Pop Music

Mike Peters, frontman of The Alarm, is three-time cancer survivor who co-founded Love, Strength, Hope, a foundation with a mission to save lives through music. (Courtesy Jules Jones Peters)

The Alarm’s old albums take on deep new meanings

Mike Peters releases retrospective trilogy ‘Hurricane of Change’

Mike Peters, frontman of The Alarm, is three-time cancer survivor who co-founded Love, Strength, Hope, a foundation with a mission to save lives through music. (Courtesy Jules Jones Peters)
Tame Impala, pictured at Outside Lands in 2015, will be back for the 2021 festival. (Natasha Dangond, Special to S.F. Examiner)

Outside Lands to return in 2021 with Lizzo, Tame Impala, Strokes

2020 Golden Gate Park music and art fest canceled due to COVID-19

Tame Impala, pictured at Outside Lands in 2015, will be back for the 2021 festival. (Natasha Dangond, Special to S.F. Examiner)
Jehnny Beth says she set out to make a complex record that called for several listens. (Courtesy Steve Gullick)

Savages’ Jehnny Beth goes solo

‘To Love Is to Live’ is ambitious debut album

Jehnny Beth says she set out to make a complex record that called for several listens. (Courtesy Steve Gullick)
Big Freedia tops the entertainment lineup of San Francisco Pride’s 50th anniversary online programming. (Courtesy photo)

Queen of Bounce Big Freedia heads up online 2020 San Francisco Pride festivities

Betty Who, David Hernandez, Dorian Electra, Kidd Kenn also to appear

Big Freedia tops the entertainment lineup of San Francisco Pride’s 50th anniversary online programming. (Courtesy photo)
“Forest Bees” is the new self-titled CD by Sheetal Singh, formerly the bassist for The Stratford 4. (Courtesy Force Field PR)

Sheetal Singh re-emerges as Forest Bees

East Bay mom releases ethereal debut solo recording

“Forest Bees” is the new self-titled CD by Sheetal Singh, formerly the bassist for The Stratford 4. (Courtesy Force Field PR)
Nicole Atkins has been busy making new music and art during the pandemic. (Courtesy Barbara FG)

Friends join Nicole Atkins on soulful ‘Italian Ice’

Singer-songwriter releases album and shares concerts, art online

Nicole Atkins has been busy making new music and art during the pandemic. (Courtesy Barbara FG)
Community Music Center voice teacher Jonathan Smucker, accompanied by by Michael Mohammed, appeared in the first program of the organization’s annual Field Day fundraiser in the first of a week-long series on Facebook.(Courtesy photo)

Community Music Center kicks off virtual Field Day

Festive annual performance marathon raises funds for scholarships

Community Music Center voice teacher Jonathan Smucker, accompanied by by Michael Mohammed, appeared in the first program of the organization’s annual Field Day fundraiser in the first of a week-long series on Facebook.(Courtesy photo)
Children’s Musical Theater San Jose kicks off today’s virtual concert and fundraiser for a pavilion in San Jose’s St. James Park. (Courtesy photo)

May Day for the Arts promotes South Bay pavilion project

Friends of Levitt Pavilion San Jose hosts community concert

Children’s Musical Theater San Jose kicks off today’s virtual concert and fundraiser for a pavilion in San Jose’s St. James Park. (Courtesy photo)
Tim’s Twitter Listening Parties have really taken off since the pandemic hit. (Courtesy photo)

Tim Burgess hosts fun online listening bashes

Charlatans UK frontman keeping busy during new solo album release

Tim’s Twitter Listening Parties have really taken off since the pandemic hit. (Courtesy photo)
Butch Walker’s new solo concept album “American Love Story” is catchy and diverse. (Courtesy Phil Chester and Sara Byrne)

Butch Walker’s many influences fuel ‘American Love Story’

In-demand producer’s rock opera is touching, ambitious

Butch Walker’s new solo concept album “American Love Story” is catchy and diverse. (Courtesy Phil Chester and Sara Byrne)
Katy Perry talks about her new song “Daisies” on Houseparty. (Courtesy Liza Voloshin)

Houseparty app hosts Katy Perry, Keegan-Michael Key, Alicia Keys

‘Experiential’ online event series features dozens of stars

Katy Perry talks about her new song “Daisies” on Houseparty. (Courtesy Liza Voloshin)
Stern Grove, the beloved longtime summer series of free outdoor concerts, has attracted thousands of fans for decades. (Courtesy Stern Grove Festival)

83rd Stern Grove canceled due to pandemic

S.F. free summer concert series called off for first time in history

Stern Grove, the beloved longtime summer series of free outdoor concerts, has attracted thousands of fans for decades. (Courtesy Stern Grove Festival)
From left, Adam Beck, Keven Tecon and Nick Ott are Houses of Heaven. (Courtesy Effixx)

Houses of Heaven debuts with ‘Silent Places’

Oakland trio fuses industrial, techno, shoegaze, dub on new album

From left, Adam Beck, Keven Tecon and Nick Ott are Houses of Heaven. (Courtesy Effixx)
Lucinda Williams’ song “Man Without a Soul” on her latest recording is inspired by Donald Trump. (Courtesy Danny Clinch)

Angry Lucinda Williams takes on world’s sorry state

Singer-songwriter gets political in new album ‘Good Souls Better Angels’

Lucinda Williams’ song “Man Without a Soul” on her latest recording is inspired by Donald Trump. (Courtesy Danny Clinch)
K.Flay opens Noise Pop’s “No Place Like Home” series of live concerts online. (Courtesy Umusic)

Noise Pop’s new streaming concerts benefit local business

K.Flay, Rogue Wave first acts appearing in twice-a-week series

K.Flay opens Noise Pop’s “No Place Like Home” series of live concerts online. (Courtesy Umusic)
Besides being a musician, Cherie Currie is a chainsaw artist. (Robert Sebree/Special to S.F. Examiner)

Former Runaways Cherie Currie out with new solo album

Currie’s stature in rock history is nicely mapped out

Besides being a musician, Cherie Currie is a chainsaw artist. (Robert Sebree/Special to S.F. Examiner)
After their European tour was abruptly canceled, members of Exodus, including guitarist Gary Holt, were diagnosed with the coronavirus. (Courtesy photo)

Bay Area metal band members experienced COVID-19 first hand

Testament vocalist Chuck Billy and Exodus guitarist Gary Holt were among 10 band members and crew infected

After their European tour was abruptly canceled, members of Exodus, including guitarist Gary Holt, were diagnosed with the coronavirus. (Courtesy photo)
John Prine performs at the Chicago Theatre Friday, April 27, 2018, in Chicago. (John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune)

John Prine, revered singer-songwriter, dies of COVID-19 complications at 73

John Prine, who traded his job as a Chicago mail carrier to…

John Prine performs at the Chicago Theatre Friday, April 27, 2018, in Chicago. (John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune)
Burger Boogaloo moved to Halloween weekend

Burger Boogaloo moved to Halloween weekend

Annual music festival hosted by John Waters to feature Bikini Kill, Circle Jerks

Burger Boogaloo moved to Halloween weekend
Clannad has hopes to reschedule its farewell tour promoting its new career-retrospective double album. (Courtesy Anton Corbijn)

Clannad’s ‘In a Lifetime’ world tour on hold

Celtic band’s new release is a 50-year career retrospective

Clannad has hopes to reschedule its farewell tour promoting its new career-retrospective double album. (Courtesy Anton Corbijn)