On a breezy spring night in Concord, the Toyota Amphitheatre filled with time travelers, goths of all generations, synth-pop disciples, and lifelong fans ready to worship at the altar of eyeliner, analog synth, and big, cinematic choruses. The lineup? A dream bill that might’ve once been scribbled in a Trapper Keeper or posted in a record store window: Modern English, Soft Cell, and Simple Minds. For anyone who ever slow-danced in combat boots or found transcendence in a John Hughes soundtrack, this was a pilgrimage. Continue reading “Show Review: Simple Minds + Soft Cell @ Toyota Amphitheatre, Concord CA, 5/20/25”
Author: Tiffany Michelle Black
Show Review: Perfume Genius with Urika’s Bedroom at The Fillmore, 5/13/25
Walking into The Fillmore on a sold-out night is a special kind of thrill. You know you’re about to take part in a San Francisco tradition, trying your luck at what your free Fillmore poster will be and who designed it. It turned out pretty cool in fact: folk art tulips and foppish block lettering in delicate Easter pastels. It fit the mood in that uncanny Fillmore way, soft on the surface, full of intention underneath. Continue reading “Show Review: Perfume Genius with Urika’s Bedroom at The Fillmore, 5/13/25”
Show Review: Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds at Bill Graham Civic Auditorium, 5/14/25
Walking into the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium always brings a pulse of memory with it. Named for the fearless impresario who gave the Bay its psychedelic sprawl, the space has a reverent hum. But the crowd outside this time wasn’t so much buzzing as bracing. A black mass of required patience, funneled in slowly, tension rising as the early hour ticked on. This wasn’t just another show; it was the final stop of the U.S. leg of the Wild God tour. Continue reading “Show Review: Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds at Bill Graham Civic Auditorium, 5/14/25”
Human Be-In Preview: Dead & Company are Returning To Golden Gate Park
Dead & Company – Live in Golden Gate Park
August 1, 2, & 3, 2025 – San Francisco, CA
This summer, the music plays the band — and it plays right back where it all began.
Dead & Company return to Golden Gate Park for three unforgettable nights, August 1–3, bringing the spirit of the Grateful Dead home to San Francisco. Fresh off a second high-tech, mind-bending run at the Las Vegas Sphere, the band is trading LED immersion for redwoods and the warm soul of the Bay.
Each night features a 75-minute set from a different heavyweight opener, and the curation is no less than cosmic:
- August 1: Billy Strings, the face-melting space-grass prodigy, spins tradition into astral jams.
- August 2: Sturgill Simpson, the enigmatic, psychonautical outlaw, returns to the stage with rare, fire-tested fervor.
- August 3: Trey Anastasio Band, ready to rain down 75 minutes of phresh jams and phunk for all.
That’s three nights, three musical worlds, all orbiting around the gravitational pull of Dead & Company.
San Francisco and the Dead are inseparable. From Tupac’s collaboration with Bruce Hornsby, Robin Williams emceeing Jerry Day in Golden Gate Park, and the unerasable, painted imprint of Haight-Ashbury and the Panhandle, this city is part of the Dead’s DNA.
Though the lineup continues to evolve, the mission remains the same. As Jerry Garcia said, “The goal is for the music to outlive us all.” Dead & Company embodies that legacy, not just recreating it but evolving it in real time.
Dead & Company lineup:
- Bob Weir (Grateful Dead, Wolf Bros) – rhythm guitar, vocals
- Mickey Hart (Grateful Dead, Planet Drum) – drums, cosmic energy
- Oteil Burbridge (Allman Brothers Band, Aquarium Rescue Unit) – bass, vocals
- Jeff Chimenti (RatDog, Bob Weir & Wolf Bros) – keyboards
- Jay Lane (Primus, RatDog, Wolf Bros) – drums
- John Mayer (solo artist, Continuum, Born and Raised) – lead guitar, vocals
These are players in the band, yes — but the spirit of the Dead is bigger than any one of them. It’s in the songs. It’s in the sky above the park. It’s in the people.
Come early. Stay late. Pack water, snacks, and your weirdest shirt. This is history — one that only San Francisco could host.
