Joshua Rotter

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Big Brother and the Holding Company’s 1968 album “Cheap Thrills” is a rock classic. Courtesy Big Brother and the Holding Company

The true story of Janis Joplin and Big Brother and the Holding Company

The band made the singer, not the other way around

Big Brother and the Holding Company’s 1968 album “Cheap Thrills” is a rock classic. Courtesy Big Brother and the Holding Company
“Essential Truths: The Bay Area in Color” collects writings by Bay Area essayists and poets. (Courtesy photo)

People of color share ‘Essential Truths’

Bay Area writers, artists tell stories of overcoming adversity

“Essential Truths: The Bay Area in Color” collects writings by Bay Area essayists and poets. (Courtesy photo)
The Jenny Thing, reunited after more than 15 years, released “American Canyon,” its most philosophical recording yet. (Courtesy photo)

Berkeley’s The Jenny Thing is back

Frontman of 1990s group reflects on why fame eluded the band

The Jenny Thing, reunited after more than 15 years, released “American Canyon,” its most philosophical recording yet. (Courtesy photo)
Russell, left, and Ron Mael are the subjects of Edgar Wright’s documentary “The Sparks Brothers.” (Courtesy Anna Webber/Focus Features)

Sparks Brothers get their due at last

Edgar Wright’s documentary is a fun tribute to under-appeciated rock pioneers

Russell, left, and Ron Mael are the subjects of Edgar Wright’s documentary “The Sparks Brothers.” (Courtesy Anna Webber/Focus Features)
DJ Jeffrey Paradise plays six Poolside shows at Charles Krug Winery this weekend. (Courtesy David Wynn/Big Hassle Media)

Poolside pop comes to St. Helena winery

DJ Jeffrey Paradise recalls formative years in The City

DJ Jeffrey Paradise plays six Poolside shows at Charles Krug Winery this weekend. (Courtesy David Wynn/Big Hassle Media)
Filmmaker Will J. Zang’s four-minute hybrid documentary “The Leaf” is part of CAAMFest’s Out/Here Shorts program focusing on LGBTQ+ stories. (Courtesy Will J. Zang)

Gay Chinese filmmaker Will Zang has a dilemma in ‘The Leaf’

CAAMFest screenings reflect diverse Asian and Asian-American experiences

Filmmaker Will J. Zang’s four-minute hybrid documentary “The Leaf” is part of CAAMFest’s Out/Here Shorts program focusing on LGBTQ+ stories. (Courtesy Will J. Zang)
Todd Rundgren revisits his album “Nearly Human” on his 2021 virtual tour. (Courtesy Lynn Goldsmith)

Todd Rundgren’s virtual tour comes to The City

Musician, innovator localizes in ‘Clearly Human’ shows

Todd Rundgren revisits his album “Nearly Human” on his 2021 virtual tour. (Courtesy Lynn Goldsmith)
Hopper Penn and Rosanna Arquette pose behind the scenes of “Puppy Love.” <ins>(Courtesy Todd Hido)</ins>

Rosanna Arquette, Hopper Penn team up in ‘Puppy Love’

Veteran actress plays mom to son of longtime family friends

Hopper Penn and Rosanna Arquette pose behind the scenes of “Puppy Love.” <ins>(Courtesy Todd Hido)</ins>
Drawing from his own life, Kemp Powers cowrote “Soul,” the new film from Pixar about a music teacher and jazz player. (Courtesy DeborahColeman/Pixar)

Kemp Powers brings his expertise to ‘Soul’

Playwright adds authenticity to Pixar’s latest offering

Drawing from his own life, Kemp Powers cowrote “Soul,” the new film from Pixar about a music teacher and jazz player. (Courtesy DeborahColeman/Pixar)
Frederica von Stade’s lavish red silk dress from “The Merry Widow” is among the items offered in the virtual San Francisco Opera Costume Shop Sale, running Nov. 13-15. Courtesy Adam Traum/San Francisco Opera

