Editor Daniel J. Willis brings some song ideas to Kyiv Independent defense reporter Illia Ponomarenko, who reported that the Ukrainian military has been jamming Russian radio communications with metal. Illia Ponomarenko, defense reporter with the Kyiv Independent and metalhead, reports that the Ukrainian military has been jamming Russian radio…

High on Fire performs at the Regency Ballroom in San Francisco on March 29, 2016. Photos: Derek Tobias. BERKELEY — Local heavy metal champions High On Fire returned to The UC Theatre from a year-long limbo Friday night. Following the appropriately gruesome partial amputation of guitarist Matt Pike’s toe, the band was…

OM performs at August Hall in San Francisco on Feb. 26, 2019. Photos: Gary Chancer SAN FRANCISCO — In the 1984 film Amadeus, Emperor Joseph II criticizes Mozart‘s performance saying, “There are simply too many notes.” The period drama portrays the ruler as an idiot who’s unable to appreciate Mozart’s genius.…

Sleep performs at the Great American Music Hall in San Francisco on Dec. 29, 2018. Photos: Gary Chancer. SAN FRANCISCO — The legendary stoner-doom band Sleep took the stage Saturday night at Great American Music Hall to a recording of NASA’s mission control as puffs of marijuana smoke rose…

Lets Eat Grandma This is the continuation of my top 50 albums of 2018. If you’re just now joining me, start here. If part one didn’t make this clear enough: My musical interests are completely all over the place. This list is a product of me trying to expose…

A year after organizers connected rock and Renaissance, Sound on Sound Fest will return to Sherwood Forest, just east of Austin, Texas. The second-annual event is scheduled for the weekend of Nov. 10-12. Coming off a four-year hiatus of touring and recording, NYC indie rockers Yeah Yeah Yeahs will…