Up and coming Chicago indie rock trio Horsegirl brought their 90s alternative rock sounds to a packed show at San Francisco’s Rickshaw Stop on July 19th, their first show in SF and part of their first nationwide headlining tour.

Pioneering electronic music quartet Kraftwerk played Bill Graham Civic Auditorium in San Francisco on July 6th for their 3D concert tour.

Singer/songwriter James Mercer’s band The Shins played the Warfield in San Francisco on July 12th, kicking off 21st Birthday Tour for their critically-acclaimed debut record, Oh, Inverted World. Despite a slew of lineup changes in the past decade, Mercer and co. sounded as sharp as ever, tearing through the album’s 11 tunes, then launching into a greatest-hits set of a dozen more songs–including a cover of Stone Temple Pilot’s “Vaseline” (?!) and a bit of Tom Petty’s “American Girl.”
Folk rock sister trio Joseph–reduced to a duo due to sister Allison Closner’s appendicitis the day before–opened the show, with sisters Meegan and Natalie joining the Shins on backing vocals for several songs.

Australian hip hop/electro pop group Haiku Hands played the Rickshaw Stop in San Francisco on June 28th.

Folk singer/songwriter/feminist icon Ani DiFranco played the Stern Grove Festival’s Pride Weekend show in San Francisco on June 26th. DiFranco was in town to play the Fillmore that night, and stepped in to play an afternoon set after Liz Phair was forced to cancel her scheduled appearance in the Grove. Drag queen Peaches Christ also performed, hosting an impromptu drag competition during her set.

The reunited Bright Eyes lineup, featuring Conor Oberts, Mike Mogis, and Nate Walcott, played the Masonic in San Francisco. Hurray for the Riff Raff opened the show, with singer Alynda Segarra joining Bright Eyes for their song “Haile Selassie.” Check out photos from both sets in the gallery.

Orville Peck, out in support of his second record, Bronco, played the Fox Theater in Oakland on June 14th.

Chvrches played the third of three consecutive nights of Bay Area shows on Saturday, May 28th, at the JaM Cellars Ballroom in downtown Napa, CA, a day after performing at the BottleRock music festival. It was the second club show in three days for the Scottish band, having played the Fillmore in San Francisco two nights prior. Given the late-show status, it was a short and sweet set, without the wardrobe changes from singer Lauren Mayberry that have become customary for every show on the band’s current Screen Violence tour (though she still remained committed to the fake-blood-covered finale numbers).

The Canadian synthpop sensations Purity Ring delivered an unreal audiovisual spectacle at the Neptune Theatre in Seattle last week. Crafty lighting rigs, smoke machines, and elaborate costumes all accompanied the duo’s signature sound, which included a heavy dose of tracks off 2020’s Womb as well as breakthrough album Shrines, which turns 10 years old this year. Scroll through for the full highlights.

Alternative pop icon Tori Amos – armed with dueling piano and keyboard set-ups – delivered an enchanting performance at the Paramount Theatre in Seattle. She charmed the crowd with tracks off her latest album Ocean to Ocean as well as some of her greatest hits like “Precious Things,” “Juárez” and “Cornflake Girl.” Scroll through for the full highlights.

BottleRock 2022 wrapped up it’s Memorial Day weekend return with a great headlining set from Pink, and a rowdy party from Pitbull. Also making appearances were Luke Combs, Alessia Cara, Aly & AJ, Tessa Violet, Grandson, Vance Joy, Tai Verdes, Wild Rivers, and more…

Veteran Canadian electronic rock band Holy Fuck wowed the crowd with a tight performance at Wild Buffalo in Bellingham, WA. The Georgia-based rapper, activist and PhD Linqua Franqa delivered a spirited opening set just before. Scroll through for the highlights.

The second day of BottleRock Napa Valley music and food festival featured sets from Twenty One Pilots, Mount Westmore (the rap supergroup of Ice Cube, Snoop Dogg, Too $hort, and E-40), The Black Crowes, Rainbow Kitten Surprise, Silversun Pickups, Banks, and more. Plus, appearances on the Culinary Stage by Pink, Rickey Henderson, Too $hort, Roy Choi, twenty one pilots, and more.

The BottleRock Napa Valley music and food festival returned to its regular Memorial Day weekend slot for the first time since 2019 this year. Check out photos from Day 1, with Greta Van Fleet, Chvrches, Misterwives, Spoon, Marcus King, Kygo, and more.

Chvrches played the Fillmore in San Francisco on May 26th, ahead of their appearance at the BottleRock festival in Napa the next day. This was the first of three Bay Area shows in three days for the group, who are touring in support of their fourth record, Screen Violence.