Music Newsletter

Memphis, by Boz Scaggs

The first time I saw Boz Scaggs perform live was at the Matrix club in San Francisco in the early ’60s. Scaggs and another unknown, the future "gangster of love," Steve Miller, were fronting a ...

Let's go crazy: Prince packs 'em in at the Hard Rock Hotel

When Prince sang the words “let’s go crazy” during the third of his four Hard Rock Hotel shows, was he talking about the people who forked over an eye-widening $250 a ticket? Was he referring ...

Ilan Rubin: exhibitionist

Nine Inch Nails drummer Ilan Rubin talks about his band Regime’s EPs.

Kona Kai relaunch

Former Humphrey’s talent-buyer Shawna Aguirre hopes to revitalize Kona Kai as the hotel’s entertainment director.

Super Water Sympathy

A busy year ahead for Super Water Sympathy: the band is hitting the road in support of their second full-length, Hydrogen Child, and then picking up a couple months of Warped Tour road work that ...

Heavy-hitters from the peace-and-love generation

Like pioneers

Slightly Stoopid enlists Bob Weir, a couple Neville Brothers, Tommy Chong, and Karl Denson for their new live CD/DVD, Slightly Stoopid & Friends: Live at Roberto’s TRI Studios.

Ugly at 30

Mike Stax of the Loons to celebrate the 30th anniversary of his publication Ugly Things at the Casbah over Memorial Day weekend.

Music critic snobbery

Local tribute Rushed is a band in demand now that Rush is in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Ladies and gentlemen, the Rolling Stones!

Iconic rock band the Rolling Stones continues to defy the odds with their ability to seemingly turn back the hands of time. After 50 years, they continue to fill arenas, ignite crowds, and deliver Satisfaction ...

Phoenix's Bankrupt!

Phoenix's 2009 album, Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix, was a commercial and critical hit. It brought the French band to the world stage. This year, fresh off a headlining spot at Coachella, they keep up the pace ...

Bill Payne, last man standing

Bill Payne’s on the phone from his home in Montana — “It’s a good place to land up” — to talk about his present tour with a character named Dennis McNally (and Gabe Ford on ...

Lemony moments

Tori Roze and the Hot Mess release new LP Turbulence.

Thank you, Johnny Depp

Clint Perry of the pirate-themed Boo Hoo Crew describes his band as “the only kids rock band that actually rocks the kids.”

This week in the San Diego clubs, May 9–15

Thursday 9Freaky folkie Devendra Banhart’s evolution/devolution from the charmed if awkward songsmith of his early four-track output (listening to Oh Me Oh My as I type) into a full-fledged hippie-jam-band leader (Crippled Crow) into this ...