A rollicking “Cumberland Blues,” the Appalachian-bluegrass-style Grateful Dead tune that opened the first of two shows at The Warfield in San Francisco on December 27, was a microcosm of the mighty capabilities of this formulation of Phil Lesh & Friends.

Like jet fuel to kickstart the weekend in downtown San Francisco’s historic Warfield Theatre hall, Oklahoma Psychedelic sensation The Flaming Lips played a long-awaited show that seemed to echo through the generations. The much-anticipated show was finally able to commence, having been postponed from their original dates back in May after several members of the band had tested positive for Covid-19.

As the life and times of Grateful Dead cofounder Bob Weir eclipsed 75 years, The Warfield Theatre in San Francisco played host to three performances on October 14 to 16 to what is now called Bobby Weir & Wolf Bros Featuring The Wolfpack.

With the house only about two-thirds full, likely due to attendee coronavirus precautions, ALO and Leftover Salmon nevertheless persisted in front of an enthusiastic crowd, many of whose outfits celebrated the show’s artsy moniker, The Fins, Fur & Feathers Fancy Formal. It was the band’s first-ever appearance at the famed Warfield Theatre in San Francisco.

Thanks to the generosity of the guitar's new owner Andy Logan, Dark Star Orchestra guitarist Jeff Mattson will be the first to perform with the instrument since Garcia set it down following that summer evening's show. Alligator returns to the stage Saturday, February 15 when Dark Star Orchestra performs at The Warfield in San Francisco.

Last weekend, the historic Warfield in San Francisco hosted a special two nights in honor of the life and legacy of Jerry Garcia. It is fitting, as the storied 86-year old theater hosted Grateful Dead and Jerry Garcia Band dozens of times and continued to book acts that bring an adventurous music spirit. One of the beloved guitarist and bandleader’s closest collaborators outside of Grateful Dead was organist Melvin Seals.

One of the most important live recordings of the last fifty years, “Friday Night In San Francisco” (1982) brought together three prodigious guitarists of different legacies to one stage. John McLaughlin, one of the three guitarists, recognized the tour with progressive flamenco master Paco De Lucia and fusion marvel Al Di Meola as an essential collective performance. San Francisco’s Warfield Theatre had many legendary musical performances prior, but after that Friday night of acoustical transcendence on December 5th, 1980, McLaughlin further mystified the storied venue.

“This recording of the final set at the Warfield Theatre brings to full circle the amazing advent of The Mahavishnu Orchestra In 1971, and its renaissance on this night in San Francisco.” mused the boundary-shattering guitarist John McLaughlin. On his farewell tour of America, which was comprised of 25 concerts, John invited one his favorite musicians,  guitarist Jimmy Herring and his band “The Invisible Whip” to explore the timeless music he had created four decades ago. Watch and listen to a teaser, HERE

Last Saturday, Melvin Seals & JGB continued a now-tradition established in the last couple years of playing the legendary Warfield Theatre in Downtown San Francisco.

In 2002 Sum 41 released their career-defining LP “Does This Look Infected?” and took the world by storm. The merit of this album is widely celebrated, as you would be hard-pressed to find a fan of the genre who couldn’t give you a “Sum 41 Salute” without missing a beat.