Phoneboy, courtesy. This week’s picks include propulsive, yearning tunes by Phoneboy and Michigander, a retro-sounding blend of music icons’ sounds by Rose City Band, a simmering southern rocker by Loose Cattle, a ’90s cover for a good cause by White Denim and a fun bop with a serious theme…

Christine and the Queens, courtesy Paolo Roversi. For someone from a country that loves to analyze art, French singer-songwriter Christine and the Queens is not one to be put in a box. Instead, the artist chooses to express himself through theatricality, authenticity and self-expression. Last year’s operatic and fantastical…

Charli XCX, courtesy. Terrence O’Connor Charli XCX has made it abundantly clear she has no intentions of creating the same album twice. Her breakthrough came a decade ago via collaborations with Iggy Azalea and Icona Pop, but collaborations are about the end of the similarities between her music then…

Florence and The Machine performs at Concord Pavilion in Concord on May 15, 2019. Photos: Sean Liming. CONCORD — The penultimate episode of “Game of Thrones” knocked out the (spoiler alert) sitting Iron Throne ruler while destroying the reputation of another. At her tour stop at the Concord Pavilion…

Christine and the Queens perform at Fox Theater in Oakland on Oct. 26, 2018. Photo: Shawn Robbins. It’s the most wonderful time of the year. No, not Christmas. I’m talking end–of–the–year list season. While I enjoyed RIFF editor Max Heilman’s list, it left  a strong metallic taste in my mouth.…

Christine and the Queens perform at Fox Theater in Oakland on Oct. 26, 2018. Photo: Shawn Robbins. This is the second in a three-part series. Read the introduction to learn how I’m scoring my list and find out about my “special consideration” in PART 1. Favorite Shows 2017 | Favorite Shows…

Christine and the Queens perform at Fox Theater in Oakland on Oct. 26, 2018. Photos: Shawn Robbins. OAKLAND — French singer-songwriter Heloise Letissier set aside aspirations of a Broadway stage production when her music project, Christine and the Queens, took off. So it only makes sense that now that Christine and…

Christine and the Queens, “Chris.’ French alt-pop superstar Christine and the Queens, born Héloïse Letissier, has returned with a sophomore debut album, reinventing herself as simply “Chris.” Chris Christine and the Queens Sept. 21 Even when she was first making waves in the U.S. three years ago (Christine and…

Photos: Diana Cordero, Ian Young, Nick DeCicco TREASURE ISLAND — Attendees to the 10th and final Treasure Island Music Festival were easy to spot Sunday on the BART ride home—tired spirits bundled for warmth and many wearing rain gear, their footwear caked in mud. While rain caused a three-hour…

Christine and the Queens. Courtesy. It’s been a busy couple of years for Heloise Letissier, a French singer-songwriter-dancer who began the span by setting aside her dreams of Broadway stage production in favor of a career as Francophile synth-pop musician who has successfully crossed over to an Anglophile pop…