essay Archive
14 Nov 2022
Take Five: Pre-fame Jimi Hendrix
The Woodstock Music and Art Fair took place 53 years ago this August. A list of the festival’s highlights could fill volumes; chief among them was Jimi Hendrix’s incendiary reading […]
31 Oct 2022
SF Music History: Elvis Costello
It’s quaint to think about it now, but when Elvis Costello surfaced in the summer of 1977 with My Aim is True, he was heralded as a punk artist. Coming […]
29 Oct 2022
Music to Your Ears: Sha Na Na
Thirty-two acts performed at the legendary Woodstock Music and Arts Fair, August 15-18, 1969. All but one of those acts had recording contract with record label. One was an unsigned […]
23 Oct 2022
Take 5 with Keith Allison
Keith Allison is one of the great under-recognized figures of the rock and pop era. The singer-songwriter-guitarist was everywhere: a member of the post-Buddy Holly Crickets, opening twice for the […]
12 Oct 2022
Take Five: Ronnie Spector Duets and Collaborations
Ronnie Spector would have celebrated her 79th birthday in August; the beloved singer passed away in January after a brief illness. Born Veronica Bennett, Ronnie Spector would become a legend […]
06 Oct 2022
Take Five: Steve Hillage
Let’s Take Five with Steve Hillage… Guitarist Steve Hillage celebrated his 71st birthday recently (August 2). The acclaimed musician was a notable player in the Canterbury, England rock scene of […]
30 Sep 2022
Five Classic Tracks Featuring Bassist Jim Rodford
Let’s Take Five in honor of Jim Rodford… Jim Rodford would have turned 81 in July; sadly, he passed away in January 2018 after a fall down the stairs of […]
29 Sep 2022
Music to Your Ears: John Lennon’s ‘Rock and Roll’
In 1972 John Lennon teamed up with notorious producer Phil Spector to record a collection of rock’n’roll oldies. Those sessions took place in L.A. during a period the ex-Beatle would […]
27 Sep 2022
SF Music History: The Tubes
Rock has often been about spectacle. From the mock-horror of Alice Cooper to the blood-spattered antics of GWAR to the inevitable pyrotechnical visuals of most every stadium act, giving audiences […]
16 Sep 2022
Ringo Starr, Session Man
Ringo Starr celebrated his 82nd birthday on July 7 in his customary “peace and love” style. The former Rory Storm and the Hurricanes drummer joined the Beatles in 1962, taking […]