Show Review: Kraftwerk at The Greek Theater, 4/18/25
When Kraftwerk played the Greek Theatre in Berkeley on April 18, 2025, it was a crystalline reminder of why they remain the architects of electronic music’s DNA. Under the open sky of one of California’s most storied venues, the night was a precise microchip and as alive as the humming bodies on the floor. Continue reading “Show Review: Kraftwerk at The Greek Theater, 4/18/25”
Show Review: Bonnie “Prince” Billy at Sebastiani Theater, 2/10/25
On February 10, 2025, the Sebastiani Theatre in Sonoma hosted an evening of quiet magic as Bonnie “Prince” Billy (Will Oldham) took the stage alongside David Ferguson and friends. The historic theater, small and warmly worn-in, made for the perfect setting—where the low lights and unpretentious charm made everyone feel like they were sitting in a friend’s parlor rather than a concert hall. The staff, gracious and welcoming, kept things running smooth, with intermissions brief and timely, never pulling the audience too far from the spell being cast onstage. Continue reading “Show Review: Bonnie “Prince” Billy at Sebastiani Theater, 2/10/25″
Show Review: Alan Sparhawk with Circuit des Yeux at Great American Music Hall, 1/20/25
The Great American Music Hall, steeped in San Francisco’s history since its opening in 1907, is a venue that seems to absorb the spirit of every artist who graces its stage. Once a bordello and later a jazz hotspot, its gilded balconies and chandeliers whisper stories of the countless musical legends who’ve played there. Last Monday night, the Hall once again became a sacred ground for music, hosting Alan Sparhawk in a performance that felt both monumental and deeply intimate. Continue reading “Show Review: Alan Sparhawk with Circuit des Yeux at Great American Music Hall, 1/20/25”
Show Review: The The at The Fox Theater – Oakland, 11/7/24
On November 7, 2024, The The returned to the stage at Oakland’s historic Fox Theater, presenting a performance that transcended the boundaries of a standard rock concert—with a two-set format and no supporting act, the evening highlighted their new album, Ensoulment, and a retrospective of their catalog, offering a reflective journey that resonated profoundly with fans. Continue reading “Show Review: The The at The Fox Theater — Oakland, 11/7/24”
Show Review: Lynn Goldsmith & Patti Smith In Conversation at Calvin Simmons Theatre in the Henry J Kaiser Center For The Arts, 10/7/24
(Header Photo Courtesy Noise Pop Industries / Debra Zelle)
Attending the grand reopening of the Henry J. Kaiser on October 7, 2024, with my septuagenarian best friend was a profound and nostalgic experience. The event, centered on the incomparable Patti Smith and legendary photographer Lynn Goldsmith, was a journey through friendship, art, and music. They were on tour for their new book, Before Easter After: 1976-1979 Photos and Diary Entries of Patti Smith’s Life, an apt title for a night filled with laughter, stories, and emotional resonance.
The crowd was as eclectic and storied as the venue itself—a mix of Mills College graduates, anonymous band members from legendary Bay Area groups, and other creative spirits. Garage rock vintage shirts mingled with the crisp Northeast types who still clung to their cigarettes. Young leftie femmes teemed with anticipation, while nonchalant poet types gazed on indifferently, and nervous, professional event staff wove through the crowd, ensuring everything ran smoothly.
The Henry J. Kaiser, steeped in the cultural and musical history of the Bay Area, has been home to some of the most legendary concerts. Perhaps none were more iconic than the Grateful Dead’s many performances there. (Editor’s Note: The show where The Ramones made the Bay Area debut of Rock & Roll High School, the greatest movie of all time ON THE DAY I WAS BORN, beats any Dead show there.) The venue became a central part of the Dead’s storied relationship with the Bay Area, known for hosting some of their most memorable shows in the mid-1980s. The band played the Henry J. Kaiser nearly 50 times, with annual multi-night runs becoming a staple from 1984 until 1987. These shows attracted Deadheads from all over, who flocked to the venue to experience the band’s unique blend of improvisation, psychedelic rock, and community spirit.
