation of Walk the Moon
Royal Teeth, courtesy. Royal Teeth are going places. When I first saw them play in February, their opening set stole the show. I spoke to vocalist Nora Patterson and guitarist-vocalist Gary Larsen recently. Their first headlining set in San Francisco is June 29 at Bottom of the Hill. Their…
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Q&A: Flaming Lips’ Wayne Coyne and Steven Drozd discuss ‘The Terror’
Steven Drozd and Wayne Coyne of The Flaming Lips interviewed at BottleRock 2013 Napa Valley in Napa. Photos courtesy: Paige K. Parsons. The Flaming Lips frontman Wayne Coyne and multi-instrumentalist/music arranger Steven Drozd won’t mince their words. Their new album, The Terror, is their darkest offering yet. “Dark” isn’t…
