The Independent

The bands were BADASS. The music was super super heavy and exhilliratingly fast. I had a great time watching the bands play and even bought their merch. But the crowd mostly stayed in the back and didn't get closer to the action. Which is very frustrating to see because in hardcore shows people are supposed to be closer together so that everybody can connect and share the wonderful energy. The pit was a massive hole of nothingness. I was hanging out in the middle of the crowd hoping people would join me but everybody decided to stay in the shadows. Wonderful show but awful audience.

Destroy Boys is essentially the greatest thing to hit the rock scene in 30 years - their records alone are legendary enough but their live act is a sight to be seen- absolute fire! Easily the GREATEST band of the 21st century! 5 stars? More like 100.

Tanner was very engaging with the audience and performed her songs with much enthusiasm and mass appeal. Many in the audience knew her lyrics and sang along. It was a real treat to hear her songs played with an acoustic guitar and her beautiful voice. Her talent in commanding the crowd was natural.

The show that Bad Suns put on was very good; the acoustics were not. The 3 star rating is mostly due to the venue. The venue is intimate; it's basically an open area where everyone stands. There are areas on the sides where a person may be fortunate enough to sit. I mention this for the shorter people in the audience. If you don't maneuver your way towards the stage, you are going to be listening to the entertainment but not viewing them. It reminded me of the Ace of Spades in Sacramento; there are places to sit at the Ace of Spades if you want to pay considerably more. The Independent, which is the venue where Bad Suns performed, has a very limited balcony area but it was off limits for some reason. Back to Bad Suns' performance: the band performed for about 90 minutes. I am a big fan of the artist. The acoustics and the band's equipment did not play nice together. There were many times where it was hard to make out the vocals. Nonetheless, Bad Suns put on a very good show. If planning to attend a show at the Independent, I strongly suggest arriving early as parking availability is horrible.

Excellent show, so glad I made it. I saw him at New Parish in Oakland a few years back and this time he was much more engaging and lively. The crowd was super into it. Always comes strong with the new bangers, and sprinkles in some oldies from Water.

Dessa was fantastic. But, the bass was way too loud, you could barely hear her. Worked best on the quiet songs like "Blush", which alone was worth the price of admission. But I sincerely wish that sound people would discover that there is more to music than the bass and bass drum.

The band was fantastic. They played a mix of old and new songs, and their banter was funny and entertaining. The venue is cool. It has nice ambiance, and the staff seemed friendly. The only reason I didn’t give 5 stars is that I just wish the venue had more non-reserved seating. I’m getting older, and standing for that long is rough.

Amazing show. One of the best I've ever been to. Eliot's vocals sound so good in person and it is just like butter to the soul. Angus killed it of course as well. I would definitely see them again and am still living off the high from the concert. Best one so far of 2023.

Twiddle was incredible!! I’m just recovering from double knee replacements in December. My son gifted me tickets to the concert. Knowing that I would not be able to stand throughout the entire show, the Indepence staff graciously accommodated the four of us in the VIP section. The Indepence staff was incredibly amazing on graciously doing this for us!

J Roddy is an amazing performer regardless the circumstance , but this was a unique experience not soon to be repeated. It was a confluence of a low attendance at a Monday night show and the unfortunate voice stress J Roddy was experiencing. An artist not being at their best would often be a huge disappointment . J Roddy made it through the first section of his set and then began to have real issues after a beautiful rendition of Boys Can Never Tell (A personal favorite he. Tends to perform less with the full band in his jet fuel level energy sets). Rather than say “goodnight folks that’s all I’ve got”, he proceeded to make the audience laugh, sing and appreciate the other aspects of why we so desperately love small venue with artists who want to connect with their audiences. J Roddy we will see you another night when your voice is rested and well, but thank you for the appreciation of your fans whatever the size crowd and making this a special night.

Super groovin’ show. First time I’ve been to the Independent where it was half full… but that kind of made it more fun. The opener, Kolumbo, was also a nice surprise. He describes himself as “Tiki-Jazz” and I think that’s dead on.

Was excellent to finally see Phoebe… and an acoustic show no less! Not sure what her regular shows are like but this one felt really special. And she played for almost 2-hours after playing Outside Lands. Not sure how she does it! Thanks for the memory!

Prior to Pussy Riot, we were treated to several opening acts, among them special guests @theevaelfie x @slayyyter x @reiamimami x @salemilese x @ilovemakonnen. The venue was perfect and allowed for an excellent view of the stage from any place in the space. The open bar kept us hydrated and the opening acts kept us entertained until the big moment when Pussy Riot came onto the stage. Pussy Riot has a special talent for communicating polemics with an accessible sound. They did a sort of pop-punk technoclash display with dancers who kept the audience riled up. Videos played on a large screen behind the band, displaying text, images, interviews, and performances. That plus the light show made for a mesmerizing experience. The merchandise was also part of the aesthetic. There were t-shirts, posters, and ski masks available, all of which captured the spirit of the band's politics. It was an unforgettable experience!

As always great show! Good to see them again in the Bay Area. Mostly played the new album which has a very different more modern sound than her other albums but still fantastic. I mean with that voice and storytelling you can’t go wrong.

I love love love this band and always see them live when they’re in town. Their live shows are out of this world - difficult to replicate though if not in person. I find I rarely listen to their recorded music since it doesn’t capture their improvisation and onstage chemistry

Loved the show, is a phenomenal band with great potential. it was a very beautiful trip. Raina's voice is angelic and all the members were playing well in good form with unlimited energy the entire show as they flowed from one song to the next with amazing jams. They are rising Superstars

Great show!!! Molly Tuttle was fantastic, as always, although I wish she would have played a couple of songs off her first album (Lightning in a Jar, You Didn't Call My Name, The Girl in my Shoes). But, I was really impressed with Blue Summit. I had never heard of them before, and I had no expectations going in... I was absolutely blown away by their set. A.J. Lee has an AMAZING voice, and their musicianship was second to none. From the harmony vocals to the virtuoso guitar playing, every aspect of their band was on point. I can't wait to see them again soon!!!!!!

Blue Summit was amazing. Seriously loved it. (Couldn't find the music online or on spotify though. To bad would love to hear it again) Molly's sound gear was off. Bluegrass is all about the strings and the drums drowned out all the other instruments. Could barely hear Molly's guitar and couldn't hear the fiddle at all. Barely noticed the bass.i tried up front and 2/3 back. Same deal. Sound was perfect when her band went off stage and she played by herself and the duo with her brother was great and the crowd went wild. Too bad because I'd been looking forward to this for months. I'm mainly writing this so they can fix it for future shows if anyone involved ever reads these.

Pamela knows how to put on a CD release show. She rocked the house, delivering a show I won’t ever forget. The new material is her best yet and her band has a way of making her shine like the fearless star she is. Her vocals are powerful and so are her songs.

Vinnie Paz is an incredible performer. His voice sounds just as good live as in the studio. The depth of his lyrics are always thought provoking. I'm so glad that I only got 3 hours of sleep before going to work today to see this concert in San Fransisco. I'll catch up on sleep tonight, haha.