All stories by Tom Lanham on BroadwayStars

Sunday, October 18, 2015

Bully’s Alicia Bognanno knows sound by Tom Lanham

On tour with her rock quartet Bully, bandleader Alicia Bognanno follows a code that’s her own spin on the Golden Rule: “Always be nice to other people and treat them » The post Bull…

SOURCE: The San Francisco Examiner at 03:15AM
Friday, October 16, 2015

Of Monsters and Men carry on folk traditions by Tom Lanham

There is probably no greater venue to see Icelandic ensemble Of Monsters and Men than Berkeley’s Greek Theatre. The band’s whimsical, traditional-lore-steeped folk rock — on its 20…

SOURCE: The San Francisco Examiner at 12:32PM
Wednesday, October 14, 2015

Music’s working out well for Chvrches’ Lauren Mayberry by Tom Lanham

Don’t get Lauren Mayberry started on the best-laid plans of mice and men. The Scottish lass had huge career aspirations in college, aiming for a degree in law. But she » The post Musi…

SOURCE: The San Francisco Examiner at 01:05PM
Tuesday, October 13, 2015

UK’s Drenge dials down on ‘Undertow’ by Tom Lanham

Britain’s Drenge, a duo of brothers, created a brutal wall-of-sound racket on its self-titled 2013 debut in tracks such as “Dogmeat,” “Face Like a Skull” and “I Want to Break …

SOURCE: The San Francisco Examiner at 04:00AM
Thursday, October 8, 2015

AlunaGeorge begins to cook in the U.S. by Tom Lanham

British electronic outfit AlunaGeorge will be premiering at least two thumping new songs – “Heartbreak Horizon” and “In My Head” — from its upcoming, as-yet-untitled sophomor…

SOURCE: The San Francisco Examiner at 04:10AM
Monday, October 5, 2015

Shirley Manson remembers early days of Garbage by Tom Lanham

Garbage chanteuse Shirley Manson downplays it as “just a little treat for the fans to support a foundation that I really care about.” But it was quite the event when » The post Shir…

SOURCE: The San Francisco Examiner at 08:36PM
Thursday, October 1, 2015

Los Lobos’ Louis Perez reminisces about punk days by Tom Lanham

Percussionist-lyricist Louie Perez still remembers that fateful night in the early 1980s, when his then-more-Mexican-folkloric band Los Lobos was thrown, last minute, onto an Olympic Auditor…

SOURCE: The San Francisco Examiner at 04:00AM

Positive attitude fuels Greg Holden’s ‘Sun’ by Tom Lanham

Scottish singer-songwriter Greg Holden was seeking transformational wisdom two years ago when he trekked high into the Indian Himalayas to meet the Dalai Lama in his temporary hometown. Yet …

SOURCE: The San Francisco Examiner at 04:00AM
Tuesday, September 29, 2015

A chat with Duran Duran’s Simon Le Bon by Tom Lanham

Mention the term “renaissance” to Duran Duran frontfop Simon Le Bon – referring to “Paper Gods,” the band’s new comeback for Warner Bros. — and his English wit kicks in. &#…

SOURCE: The San Francisco Examiner at 04:00AM
Thursday, September 24, 2015

Vintage Trouble’s Ty Taylor heeds advice from AC/DC and The Who by Tom Lanham

Reality-TV fans might remember Ty Taylor as the spunky, mohawk-sporting contestant on the 2005 show “Rock Star: INXS,” in which the Australian outfit sought a replacement vocalist for la…

SOURCE: The San Francisco Examiner at 04:00AM
Wednesday, September 23, 2015

Chris Cornell makes time for fatherhood by Tom Lanham

Ever since Soundgarden/Audioslave shriekmeister Chris Cornell moved from Paris – where he owns and operates a bistro, Black Calavados – to Miami, where he purchased a studio, friends kee…

SOURCE: The San Francisco Examiner at 12:40PM
Thursday, September 17, 2015

Best Coast’s Bethany Cosentino revels in meeting sitcom idol Julia-Louis Dreyfus by Tom Lanham

Some songwriters couch their personal travails or beliefs in metaphors, never giving listeners a glimpse of anything personal. Then there’s Best Coast anchor Bethany Cosentino, who can’t…

SOURCE: The San Francisco Examiner at 04:00AM
Wednesday, September 16, 2015

Circa Waves frontman finds success staying true to himself by Tom Lanham

Circa Waves frontman Kieran Shudall admits that the secret to his Liverpool outfit’s chart-topping overseas success isn’t arcane or complicated. It’s simply failure. “I think you hav…

SOURCE: The San Francisco Examiner at 08:43PM
Wednesday, September 9, 2015

Lenny Kravitz keeps the faith by Tom Lanham

With a starring role as Cinna in the dystopian-future film series “The Hunger Games” and the 2014 record “Strut” issued on his own Roxie Records, Lenny Kravitz has been experiencing …

SOURCE: The San Francisco Examiner at 03:40PM
Tuesday, September 8, 2015

Wavves’ Nathan Williams expands, and clears, horizons by Tom Lanham

Nathan Williams, a San Diego punk-popper who used to subscribe to the DIY mindset as virtual one-man band Wavves, has expanded his horizons for his latest fifth album, “V.” He » The…

