Show Review: Buddy Guy and Eric Gales Bring the Blues to Stern Grove

Buddy Guy is a legend!  The last time I saw Buddy Guy perform was a tribute to his late friend Jr. Wells.  Almost a century later, he is better than ever and a little spicy while roasting the Grove audience.  Buddy is known for helping younger artists achieve success.  Opener Eric Gales may be young in comparison; yet, was epic on his own. Continue reading “Show Review: Buddy Guy and Eric Gales Bring the Blues to Stern Grove”

Show Review: Two Nights with Faith No More at The Warfield, 4/19/15-4/20/15

Mike Patton of Faith No More
Mike Patton of Faith No More

In 2010, Faith No More returned to their hometown of San Francisco to play three ferocious, wildly-anticipated concerts that marked their first appearance in the Bay Area since their disbandment in the late 90s. The general reaction, from the most hardcore fans to the relatively casual listeners, was extremely positive, albeit with the lingering curiosity of “…but what’s next?” After a handful of tours, a smattering of festival appearances, and two years of almost total silence — during which the prolific band members worked on some of their other projects, as well — something more official surfaced in the latter half of 2014, in the form of two new songs: the slow-stalking “Motherfucker” and the chugging, anthemic “Superhero”, both of which showed up in their live sets that year. Now, with their seventh album Sol Invictus soon to arrive in record stores, and a mountain of tour dates taking up their schedule this year (paired with everyone from ANTEMASQUE to Refused), it seemed like the perfect time for Faith No More to return to the Warfield — this time with two shows, instead of three — and their transformation in the last five years is not only palpable, but an utter delight to witness.

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Show Review: The Antlers with Yellow Ostrich at Great American Music Hall, 07/11/2014

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I have a bit of a weird history with The Antlers. Not, like, personally. It’s just that one of their (arguably) best albums, Hospice, was something I found when I was in the depths of a deep depression. I won’t ever forget how much it tore up my heart to listen to “Bear” for the first time and how heartbreaking those lyrics were. Tonight, I entered Great American Music Hall, but found myself back in that darkened apartment, whiskey in hand, tears soaking my face.

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Show Review: Tove Lo with DJ Aaron Axelsen and Miles the DJ at Rickshaw Stop, 07/03/2014

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Before that show, I had no idea why I enjoyed Tove Lo so much. On the surface, she looks just like another Ke$ha-inspired glitter party clone. But standing in the middle of Rickshaw Stop, somewhere between the whiskey, vaporizer smoke, and bendy straws, it hit me. Somewhere in that crowd, in all those eyes glittering in the lights coming from the stage, it all became so painfully obvious: we are all hurt. And that’s why we were there.

Continue reading “Show Review: Tove Lo with DJ Aaron Axelsen and Miles the DJ at Rickshaw Stop, 07/03/2014”

Concert Review: Ben Folds and the San Francisco Symphony, 5/19/2014

Ben Folds puts on his serious face before having an amazing time.
Ben Folds puts on his serious face before having an amazing time.

There was a moment during “Steven’s Last Night in Town” when Ben Folds, letting the San Francisco Symphony do its thing, turned toward the audience, put his hands on his knees and flashed a huge smile. It was the happiest I’ve ever seen him, and who can blame him?  Here he was, on stage with a world class orchestra, hearing them play the horn breakdown of a humorous song he wrote during a time when he was just another struggling Nashville musician. Now he’s on top of the musical world, playing songs that belong in the Great American Songbook with 100 great musicians and singers.  I’d smile, too. And I did. Continue reading “Concert Review: Ben Folds and the San Francisco Symphony, 5/19/2014”

Show Review: Empire of the Sun with Vin Sol at The Fox Theater, 04/17/2014

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Empire of the Sun are simply a band that somehow defies explanation and supersedes any real definition, and their live show at The Fox in Oakland on Thursday certainly follows suit. With an intro that rivals most Las Vegas shows, a light package that is worthy of any pure EDM set, and a lead singer that truly embodies the enigmatic rock star persona, their show definitely rearranged every brain cell I have into what feels like pure energy.

And that’s even without getting into the music itself.

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Show Review: Darlene Love at The Nourse Theater for City Arts and Lectures, 3/7/2014

Darlene Love
Darlene Love demonstrates how much closer to stardom she now is.

In a brilliant display of great timing, City Arts and Lectures welcomed “Oscar winner” Darlene Love to their stage at the Nourse Theater on Friday night for an evening of question answering and singing. As both the opening act and the headliner, she managed to be highly entertaining on both counts, literally leaving the crowd wanting more. Continue reading “Show Review: Darlene Love at The Nourse Theater for City Arts and Lectures, 3/7/2014”

Noise Pop Review: Bleached, Terry Malts, Mystic Braves, and Tropical Popsicle at Rickshaw Stop, 02/28/2014

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I have no idea how to describe what just happened. This entire show felt like a crazy collision of surf, classic, psychedelic, and punk rock all interlocking and interweaving together to make Bleached, a veritable Voltron of music. Looked at individually, each of these groups are amazing reminders of angsty, dreamy, teenage Southern California rock days gone by. But their presence on stage here at Noise Pop unequivocally proves that this sound is timeless, and so, too, are the people who listen to it.

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Show Review: An Evening with Transatlantic at The Regency Ballroom, 2/1/2014

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On June 18, 2000, Transatlantic played their first ever show in Bethlehem, PA. It was a loose, joyous set that was technically a little off, but felt like a big event. At the time, I thought “well that was fun. Too bad I won’t get to see them again.” Why? Because supergroups hardly ever last, and prog rock supergroups are even more fleeting. So to be sitting in front of a stage watching Transatlantic nearly 14 years later was an absolute treat. Continue reading “Show Review: An Evening with Transatlantic at The Regency Ballroom, 2/1/2014”

This Could Be the Year for the Real Thing: Dolly Parton at Reno Events Center 1/27/2014

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This is a child. His name is Fritz. Why is his name Fritz? Oh, because he’s the best is why. I had the pleasure of meeting this little prince just before his parents surprised him with the first concert of his life: Dolly Parton. As if it wasn’t enough that he’s growing up with the name Fritz, he will forever be able to say that his first concert was Dolly Parton. He’s guaranteed to be such an awesome adult, I didn’t even care that he pooped his pants during dinner. Continue reading “This Could Be the Year for the Real Thing: Dolly Parton at Reno Events Center 1/27/2014”