Sting performs at Toyota Pavilion in Concord, Calif. on Oct. 2, 2023. Sean Liming/STAFF. CONCORD, Calif. — Singer-songwriter and rocker Sting brought his My Songs Tour and a positive life outlook to Toyota Pavilion on Monday. After a fun, slightly ramshackle take on “If You Love Somebody Set Them…

U2 performs during the opening night of its U2:UV Live at Sphere residency in Las Vegas on Sept. 29, 2023. Photo: Rich Fury. Others by Kevin Mazur. Sept. 30 photos: Roman Gokhman/STAFF. LAS VEGAS — Sphere at the Venetian is truly a visual and sonic marvel. The bubble-like theater…

The Darkness, courtesy Gareth Parker. Brit rockers The Darkness are celebrating the release of their 2003 debut, Permission to Land, with a re-release of the multi-platinum album and a tour that kicks off in San Francisco next week. The Darkness 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 3 The Masonic Tickets: $30…

Arctic Monkeys perform at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif. on Sept. 26, 2023. Chloe Catajan/STAFF. SAN FRANCISCO — Over their nearly two-decade reign, the Arctic Monkeys have gained a reputation as one of the biggest rock bands of the new millennium. The reasons why were still apparent at…

The Glorious Sons, courtesy. Brett Emmons said all he wants is to travel the world and play music for a hundred years with his band, The Glorious Sons. The Ontario, Canada band has twice topped Billboard’s Mainstream Rock chart and is known for its energetic rock show back home.…

Ed Sheeran performs at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif. on Sept. 16, 2023. Steve Carlson/STAFF. SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Leave it to Ed Sheeran to stand in front of 77,000 people and make time stand still. The English singer-songwriter brought the Mathematics Tour (+-=÷x) to Levi’s Stadium Saturday,…

Ed Sheeran performs during a Subtract Tour club show at Fox Theater in Oakland on Sept. 15, 2023. Courtesy Mark Surridge. OAKLAND — Going on two tours simultaneously may have initially raised some eyebrows, but there’s a clear reason pop star Ed Sheeran separated his stadium Mathematics Tour (+–=÷×)…

Jelly Roll performs at Toyota Pavilion in Concord, Calif. on Sept. 14, 2023. Sean Liming/STAFF. CONCORD, Calif. — Don’t doubt someone who’s completely sold on the power of love, redemption and music being able to lift everyone higher. Nashville singer-songwriter and rapper Jelly Roll used his tremendous story of…

Foo Fighters perform during Dreamfest benefitting Benioff Children’s Hospitals at Chase Center in San Francisco on Sept. 13, 2023. Photos by Drew Altizer. SAN FRANCISCO — Just a month after headlining Outside Lands, rockers Foo Fighters returned to the Bay Area to perform at Dreamfest, benefitting UCSF Benioff Children’s…

Shakey Graves (Alejandro Rose-Garcia), courtesy. It’s been an unusual day for Alejandro Rose-Garcia. The artist, better known as Shakey Graves, meant to sit down to write out song descriptions for his new album, Movie of the Week, that would be sent to reviewers. But that activity turned an eight-page screenplay,…