Author Archives: Daniel J. Willis
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REVIEW: Fantastic Negrito better than ever in Berkeley
BERKELEY — How do you review someone as good as Fantastic Negrito? The man is a master showman, and his music is incredible. Every time I’ve seen him perform has been better than the last, and Saturday night’s…
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REVIEW: Andrew W.K. parties as hard as ever at the Independent
SAN FRANCISCO — I feel like I lost a fight. My throat is sore from shouting song lyrics. I can’t hear a thing. I also can’t stop smiling. Andrew W.K., Shame Waves 8 p.m., Thursday The Independent Tickets:…
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Today with Andrew W.K.: Pee-wee-lover passes it forward
Last week we began a conversation with rock and roller—and serious partier—Andrew W.K. about his ongoing tour and upcoming album. In the course of our interview, we covered a lot more diverse topics, and as you…
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Brandi Smith: RIFF’s resident hero journalist
Note from Managing Editor Daniel J. Willis: If you’re wondering why you haven’t seen anything from our Senior Reporter Brandi Smith lately, it’s because you’ve seen her everywhere else, because she’s a hero to journalists…
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Today with Andrew W.K.: The king of PARTY on his next album
Andrew W.K. is an advice columnist, game show host, motivational speaker, former club owner and musician. Though he’s best known for his 2002 hit Party Hard, the musician part had nearly been pushed to the back…
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ALBUM REVIEW: Prophets of Rage are back when America needs them the most
Rage Against the Machine broke up on October 18, 2000, just 20 days before George W. Bush won the Presidency. It’s safe to say the nation has slid away from their vision since then. But despite all that’s…
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INTERVIEW: Joan Osborne comes full circle with album of Bob Dylan covers
Joan Osborne has come full circle. Most musicians start with covers, move on to their own songs, and if they’re lucky eventually get covered themselves. And Osborne has more or less followed that pattern. Joan…
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Political Pulse: Former DJ Mullin now rocks the state capital
Politicians are people. It’s true! Despite what you hear on social media and cable news, elected officials are people more or less like us. They like TV and movies, they have friends, and, yes, they…
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Catching up with San Cisco: Guitarist Josh Biondillo on the Aussies’ The Water
San Cisco may be a west coast band, with a name that could pass for a tourist’s abbreviation for San Francisco and an upbeat Californian pop sound, but the quartet actually calls the west coast…
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Outside Lands: Daniel J. Willis’ Sunday best and worst
The third and final day of Outside Lands is in the books which means it’s time for my third and final “Best and Worst” roundup. Unless I keep this up indefinitely. Best: Mon Laferte — It…
