Fang Island performs at Great American Music Hall in San Francisco on Aug. 7, 2012. Many Bay Area music fans may not yet be familiar with Brooklyn prog-rockers Fang Island, being that the trio made just its second San Francisco stopover, Tuesday at the Great American Music Hall, since…

It’s been six years since Minneapolis alt-rockers Soul Asylum last released an album, their last with bassist Karl Mueller, who passed away from cancer in 2005. Now on tour supporting their 10th release, July’s Delayed Reaction, the band that reached its heyday with 1992’s Grave Dancer’s Union and 1995’s…

Brian Fallon of The Gaslight Anthem performs at the Independent in San Francisco on July 5, 2012. Roman Gokhman/STAFF. SAN FRANCISCO — Brian Fallon, frontman of The Gaslight Anthem, made a point of self-deprecatingly mocking his lack of education, the New Jersey punk-rock band’s appearances and their home state Thursday…

Young The Giant performs during San Francisco Oysterfest in Golden Gate Park on June 30, 2012. Roman Gokhman/STAFF. The sun peeked out from among the clouds several times Saturday during the 13th annual San Francisco Oysterfest in Golden Gate Park, but by 4 p.m., as headliner Young the Giant…

Foster the People perform at the Greek Theatre in Berkeley on June 29, 2012. Roman Gokhman/STAFF. BERKELEY — About two-thirds of the way through the sold-out  Foster the People show at the Greek Theatre on Friday evening, frontman-keyboardist Mark Foster noted his band is just a handful of shows away…

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…