One-of-kind SF Opera costumes for sale online

‘Merry Widow,’ ‘Die Fledermaus,’ ‘Tannhäuser’ items available

Frederica von Stade’s lavish red silk dress from “The Merry Widow” is among the items offered in the virtual San Francisco Opera Costume Shop Sale, running Nov. 13-15. Courtesy Adam Traum/San Francisco Opera
Justin Chon stars in “Coming Home Again,” which makes its U.S. premiere on Oct. 16 on CAAMFest Forward’s opening night. <ins>(Courtesy Center for Asian American Media)</ins>

Wayne Wang’s ‘Coming Home Again’ a portrait of a Korean-American family

S.F. filmmaker goes distance to get details right

Justin Chon stars in “Coming Home Again,” which makes its U.S. premiere on Oct. 16 on CAAMFest Forward’s opening night. <ins>(Courtesy Center for Asian American Media)</ins>
Bruce Dern and Lena Olin star in “The Artist’s Wife,” a drama about a painter dealing with the onset of dementia. (Courtesy Strand Releasing)

Ad-libbing Bruce Dern makes the most of his dialogue

Acting veteran stars as man facing dementia in ‘The Artist’s Wife’

Bruce Dern and Lena Olin star in “The Artist’s Wife,” a drama about a painter dealing with the onset of dementia. (Courtesy Strand Releasing)
JAUZ is among the artists who have played Bill Graham Civic Auditorium since Another Planet Entertainment started producing shows there. (Courtesy The Shalizi Group)

When time comes, JAUZ will return to Bill Graham Civic

Promoter marks 10 years of EDM at storied venue

JAUZ is among the artists who have played Bill Graham Civic Auditorium since Another Planet Entertainment started producing shows there. (Courtesy The Shalizi Group)
Randy Maupin, general manager of Cat Club, says he’s “trying anything and everything to survive.” (Kevin N. Hume/S.F. Examiner)

SF clubs mix things up to avoid a last call

Proprietors get creative with money-raising efforts during pandemic

Randy Maupin, general manager of Cat Club, says he’s “trying anything and everything to survive.” (Kevin N. Hume/S.F. Examiner)
From left, Carlos Verdugo, Eric Wilson and Rome Ramirez of Sublime with Rome play live in October at the Alameda County Fairgrounds. (Courtesy Daniel Prakopcyk)

Sublime With Rome to play live fairgrounds concerts in fall

Singer Rome Ramirez returns home for East Bay show

From left, Carlos Verdugo, Eric Wilson and Rome Ramirez of Sublime with Rome play live in October at the Alameda County Fairgrounds. (Courtesy Daniel Prakopcyk)
Tim Seelig is promoting his new memoir in an online event during Pride week. (Author photo courtesy Nick Leoni)

A journey from straight Texas to gay San Francisco

S.F. Gay Men’s Chorus director pens stirring memoir

Tim Seelig is promoting his new memoir in an online event during Pride week. (Author photo courtesy Nick Leoni)
A flyer advertises the Christopher Street “gay-in” in 1970. (Courtesy Charles Thorpe Papers/GLBT Historical Society)

‘Labor of Love’ details birth of San Francisco Pride

GLBT Historical Society multimedia show looks at event’s first decade

A flyer advertises the Christopher Street “gay-in” in 1970. (Courtesy Charles Thorpe Papers/GLBT Historical Society)
Grand marshal Beswick will miss SF Pride parade

Grand marshal Beswick will miss SF Pride parade

Gay rights advocate marks four decades of activism

Grand marshal Beswick will miss SF Pride parade
Third Eye Blind plays Oakland’s Fox on Friday, March 13. (Courtesy Eline J Duijjsens)

Stephan Jenkins takes on the world in ‘Screamer’

New Third Eye Blind album addresses climate change, police brutality

Third Eye Blind plays Oakland’s Fox on Friday, March 13. (Courtesy Eline J Duijjsens)
Raphael Saadiq says he wanted to “be a little bit more me” on his new recording. (Courtesy Aaron Rapoport)

Raphael Saadiq takes deeply personal turn on new album

Singer reflects on his late brother in ‘Jimmy Lee’

Raphael Saadiq says he wanted to “be a little bit more me” on his new recording. (Courtesy Aaron Rapoport)