Reviews

Earlier this Spring, Velvet Einstein interviewed Meg Remy from U.S. Girls during her tour stop in San Francisco. Together they discussed Remy’s evolution of her creative process, the influence of Springsteen on her work, as well as a theory for

The Pencil Sharpener spoke with a possibly maybe majorly gifted guitarist heretofore known as Yonatan Gat on the shores of Lake Perris on a stormy Friday during the Desert Daze festival in October of 2018. This is what they talked

On December 17th, 2018 KALX volunteer Stormy Phoenix saw Tenacious D at the Fox Theater in Oakland. Read her take on the eccentric performance the group put on. By Stormy Phoenix Photo credit: Michael Mansingh After an HBO special and

An excited buzz lingered in the air as a large and bustling crowd waited for Oakland native Jay Som, aka Melina Duterte, and Los Angeles based musician Justus Proffit to take the stage for a sold out show at the

KALX volunteer Elie Katzenson had the opportunity to interview East Bay Alternative Book and Zine Fest (EBABZ) organizers Maira McDermott and June Hong on Method to the Madness before the event took place. Get the scoop on their discussion of

Forget the overdone DIY lo-fi and surf punk grunge scene because neo soul band Hablot Brown is about to take over. By Elle Henriksen Alternative R&B band Hablot Brown is elevating soul music with a steady pace that’s guaranteed to

Everyone’s Family at The Internet By Avi Unlike traditional concert stage setups—which often include brightly-lit background screens, LED light shows, and elaborately-dressed backup dancers—The Internet’s performance in Oakland on October 22nd was as cozy and casual as being invited into

On the weekend of October 25th/26th, L.A.-based garage/surf rock band The Gooms came up to the Bay Area, playing back-to-back shows at the Bottom of the Hill in San Francisco and at The Yard in Berkeley. I had a chance

New York’s Overcoats blanket the Warfield with soothing harmonies and billowing beats. By Adrienne If Mitski, the Warfield’s headliner on the night of November 3rd, embodies the self-love, patience, and pain that comes with loneliness, her opener Overcoats etherealize the

Lo-fi pop dream world By Elle Henriksen On November 3rd, lo-fi alternative band Triathalon made an intimate appearance with fans to share some smiles and some music. The band was hosted by the charming little San Francisco venue, Swedish American

Through a collaboration with A24 at UC Berkeley and KALX, I had the great privilege to interview the incredible cast of Jonah Hill’s directorial debut, Mid90s, at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in San Francisco on October 16th. By Sean McHugh Set

Earlier this October, Oakland’s Middle Harbor Shoreline Park lay witness to an eclectic explosion of rap, EDM, funk, and indie artists in the unique package of the Treasure Island Music Festival. By Maddi For a decade, Treasure Island Music Festival

On August 15th, The Pencil Sharpener interviewed Thor and Goat of Thor and Friends at the Independent. On the way to the venue, the Pencil Sharpener found a lamp in mint condition that Thor and Friends kindly stored in the

Looking to spend 20 hours next weekend head-banging to an amalgamation of boundary-pushing hip-hop, dance, and indie artists? Treasure Island Music Festival (TIMF)—a two-day festival occuring on October 13th (Saturday) and 14th (Sunday)—is one step ahead of you. By Maddi

Takin’ Back the Bay is a music festival that will be hosted at 924 Gilman on Friday, October 12th through Sunday, October 14th to raise awareness and funds to stop gun violence in America. This all ages event will have

Johnny Marr revives the post-punk age with a reminiscent performance at the UC Theatre. By Elle Henriksen The UC Theatre was alive on September 25th with Johnny Marr’s transcendent performance. Iconic guitarist Johnny Marr’s solo career is just as celebrated

Blood Orange transcends cultural boundaries at Oakland’s beloved Fox Theatre. Not just a concert, but a musical performance of love and beauty. By Elle Henriksen On September 20th, Devonté Hynes, better known as Blood Orange, brought the groove to the

The Pencil Sharpener interviewed This Is Not Your Fest (TINY Fest) founders/organizers Danielle and Marie. TINY Fest started as a direct response to a local Oakland pop punk fest, as Danielle and Marie, after calling out one of the organizers

Local saxophonist and bandleader Donny McCaslin enters the KALX spotlight for a phone interview as DJ Jon the Reptilian focuses on his early musical jazz career including his collaboration with the late David Bowie. Well, we are here joined by

Check out the Weblog's featured design for August 2018. By Chandler I’ve spent many nights with this set up: waiting for one song to end, seeing the blinking numbers on the CD player marking the last ten seconds of the