SOURCE: The San Francisco Examiner at 04:05AM
Thursday, September 3, 2015

2015 Fall Arts Pop Music Preview by Tom Lanham

The upcoming concert season mixes road-dog veterans, cutting-edge picked-to-click newbies, plus everything in between. {Tickets are available at Live Nation or Ticketmaster unless noted.) Ci…

SOURCE: The San Francisco Examiner at 04:00AM

Allie X doesn’t want to talk about her past by Tom Lanham

Toronto pop star Allie X has already made a name for herself with the addictive single “Catch,” which Katy Perry recently raved about to her 50,000-plus Twitter followers. It’s on …

SOURCE: The San Francisco Examiner at 04:00AM
Wednesday, September 2, 2015

Eliot Sumner takes on new identity, new sound by Tom Lanham

Three years ago, Eliot Sumner unexpectedly found herself at a creative crossroads. Named for poet T.S. Eliot by her renowned parents — musician Sting and actress-producer Trudie Styler…

SOURCE: The San Francisco Examiner at 04:24PM
Thursday, August 27, 2015

Faith, family keep Brandon Flowers grounded by Tom Lanham

Killers bandleader Brandon Flowers believes that an innate sense of curiosity is a songwriter’s strongest attribute. “It’s something I’ve honed in on as I’ve gotten older – I nee…

SOURCE: The San Francisco Examiner at 05:30AM

Daryl Hall adds restaurateur to resume by Tom Lanham

Last year, Daryl Hall, 69, had it all: an adventurous solo career (he’s preparing to record his eighth album); a slew of monster hits as one half of the Rock » The post Daryl Hall add…

SOURCE: The San Francisco Examiner at 04:15AM
Monday, August 24, 2015

Film, fashion, music, diplomacy — Rita Ora does it all by Tom Lanham

Rita Ora, who last appeared in The City at the Regency Ballroom in October 2012, is a Kosovo-born, British-based Renaissance woman busy overseeing her vast empire, which extends from acting …

SOURCE: The San Francisco Examiner at 09:25PM
Thursday, August 20, 2015

New chapter for LeAnn Rimes by Tom Lanham

LeAnn Rimes signed her first label deal at 11, and by 13 had won two Grammys for her country breakthrough hit “Blue,” which earned her comparisons to Patsy Cline. But » The post New…

SOURCE: The San Francisco Examiner at 04:00AM
Thursday, June 11, 2015

Doobie Brothers come to The City via Nashville by Tom Lanham

by Tom Lanham In all his years with The Doobie Brothers, singer-guitarist Tom Johnston – who founded the group in 1970, left for a temporary solo career in 1977, then rejoined …

SOURCE: The San Francisco Examiner at 07:00AM

Emmy the Great inspired by sunshine, literature by Tom Lanham

by Tom Lanham As the self-proclaimed artist Emmy the Great, Emma-Lee Moss had hit a dead end last year after two solo albums. So for her new EP “S” – and a forthcoming, as-…

SOURCE: The San Francisco Examiner at 07:00AM

Emmy the Great inspired by sunshine, literature by Tom Lanham

by Tom Lanham As the self-proclaimed artist Emmy the Great, Emma-Lee Moss had hit a dead end last year after two solo albums. So for her new EP “S” – and a forthcoming, as-…

SOURCE: archives.sfexaminer.com at 07:00AM

Doobie Brothers come to The City via Nashville by Tom Lanham

by Tom Lanham In all his years with The Doobie Brothers, singer-guitarist Tom Johnston – who founded the group in 1970, left for a temporary solo career in 1977, then rejoined …

SOURCE: archives.sfexaminer.com at 07:00AM
Wednesday, June 10, 2015

Ingrid Michaelson’s ‘Lights Out’ defies tough times by Tom Lanham

by Tom Lanham There are moments of sheer folk-pop bliss on Ingrid Michaelson’s latest CD “Lights Out,” such as the single “Girls Chase Boys,” with a video that spoofs R…

SOURCE: The San Francisco Examiner at 07:00AM

Ingrid Michaelson’s ‘Lights Out’ defies tough times by Tom Lanham

by Tom Lanham There are moments of sheer folk-pop bliss on Ingrid Michaelson’s latest CD “Lights Out,” such as the single “Girls Chase Boys,” with a video that spoofs R…

SOURCE: archives.sfexaminer.com at 07:00AM
Monday, June 8, 2015

Smooth soul from James Davis by Tom Lanham

by Tom Lanham When she was young, before she acted on TV’s “Moesha” and in films such as “Holiday Heart,” Los Angeles-bred Jess Reynolds remembers an unusual and inspir…

SOURCE: The San Francisco Examiner at 07:00AM

Smooth soul from James Davis by Tom Lanham

by Tom Lanham When she was young, before she acted on TV’s “Moesha” and in films such as “Holiday Heart,” Los Angeles-bred Jess Reynolds remembers an unusual and inspir…

SOURCE: archives.sfexaminer.com at 07:00AM
Thursday, June 4, 2015

Aurora enjoys silence and solititude by Tom Lanham

by Tom Lanham Norwegian keyboardist Aurora Aksnes was asleep at home when her pop idol Katy Perry had not only discovered her ethereal single “Runaway,” but tweeted to her 66…

SOURCE: The San Francisco Examiner at 07:00AM

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