Maria Taylor -- singer-songwriter from Alabama who stopped in SF recently to play a gig -- had her stuff stolen this past Wednesday. Her touring van, naively parked over at Mission and Eighth Sts., was broken into and the contents inside swiped. While Taylor's bass has been recovered at a nearby pawn shop, here's what's still missing: Left-handed RED Gretsch Tennessee Rose Guitar Left-handed Martin Acoustic Guitar Left-handed WHITE American Fender Precision bass (w/......

In our ongoing effort to bring music to your ears, this week we're giving away two special prize packs from a long-standing Bay area band, The Mother Hips. Formed back in 1991, it's been six years since the band last released a full album. They're back with a new studio record on April 3rd called Kiss the Crystal Flake. Said singer/guitarist Tim Bluhm: "It is very different from anything we recorded in the past.......

They've moved away from San Francisco to a small town in Connecticut, but we're still claiming Mates of State as our own. The birth of the couple's baby girl Magnolia hasn't slowed their relentless tour schedule: on Tuesday they play their first of two nights at Great American (The Court & Spark open Tuesday and Asobi Seksu on Wednesday). We've got a copy of their latest record Bring It Back, out now on Barsuk......