Pop Music

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)
New Highway 1 radio fills big hole in Bay Area market

New Highway 1 radio fills big hole in Bay Area market

Station plays adult alternative hits in void left by KFOG’s departure

New Highway 1 radio fills big hole in Bay Area market
With his day jobs on hold due to COVID-19, David James, pictured at his home in the Mission, is enjoying being quiet and writing music. (Kevin N. Hume/S.F. Examiner)

Song for His Father: David and the Rev. Jesse James

Guitarist and bandleader makes new music in honor of his ‘complex’ dad

With his day jobs on hold due to COVID-19, David James, pictured at his home in the Mission, is enjoying being quiet and writing music. (Kevin N. Hume/S.F. Examiner)
Violinist Tessa Lark opens Cal Performances at Home in a concert from Merkin Hall in New York City. (Courtesy Ras Dia)

Cal Performances moves from stage to screen

Fall streaming series showcases classical, jazz, multimedia virtuosos

Violinist Tessa Lark opens Cal Performances at Home in a concert from Merkin Hall in New York City. (Courtesy Ras Dia)
Hardly Strictly Bluegrass isn’t happening in Golden Gate Park in 2020 due to the pandemic; in its place, festival organizers are offering grants for roots musicians. (Jessica Christian/S.F. Examiner 2017)

Hardly Strictly Bluegrass offers grants for roots musicians

Applications for relief funding due on Sept. 14

  • Aug 24, 2020
Hardly Strictly Bluegrass isn’t happening in Golden Gate Park in 2020 due to the pandemic; in its place, festival organizers are offering grants for roots musicians. (Jessica Christian/S.F. Examiner 2017)
Under quarantine, Mike Scott has been making videos to promote the Waterboys’ new album “Good Luck, Seeker.” (Courtes Barry McCall/Chart Room Media)

Waterboys get philosophical on ‘Good Luck, Seeker’

Mike Scott stays busy home-recording during quarantine

Under quarantine, Mike Scott has been making videos to promote the Waterboys’ new album “Good Luck, Seeker.” (Courtes Barry McCall/Chart Room Media)
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)
Fee Waybill of Tubes fame has released a new solo album, his first in 24 years. (Courtesy photo)

Fee Waybill rides again

Former Tubes singer making music with Richard Marx

Fee Waybill of Tubes fame has released a new solo album, his first in 24 years. (Courtesy photo)
LCD Soundsystem – James Murphy is pictured at Outside Lands in Golden Gate Park in 2016 – is in the lineup of Inside Lands Virtual Festival on Aug. 28-29. (Joel Angel Juárez/Special to S.F. Examiner)

Free Inside Lands streams Aug. 28-29

Gorillaz, LCD Soundsystem, J. Cole, Jack White, Kehlani, ZHU, Beach House and many more appear

LCD Soundsystem – James Murphy is pictured at Outside Lands in Golden Gate Park in 2016 – is in the lineup of Inside Lands Virtual Festival on Aug. 28-29. (Joel Angel Juárez/Special to S.F. Examiner)
Allyson Baker and Marc Capelle of the Red Room Orchestra play a benefit concert at The Chapel in the Mission on Aug. 15. (Courtesy Kelley Stoltz)

Red Room Orchestra plays ‘Twin Peaks’ show at Chapel

Outdoor concert benefits independent music clubs

Allyson Baker and Marc Capelle of the Red Room Orchestra play a benefit concert at The Chapel in the Mission on Aug. 15. (Courtesy Kelley Stoltz)
Jon Anderson’s newest solo album “1000 Hands” was decades in the making. (Courtesy Deborah Anderson)

Jon Anderson energized by singing with birds

Former Yes frontman feels good changes coming on

Jon Anderson’s newest solo album “1000 Hands” was decades in the making. (Courtesy Deborah Anderson)
Joe Ely released his new album on his label Rack ‘Em Records. (Courtesy LCMedia)

Joe Ely finds love amidst the mayhem

Singer-songwriter tackles myriad projects sheltering in place

Joe Ely released his new album on his label Rack ‘Em Records. (Courtesy LCMedia)
“The Go-Go’s,” airing July 31 on Showtime, features, from left, Charlotte Caffey, Jane Wiedlin, Belinda Carlisle, Kathy Valentine and Gina Schock. (Courtesy Lynn Goldsmith/Sundance Institute)

‘Go-Go’s’ doc details rise of pop punk darlings

Group archivist is drummer Gina Schock

“The Go-Go’s,” airing July 31 on Showtime, features, from left, Charlotte Caffey, Jane Wiedlin, Belinda Carlisle, Kathy Valentine and Gina Schock. (Courtesy Lynn Goldsmith/Sundance Institute)
The Coronas – frontman Danny O’Reilly is pictured – have released the new recording “True Love Waits.” (Courtesy photo)

Pandemic won’t set The Coronas back

Irish trio releases ‘True Love Waits’ after short delay

The Coronas – frontman Danny O’Reilly is pictured – have released the new recording “True Love Waits.” (Courtesy photo)