Paul McCartney

Five Race-Related Songs That Are (Almost) as Dumb as "Accidental Racist"

As you are no doubt already aware, earlier this week, Brad Paisley and LL Cool J released one of the most embarrassing songs ever written. In "Accidental Racist", the two try to solve national issues regarding racial tension and the legacy of slavery with lyrics like "If you don't judge my do-rag, I ... More >>

We Are The Rolling Stones, and We Are Here For Your Every Last Dollar

How much will you pay to say you've seen the Rolling Stones? In 30 years, when Mick Jagger and Keith Richards are either dead and buried, or are liquid-preserved human heads running a cybernetic body, how badly will you want to tell your (grand-) kids that yes, you saw the real Rolling Stones live? ... More >>

Cult Heroes Sparks Announce S.F. Show at the Chapel in April

Sparks, as a patient fan of the cult band once explained to us, is a musician's band. Held in high esteem by the likes of pretty much everyone cool ever -- they're credited with inspiring both Morrissey and Bjork to go into music, and count Joey Ramone, Kurt Cobain, and Paul McCartney as fans -- Spa ... More >>

How to Deal With Airport Security When You're a Famous Musician

The problem with being famous and getting special treatment everywhere you go is that you sometimes forget that rules actually apply to you. Yes, music stars, we know you think you're more important than the rest of us plebeians, but make no mistake about it: In the eyes of airport security, you're ... More >>

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

Aeroplane on Owning a Record Store, the Inspiration for His Moniker, and the Rule Every Track Must Follow

Angels & Ghosts​While a typical club dancefloor finds its climax at 130 beats per minute or faster, Vito de Luca, aka Aeroplane, manages to achieve the same excitement at a comfortable 105 bpm. Inspired by the disco of the late '70s and sexy synths of the early '80s, De Luca conjures an enjoy ... More >>

Arthouse Movie Listings December 21-27

Get Stewed with Stew and The Negro Problem's Making It

​Listen to this while high: Stew and the Negro Problem's Making it. Stew and Heidi Rodewald​ Behind the buzz: Before decamping for Broadway and glory, Stew was among L.A.'s most puckish live performers and the Negro Problem the focus of a devoted local cult. Post Minstrel Syndrome  ... 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 >>

Now You Can Experience 25 Years of Bridge School Benefit Shows, All For a Good Cause

Macca at Bridge School​ There are probably some music fans who have been to all 25 of the heavy-duty Bridge School Benefit shows that go down every fall at Shoreline Amphitheatre. And while we extremely jealous of those fortuitous (or foresight-blessed) souls, now there's at least a way for t ... More >>

Music Links: Magik*Magik Orchestra on Playing with Rock Bands, Will.i.am Can't Remember Lyrics, and More

John Vanderslice and Magik*Magik's Minna Choi​ Magik*Magik Orchestra Artistic Director Minna Choi explains why she likes working with rock bands. [The Bay Bridged] Haha: Will.i.am can't remember his own crappy lyrics. [SF Gate]

What Is Dad Rock, Exactly? One Dad's Opinion

billcosby.com​ In a segment from a season 1 episode of "The Cosby Show," the sitcom's namesake delightfully illustrates how pop music can function as a generational wedge. "I thought it had come down the hallway," Bill Cosby says in reference to the deafening music playing on daughter Sondra's ... More >>

Get High and Cruise Down McLemore Avenue -- Booker T. & the MGs' Take on Abbey Road

​ This Week: Cruise down McLemore Avenue with Booker T. & the MGs​Behind the buzz: Loosened from Stax Records' leaky grip by the recent avalanche of Beatles-related reissues is this 1970 reconfiguration of Abbey Road. As leader of the house band for the Memphis soul giant, Booker T. Jones wa ... More >>

Happy 4/20! Here's a Guide to Music-Related Activities on Doper Day

Photo by Jenne WarrenGet high with Cypress Hill at the Warfield tonight.​Any crunker still mired to the concept of time recognizes and observes the entirely spurious significance of April 20. Sadly, organized recognition of the day is just as ad-hoc, leaving teaheads to the dictates of their colle ... More >>

The Tenderloin's Best Jukebox? We Go on the Hunt at 21 Club, Hemlock Tavern, and Geary Club

Derrick LowThe pretty much amazing jukebox at Hemlock Tavern​The heyday of authentic jukeboxes is long over. With many bars installing those nasty touchscreen digital Internet boxes, the old school record-flipping kind of jukebox is a dying breed. And this is in the town that originated the concep ... More >>

