Pop Music

Jimmie Vaughan released “The Pleasure’s All Mine,” with covers and more, in 2020. (Courtesy Todd Wolfson)

Jimmie Vaughan finds pleasure in his five-decade career

Blues guitarist, car collector is doing what he loves

Jimmie Vaughan released “The Pleasure’s All Mine,” with covers and more, in 2020. (Courtesy Todd Wolfson)
From left, Jake Sprecher, Brice Bradley and Chris Rosi are The Smokescreens. (Courtesy David Kilgour)

L.A.’s Smokescreens take lead from New Zealand’s The Clean

Chris Rosi gets assist from David Kilgour

From left, Jake Sprecher, Brice Bradley and Chris Rosi are The Smokescreens. (Courtesy David Kilgour)
Singer-songwriter Cam is finding musicmaking to be healing during 2020’s world health crisis. Courtesy Dennis Leupold

Cam challenges country music tropes

Bay Area-bred songwriter releases ‘The Otherside’

Singer-songwriter Cam is finding musicmaking to be healing during 2020’s world health crisis. Courtesy Dennis Leupold
San Francisco DJ and producer Jah Yzer livestreams most mornings from his home. (Kevin N. Hume/S.F. Examiner)

Roots & Tings build community through music

Lateef the Truthspeaker, Jah Yzer and Winstrong call for voting as a form of healing

San Francisco DJ and producer Jah Yzer livestreams most mornings from his home. (Kevin N. Hume/S.F. Examiner)
Joe Grushecky, left, found a kindred spirit in his collaborator Bruce Springsteen.(Courtesy John Cavanaugh)

Joe Grushecky sings on with The Boss

Pittsburgh rocker teams with Springsteen on patriotic single

Joe Grushecky, left, found a kindred spirit in his collaborator Bruce Springsteen.(Courtesy John Cavanaugh)
After a 19-year recording break, Blue Öyster Cult has released a studio album. (Courtesy photo)

The symbol remains for Blue Öyster Cult

Old band uses new tech to make heady music

After a 19-year recording break, Blue Öyster Cult has released a studio album. (Courtesy photo)
“David Byrne’s American Utopia” is a wild and thoughtful concert film featuring the Talking Heads frontman. (Courtesy David Lee)

Spike Lee captures David Byrne’s upbeat show in ‘American Utopia’

’S#!%house’ a sensitive coming-of-age tale

“David Byrne’s American Utopia” is a wild and thoughtful concert film featuring the Talking Heads frontman. (Courtesy David Lee)
Hayden Thorpe’s new solo EP is “Aerial Songs.” (Courtesy Broomberg & Chanarin)

Hayden Thorpe’s ‘Aerial Songs’ come out of the country

Wild Beasts’ frontman inspired by nature on new recording

Hayden Thorpe’s new solo EP is “Aerial Songs.” (Courtesy Broomberg & Chanarin)
Melanie C, who rose to fame in the 1990s as Sporty Spice, released self-titled album, her eighth solo project, in 2020. (Courtesy Conor Clinch)

Melanie C has accepted all aspects of herself

Former Spice Girl’s new album full of dance-pop confessionals

  • Oct 12, 2020
Melanie C, who rose to fame in the 1990s as Sporty Spice, released self-titled album, her eighth solo project, in 2020. (Courtesy Conor Clinch)
Songwriter Suzanne Vega is confident that live music will come back post-pandemic. (Courtesy George Holz)

Suzanne Vega sings New York songs

Troubadour plays live-streamed gigs from Blue Note

Songwriter Suzanne Vega is confident that live music will come back post-pandemic. (Courtesy George Holz)
Ed Harcourt’s most recent releases are 2018’s “Beyond the End” and 2020’s “Monochrome to Colour.” (Courtesy Steve Gullick)

New instrumentals from Ed Harcourt

Songwriter explores new frontiers after major label break

Ed Harcourt’s most recent releases are 2018’s “Beyond the End” and 2020’s “Monochrome to Colour.” (Courtesy Steve Gullick)
Jimmie Dale Gilmore, appearing in a recorded session, is among the dozens of musicians performing in the online version of Hardly Strictly Bluegrass on Oct. 3. (Courtesy photo)

A few wise words from Jimmie Dale Gilmore

Texas troubadour takes philosophical view of pandemic’s effects

Jimmie Dale Gilmore, appearing in a recorded session, is among the dozens of musicians performing in the online version of Hardly Strictly Bluegrass on Oct. 3. (Courtesy photo)
The cover of the remix edition of her new album reveals how Yelle is attached to her home in Brittany by the sea. (Courtesy photo)

Yelle creates techno sounds in 17th century country cottage

Dance-pop artist sings in French in new album ‘L’ere Du Verseau’

The cover of the remix edition of her new album reveals how Yelle is attached to her home in Brittany by the sea. (Courtesy photo)
Nina Gerber, left, and Laurie Lewis appear in the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass online festival “Let The Music Play On.” (Courtesy photo)

Full lineup of Hardly Strictly Bluegrass announced

20th anniversary roots music festival streams on Oct. 3

Nina Gerber, left, and Laurie Lewis appear in the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass online festival “Let The Music Play On.” (Courtesy photo)
G.E. Smith, left, and LeRoy Bell’s new album is called “Stony Hill.” (Courtesy John Peden)

Guitar great G.E. Smith finds right vocalist in LeRoy Bell

After cold call, music vets meet, hit it off, make soulful record

G.E. Smith, left, and LeRoy Bell’s new album is called “Stony Hill.” (Courtesy John Peden)
Liela Moss’ meditation practices helped her create her second solo album. (Courtesy Paul O’Keeffe)

Liela Moss gets political on ‘Who The Power’

Songwriter finds no topic too grim to tackle

Liela Moss’ meditation practices helped her create her second solo album. (Courtesy Paul O’Keeffe)
Patty Griffin is among the performers appearing in “Let The Music Play On,” the “hardly strictly broadcast” edition of Hardly Strictly Bluegrass online on Oct. 3. (Courtesy Michael Wilson)

20th Hardly Strictly Bluegrass announces Patty Griffin, Chuck Prophet

First-time performers at online fest include Birds of Chicago, Los Coast, Shakey Graves

Patty Griffin is among the performers appearing in “Let The Music Play On,” the “hardly strictly broadcast” edition of Hardly Strictly Bluegrass online on Oct. 3. (Courtesy Michael Wilson)
Chuck Prophet’s new recording “The Land That Time Forgot” has three songs with themes related to U.S. presidents. (Courtesy Sloane Kanter)

Chuck Prophet recalls ‘Land That Time Forgot’

Great new album from SF folk rock stalwart

Chuck Prophet’s new recording “The Land That Time Forgot” has three songs with themes related to U.S. presidents. (Courtesy Sloane Kanter)
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)
Wayne Hussey has a new take on his band The Mission’s song “Tower of Strength.” (Courtesy James Bacon)

Wayne Hussey, friends cover ‘Tower of Strength’ for charity effort

U.K. health care workers inspired by Mission’s 1988 hit

Wayne Hussey has a new take on his band The Mission’s song “Tower of Strength.” (Courtesy James Bacon)