Pop Music & Jazz

COURTESY JIM SHEAThe Doobie Brothers – from left

Doobie Brothers come to The City via Nashville

In all his years with The Doobie Brothers, singer-guitarist Tom Johnston –…

 

COURTESY ALEX LAKEEmmy the Great plays from her latest EP called “S” at Hotel Utah this week.

Emmy the Great inspired by sunshine, literature

As the self-proclaimed artist Emmy the Great, Emma-Lee Moss had hit a…

 

COURTESY SHERVIN LAINEZSinger Ingrid Michaelson is enjoying working with co-writers on her most recent compositions.

Ingrid Michaelson’s ‘Lights Out’ defies tough times

There are moments of sheer folk-pop bliss on Ingrid Michaelson’s latest CD…

 

COURTESY SHERVIN LAINEZ - Singer Ingrid Michaelson is enjoying working with co-writers on her most recent compositions.

Ingrid Michaelson’s ‘Lights Out’ defies tough times

There are moments of sheer folk-pop bliss on Ingrid Michaelson’s latest CD…

COURTESY SHERVIN LAINEZ - Singer Ingrid Michaelson is enjoying working with co-writers on her most recent compositions.
The Reynolds siblings – Auston and twin sisters Jess and Rey – make up James Davis. Courtesy Dan Monick.

Smooth soul from James Davis

When she was young, before she acted on TV’s “Moesha” and in…

The Reynolds siblings – Auston and twin sisters Jess and Rey – make up James Davis. Courtesy Dan Monick.
COURTESY DAN MONICKThe Reynolds siblings – Auston and twin sisters Jess and Rey – make up James Davis.

Smooth soul from James Davis

When she was young, before she acted on TV’s “Moesha” and in…

COURTESY DAN MONICKThe Reynolds siblings – Auston and twin sisters Jess and Rey – make up James Davis.
COURTESY PHOTOAurora’s first EP is “Running With the Wolves.”

Aurora enjoys silence and solititude

Norwegian keyboardist Aurora Aksnes was asleep at home when her pop idol…

COURTESY PHOTOAurora’s first EP is “Running With the Wolves.”
COURTESY PHOTONigerian reggae-ska singer takes on social issues of her native country in her music.

Nneka sees hope for future of Nigeria

Nigerian R&B-reggae songstress Nneka Egbuna could barely believe it when she was…

COURTESY PHOTONigerian reggae-ska singer takes on social issues of her native country in her music.
COURTESY PHOTOEmbrace is playing San Francisco to promote its 2014 album “Embrace.”

U.K.’s Embrace back in action after long hiatus

Danny McNamara didn’t intend to disappear from the music scene for eight…

COURTESY PHOTOEmbrace is playing San Francisco to promote its 2014 album “Embrace.”
COURTESY LISSA GOTWALSMountain Goats address professional wrestling on their latest album “Beat the Champ.”

Mountain Goats bring unique concept album to The City

Scantily clad, masked characters hell-bent on hurling themselves into others are not…

COURTESY LISSA GOTWALSMountain Goats address professional wrestling on their latest album “Beat the Champ.”
COURTESY ARTHUR LE FOLVocalist Olivia Merilahti and multi-instrumentalist Dan Levy make up The Dø

French countryside inspires The Dø

French duo The Dø – singer Olivia Merilahti and multi-instrumentalist Dan Levy…

COURTESY ARTHUR LE FOLVocalist Olivia Merilahti and multi-instrumentalist Dan Levy make up The Dø
COURTESY WAYNE FREEDMANBay Area singer-songwriter Maurice Tani has labeled his Americana style “supercalifornographicexpealidocious.”

Maurice Tani perfects storytelling in alt-country songs

Looking forward to his gig this weekend at Freight & Salvage Coffee…

COURTESY WAYNE FREEDMANBay Area singer-songwriter Maurice Tani has labeled his Americana style “supercalifornographicexpealidocious.”
COURTESY PHOTOVeteran British metal act Saxon comes to the South Bay this weekend.

Saxon frontman Biff Byford has many projects

For 37 years, banshee-throated Englishman Biff Byford has fronted Saxon, which –…

COURTESY PHOTOVeteran British metal act Saxon comes to the South Bay this weekend.
COURTESY ALEXANDRA VALENTISinger-songwriter Zella Day’s first onstage appearance was as a 9-year-old at her grandmother’s coffee house in Arizona.

Zella Day turns small-town experience into big-city career

Zella Day grew up in the “Footloose”-conservative small town of Pinetop, Ariz.…

COURTESY ALEXANDRA VALENTISinger-songwriter Zella Day’s first onstage appearance was as a 9-year-old at her grandmother’s coffee house in Arizona.
COURTESY PARMOUR GROUPBritish band Girlschool is teaming with Motörhead on its 40th anniversary tour.

’80s metal rockers Girlschool active as ever

Kim McAuliffe believes that most of the early-1980s albums with her all-female…

COURTESY PARMOUR GROUPBritish band Girlschool is teaming with Motörhead on its 40th anniversary tour.
COURTESY WILL BUTLERWill Butler’s debut solo album is called “Policy.”

Will Butler complements Arcade Fire with solo project

Will Butler has heard of in-fighting rock and roll siblings, like The…

COURTESY WILL BUTLERWill Butler’s debut solo album is called “Policy.”
COURTESY PHOTOBoz Scaggs’ new album combines his signature mix of rock

Boz Scaggs compiles obscure juicy covers on ‘A Fool to Care’

Bay Area rock veteran and nightclub impresario Boz Scaggs doesn’t take any…

COURTESY PHOTOBoz Scaggs’ new album combines his signature mix of rock
COURTESY PHOTOJIm Reid

Jesus and Mary Chain revisits ‘Psychocandy’

Three decades ago, few things were as startling as “Psychocandy,” the white-noise-meets-Beach-Boys…

COURTESY PHOTOJIm Reid
COURTESY SACHA LECCAFat White Family frontman Lias Saoudi doesn’t hold back onstage.

U.K.’s Fat White Family aims to offend

It isn’t difficult to identify the concept lurking behind Britain’s dissonant rock…

COURTESY SACHA LECCAFat White Family frontman Lias Saoudi doesn’t hold back onstage.
COURTESY SHANE MCCAULEYElle King’s debut album is ‘Love Stuff.’

Tattooed Elle King loves living the fast life

Singer Elle King is admittedly hard and mean. After partying in her…

COURTESY SHANE MCCAULEYElle King’s debut album is ‘Love Stuff.’