SF Weekly | Music | Profiles & Interviews | AAN.org

The Dirtbombs Surround Us with Sirensnew

There's no better music to both amplify and appease our worries of self-annihilation than guitars that ring like air raid sirens; a double-bass, two-drum front that rolls like an army tank; and a singer who cackles wildly as he stomps through civilization's ashes.

SF Weekly | Jennifer Maerz | 05-15-2008 | Profiles & Interviews

Tags: The Dirtbombs, garage rock, We Have You Surrounded

Rick Rubin Digs Howlin Rain's Distorted View of the '70snew

Comets on Fire's Ethan Miller is in the (metaphorical) driver's seat as Howlin Rain's frontman.

SF Weekly | Jennifer Maerz | 02-27-2008 | Profiles & Interviews

Tags: Howlin Rain, Magnificent Fiend

Major-Label Misfit: Mistah F.A.B.new

Oakland rapper Mistah F.A.B. would be the first to admit there's a problem when it comes to rap music: If you're identified with the streets, you're not supposed to be lyrical; and if you're lyrical, how "street" can you really be?

SF Weekly | Eric K. Arnold | 01-16-2008 | Profiles & Interviews

Tags: Mistah F.A.B.

Young Vet Bow Wow Advises the New Young Rappersnew

Bow Wow, the pint-sized novelty act who made preteen girls swoon with his 2000 debut, Beware of Dog, has somehow evolved into an elder statesman in the hip-pop genre.

SF Weekly | Ben Westhoff | 12-27-2007 | Profiles & Interviews

Tags: Bow Wow, Face Off

OG Icon B-Legit Reflects on Pre-Hyphy Rapnew

Few artists can say they've recorded with Mac Dre and Daryl Hall. In fact, B-Legit might be the only person who can make that claim.

SF Weekly | Eric K. Arnold | 12-20-2007 | Profiles & Interviews

Tags: B-Legit, Throwblock Musik

Wu-Tang Producer RZA's Balancing Actnew

It's hard to think of a more ubiquitously iconic figure in hip-hop, or a more visionary individual: RZA doesn't just make beats and spit rhymes, he captures moods, drops depth-charge metaphors, and creates epic mythologies.

SF Weekly | Eric K. Arnold | 12-05-2007 | Profiles & Interviews

Tags: 8 Diagrams, The Wu-Tang Clan

Rademacher Alchemizes Arcade Fire and Modest Mouse for Pure Indie-Pop Goldnew

If you've yet to hear of Rademacher (or to pronounce the name: raw-duh-maw-cur), the group is doing its damnedest to change that -- in S.F., in Fresno, and in Los Angeles.

SF Weekly | Jennifer Maerz | 11-29-2007 | Profiles & Interviews

Tags: Rademacher

Spiritualized's Severely Diminished Grandeurnew

The problem is that without the usual instrumental bombast, the audience focuses on the lyrics -- and Pierce can be a very mediocre lyricist.

SF Weekly | Jennifer Maerz | 11-15-2007 | Profiles & Interviews

Tags: Spiritualized

Jack Johnson's Label Hosts Rogue Wave's Moody New Albumnew

Asleep at Heaven's Gate, the group's surprisingly hopeful new record, marks a fresh luck streak and a release from the band's collective emotional damage.

SF Weekly | Jenifer Maertz | 10-03-2007 | Profiles & Interviews

Tags: Rogue Wave, Asleep at Heaven's Gate

Beirut's Zach Condon Loves Brassnew

He recently had tattoos of French horns stamped onto his wrists, an action typical of his tendency to do things full bore.

SF Weekly | Ben Westoff | 09-27-2007 | Profiles & Interviews

Tags: Beirut, The Flying Club Cup

Scissors for Lefty Bring Back the Funnew

The band captures San Francisco's playfulness while crafting stylish romantic melodies.

SF Weekly | Jennifer Maerz | 06-06-2007 | Profiles & Interviews

Tags: Scissors for Lefty

Mistah F.A.B. Picks Up Where Hyphy Left Offnew

The relative newcomer represents both the present and the future of West Coast rap, as well as perhaps the best hope for the hyphy movement to transcend its regional appeal.

SF Weekly | Eric K. Arnold | 05-31-2007 | Profiles & Interviews

Tags: Mistah FAB