94 stories by "Tom Lanham"
Sometimes a pop-charting single becomes part of the cultural zeitgeist. It's the case with Rachel Platten's anthemic "Fight Song," which she penned with Dave Bassett. Although the New York-b…
Former Supergrass bandleader Gaz Coombes is delighted that his tour " promoting his second solo album "Matador" (nominated for a Mercury Prize in his native England) is wending through the &…
Steve Hackett's tour, "From Acolyte to Wolflight, plus Genesis classics (1970-1977)," which comes to the Warfield this week, is a marquee mouthful. But that's no surprise. The guitarist has …
For nine years, Welsh power trio The Joy Formidable — led by commanding guitarist-vocalist Ritzy Bryan — seemed like an irresistible force, sweeping aside obstacles in its path a…
Michael Joseph Nelson, who brings his current project Banners to The City next week, first took the stage as a child, wearing a furry brown costume with horns. "I was »
The post Banners…
Caroline Polachek of the alterna-pop duo Chairlift has been busy for the past few years. She released a solo album (under the name Ramona Lisa), composed runway scores for fashion »
The…
When Canadian harpist, accordionist and keyboardist Loreena McKennitt released three albums on her own Quinlan Road imprint and was signing to Warner Bros. for her fourth, "The Visit," in th…
Philadelphia-bred Aaron Livingston says it's occasionally confusing when fans greet him as Son Little, the neo-soul alter ego he created three years ago after signing to ANTI-Records. But wi…
Peter Frampton has fans like Matt Groening and Seth MacFarlane, who have included animated versions of the British rock star on "The Simpsons" and "Family Guy." But he has a »
The post …
It might seem like things are happening at lightning speed for 24-year-old British folk-rocker Jack Garratt. He released his debut album "Phase," won a Critics Choice BRIT Award and BBC …
Natalie Merchant wants to clarify that she's not repeating herself. The former 10,000 Maniacs frontwoman had great artistic reasons to release last year's "Paradise Is There: The New Tigerli…
New Jersey-born composer Charlie Puth has been through a headspinning two months. He had the hit "Marvin Gaye" with Meghan Trainor and sat next to Robert De Niro at the »
The post Charl…
It's no accident that songs on St. Lucia's new sophomore synth-rock recording "Matter" — including "Home," "Dancing on Glass" and the six-minute epic "Winds of Change" — are simu…
A popular video online shows Lake Street Dive belter Rachael Price at age 12, warbling a prescient version of "Dedicated to You" with a traveling choir in Spain, complete with »
The pos…
Many ingredients make up "In the Magic Hour," the whimsical new sophomore album from "Prairie Home Companion" regular Aoife O'Donovan. There's the guitar and vocal maturity (also heard in th…
Canadian pop phenomenon Carly Rae Jepsen — who comes to San Francisco this week — thought she had earned a relaxing holiday season. After setting the world on fire with »
Th…
Quirk-popper Melanie Martinez, 20, should have savored her high school graduation ceremony two years ago, with her proud parents in attendance. But the day was ruined by her classmates' booi…
Ellen Kempner didn't stumble upon the angular originals from "Dry Food," her 2015 debut disc under the sobriquet Palehound. She paid for frank songs like "Molly," "Cinnamon" and "Cushioned C…
Steve Wynn has some good news and some bad news. The Dream Syndicate/Gutterball/Baseball Project alum has a great new solo record, "Benedikt's Blues." But it's only available in Norway. (It'…
Emmy-winning "24" star Kiefer Sutherland is excited about the diverse new projects he's juggling. There's his upcoming film with Michelle Pfeiffer, "Neat-up Little Seagull," and an old-schoo…
Anya Marina understands she had a good run at her former major label, Chop Shop/Atlantic. "I was able to put out two full-lengths, an EP and a super-successful single, 'Satellite »
The …
At 15, British neo-soul stylist Jess Glynne was looking forward to appearing on her homeland's reality series "The X-Factor." Then she changed her mind and walked away from the opportunity. …
Eight years ago, South-African-born, Australian-raised neo-soul singer Troye Sivan was attending school in Perth and contemplating becoming a serious singer-songwriter when his creative stre…
Long before he released his Billy Joel-evocative debut EP "Headlights" last year, fans, friends and family were dubbing New York City keyboardist Tor Miller an old soul, a musician who »…
Grammy-winning British soul stylist Seal can't help that he's sensitive, and that sadness others might shrug off often hits him hard. His latest effort, "7," is among his most serious »…
