As K.D.A.P., Toronto indie rock outfit Broken Social Scene frontman Kevin Drew circumvents the constraints of playing in a band for his first solo album, Influences. At first glance, the compositions might seem like departures from the music he’s made with BSS, but it’s far from the first time Drew has…

San Francisco Ballet in Peck’s ‘Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming.’ Courtesy: Erik Tomasson. In 2018 San Francisco Ballet premiered a ballet set to sections of M83’s critically acclaimed double album, Hurry Up We’re Dreaming. Beginning Friday at 3 p.m., the production will be streamed for seven days on the company’s Facebook and YouTube pages,…

Few frustrations can compare to that of an artist who suspects his audience didn’t fully resonate with his work. French ‘80s revivalist Anthony Gonzalez wrestled with that feeling with Junk in 2016. As M83, his combination of shoegaze and synth-pop earned praise from multiple camps. Even though Junk was received warmly…

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 2015 | Favorite Shows 2014 Favorite Shows 2013 | Favorite Shows 2012   13 – CHANCE THE RAPPER at Bill Graham Civic Auditorium – Oct. 21 At…

Three-by-three-by-three: Morgan Kibby sees her current work as White Sea in three sets of triptychs. The 32-year-old, formerly a songwriter and keyboardist in M83, was left wanting with the process of writing, recording and releasing her debut solo album, 2014’s In Cold Blood. So rather than approach her music…

M83 performs at the Fox Theater in Oakland on April 17, 2016. Roman Gokhman/STAFF. Following his breakthrough sixth album, 2011’s Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming, which reached No. 15 on the Billboard 200 chart and briefly made him a household name, M83’s Anthony Gonzalez could have made the safe move and created…

St. Lucia, courtesy. Jean-Philip Grobler was one of the most fun interviews I’ve had in recent weeks, because the South African musician gave a thoughtful answer to each question. I’m sure I asked a couple that he gets each time, but rather than read off his own press release,…

Morgan Kibby of White Sea. Courtesy. I was interviewing Jean-Philip of St. Lucia just yesterday, and brought up M83, whose early music is an influence on St. Lucia. I only mention that now because White Sea is the project of M83 keyboardist and vocalist Morgan Kibby. In “Prague,” she…

M83 performs at the Fox Theater in Oakland on April 17, 2016. I probably went to more shows this year than ever before. This year, artists such as Florence and the Machine, Coldplay, the Black Keys, Of Monsters and Men and the reunited Garbage didn’t even crack the ranks…

The Jesus and Mary Chain performs at The Fillmore in San Francisco on Oct. 19, 2017. SAN FRANCISCO — The folks behind this year’s Download Festival, held Saturday at the Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View, targeted fans of newer bands in the dance, alternative and Britpop molds, as well…