The New Pornographers are commonly referred to as a supergroup, but often, when they perform live, they don't quite live up to that billing. Featured member Neko Case doesn't typically tour with the group, and Destroyer's Dan Bejar is even less likely to show. But both of the frequently absent singers made it out to the band's show this week at The Warfield in San Francisco, and I now can't even Read more

Watching Jenny Lewis of Rilo Kiley on stage is to see someone completely aware of the spells she can cast on a crowd. A little shrug of the shoulders here, a cock of the eyebrow there, and in no time, the audience for Rilo Kiley's show at The Warfield last week was thoroughly held in thrall by Lewis' charm and blockbuster voice. But Lewis' sly sexiness wasn't the only thing keeping eyes glued to Read more

Never having seen Feist perform live before, I wasn't sure quite what to expect from her live show this week at The Fillmore in San Francisco. Though I loved the "I Feel It All" video she did for the DL show, she didn't really take command of that tiny room, so I really wasn't sure how she'd do in front of a sold-out crowd. To my delight, however, Feist had stage presence to spare at the Read more

With its canon of songs about drinking and drugs, music fests and chillout tents, and redemption and rebirth, The Hold Steady approach the act of partying with an almost religious fervor. Not surprisingly, the band's concert at Slim's last week was no exception. In fact, the show followed the pattern poetically laid out in "Hot Soft Light," from the band's newest album, Boys and Girls in America: Read more

The Drive-By Truckers are a rarity in today's music climate: a band that hugs the road as if it were kin, touring any chance they get. They hit the pavement when they have a new album, or when they have a few festivals to play, or — in this case — when they have a batch of new songs to hone before heading into the studio. The band played two nights in San Francisco on the mostly acoustic Read more

Tuesday night's bill at The Fillmore in San Francisco was a rare treat: two musicians with new albums that I know and love — both of whom happen to be named Andrew. The evening started with the Spanish-flavored indie rock of Andrew Whiteman's Apostle of Hustle, which included two percussionists, one of whom was mostly devoted to playing bongos and maracas. Whiteman — a skinny white boy with Read more

The avant-garde electro-pop-rock of Cornelius is so lush, lovely, and utterly bizarre that it could easily fall flat on stage. But as I learned on Thursday night, the Japanese musician — born Keigo Oyamada — has perfected the formula for keeping audiences rapt. His secret: electronic effects combined with good old-fashioned electric guitars, and a transfixing music video to accompany every Read more