Pop Music

San Francisco’s Chillingsworth Surfingham has released a self-titled album of lively guitar instrumentals. <ins>(Courtesy ATOM Records)</ins>

Chillingsworth Surfingham rocks out on guitar

SF schoolteacher John Ashfield has a fun musical alter ego

 

Revelers on Second Street enjoyed the How Weird Street Faire in 2018. (Courtesy photo)

How Weird festivities return to SoMa

Masks required, costumes encouraged at electronic music and art street party

 

Versatile singer-songwriter Rufus Wainwright is back on the road promoting new music. (Courtesy V. Tony Hauser) <ins> </ins>

Rufus Wainwright continues to ‘unfollow’ rules

Musician makes waves with opera, poetry and new folk pop effort

 

Flower Piano in the San Francisco Botanical Garden invites musicians from the public to play at one of 12 pianos stationed in the area; a community performer is pictured in 2019. (Courtesy photo)

Flower Piano to bloom again in Golden Gate Park

Music pros, community performers tinkle the ivories throughout botanical garden

  • Sep 8, 2021
Flower Piano in the San Francisco Botanical Garden invites musicians from the public to play at one of 12 pianos stationed in the area; a community performer is pictured in 2019. (Courtesy photo)
Bay Area funk and soul band Tower of Power has two current CD releases. (Courtesy Haze Photography)

Tower of Power celebrates 50 years

A talk with the founder of the classic funk/R&B band

Bay Area funk and soul band Tower of Power has two current CD releases. (Courtesy Haze Photography)
David Rawlings and Gillian Welch appeared as Dave Rawlings Machine at Hardly Strictly Bluegrass in Golden Gate Park in 2016. (Shutterstock)

Hardly Strictly Bluegrass festival moves online

‘We can’t waver from our mission of providing the safest environment’

  • Aug 19, 2021
David Rawlings and Gillian Welch appeared as Dave Rawlings Machine at Hardly Strictly Bluegrass in Golden Gate Park in 2016. (Shutterstock)
Beloved indie club Bottom of the Hill, which turns 30 in September, hosts its grand reopening show on Aug. 14. (Courtesy photo)

SF clubs are bringing back live music, with joy and caution

Concerts are on at Bottom of the Hill, The Independent, Rickshaw Stop

  • Aug 13, 2021
Beloved indie club Bottom of the Hill, which turns 30 in September, hosts its grand reopening show on Aug. 14. (Courtesy photo)
Singer Paula West appears in residency at Hotel Nikko this month backed by Adam Shulman on piano, Ed Cherry on guitar, and Jerome Jennings on drums. (Courtesy James Barry Knox Photography)

Paula West opens new room at Hotel Nikko

SF vocal great returns to in-person performance

Singer Paula West appears in residency at Hotel Nikko this month backed by Adam Shulman on piano, Ed Cherry on guitar, and Jerome Jennings on drums. (Courtesy James Barry Knox Photography)
The band Retrovirus is among Lydia Lunch’s 21st century projects. (Courtesy Kathleen Fox)

For provocateur Lydia Lunch, the war is never over

Punk, performance art legend appears af SF screening of doc about her life

The band Retrovirus is among Lydia Lunch’s 21st century projects. (Courtesy Kathleen Fox)
Bassist-composer Sascha Jacobsen is at the helm of the tango nuevo band Los Tangueros del Oeste. (Courtesy photo)

S.F. tango nuevo band melds modern, classic sounds

Pandemic spurs virtual collaboration on ‘Alma Vieja’

  • Jul 25, 2021
Bassist-composer Sascha Jacobsen is at the helm of the tango nuevo band Los Tangueros del Oeste. (Courtesy photo)
John Doe appears with X at Stern Grove this weekend. <ins>(Courtesy Autumn De Wilde)</ins>

X’s John Doe stays on point during COVID

Punk pioneer releases 2020 album, plays solo, maintains acting career

John Doe appears with X at Stern Grove this weekend. <ins>(Courtesy Autumn De Wilde)</ins>
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
KC Turner is known for presenting cool concerts in intimate settings. <ins>(Courtesy photo)</ins>

Promoter KC Turner survives COVID with backyard concerts

Music presenter continues to stage live driveway shows in The City

KC Turner is known for presenting cool concerts in intimate settings. <ins>(Courtesy photo)</ins>
The July lineup at Feinstein’s at the Nikko includes, clockwise from left, Liz Callaway, Eva Noblezada, Tuck & Patti, Lillias White and Natalie Douglas.<ins> (Courtesy photo)</ins>

Feinstein’s cabaret stars celebrate coming home to SF

Old friends return to intimate room, with COVID protocols in place

The July lineup at Feinstein’s at the Nikko includes, clockwise from left, Liz Callaway, Eva Noblezada, Tuck & Patti, Lillias White and Natalie Douglas.<ins> (Courtesy photo)</ins>
Kelly and Ryann Gonsalves are one-half of the Bay Area group Torrey, playing live on a bill with local bands at the Balboa Theater on July 4. (Courtesy Willam Callan)

Torrey takes off with ‘Something Happy’

Delayed by COVID, Kelly and Ryann Gonsalves release their debut album

Kelly and Ryann Gonsalves are one-half of the Bay Area group Torrey, playing live on a bill with local bands at the Balboa Theater on July 4. (Courtesy Willam Callan)
Mavis Staples, left, and Mahalia Jackson sing in a show-stopping moment in “Summer of Soul.” (Courtesy Searchlight Pictures)

‘Summer of Soul’ gives forgotten music fest recognition it deserves

1969 concerts in Harlem were the ‘Ultimate Black barbecue’

Mavis Staples, left, and Mahalia Jackson sing in a show-stopping moment in “Summer of Soul.” (Courtesy Searchlight Pictures)
Train’s livestreamed “Soul Vacation” concert is at 6 p.m. June 25. (Courtesy Mike Corrado)

Pat Monahan, Train marking decade milestones

‘Drops of Jupiter’ turns 20, S.F. wine company is 10

Train’s livestreamed “Soul Vacation” concert is at 6 p.m. June 25. (Courtesy Mike Corrado)
Bay Area soul and jazz great Ledisi headlined Stern Grove’s opening 2021 show. (Christopher Victorios/Special to The Examiner)

Sweet sounds, extra space at Stern Grove

Ledisi, The Seshen, La Doña play first free concert since pandemic hit

Bay Area soul and jazz great Ledisi headlined Stern Grove’s opening 2021 show. (Christopher Victorios/Special to The Examiner)
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)