I'm really not ready for 2007 to end. Any year that starts out in January with garage-punk great Jay Reatard smashing a clock with his face at the Hemlock is gonna be one for the books. But this year has offered so many time-stopping memories. Great new music hit the shelves from locals like Scissors for Lefty, Rogue Wave, Arp, Citay, Greg Ashley, Wooden Shjips, High on Fire, and Rademacher (from Fresno, but hey, they played here all the time). Noise Pop and Another Planet shipwrecked indie-rock fans on Treasure Island with the likes of Spoon, M.I.A., and Modest Mouse for a successful festival with zero hassle. Saxophonist Pharoah Sanders defined spiritually uplifting music with a moving performance at Grace Cathedral during the San Francisco Jazz Festival. Of course, not every show went off without a snag. One glaring example: Vincent Gallo's RRIICCEE show at Mission Creek Music Fest, which featured no opening act, no small talk, and no fun banter from the previously charming, always... More >>>