Email Author Sam Prestianni

2009 Stories by Sam Prestianni

• Alternative Tentacles' 30th anniversary

  published November 4, 2009

  For three decades, Alternative Tentacles has been middle-fingering the thieves, hypocrites, warmongers, and lapdogs in government,... More >>

• Marco Benevento

  published October 28, 2009

  Keyboardist Marco Benevento comes on like a postmodern Vince Guaraldi on Me Not Me, a concept CD of 70 percent covers (Led... More >>

• Rupa and the April Fishes’ global style mashes

  published October 28, 2009

  Rupa Marya believes that the boundaries separating us from one another are largely driven by politics. As a professor of medicine at UCSF and a... More >>

• The Jesus Lizard: Still crazy after all these years

  published October 14, 2009

  The Jesus Lizard is one of the few heavy bands to emerge from second-wave punk's golden era with a commitment to totally insane fun. Back when... More >>

• Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Family Tree

  published September 30, 2009

  Now in its ninth year, the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass festival is a beloved San Francisco tradition: a free open-air celebration of American... More >>

• Rodrigo y Gabriela pay tribute to a history of axe-slingers

  published September 23, 2009

  While the phenomenal popularity of Guitar Hero suggests the public adores six-string shredders, there are sadly few Jimi Hendrixes among... More >>

• High Times

  published September 2, 2009

  Local multi-instrumentalist Ralph Carney is well-versed in countless styles, from pop to jazz to experimental, but he can make beautiful music out... More >>

• Dave Douglas

  published August 26, 2009

  From his thrilling jousts with avant-garde bad boy John Zorn in Masada to his more accessible compositions for numerous award-winning solo... More >>

• Al Green

  published August 26, 2009

  From steamy secular classics ("Love and Happiness," "Let's Stay Together") to no-foolin' praise songs ("Jesus Is Waiting"), the Reverend Al... More >>

• Henry Kaiser, Damon Smith, Weasel Walter

  published July 29, 2009

  This strange and compelling debut recording by a trio of veteran Bay Area improvisers springboards off an old music-industry concept. Record... More >>

• PJ Harvey and the Banshees

  published June 17, 2009

  PJ Harvey is the woman of our nightmares. She's a commanding shape-shifter, shadow, and siren. Wailing to the black-and-blue heavens above, she... More >>

• Sila & the Afrofunk Experience celebrates Obama

  published May 27, 2009

  While Sila and the Afrofunk Experience were recording their second album, Black President, in the Bay Area, tribal warfare... More >>

• NIN/Jane's Addiction

  published May 20, 2009

  Nine Inch Nails and Jane's Addiction enjoyed their heydays nearly 20 years back with debuts that blazed new paths in pop music... More >>

• The Devil Makes Three

  published April 29, 2009

  The Devil Makes Three draws on rural blues, folk, and bluegrass in equal measures with rock 'n' roll. While many of the Santa Cruz... More >>

• Cryptogramophone attracts Left Coast jazz all-stars

  published March 18, 2009

  Los Angeles native Jeff Gauthier is a veteran improviser and composer with a knack for drawing gifted artists into his orbit. While he's an... More >>

• Team Players

  published March 11, 2009

  Los Angeles native Jeff Gauthier is a veteran improviser and composer with a knack for drawing gifted artists into his orbit. While he's an adept... More >>

• Stringing You Along

  published February 18, 2009

  It's rare that a modern instrumental guitarist possesses a sound all his own, but James Blackshaw is a true innovator. The London native... More >>

• Joan Jeanrenaud

  published February 11, 2009

  On her second solo album, former Kronos Quartet cellist Jeanrenaud aims "to become an ensemble of players, though playing all the parts... More >>

• Something Good Will Come to Yoshi's

  published February 11, 2009

  The Master Musicians of Jajouka are the rock stars of Morocco. They've lived for generations in a remote village in the foothills of the... More >>

• Sunday Morning Fever

  published January 28, 2009

  Sharon Jones is the queen of funk, the godmother of soul, the preacherwoman of sweat-steeped gospel. Hailing from Georgia via Brooklyn,... More >>