Particularly legendary were the Dead’s Mardi Gras shows at the Henry J. Kaiser, which became annual traditions. Complete with parades, costumes, and extended jams, these performances embodied the celebratory spirit of the Dead’s live shows, making the venue a sacred space in Grateful Dead lore.
This rich history was alive as Patti and Lynn took the stage to reflect on their experiences. Though a moderator was technically present, they weren’t needed. Patti and Lynn seamlessly traded stories, retelling tales of their time together over 40 years ago, as Lynn ran slides capturing moments from their past. Their anecdotes painted a vivid picture of their shared journey, from misspent nights in New York City to road trips across the U.S.
One particularly captivating moment came when Patti recounted her friendship with the legendary William S. Burroughs. Patti began to weave a vivid tale of their shared experiences. With a wry smile, she recounted how she used to attend Burroughs’ notorious parties in New York City. “He’d invite me to these bizarre gatherings,” she said, her voice softening in remembrance. The parties were filled with artists, poets, and outcasts, but Burroughs always stood apart—an enigmatic figure who was always watching and rarely engaging.
As the crowd hung on her every word, Patti told the story of how Burroughs would take her to various places in the city. Patti’s candidness shone through as she recounted hitting on Burroughs one evening. She paused, then dropped her voice into a perfect impression of Burroughs, adopting an elegant rasp and stretching out her words. “‘Patti,’ he’d say, ‘I’m a raging homosexual.’” She mimicked his long drawl, capturing his deadpan humor and absolute certainty. The audience erupted in laughter as Patti, still grinning, shook her head.
This moment revealed Patti’s versatility in her relationships and her curiosity about the world. She wasn’t fazed by rejection or by Burroughs’ peculiarities. Instead, she was drawn to his energy, his difference, and the fact that he existed entirely outside the norms.
As the stories flowed, Patti also shared anecdotes about her time with Robert Mapplethorpe, Sam Shepard, and Tom Verlaine. These icons had left an indelible mark on her life and art. She spoke fondly of her creative partnership with Mapplethorpe, whose photographs captured her image and explored the complex themes of love and desire that permeated their lives. With Sam Shepard, she reminisced about their shared passion for storytelling and the artistic exchange that fueled their work, while her connection with Tom Verlaine revealed a deep bond forged through their love of music and poetry.
Lynn’s photographs played a pivotal role in the evening’s storytelling, notably a harrowing series that captured the aftermath of Patti’s infamous accident in Florida in 1977. The audience gasped as Lynn shared a story of how Patti fell 14 feet off a stage during a performance when roadies placed her monitors too close to the edge. “I spent four months with a fractured skull,” Patti recalled, her tone shifting to one of clarification. Lynn had been there, documenting every moment—from Patti’s vulnerability in the hospital to the fierce determination that followed. fragile and fierce. Some photos highlighted her androgynous appearance, while others almost gave her an alien or animal-like quality due to the rawness she exuded in front of Lynn’s lens.
The evening felt less like a formal presentation and more like a gathering of friends, with Patti and Lynn drawing the audience into their world. Patti and Lenny Kaye played acoustic songs corresponding to the images, creating a rich tapestry of sound and memory. Patti performed “Dancing Barefoot,” evoking the love she shared with her late husband, Fred “Sonic” Smith, and dedicated “Because the Night” and “People Have the Power” to Fred. The energy in the room elevated as she used the song as a rallying cry, urging the crowd to vote, to raise their voices, and to use whatever power they had. As any attuned poet would, she reminded the audience that it’s all we have and must use it. The laughter, music, and stories combined into something far more significant—a celebration of a lifelong creative partnership, capturing the polished moments and the raw, vulnerable, and extraordinary journey they shared. Check out the book.
Show Review: Future Islands at The Fox Theater – Oakland, 9/17/24
Having seen Future Islands about five times over the past decade, their show at the Fox Theater in Oakland on Sept. 17, 2024, felt like a departure from the raw, emotional intensity that once defined their live performances. While it was still a robust and engaging show, this one leaned more into polished production and theatrical flair than the emotional spontaneity I remember from past gigs. Continue reading “Show Review: Future Islands at The Fox Theater — Oakland, 9/17/24”