Ricky Martin, pictured here Livin’ La Vida Loca. I’m taking a risk and pre-writing all my October columns. Why is that a risk? Because it’s 2020. The last time I wrote a column early a civil rights movement broke out between the time I filed it and when it…

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…

The Easter Bunny, before and after listening to Jefferson Airplane. Tomorrow is Easter so obviously I have to do an Easter column. This presents a bit of a problem for me because Easter is a religious holiday and I’m completely incapable of not offending people. I offend people perpetually…

David Byrne performs at Bill Graham Civic Auditorium in San Francisco on Aug. 22, 2018. Photos: Paige K. Parsons. I don’t usually rank my top 10 shows, but this year’s best show was so far above the rest, I decided to make it clear who was at the top:…

Florence and the Machine performs at Not So Silent Night at SAP Center in San Jose on Dec. 8, 2018. Photos: Alessio Neri. SAN JOSE — All music, all the time—the theme was simple at Saturday’s Not So Silent Night, the annual alt-rock holiday concert presented by San Francisco’s…

Lady Gaga, probably singing about our editor. I’ll be honest with you, I kinda cheated on this one. Two of the songs are from one of my favorite video game series, two were generously provided by a friend, and one is Lady Gaga, which is basically the 21st century…

Florence Welch from Florence and the Machine performs at Outside Lands in San Francisco on August 11, 2018. Photos: Shawn Robbins and Joaquin Cabello. SAN FRANCISCO — Touting her new record, High As Hope, Florence and the Machine played her first U.S. show Saturday at Outside Lands with the new…

  Producers of the 11th annual Outside Lands announced the daily lineups of the festival that runs from Aug. 10 to 12. R&B crooner The Weeknd and alt-rock mainstay Beck headline Friday. Florence and the Machine and rapper Future take center stage on Saturday. R&B and pop icon Janet Jackson and DJ…

This is the final in a three-part series. Read how I’m scoring my list and find out about my “special consideration” acts in PART 1 and 13 through 8 in PART 2. Favorite Shows 2015 | Favorite Shows 2014 Favorite Shows 2013 | Favorite Shows 2012 7 – STURGILL SIMPSON at the Fox Theater – Nov. 19 Two weeks ago,…

NAPA — The fourth installment of the BottleRock Napa Valley festival brought high temperatures and memorable performances. Temperatures flirted with the 90-degree mark as 40,000 flocked to the Napa Valley Expo each day for the event. Let’s look at seven sets from the 2016 BottleRock that stood out above the rest.…