Show Review: Dinosaur Jr at The Castro, 10/18/26

I had the opportunity to cover Dinosaur Jr. at the historic Castro Theatre on 10/18, and I loved it. This was my first time listening to the band, and seeing them live was a great way to experience their music for the first time. I grew up listening to bands like Linkin Park, Evanescence, and Three Days Grace, so this was definitely a different type of rock! Continue reading “Show Review: Dinosaur Jr at The Castro, 10/18/26”

SF SKETCHFEST IS BACK!!!

There are five events every year in the Bay that I get crazy excited about… Noise Pop, Mosswood Meltdown, Outside Lands, and Portola. But the biggest of all of them? SF Sketchfest. And they announced a BONKERS lineup!

The top line has Martin Short, Abbi and Ilana of Broad City, the cast of The Sarah Silverman Program, Mr. Show‘s David and Bob doing a live read of their movie Run Runnie Run, a career retrospective of Oakland legend and best hat wearer in America, Boots Riley, and a “Live Drawing (!)” of Bob’s Burgers with the cast, writers, and artists. 

We also have a few favorites returning, including Stamptown!, Maria Bamford, Thomas Lennon Sings The Smiths, Red Room Orchestra doing both the works of David Lynch AND After Hours with Rosanna Arquette, Theme Park Improv, Edinburgh Fringe Spotlights, and more that I may have gone blind reading the whole lineup. 

Anyways, there is a lot. Our nerd’s guide will drop in a few months (because I write it alone and there is a LOT to sift through), but the lineup is live at SFSketchfest.com, and tickets to all announced events go on sale Sunday, November 15th, at 10am. 

Show Review: Faouzia at The Masonic Lodge at Hollywood Forever Cemetery, 11/7/26

I traveled from the Bay Area to Los Angeles to provide photo coverage for Faouzia’s surprise show on November 7th for the one-year anniversary of her hit song “Unethical,” and I can say with the utmost confidence that it was worth it. Faouzia was performing at a venue called The Masonic Lodge at Hollywood Forever, and the building was connected to a cemetery, which was definitely a first for me. The venue was not the largest, but it somehow felt oddly comfortable. It helped make the show feel more intimate and special because Faouzia was able to interact with more fans. Continue reading “Show Review: Faouzia at The Masonic Lodge at Hollywood Forever Cemetery, 11/7/26”

Single of the Week: “Cigarettes For Breakfast” by Grace Bowers

Let’s face it. The Donnas are never reuniting. Probably the only band that won’t do it. How do we handle this? Well, Grace Bowers might be the answer… Bratty vocals? Check. Guitar heroics that defy her age? Check. Lyrics that tell a full story about navigating being a young woman in this era? Super check. “Cigarettes For Breakfast” is a great song. In fact, her entire new EP, Grace (OUT TODAY!!), is 100% what you need today. Trust me on that one. 

Show Review: Phoebe Bridgers with Alex G at Chase Center, 10/28/26

Photo Credit: Wes Ellis / Instagram: @atwes

Chase Center opened its doors in September 2019, bringing the Golden State Warriors back to San Francisco after decades of playing across the bay at Oakland’s Oracle Arena. The privately financed, approximately $1.4 billion project took seven years of planning and development to become a reality. It was an ambitious undertaking, and not without controversy. Concerns about traffic, parking, emergency access, and the impact of a major entertainment venue on the surrounding Mission Bay neighborhood accompanied the project from its earliest days. Continue reading “Show Review: Phoebe Bridgers with Alex G at Chase Center, 10/28/26”

Film Review: “The Only Living Pickpocket in New York”

I happen to like this film / I happen to love this picture

Detective Warren (Giancarlo Esposito, l.) chats with his friend Harry (John Turturro). 

John Turturro, the recognizable and prolific character actor who’s been acting in film and television since 1980, finally gets a leading role worthy of his talents in The Only Living Pickpocket in New York. His performance in this moody, wistful, and captivating crime thriller may just nab him his first Oscar nomination. Continue reading “Film Review: “The Only Living Pickpocket in New York””

Single of the Week: “Ellipsis” by Juanita & Juan

Two legends of LA Punk, The Bags’ Alice Bag and The Cramps/Gun Club’s Kid Congo Powers, are prepping to drop their second album, and their emotionally charged, politically optimistic new single “Ellipsis” is a banger. Great song to cast your ballot early to. 

“Ellipsis” can be enjoyed here while we await more news from this great supergroup. 

Show Review: heavens to betsy, The Street Eaters, The Lilies at Bottom Of The Hill, 10/17/26

As regular readers know, my favorite band is Sleater-Kinney. I’ve probably seen them around 50 times at this point, and it never gets old. For folks who don’t know, Sleater-Kinney was originally a supergroup comprised of members of Excuse 17 and heavens to betsy. heavens to betsy are an important part of the story, and their sole full-length record, Calculated, as well as the These Monsters Are Real EP, have been a steady presence on my turntables, in my DiscMans, and on my portable digital music devices for the vast majority of my life. Continue reading “Show Review: heavens to betsy, The Street Eaters, The Lilies at Bottom Of The Hill, 10/17/26”

Show Review: DOMi and JD Beck at Nuemos, 10/5/26

Domi & JD Beck are singular.

A jazz duo consisting of keys and drums, DOMi and JD Beck fill a space musically that does not quite exist outside of them as an artistic unit. As more and more bands search for gimmicks that demand their audience dive a little bit deeper into the music to find sustenance. DOMi and JD require no costumes or theatrics to speak to their audience within a culture that often lacks an interest in complicated compositional weirdness. They’re hard to pigeonhole, and thank your deity of choice for that. Continue reading “Show Review: DOMi and JD Beck at Nuemos, 10/5/26”