Listen To This While High: 'The Merry Barracks,' by Deerhoof

​Given numerous (and proliferating) testimonials to cannabis use in its lyrics, it may be safely ventured at this late hour that rock music and marijuana go together like jazz and teacup gin. Racks of rock LPs, even entire sub-genres of the music, reach the ears already reeking of the devil's weed ... More >>

Folsom Street Fair, Tour De Fat, Springsteen Tribute, Jared Mees & Grown Children, Arts Expo and More

Jared Mees & the Grown Children play The Hemlock this Sunday​ There are so many awesome events this warm weekend in September, the problem won't be what to do, but how to pack it all in. Make the best use of your time, map out a proper schedule and get to it. Here's this week's list of ten th ... More >>

Tuesday's Pick: Grand Lake Vinyl Release Show

Grand LakeIt's For Free GraceSean Smith & the Present MomentJames & EvanderCafe Du Nord9 p.m., $10Caleb Nichols is often asked why he left Port O'Brien two years ago, right around the time the neo-folk outfit was getting quite a bit of attention. His answer is simple: He was tired and needed ... More >>

Put Away the Cameras and Watch the Show, Music Fans

​In a recent interview with Spinner, White Stripes/Raconteurs/Dead Weather mastermind Jack White explained why he doesn't allow fans to shoot photos and video during shows at Third Man Records:When we have concerts [at Third Man Records headquarters in Nashville], we don't allow people to film and ... More >>

Built to Spill and Fauxbois at Slim's

Joseph Schell​Built to SpillSlim'sJuly 15, 2010Better than: if Paul McCartney went indie (yup. I went there)When Doug Martsch sings, it's unclear whether he wants to woo the mic or eat the mic. Either way is fine with his fans -- as long as he's singing, and as long as the band keeps playing. At l ... More >>

Wednesday's Pick: Bettye LaVette at Great American Music Hall

​Bettye LaVetteMiltonGreat American Music Hall7 p.m., $26Oftentimes, the problem with tribute albums is that they sound far too reverent of the original songs. If you're not going to do anything special with the tunes, why even bother covering them at all, since the originals are usually amazing t ... More >>

Monday Morning Hangover: Superheros, Boing Boing, & Paul McCartney

This weekend was a great weekend to geek out. Whether you wanted to dress like a superhero or go to a nerdy picnic in Golden Gate Park, opportunities abounded to just let your inner-dork hang out.Hanna Quevedo​Heroes and villains in all sorts of outrageous costumes took over the waterfront this we ... More >>

Bettye Reign O’er Me

Hey DJ! Friday Q&A w/ Little Melanie (Falling And Laughing)

​Little Melanie has learned some big lessons about DJing in her years behind the decks. Like never go topless in the kiddie pool when fools are within camera range. And it's ok to slap tanked tourists if they leave bite marks on your record collection. This Mission mainstay has had her share of st ... More >>

What To Do? Thursday's Pick: Neon Indian

​Neon Indian @ Rickshaw Stop Mapping out a universe of spongy synth leads and canned beats, Texas tinkerer Alan Palomo has managed an offbeat triumph in Psychic Chasms, the debut of Neon Indian, his one-man project. The album, which features such casually sung gems as "Terminally Chill" and "Ephem ... More >>

Neon Indian’s warm, retro glow

Super Bowl Hot Wings Crisis -- in the Media

.cc_box a:hover .cc_home{background:url('http://www.comedycentral.com/comedycentral/video/assets/syndicated-logo-over.png') !important;}.cc_links a{color:#b9b9b9;text-decoration:none;}.cc_show a{color:#707070;text-decoration:none;}.cc_title a{color:#868686;text-decoration:none;}.cc_links a:hover{col ... More >>

The Body Electric

Lindstrøm's cosmic aerobics.

The Australian Evangelist

The Morning Benders: love gone wrong in three minutes or less

From Russia with Love: Auktyon's avant-rock

Ex-Beatle Makes Mashed Potatoes

Ex-Beatle Makes Mashed Potatoes

Starbucks Art in SF

Giving the Indies a Spin

Small outposts rule online MP3 sales

Bitch Away!

Your cinematic opinions sought

Hear This

The Meat Purveyors drag bluegrass through the gutter; the Owls one-up the Beatles

Encore

Our critics weigh in on local theatre

After Midnight

Guided by Voices

Earthquake Glue

Hammer of the Gods

With a handful of artists, "classic rock" is not

a pejorative

Who Loves Ya Baby?

Arthur Lee celebrates 35 years of psychedelic pop

She's Lost Control

The shit hits the fans

A New Tune

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

Shelby Bryant

Cloud-Wow Music (Smells Like)

Pop Philosophy

And God created swinging

Hear This

White Stripes

Pew's Anatomy

Bubble Burst

Letters