Dave Matthews

Record Peddler: Speculators Make a Mockery of Record Store Day

[Record Peddler is an occasional column by Sam Lefebvre on life and music as viewed from behind the counter of an independent record store.] Record Store Day is an internationally recognized, annual event in which record labels release special titles, often in limited quantities, that are only avai ... More >>

Ben Folds Five Makes the Past Come Alive at the Warfield, 1/31/12

Ben Folds Five Nataly Dawn Thursday, Jan. 31, 2013 The Warfield Better than: Seeing Deep Blue Something reunite in 2013 ("Breakfast at Tiffany's" for life!) Telling people you're headed to a concert is hip; it carries underlying messages about being active and keeping up on popular culture. But wh ... More >>

The Mountain Goats Grapple with 'Human Horror' at the Fillmore, 12/14/12

The Mountain Goats Matthew E. White Friday, Dec. 14, 2012 The Fillmore Better than: Giving up entirely on people, life. So Friday, Dec. 14, was not a good day for trying to have faith in humanity. After a full 12 hours of media consumption following the horrors of the day's events in Newtown, Con ... More >>

Your Post-Bridge School Comedown Party: Watch a Film About the Benefit's First 25 Years

Neil Young at Bridge School​ We already told you about the plans to release a new, three-DVD, two-CD box set celebrating the 25th Anniversary of the now-legendary Bridge School Benefit concerts. The set will feature some stunning performances from over the years by the likes of Bob Dylan, Neil ... More >>

Sizzle & Fizzle: Highs and Lows from the Last Week in S.F. Music

Bridge School Benefit 2011 Lineup: Dave Matthews, Arcade Fire, Eddie Vedder, and More

Neil Young at the Bridge School Benefit. Photo by Christopher Victorio.​ The lineup for this year's Bridge School Benefit is out, and it's as solid as ever. No big reunions -- we got Buffalo Springfield last year, sigh -- but the acoustic shows Neil Young and his wife, Pegi, put on to benefit ... More >>

Welcome to the Music Industry, 2011: Records Don't Sell, Touring Can Make Bank, and Major Labels Are (Mostly) Useless

​For whatever reason, today seems to be the day that the music industry reminds us that it's still in total upheaval. Soundscan tells us that relatively few people actually bought music in 2010, unless they were fans of Eminem and Katy Perry. Dave Matthews spent the last 10 years collecting $500 ... More >>

Are the Grateful Dead Really the Great American Band?

Jay BlakesbergThe essence of America?​What is the Great American Band?This was a question posed by esteemed rock writer Michael Azerrad over the past July 4th weekend. After due consideration of Fugazi, R.E.M., the Replacements (whom we're obviously fond of/indebted to), and others, Azerrad settle ... More >>

Last Night: Thom Yorke's Atoms for Peace, Flying Lotus at the Fox Theater

Christopher Victorio​Atoms for Peace, Flying Lotus Wednesday, April 14, 2010 Fox Theater Better than: scouring the Internet for leaks of Flying Lotus' Cosmogramma. The glowing eyes of two Moorish, gold Genies peered out over the Fox Theater Wednesday night. Fans had bought the place out to ... More >>

Song Stories

Last Night: Gomez and Buddy at Great American Music Hall

​GomezBuddyWednesday, March 17, 2010Great American Music HallBetter than: What your mom told you she was doing on St. Patrick's Day. (We're pretty sure we saw her there. In 1998, the bluesy British rock quintet Gomez won the prestigious Mercury Music Prize. Critics heaped acclaim upon their rambl ... More >>

Outside Lands Post-Script

EKAphotographyVinyl Vamp: Zap Mama​ Fickle weather and last-minute headliner replacements aside, Outside Lands was a success, by most yard sticks. Here's what folks are saying about the three-day extravaganza, which drew more than 100,000 people to Golden Gate Park: Local reaction: The Chron ... More >>

