Among noise buffs, fuzz is considered the most extreme form of distortion, often completely blowing out a signal with staticky white noise (think of the bass sound that begins Norm Greenbaum’s 1969 hit “Spirit in the Sky”). Similarly, among Ty Segall fans, Fuzz albums are known to be heavier…

When I was a kid I was drawn to music that would irritate my parents. Angry punk rock with incomprehensible screaming usually did the trick. Now that I’m a parent myself, I enjoy music that drives my kids nuts. Maybe this is a personality defect. But either way, your…

Ty Segall performs at Starline Social Club in Oakland on Jan. 14, 2020. Photos: Karen Goldman. OAKLAND — Loud distortion on an electric guitar can blur away imperfections in a performance, hiding mistakes and in some cases lack of ability. Ty Segall, known for his extensive use of guitar…

Clockwise from top left: Alice Merton, Jenny Hval, Jpegmafia, Jessica Pratt, Kingfish, Kim Petras, Cate Le Bon, Swans, Ty Segall and Bad Wolves. We’ve reached the halfway point of RIFF’s top 50 albums list! It only get harder from here, but we can certainly guarantee a wealth of quality…

Ty Segall is a very busy man. The Laguna Beach garage rocker filled last year with Freedom’s Goblins, covers album Fudge Sandwich and his collaboration with White Fence, Joy. First Taste clarifies once again that Segall has yet to spread himself too thin, slathering on his brand of fuzzed-out, dirty sauce more thickly than…

Musicians in the ‘60s were careful never to give their listeners too much to take in. Pink Floyd were genius arrangers, allowing even the most inebriated listener to enjoy the song and anticipate what would come next. On Joy, Laguna Beach’s “it boy” Ty Segall and Tim Presley of White…

Ty Segall performs at The Fox Theater in Oakland during Noise Pop on Feb. 27, 2017. Diana Cordero/STAFF. OAKLAND — The 25th rendition of the Noise Pop Music Festival came to an end with a bang courtesy of Los Angeles rocker Ty Segall. Segall opened his set with “Break A Guitar,” which has…

Noise Pop has returned to San Francisco for its 25th year, and producers have made their silver anniversary special. Over the next week, some of the most unique, up-and-coming and well known names in rock, pop, R&B, hip-hop and everything in between will visit more than a dozen venues throughout San Francisco and…

SoCal native, Ty Segall has kept busy since emerging onto the lo-fi indie scene with his self-titled debut in 2008. Since then, the 29-year-old musician has released an album a year for the past 10 years and that’s not even including his various side projects, including Fuzz, Broken Bat and Epsilons.…

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…