Last Call
(photo: Robert Alleyne) To all the bands and all the fans... Thanks for 15 years full of music, fun, and local love. We've had a blast and we'll see you at a show soon. Listen Local, The Bay Bridged
Hudson Bell explores new dimensions with ‘Psychic Breaks’
(photo: Patric Carver) The first time I saw Hudson Bell was years ago at the Starry Plough. I remember being captivated by the hooky charm of his songs — particularly "In a Ball." I was humming it to myself for days afterward. If the fecund ground of pop music is fertilized by earworms, Bell is a masterful composter. However, the ease by which the listener can be comfortable with Bell's songs should not be mistaken for a lack of complexity. His compositions bridge this great divide between being completely familiar without having the slightest hint of predictability. That night, even [...]
Review + Photos: Sound Summit serves up summer jams
Sound Summit (photo: William Wayland) We showed our double vaccination cards and climbed aboard the shuttles that would wind their way from Mill Valley above the morning fog to the amphitheater overlooking the bay. The Cushing Memorial Amphitheater was built using rough-hewn boulders by the Civilian Conservation Corp in 1933. It doesn’t have the polish of a venue like the Shoreline Amphitheater, but that’s the beauty of it. Steps are uneven and trees can block your view. It’s rustic. Here, the backdrop is Tiburon, Angel Island, Alcatraz, and San Francisco. I don’t know if there’s a better place in the Bay Area to [...]
Photos: Sylvan Esso at the Greek Theatre
Sylvan Esso (photo: Jon Bauer) Last Thursday saw a sold-out show at Berkley's historic Greek Theatre with a stacked lineup. The headliners were duo Sylvan Esso performing in support of last year's album Free Love, and they were joined by Local Natives and Samia, whose debut album The Baby also came out last year. Our photographer Jon Bauer was at this special night and captured all performers from this eclectic evening of beautiful live music. Check out the photos below.
Spiritual Cramp drops new video, “Earth to Mike”
It's Tuesday morning, what're you doing? Probably curating some pictures of Labor Day brunch or a scenic beach sunset for your IG feed? Knock it off right now, that shit ain't punk. Do yourself a favor: take a break from your work emails, your late-morning doomscrolling, or whatever awful true-crime podcast you're binging — and check out Spiritual Cramp's new single "Earth to Mike." Directed by Timmy Lodhi, the video is a bump of high-energy Bay Area punk rock that will make you want to punch air and two-step straight down to the nearest moped dealership. If you need something [...]
Photos: Small Black at the Independent
Small Black (photo: Vanessa Solis) Brooklyn electronica and chillwave band Small Black brought their sound to the Independent last week in support of their latest album, Cheap Dreams. They were also joined by Philadelphia electronic band Korine. Our photographer Vanessa Solis was there to capture both bands from the night as shows make their return to the Bay Area. Check them out below.
Important news about The Bay Bridged
To our readers, After an incredible 15 years, The Bay Bridged will be ceasing operations on October 1, 2021. The Bay Bridged began in San Francisco in 2006 with a small podcast premised on a big idea: that even in an age of increasing access to digital music from around the globe, local music scenes mattered. We eventually blossomed into a multifaceted local music nonprofit, creating a blog that reached 60,000 readers every month and producing festivals and concerts like The Bay Brewed, Rock Make Street Festival, and, of course, Phono Del Sol — all of which championed discovery and celebration of [...]
20th Street Block Party releases 2021 lineup
After a year's delay, beloved San Francisco street festival 20th Street Block Party is making its return to the Mission District. And we don't think it would be a stretch to say they're back and better than ever — check out this killer lineup. Y La Bamba Con Brio L.A. Witch French Cassettes Same Girls King Isis LOUDA Y Los Bad Hombres Strange Cities The only major change is that, like Outside Lands and other events, it's shifting to October. Other than that, some typical pandemic precautions are in place: Guests will need to reserve a spot to prevent overcrowding, [...]
Photos: Gregory Porter at the Frost Amphitheater
Gregory Porter (photo: Jon Bauer) Last week saw Grammy-winning jazz vocalist Gregory Porter perform at the Frost Amphitheater in support of his 2020 album All Rise. He was joined in support by San Francisco's Marcus Shelby Quartet with Tiffany Austin and our photographer Jon Bauer captured the photo gallery below from the event.
Listen to Elliott Ok’s new single, “Joey”
Elliott Ok's new single "Joey," released on July 22, is another example of his compositional range, lyrical prowess, and talent for awakening stunning ethereal textures. Much like his other work, "Joey" is a not just an achievement in songwriting but in crafting an environment in which an insightful story thrives and takes on a life of its own. Within an Americana architecture is an endearing theater of nostalgia and kinship played out in a night where a narrator reflects on the reticent struggles of close friend, Joey. It's endearingly intimate and melancholic: The sun's almost down / This towns one front [...]