Music Review

Review: The Breeders—and Castro Theatre—head into a new era

'90s indie heroes the Deal Sisters & co. rocked the 104-year-old venue—and the Gen X/Z mosh pit sparked some thoughts.

Music Review John-Paul Shiver - September 11, 2026

Under the Stars: abracadabra summons spiky ’80s downtown funk magic

Plus: Daniel Villareal's dope jazz vibes, Thee Sinseers' sweet time portal, and an ode to the beloved Phone Booth

Music John-Paul Shiver - September 8, 2026

The best Bay Area rap albums of 2026 (so far)

Trunk Boiz' epic return, Larry June's smooth cruising, an Avengers-style rap supergroup: Local hip-hop remains unstoppable.

Music Alan Chazaro - September 4, 2026

Under the Stars: Sour Widows are back—and ‘crafted to curve’

Plus: Bad Brains bassist goes jazz, Space Ghost coasts the cosmos, Doohickey Cubicle get downtown, more you must hear

Music John-Paul Shiver - September 1, 2026

Music Review

Was this 40-year clutch of shaggy queer tracks the real album of the summer?

Daniel Bromfield - August 31, 2026

Move over, Madonna: Scaling the critical hype around Nirosta Steel's sprawling, droll 'My Skyscraper'

Music Review

Herbie Hancock, live at 86: The legend still has the Lion’s dialogue

John-Paul Shiver - August 31, 2026

At Davies Symphony Hall, one of the 20th Century's last living jazz masters grooved full-tilt with an all-star band.

Music

Under the Stars: Jeff Parker & co. stepped into Berkeley with spectral, slippery riffs

John-Paul Shiver - August 25, 2026

Plus: Alice Coltrane tapes—once heard only by ashram members—to take flight, and producer Carré serves dubby late-summer heat.

Music

Under the Stars: Black Rave Culture locks in for the groove corrective

John-Paul Shiver - August 21, 2026

Plus: Cindy Blackman Santana bangs out the vibes, Pearl & the Oysters open their 'Monkey Mind,' Club DeLuxe reopens, more music

Music

In Kensington, a small-town orchestra survives as civic triumph

Michael James Tapscott - August 20, 2026

Navigating an era of gutted arts funds, a volunteer symphony rallies for its 49th season, teddy bears in tow.

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Music

This year’s Bliss Fest was all about the sparkling ride

John-Paul Shiver - August 19, 2026

Elliott Peck's immersive jazz-folk, Combo Tezeta's energizing cumbia, Circus Bella's high clownery drove some Presidio heat.

Music Review

Al Green gilded Stern Grove’s season finale in golden soul

Jess Oledan - August 18, 2026

80-year-old legend brought R&B classics, funky arrangements, 'Love and Happiness' to adoring crowd.

Music

What we heard at Outside Lands: Automatic for the people

John-Paul Shiver - August 11, 2026

Acts on the come-up, faves on the curve, bison in the weeds, and a festival porta potty epiphany. Listen in.

Music

Under the Stars: Midsummer music notables, from gallant rock to Jilly from Philly

John-Paul Shiver - August 6, 2026

Plus: Black Marble plucks college radio strings, Twin Bloom bronzes out, The Koreatown Oddity raps it all up, more great listens

Music

Experimental sounds ring out from Adobe Books, for an eager community in the know

Jess Oledan - August 4, 2026

Promoter Tonko's unassuming series platforms local musicians with a genre-blurring bent.

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Music

Under the Stars: A harmonious system of influences (Whitesnake included)

John-Paul Shiver - July 23, 2026

Plus: Brandee Younger, 'The Ecstatic,' Diagonal Lines, atmos bloom, The Chutes 'Widow's Bay'—we're slipping it all in

Music

Mosswood Meltdown keeps its peak by staying regional and true

Adrian Spinelli - July 20, 2026

Pavement, John Waters, socialist zines, and punk pet patches still beat big-time festival fatigue any day.

Music

Under the Stars: Spacemoth alights again with ‘Inward Eye’

John-Paul Shiver - July 16, 2026

Plus: Nate Mercereau strums up 'Fantastic Thoughts,' Issa Rae and Kool Keith come to SF, Eric André gets his bag, more music

Music

No bumps on a log allowed at 50th Free Folk Fest

Jess Oledan - July 13, 2026

Sea shanty workshops, Celtic flair, jangling morris dancers, zydeco rhythms, more global styles brought everyone in.

Music

Under the Stars: Sweeping Promises deliver more art-punk brilliance

John-Paul Shiver - July 8, 2026

Plus: Thee Oh Sees veer fabulously 'Off Course,' DUM1 spawns a diamond under drastic circumstances, more music

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Music Review

Review: The Breeders—and Castro Theatre—head into a new era

Under the Stars: abracadabra summons spiky ’80s downtown funk magic

The best Bay Area rap albums of 2026 (so far)

Under the Stars: Sour Widows are back—and ‘crafted to curve’

Was this 40-year clutch of shaggy queer tracks the real album of the summer?

Herbie Hancock, live at 86: The legend still has the Lion’s dialogue

Under the Stars: Jeff Parker & co. stepped into Berkeley with spectral, slippery riffs

Under the Stars: Black Rave Culture locks in for the groove corrective

In Kensington, a small-town orchestra survives as civic triumph

This year’s Bliss Fest was all about the sparkling ride

Al Green gilded Stern Grove’s season finale in golden soul

What we heard at Outside Lands: Automatic for the people

Under the Stars: Midsummer music notables, from gallant rock to Jilly from Philly

Experimental sounds ring out from Adobe Books, for an eager community in the know

Under the Stars: A harmonious system of influences (Whitesnake included)

Mosswood Meltdown keeps its peak by staying regional and true

Under the Stars: Spacemoth alights again with ‘Inward Eye’

No bumps on a log allowed at 50th Free Folk Fest

Under the Stars: Sweeping Promises deliver more art-punk brilliance

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