Biffy Clyro performs at the Great American Music Hall on Feb. 12, 2014. Roman Gokhman/STAFF. This is the final part in a three-part series. Read how I’m scoring my list and find out about my “special consideration” acts in PART 1 and 10 through 6 in PART 2. Before I get my…

Conway, courtesy. Los Angeles singer-songwriter Kassia Conway, whose goal is to make you want to dance to her songs, was last in the Bay Area while opening for St. Lucia. Those shows were at the Independent. When she returns this weekend, it will be a much larger venue —…

St. Lucia performs at the Independent in San Francisco on Feb. 5, 2014. Roman Gokhman/STAFF. Having bounced around the globe over the past few years — from Johannesburg, South Africa, to Liverpool, and to Brooklyn — being evicted from a recording studio that was transformed into luxury condominiums wasn’t much…

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,…