No Live Nation service charges on June 10
If you’re thinking of catching a show this summer at a Live Nation venue — like Shoreline, Mountain Winery or the Sleep Train Pavilion in Concord — you might want to make the purchase tomorrow —...
View Article‘Porgy and Bess’: A rock critic’s take
Just got home from the thrilling opportunity to check out “Porgy and Bess” at San Francisco Opera — my first trip to the venerable War Memorial Opera House. (It ain’t the Fillmore, but it’s nice!) The...
View ArticleA few of my favorite records
We here at the Merc had a little fun this week picking the best song of all time. I opted for “Shout,” considering its unrivaled ability for the past 50 years to induce joy on the dance floor, no...
View ArticleElvis Costello at Amoeba-SF (with set list)
Hundreds of fans, many who had lined up for hours, packed San Francisco’s Amoeba Music at noon today to watch Elvis Costello perform a 40-minute set to promote his new slab of Americana, “Secret,...
View ArticleFather’s Day Bluegrass Festival ’09: A report
I had the rare privilege this weekend of checking out the least stress-inducing festival I’ve ever experienced: the annual Father’s Day Bluegrass Festival in Grass Valley. We’re talking manageable...
View ArticleLisa Marie Presley on Michael Jackson: ‘I wanted to save him’
Well, here’s the most fascinating take on Michael Jackson’s death I’ve seen so far: a MySpace blog posting by his ex-wife Lisa Marie Presley. Check it out.
View ArticleWilco at Mountain Winery: Set list
I just filed a (glowing) review of last night’s Wilco show at the Mountain Winery, which should be up online shortly and in print in Sunday’s paper. The boys from Chicago were in fine form on songs old...
View ArticleHardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival ’09 lineup announced
The good folks at Slim’s and Great American Music Hall last week gave us a more complete view of the lineup for this year’s ninth annual Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival, to be held Oct. 2-4 in...
View ArticleFlaming Lips, MGMT, Decemberists top Treasure Island lineup
It’s official: As we reported in May, MGMT and the Flaming Lips will headline the two days of the third annual Treasure Island Music Festival, to be held in the middle of San Francisco Bay on Oct....
View ArticleSugarland no-show hinders Chesney’s country party
Folks arriving Saturday for the big country show at San Francisco’s AT&T Park were greeted with a sign saying Sugarland — No. 2 on the bill behind Kenny Chesney — would not be performing because...
View Article
