Reviews of albums, films, concerts, and more from the Bay Area Music and Movie Nerds
Fall film season is ramping up, and this weekend we’ve got two possible awards contenders opening in the Bay Area. The A24-distributed indie Club Kid and the Amazon-produced I Play Rocky both feature some terrific performances that could earn nominations from various industry groups, but I Play Rocky is the stronger of the two. Read on for more on each.
Continue reading “Film Reviews: “Club Kid” and “I Play Rocky””
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”
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.
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”
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.
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”
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””
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.
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”
Yes, we are waiting patiently for the follow up to Alligator Bites Never Heal. To hold us over, so just blasted us with a brief 1:32 of ferocity that just hits every bit we need. Doechii is certainly not a one album wonder, and I can’t waut to see what else she has in store for us!
