Well, hello lovers of music and culture. We are Under the Stars, a quasi-weekly column that stays on message with strong-ass opinions, presenting new music releases, upcoming shows, and other adjacent items. We keep it moving, hustling with the changes, thinking outside the margins. We’ve been doing this for five years… Spend some time with us…
REVIEW: BUDOS BAND AT REGENCY BALLROOM
Back in 2005, similar to Khruangbin now, that Budos Band horn call awoke something. This instrumental psych-funk amalgam from Staten Island, melded in Fort Greene, Brooklyn, became an unlikely buzz band that rock, hip-hop, jazz, and dub and ignited dance floors all over the country with a searing live show. Ennio Morricone’s style, combined with Black Sabbath type arrangements, left music connoisseurs amazed. “Up From The South” became that instrumental cut everybody knew, inserted in sports events, commercials—currently AT&T is using it to sell you everything… But when it came on via the jukebox, playlist, red cup party, or adventurous DJ set, everyone rejoiced. Real heads and even those pleated-khaki-wearing herbs, all knew that jam.
“Budos Theme” soon overtook playlists, with its sped-up Fela arrangement that could go till three am… and then some. Listen up Squidward, this sanctuary of seasoned grizzle put freakin volcanos, scorpions, snakes on their albums covers. They inspired other bands (ever heard of Ghost Funk Orchestra, huh?), backed the late great Charles Bradley, and even did a jawn with POS from De La Soul in 2024—they are always looking for new access points for their music to travel through. Hence the 2014 Gandalf album cover of Burnt Offering, which really got my attention: Afrobeat through doom rock, heavy metal influences. WHAT?!?
Such a veteran move to update the band. That picturesque-yet-sinister chi was a plus 10, breathing “Game of Thrones” dragon fire when they touched down on August 23 at The Regency Ballroom to support their current Budos Band VII album on the Diamond West imprint.
A downtown venue, swelling up with a weekend warrior vibe, folks going all the way in. Dolled-up ladies, dudes in trucker hats, nerdy beatheads, date-night participants, super hot plain Janes in jeans, groovin’ and shaking them 501 blues all night. All phases of a good-time party took over, a sunbaked type of bang-up.
At one point when the guitarist broke a string, one of the Budos horn players took time out to thank San Francisco for being a green light for the band after all these years, and went on to mention years of love they’ve received playing The Boom Boom Room, The Independent, GAMH, Bottom of The Hill, The Warfield—there was even a rumored after-party at Churchill, also from that same horn player’s mouth. Budos remains an SF fave.
ROCHELLE JORDAN, THROUGH THE WALL
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Rochelle Jordan’s first album since 2021’s UK-inspired beat construction Play With The Changes, Through the Wall is scheduled for release in late September and features ’90s soul, UK garage, and futuristic electronic production, according to the label’s press release. But anyone who is a fan of this London-born, Toronto-raised, Los Angeles-based artist knows instantly that ROJO is a hit-making machine.
For the upcoming album, she worked with talent including Chicago house DJ Terry Hunter, Byron the Aquarius, and KLSH. One thing that sounds similar to her 2021 smash album? Jordan makes records like she’s gathering the best songs from her sessions.
I’ve listened to this new project and, MANG, banger after banger, anthem after anthem—nothing here feels wasted. It’s the kind of R&B that can seriously shake up the dance floor or be swaggeringly perfect for a living room sesh. For example, “Crave” carries that melodic flow, low-end rumble, and uplifting refrain from Jordan that won’t leave your ears until you hit the pillow. ROJO is back, making bigger waves. Get ready.
Preorder here.
MAKAYA MCCRAVEN AT GREAT AMERICAN MUSIC HALL, OCTOBER 21
If you think announcing four new EPs all at once is daunting and intimidating, then friendo, you’ve never witnessed this drummer lay it all out on the line, live and improvised. Last week, Makaya McCraven managed this quadruple feat by heralding the arrival of Techno Logic, The People’s Mixtape, Hidden Out!, and PopUp Shop. Each arrives on October 31. The Chicago-based jazz drummer and producer will also release Off the Record, a two-LP and two-CD physical release of the collection of EPs, on the same day.
McCraven additionally announced a run of tour dates this fall through North America and Europe. Psst: He will be playing at GAMH on October 21 (same night as the sold-out Stereolab show in SF). You can preorder the EPs here, and we suggest you attend the show as well.
Grab tickets here.
SEXTILE AT AUGUST HALL, SEPTEMBER 11
Check it out, bass in your face will be live and direct when Sextile touches down for a show at August Hall. Their track “Women Respond to Bass” slaps. I’ve done the research, made the calls, and crunched the numbers over the years, and it speaks the truth. The track, Melissa Scaduto of Sextile says, “was written as a sassy strutter for the girls, gays, and theys.” It’s a dance floor interrupter. You can hear and see the truth. Sometimes, the most direct statement is the most catchy. Some cool moments on this record will easily transfer to candid moments for doing it on the ‘Gram!
Grab tix here.
KXSF CELEBRATES SEVEN YEARS
KXSF 102.5FM, San Francisco’s fiercely independent community radio station, is turning up the volume for its 2025 fundraiser and seventh-anniversary celebration, running September 2 through 15. Their goal is to raise $50,000 to keep local voices, underground music, and grassroots storytelling alive on the city’s airwaves. Founded in 2011 as an online station during the fight to save KUSF 90.3FM, KXSF officially hit the FM dial on September 4, 2018, after years of tireless advocacy and the launch of its nonprofit arm, San Francisco Community Radio. This year’s fundraiser honors that legacy with a packed lineup of events, exclusive thank-you gifts, and a call to action for listeners to invest in the future of freeform radio. Donate $30 or more during the drive and receive a limited-edition 2025 KXSF t-shirt—a wearable badge of support for independent media.
Fundraiser Highlights include a Barn Dance Road Show on September 6 at Plough and Stars, featuring Ruby Lee Hill, Hank & Lynne (Nashville Honeymoon), Lester T. Raww & His Acquaintances, and Dave Ricketts. Plus, KXSF DJs at The Beer Hall on September 13, spinning eclectic sets and community vibes.
A wrap-up thank-you party will be held on September 20 at Ireland’s 32, with bands TBA and a San Fran Disco DJ night on September 26 at The Riptide, where everyone can decompress via various styles of dance expression with KXSF’s finest.
Remember, KXSF is more than a station—it’s a movement.
Support the signal and donate here.
