You should be excited about new albums from Tame Impala, Frank Ocean, Grimes, Lorde, AJJ, Yves Tumor, The 1975, The Cure, Tierra Whack and IDLES in 2020, writes Kyle J. Kohner. Now that another phenomenal year and decade in music has passed, it’s time to look forward at what…

Mono performs at Great American Music Hall in San Francisco on June 5, 2019. Photos: Joaquin Cabello. SAN FRANCISCO — After the Japanese drone outfit Mono filed onto the stage at The Great American Music Hall to the soothing synthesized sounds of “God Bless,” the quintet launched immediately into…

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:…

The history of rock and roll is a series of revolutions during which young insurgents dethrone the previous kings and queens who have grown fat and lazy. Chuck Berry unseated T-Bone Walker. The Beatles unseated Elvis. Nirvana unseated big hair metal. New Wave: Dare To Be Different Streaming on…

  Illustration: Vivian Shih It’s “love and hate” week at RIFF. We’ve taken on the theme of Valentine’s Day to talk about both sides of love. We’re starting off with my favorite love songs, but there are some caveats: These are only since 1980. There’s a whole bunch of really…

Sufjan Stevens. Photos: Paige K. Parsons. Photographer Paige K. Parsons is one of the most recognizable faces at concert venues throughout the Bay Area. Other photographers frequently remark about her skill of capturing the best possible shot while staying out of everyone else’s line of sight. And RIFF is…

Watch the entire YouTube set here. AND: Read my festival preview right here.   The Cure performs at BottleRock Napa Valley on May 30, 2014. The Cure performs at BottleRock Napa Valley on May 30, 2014. The Cure performs at BottleRock Napa Valley on May 30, 2014. The Cure performs at…