We posted “Shadow People” a a few weeks ago, but the Dr. Dog tracks keep on coming. “Stranger” was dropped in our inbox yesterday to celebrate the one month countdown to their fourth LP Shame, Shame.
I think I definitely liked “Shadow People” a little better, but “Stranger” is more of a song for those of [...]

Broken Social Scene – “World Sick”
Broken Social Scene will return after five long years of solo efforts with the release of Forgiveness Rock Record on May 4th, 2010. To celebrate the occasion, they’re giving away the first single “World Sick” on their myspace.
Even better, they’re hitting The Fillmore in San Francisco on May 1st, 2010 [...]

Everyone’s favorite “occasionally blugrass” festival kicks off today in San Francisco. Check out the full three-day lineup and stage times over at Hardly Strictly’s official site or enjoy some MP3s from some of this year’s highlights.
Friday:

John Prine – “The Great Compromise”
Lyle Lovett – “Record Lady”

Saturday:
Gillian Welch – “The Devil had a Hold of Me”
Steve [...]

The unique value of the setting became clear as the sun descended behind the hills. The sky turned a gentle pink, and Alela Diane’s crystalline voice and plucks on her guitar wafted across a mellow crowd. The previous day of heat and sweat was now within a lullaby, shifting slowly into dusk. The 2009 Pickathon [...]

When measured against the summer festival juggernauts (i.e., Bonnaroo, Lollapolooza, Outside Lands, Austin City Limits), Pickathon may appear unassuming in comparison. But, as William Shakespeare once said: “Though she be but little, she is fierce” (ol’ Bill said that, right?).
For Pickathon, roots music rules all, and the festival planners have picked some truly excellent acts [...]

It’s that time of year again — the turkey leftovers are long gone and we’re hearing Christmas music in every store in town, so it must be time for best-albums-of-year lists.
After screaming matches, insults and a fist fight or two, the dust has settled and the Stranger Dance staff stands before you united with our [...]

Regular readers know that The Black Keys and Dr. Dog are both Stranger Dance favorites, so we were pretty excited that the good people at Converse hooked us up with tickets to the final installment of their Converse Century Concert Series. [Review and photos after jump.]

We have two pairs of tickets to give away for the San Francisco stop of the Converse Century Concert Series featuring The Black Keys and Dr. Dog at the Fillmore on October 30 (this Thursday).
To sweeten the deal, the good folks at Converse also threw in bracelets for a pre-show meet and greet with the [...]

Last year’s Treasure Island Music Festival was somewhere between meh and ehh. While the lineup was decent (Built to Spill, Spoon, Modest Mouse, etc.) something wasn’t clicking for me. Was it the bus ride? The windy nights? No. It was something else. Something much more offensive than the Clap Your Hands Say Yeah live set [...]

We’re having a very pirate-themed week here with a Lambchop-endorsed National Talk Like a Pirate Day yesterday and the Treasure Island Festival today and tomorrow.
Here’s a preview of some of the festival’s talent, including a lot of great Bay Area bands.
Saturday:
Justice – “Planisphère (Part 2)”
CSS – “Let’s Make Love and Listen to Death from Above”
TV [...]