All stories by Tom Lanham on BroadwayStars

Sunday, April 3, 2016

The story behind Rachel Platten’s huge ‘Fight Song’ 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 Ne…

SOURCE: The San Francisco Examiner at 03:01AM
Thursday, March 31, 2016

Supergrass frontman Gaz Coombes keeps trying new things by Tom Lanham

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…

SOURCE: The San Francisco Examiner at 03:01AM
Tuesday, March 29, 2016

Singer Steve Hackett brings solo tour to The City by Tom Lanham

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 guitar…

SOURCE: The San Francisco Examiner at 03:01AM
Monday, March 28, 2016

Joy Formidable creates ‘Hitch’ under changing circumstances by Tom Lanham

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…

SOURCE: The San Francisco Examiner at 03:01AM
Thursday, March 24, 2016

Banners gained confidence singing in big cathedral by Tom Lanham

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 Banne…

SOURCE: The San Francisco Examiner at 03:01AM
Sunday, March 20, 2016

Chairlift inspired by New York City roots by Tom Lanham

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…

SOURCE: The San Francisco Examiner at 11:04PM
Wednesday, March 16, 2016

Harpist Loreena McKennitt finds time for varied hobbies by Tom Lanham

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,” i…

SOURCE: The San Francisco Examiner at 03:00PM
Tuesday, March 15, 2016

Son Little finds groove with Mavis Staples by Tom Lanham

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 …

SOURCE: The San Francisco Examiner at 02:58PM
Thursday, March 10, 2016

Peter Frampton has fabled S.F. guitar tale by Tom Lanham

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 » T…

SOURCE: The San Francisco Examiner at 03:01AM
Wednesday, March 9, 2016

Jack Garratt leaves teaching for pop music world by Tom Lanham

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 …

SOURCE: The San Francisco Examiner at 12:44PM
Thursday, March 3, 2016

Natalie Merchant enjoying a slower pace — and bartering by Tom Lanham

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 T…

SOURCE: The San Francisco Examiner at 03:01AM
Wednesday, March 2, 2016

Charlie Puth writes touching tribute to Paul Walter by Tom Lanham

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 C…

SOURCE: The San Francisco Examiner at 03:01AM
Tuesday, March 1, 2016

Visuals inspire St. Lucia’s textural sounds by Tom Lanham

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…

SOURCE: The San Francisco Examiner at 03:01AM
Thursday, February 25, 2016

Lake Street Dive vocalist Rachael Price channels the past by Tom Lanham

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…

SOURCE: The San Francisco Examiner at 03:01AM

Folk singer Aoife O’Donovan enjoys life on the run by Tom Lanham

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…

SOURCE: The San Francisco Examiner at 03:01AM
Tuesday, February 23, 2016

Angels looking over Carly Rae Jepsen’s busy career by Tom Lanham

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…

SOURCE: The San Francisco Examiner at 03:01AM
Monday, February 22, 2016

Melanie Martinez breaks out after ‘The Voice’ by Tom Lanham

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’ bo…

SOURCE: The San Francisco Examiner at 03:01AM
Thursday, February 18, 2016

Depression fuels Palehound’s distinctive sound by Tom Lanham

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” an…

SOURCE: The San Francisco Examiner at 03:01AM
Thursday, February 11, 2016

Dream Syndicate’s Steve Wynn makes good in Norway by Tom Lanham

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 Norw…

SOURCE: The San Francisco Examiner at 03:01AM
Wednesday, February 10, 2016

Kiefer Sutherland sings and writes songs, too by Tom Lanham

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 …

SOURCE: The San Francisco Examiner at 04:56PM
Tuesday, February 9, 2016

Anya Marina makes music — and comedy podcasts by Tom Lanham

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 » …

SOURCE: The San Francisco Examiner at 03:01AM
Sunday, February 7, 2016

U.K. soul star Jess Glynne waited for success by Tom Lanham

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 opportu…

SOURCE: The San Francisco Examiner at 03:01AM
Thursday, February 4, 2016

Troye Sivan moves from movies to music by Tom Lanham

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…

SOURCE: The San Francisco Examiner at 03:01AM
Wednesday, February 3, 2016

Tor Miller sticks with keyboard originals by Tom Lanham

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 &…

SOURCE: The San Francisco Examiner at 02:35PM
Tuesday, February 2, 2016

Super sensitive Seal releases ‘7’ by Tom Lanham

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 seriou…

SOURCE: The San Francisco Examiner at 03:01AM
Thursday, January 28, 2016

Benji Hughes enjoys the commercial life by Tom Lanham

Benji Hughes took eight years to release “Songs in the Key of Animals,” the followup to his whimsical 25-track debut in 2008, “A Love Extreme.” But don’t worry about the » The…

SOURCE: The San Francisco Examiner at 03:01AM
Wednesday, January 27, 2016

Warpaint bassist goes solo as jennylee by Tom Lanham

At first, fans might not recognize her from her solo-project sobirquet, the lower-case jennylee, as seen on last year’s similarly lower-case “right on!” It’s Warpaint bassist Jenny L…

SOURCE: The San Francisco Examiner at 12:00PM
Thursday, January 21, 2016

Atmospheric electronic sounds from Haelos by Tom Lanham

London-bred Haelos vocalist Lotti Benardout can claim several gifted relatives, like an aunt who sings professionally and a grandmother in Arkansas renowned for penning advertising jingles a…

SOURCE: The San Francisco Examiner at 03:01AM
Wednesday, January 20, 2016

All Them Witches cut trees before making music by Tom Lanham

Even though the struggling artist’s caveat warns against giving up your day job, Charles Michael Parks Jr. , who anchors neo-psychedelic Nashville quartet All Them Witches, had no choice t…

SOURCE: The San Francisco Examiner at 06:03PM
Thursday, January 14, 2016

Go! Team expands with pop sound and guest girl vocalists by Tom Lanham

As the mastermind behind eclectic U.K. ensemble The Go! Team, Ian Parton is nearing the level occupied by visionaries the likes of Phil Spector and the late Joe Meek — » The post …

SOURCE: The San Francisco Examiner at 03:01AM

HoneyHoney survives major label woes by Tom Lanham

Two years ago, things were not going too well for folk-rock duo HoneyHoney. After two initially promising record deals fell apart, Benjamin Jaffe and Suzanne Santo were struggling to complet…

SOURCE: The San Francisco Examiner at 03:01AM

All that Chat

2023-2024 BROADWAY SEASON
May 30, 2023: Grey House - Lyceum Theatre
Jun 26, 2023: Just For Us - Hudson Theatre
Jul 24, 2023: The Cottage - Hayes Theater
Nov 16, 2023: Spamalot - St. James Theatre
Dec 18, 2023: Appropriate - Hayes Theater
Mar 07, 2024: Doubt - Todd Haimes Theatre
Apr 14, 2024: Lempicka - Longacre Theatre
Apr 17, 2024: The Wiz - Marquis Theatre
Apr 18, 2024: Suffs - Music Box Theatre
Apr 25, 2024: Mother Play - Hayes Theater
Jun 10, 2024: The Drama Desk Awards