Concert Reviews
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REVIEW: Big Business corporatizes heavy riffage at The Ivy Room
Big Business performs at The Ivy Room in Albany, Calf. on Feb. 7, 2020. Photos: Meri Brin. ALBANY, Calif. — Two-thirds of the way through Big Business‘ set on Friday, Jared Warren, the band’s bassist and singer, thanked the crowd for coming out to the triple bill of “great bands…
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REVIEW: Sinéad O’Connor rules as ‘Queen’ at August Hall
Sinead O’Connor performs at August Hall in San Francisco on Feb. 7, 2020. Gary Chancer/STAFF. SAN FRANCISCO — Taking the stage in a blue hijab and burqa, Irish singer-songwriter Sinéad O’Connor walked onto the August Hall stage with her band, said a quick hello and while applause was still…
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REVIEW: Avengers SuperM assemble to push K-Pop in smoother direction at SAP Center
SuperM performs at at The Forum in Inglewood, California, on Feb. 1, 2020. Courtesy SM Entertainment. SAN JOSE —Composed of members from four groups, SuperM has been dubbed the “Avengers of K-Pop,” in reference to the Marvel Universe films. The seven-member group was plenty super at its nearly sold-out…
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REVIEW: Caroline Polachek balances brooding and bounce at The Independent
SAN FRANCISCO — The stage at The Independent was bare save for a small shrine lit by electric candles. Projected onto the back curtain was a blackened image of a wrought iron gate. A witchy, silent blonde stood at the shrine in a gold-sequined black jumpsuit, summoning long drones…
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REVIEW: Poppy lights up the Great American Music Hall at ‘I Disagree’ Tour opener
Poppy performs at Great American Music Hall in San Francisco on Jan. 22, 2020. Photos: Chloe Catajan SAN FRANCISCO — The opening night of any tour always brings some specter of intrigue and excitement. For pop and hard rock enigma Poppy, there was an extra shroud of mystery in…
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REVIEW: King Princess serenades her subjects at the Fox in Oakland
King Princess performs at Fox Theater in Oakland on Jan. 21, 2020. OAKLAND — King Princess has found her audience on the “Cheap Queen Tour.” Brooklyn singer-songwriter Mikaela Mullaney Straus lapped up the adoration at her show at the Fox Theater on Tuesday. It was a packed house of doting…
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REVIEW: Elbow presents a night at the ‘Oakland Love Spa’
Elbow performs at the Fox Theater in Oakland on Jan. 20, 2020. Martin Lacey/Staff. OAKLAND — Elbow frontman Guy Garvey was admittedly in a peculiar mood at his band’s show at the Fox Theater on Monday. “I’m really enjoying this,” the chatty Garvey said halfway through. “Full disclosure: I’ve…
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REVIEW: Amber Liu lets the past go at self-affirming Warfield show
Amber Liu performs at the Warfield in San Francisco on Jan. 18, 2020. Onome Uyovbievbo/Staff. SAN FRANCISCO — Los-Angeles-born singer-songwriter Amber Liu, formerly of successful K-Pop group f(x), was all smiles at The Warfield on Saturday, the second night of her second tour as a solo artist. Liu, who…
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REVIEW: Rex Orange County revels in pop delight at the Masonic
Rex Orange County performs at The Masonic in San Francisco on Jan. 16, 2020. Onome Uyovbievbo/Staff. SAN FRANCISCO — In a year when cynicism is widely available, and often quite convincing, a pop star’s optimism invokes a healthy skepticism. On record, Rex Orange County wavers at times from tween-pop…
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REVIEW: Ty Segall bares it all in acoustic set at Starline Social Club in Oakland
Ty Segall performs at Starline Social Club in Oakland on Jan. 14, 2020. Photos: Karen Goldman. OAKLAND — Loud distortion on an electric guitar can blur away imperfections in a performance, hiding mistakes and in some cases lack of ability. Ty Segall, known for his extensive use of guitar…
