Rilo Kiley’s remarkable return
On Wednesday, May 7, I ventured to one of the last places on earth where twee appeared to be alive and well: the Rilo Kiley concert at Libbey Bowl in Ojai. Residents of the idyllic town and surrounding enclaves...
Live at Tamper Room: A French Project, Little Critter, friendship games, and Antlion
Fremont, California isn’t typically the place that comes to mind when thinking about the Bay Area music scene. The scene was in San Jose, Berkeley, Oakland, San Francisco, and Hayward even. Not Fremont.
Wi...
A vision in Doc Martens: Johnny Manchild and the Poor Bastards at Bottom of the Hill
I didn’t want to go all the way to San Francisco. It was the first day back from spring break, I was too cold to wear the outfit I’d laid out, and it was starting to rain. I was exhausted and all I wanted t...
Michael Marcagi, mustaches, and me—just trying to make it to The Fillmore
The journey to The Fillmore to see Michael Marcagi should have been simple. It wasn’t.
It was the evening of March 19th, and I had an hour-long trip on public transit ahead of me into San Francisco. The ...
Squids, synths, and smoke: SahBabii brings Saaheem to life
Walking into the Regency Ballroom in San Francisco feels like stepping into another era, one of opulence, intricate paneling, and chandeliers casting warm glows on the crowd below. It’s the kind of venue wher...
Through the Veil: 070 Shake’s Cinematic Soundscape at the Petrichor Tour
The 070 Shake concert on February 19 at the Oakland Fox Theater marked another stop on the tour for the artist’s newest album Petrichor (2024). With one of us, Bailey, being a long-time Shake fan and one, Mar...
Reminiscing on punk with X at Cornerstone
John Doe of X
As soon as I opened the doors to the Cornerstone to see X perform on December 16, I could tell that I was surrounded by some of their most original fans. I found myself in the middle of a sea ...
Soul, Sparkle, and Stardom: Molly Grace Preaches in Berkeley
“It’s a shame I’m not a religious person because I think I would’ve made a great preacher. So, Berkeley, will you let me take you to church?”
With those electrifying words in the latter half of her...
Sidebangs and smudged waterlines for Toro y Moi at the Greek
“Who cares about the party? I came to see the band play…” Toro y Moi, you took the words right out of my mouth. The decision to make the solo venture to the Greek Theatre on October 25th was an easy one. ...
“Merch ideas for HOMESHAKE’s next tour: Earplugs and Kleenex”
I’m always first in line to any concert, and it was no different for HOMESHAKE’s November 4th show at the Regency in San Francisco. I was greeted by two burly men––well, seemingly burly, as they were bu...
SLCHLD in Seattle: she likes spring, we both prefer winter
It’s my second year living in California, but Seattle is my home. The bulk of my memories are there, the “growing up” stage of my life still contained in Seattle’s crisp, chilly air. I see my homesickne...
Alisa Amador’s music is a grounding force
“Imagine a comforting and cooling light that starts at the top of your head and moves down to the rest of your body…”
This quote encompasses everything I love about Alisa Amador’s set at the 2024 Har...
Patti Smith’s tribute to generations of musical icons at Hardly Strictly Bluegrass 2024
San Francisco boasted a striking 97 degrees on Sunday, the last day of the annual Hardly Strictly Bluegrass festival and the warmest October 6th the city had ever seen. Despite the excessive heat, the streets s...
An audience’s view of Haley Heynderickx
Haley Heynderickx is always up. Her speaking voice curls up at the corners, lilting and genuine, like peeling wallpaper about to reveal something greater hidden behind. Delightful sentiments drift out of her mo...
Sleater-Kinney: Navigating a “Modern Girl” sound with 30-year punk roots
My experience on Friday, October 4th, Day 1 of San Francisco’s annual Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival starts with a harrowing journey, full of twists and turns (literally, physically turning around and w...