George Chen

Bouncer Discovers the Ultimate Tiki Dive Bar in Bamboo Hut

Punk Trio High Castle on the Oakland Warehouse Scene, Writing Accessible Songs, and Sci-Fi

As a flag-bearing act of Oakland's Zum records and a crucial proponent of the Bay Area's warehouse-centric, outsider rock scene, High Castle has demonstrated repeatedly its prowess both live and on recordings. The band's latest record, Spirit of the West, recalls skittish post-hardcore glazed with a ... More >>

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

Zum: An Oakland Avant-Rock Label That Isn't Going to Give Up

Many local labels are offering obscure reissues and innovative new releases on all conceivable formats. Label Sampler is a new column that will profile a different Bay Area record company each week. Name: Zum Record Company Headquarters: Oakland Owner: George Chen Founded: 1997 Creation story: ... More >>

Cassette-Only Labels Are Thriving, But Is It Just a Fad?

No Age, Grass Widow, and Rank/Xerox Bring the Ruckus at the Rickshaw

Joseph SchellNo Age at Rickshaw Stop Saturday. ​No AgeGrass WidowRank/XeroxCrazy Band February 26, 2011 @ Rickshaw Stop Better than: Standing still at Best Coast/Wavves. I have a thing for drummers who sing. There's something about it that triggers endorphins: this is a multitasking musician, bo ... More >>

Buy Some Weird Records and Help All-Ages Oakland Venue 21 Grand

​21 Grand, the downtown Oakland nonprofit all-ages venue and art space, is struggling to survive. In August, city officials decided that the space was violating the city's cabaret license laws, forcing 21 Grand to cancel much of its fall schedule of shows.The cancellations leave primary manager Da ... More >>

Zum Anniversary Show with KIT, High Castle, Core of the Coalman, Dunes, and More

KIT​Zum - Some Kind of Anniversarywith KITHigh CastleCore of the CoalmanDunesMincemeat or TenspeedDalton Bros.HutsAugust 7th, 2010 @ 21 Grand Better than: Massive summer musical festivals teeming with inebriated suburbanites. In the increasingly volatile world of independent record ... More >>

Naked Bike Ride, Sonny & The Sunsets, 'I Get What I Want And Always Get It Again!'

The Prids​Oh you lucky Bay Area dweller. There is a glut of good, cheap shows this weekend - with bands playing light and jangly pop, crunchy psychedelic noise, and nearly everything in between. Get out of your bar-closest-to-home funk and explore all the great local venues you don't patronize eno ... More >>

More SXSW Parties: Zum, Aquarius, and KXLU

High Castle​Super indie (and very experimental-friendly) local label Zum is partnering with Aquarius Records and KXLU to throw a daytime party in Austin during SXSW. The show takes place on Thursday, March 18 from noon  until 6 p.m. at what Zum label owner George Chen says is a "rad bookst ... More >>

Nine Under the Radar Music Venues: Buses, Caves, Book Stores

John BensonThe Bus​San Francisco is bursting at the seams with live music nearly every night of the week. There are shows at slimy bars and at major music venues across town, concerts with fees through Ticketmaster and ones with wristbands presented at the door. And while that is all fine and good ... More >>

Membership Has Its Privileges: Free Crab Cookbook

If you have a Visa Signature rewards card, Visa, the Golden Gate Restaurant Association, and almost 50 Bay Area restaurants have cooked up a little present for you: a nice little pamphlet of crab recipes, titled SF Chefs. Food. Wine.: Dungeness Crab. Inside you'll find recipes from A (Angel Hair Cra ... More >>

The cultural cachet of kids: San Francisco needs a dedicated all-ages space

No Linkup for You!

In the world of online community, one authoritative man can dictate your social life

Ready for Takeoff

SFO restaurants

Yin, Yang, and the Other

Xanadu

Shanghai Express

Dish