Here We Go Magic performs at the Independent in San Francisco on June 12, 2012. There is a very certain type of music lover who will be a fan of Here We Go Magic. This person must meet all three of the following conditions: Must love LCD Soundsystem, or…

At the final of three sold-out shows at The Fillmore, Sunday, keyboardist Kenny Hensley of Seattle folkies The Head and the Heart was positioned far stage-left — out of the prime real-estate controlled by vocalist Jonathan Russell and vocalist-guitarist Josiah Johnson. The band may want to rethink that strategy, as…

OAKLAND — How could a garage band – a duo, no less – rise from basement shows to stadiums? In the case of The Black Keys, who sold out Oracle Arena Friday, it’s the blues. For many of the young pop and rock-bred fans who bought tickets, the blues…

Yukon Blonde, courtesy. Doing his best to ignite a thinning Tuesday night crowd at Café Du Nord, shaggy Yukon Blonde frontman Jeff Innes turned to one of the few good things about the day following the one with the worst reputation (Mondays): Cheap fast food. That didn’t seem to…

Coldplay performs at HP Pavilion in San Jose on April 27, 2012. Roman Gokhman/STAFF. There is nothing subtle about Coldplay. Every move is exaggerated. From frontman Chris Martin’s strut and “someone take a picture while I’m in mid-air” jumps, to Will Champion’s animistic assault on his drum set, to…

M83 performs at The Fillmore in San Francisco on April 22, 2012. Roman Gokhman/STAFF. Breaking the traditional rules of setlist arrangement, M83’s Anthony Gonzalez didn’t save his big hit for the end of the show at the Fillmore Sunday night. “Midnight City,” the crossover success on alternative and mainstream…

VACAVILLE — It is impossible to review the Better Than Ezra show in Vacaville Saturday without acknowledging that halfway through their set, the ‘90s buzz band performed a medley of Chris Isaak’s “Wicked Games,” Oasis’ “Wonderwall,” Gorillaz’ “Feel Good Inc.,” – the rap part – “White Wedding” by Billy Idol and…

MOUNTAIN VIEW — Strong lineups at Bridge School Benefit concerts are often overshadowed by the cause for the annual event; the kids with severe physical and learning impairments at the school started by Bay Area rocker Neil Young and his wife, Pegi. Saturday, at the first of two 25th…

Florence Welch of Florence and the Machine performs at the Fox Theater in Oakland on Nov. 5, 2010. Roman Gokhman/STAFF. This story originally appeared in the Oakland Tribune. OAKLAND — When 24-year-old British singer Florence Welch and her band, the Machine, first performed in the Bay Area in April,…

This story originally appeared in the Oakland Tribune. SAN FRANCISCO —SoCal soul and indie-pop band Cold War Kids’ signature sound is lead singer Nathan Willet’s voice: a strained tenor vibrato always leaning toward desperation. But what makes the band successful is the interaction of all CWK’s musicians on stage…