In 1966—against a backdrop of protest, riots, violence and thousands of Americans dying for no reason at all—The Four Tops released their signature song “Reach Out I’ll Be There” to a world gripped with anxiety and pain. On the song Levi Stubbs shouts reassurance to a friend in need,…

The Jaded Hearts Club A new all-star band featuring Matthew Bellamy of Muse, Miles Kane of The Last Shadow Puppets, Nic Cester of Jet, Graham Coxon of Blur, Jamie Davis, and Sean Payne of The Zutons—known as The Jaded Hearts Club—has released its second single, “This Love Starved Heart Of Mine (It’s Killing…

Muse performs at Oracle Arena in Oakland on March 9, 2019. Photos: Alessio Neri. OAKLAND — It’s not exactly a trade secret that nearly 25 years into its career that Muse is one of the best live acts in modern rock. The band’s ‘all in’ attitude toward its live…

I’m excited to present my installment of RIFF’s year-end staff lists of the best albums of 2018. This year was one of transition and experimentation for artists, and I’ve used fairly simple criteria to narrow down my top 10 albums. These are the ones I found myself loading up…

Muse again dives into the depths of cinematic sci-fi on Simulation Theory, the follow up to the English rock band’s 2015, Drones. Riddled with infectious percussion loops and grandiose vocal hooks, the album creates futuristic atmospheres while maintaining the band’s signature approach. Simulation Theory Muse Warner Bros., Nov. 9 Opening track…

On the heels of another massive BottleRock Napa Valley, Coco Sterzenbach and Mike DeWald recap the festival, from their favorite sets of the previous weekend to the most delectable festival food offerings and a complete rundown of  their time in Napa. We’re also including portions of their interviews with…

Photos: Alessio Neri, Martin Lacey and courtesy NAPA — Muse electrified BottleRock Napa Valley during the first day of the annual festival with a blistering set chock full of the band’s biggest hits from throughout its 20-year-old catalog. Muse defined what it means to be a modern stadium rock band,…

BottleRock Napa Valley returns to the Napa Valley Expo Memorial Day Weekend for the fifth annual incarnation of what has quickly become one of Northern California’s preeminent music festivals. This year’s BottleRock lineup boasts one of its strongest to date, featuring headlining sets from Muse, Bruno Mars and The…

  The Killers. Courtesy: Rob Loud The producers of BottleRock Napa Valley have released the daily lineups for the annual festival, which kicks of May 25, as well as the individual day ticket prices and on-sale, on Wednesday. The individual ticket on-sale follows all three-day tickets selling out within one…

Photo: Alessio Neri While other festivals may be leaning more than ever on pop acts and solo artists, the 2018 edition of BottleRock Napa Valley is doubling down on guitar bands. The three-day music and wine extravaganza returns to the Napa Valley Expo May 25 to 27 for its sixth annual run…