Doggy Bag: Today's Odds and Ends

​Our favorite morsel from the food blogs. You asked for it: Grub Street New York published its Grub Report earlier this week. Think of it as a Twitpic of the state of the nation's restaurants, captured, collectively, by about a dozen critics. Anthony Bourdain, Jonathan Gold, Gael Greene, Ed L ... More >>

Outside Lands, Day 3: Tenacious D, M.I.A, Ween, The Avett Brothers

Christopher Victorio​Outside Lands Day Three: Tenacious D, M.I.A, Ween, The Avett Brothers Golden Gate Park August 30, 2009 Better Than: Being warm.The fog that began showing up in wisps over Dave Matthews Band on Saturday night turned into a typical freezing summer in San Francisco day by Sunday ... More >>

Outside Lands Day Two: Street Sweeper Social Club, Trombone Shorty, Black Eyed Peas, The Mars Volta

EKAphotography​Outside Lands Day 2: Street Sweeper Social Club, Trombone Shorty, Black Eyed Peas, The Mars Volta, & more, Saturday, August 20, 2009.Better Than: sitting in the park, waiting for you.The first day of Outside Lands was a huge freakin' success, especially if you stayed at the Twin ... More >>

Last Night: Deer Tick at The Independent

Joseph SchellDeer TickJuly 1, 2009The IndependentBetter Than: Karaoke. Last night, Deer Tick started its mellow set with a slow crescendo that climaxed in a stage dive. "We're doing things a little differently tonight," declared handlebar mustachioed lead singer John McCauley, before launching into ... More >>

CD ripping services put record collections in the 21st century

An open letter to would-be Twitticians

Lake City

Brett Dennen Visits SF in March

If you like your guitars wistful and your lyrics introspective, then Brett Dennen is your dude. The Central California singer/songwriter has contributed his moody music to moody television shows like Grey's Anatomy and House, and Rolling Stone says he's a cross between Jack Johnson and Dave Matthe ... More >>

The Dude Abides for Chocolate, Peace and Sarah Silverman - The Weekend Hitlist

Sharon Jones, Dave Matthews Band to Play Three Nights at Greek Theatre

Liz Phair taking 'Exile' in S.F.

Land Ho!

Net Radio Royalty EXTRA -- UPDATES: David Byrne, Cover feature

Birds of a Feather

Meric Long and Logan Kroeber break the singer/songwriter barrier

No Administrator Left Behind

The University of California system is embroiled in a scandal over perks and compensation for some of its highest-paid employees. Are they worth it? Find out where you stand!

Stealing riffs and loser beats

Mixing an ElixIr with med students

A to Z

My Morning Jacket's stunning new album marks a step forward for the atmospheric country band

Hipster San Diego

It's not all surf and silicone in America's Finest City

Pooch Kicks

As kid-book adaptations go, Because of Winn-Dixie's no dog

From Mountains to Music Criticism

How does a month spent alone in the Sierra Nevadas stack up to spending a night with four local bands?

Trend-Spotting

In a scandal-ridden election year, the year's top ten music stories were all about winning the popular vote.

Hear This

The monsters of instrumental hip hop (and Dave Matthews) invade S.F.

BeatBox

Creep Week

Seven nights of frightening films

Band Directory

Fanning the Flames

In-your-face flamenco

Prick

Coat Tales

My Morning Jacket may have a big new label, but its haunting brand of country remains as comfortable as ever

Survival of the Phat-est

Pianist Jacob Aginsky fosters the new jazz evolution by embracing electronica and other musics

Themselves

The No Music (Anticon)

SF Weekly Music Awards 2002

A galaxy-spanning journey through space and sound!

Don Lennon

Downtown (Secretly Canadian)

Hunger Strike

Can a non-9/11 benefit album make any noise?

A New Tune

After September 11, some new songs just don't sound the same

Melding Pot

Kronos Quartet blends history, cultures, and classical music