Steve Hochman Contributing writer
Steve Hochman writes about music for KPCC's “Without a Net” blog and serves on the SCPR Regional Advisory Council. He also can be heard regularly on the stations as pop music critic for “The California Report,” the news magazine produced by KQED-FM in San Francisco and aired throughout the state.
Since 1985, Hochman has been a regular in the Los Angeles Times’ music coverage, writing news, features and reviews for a vast spectrum of music. From 1991 to 2005 he also wrote the weekly column "Pop Eye," looking behind the scenes of the music world. In recent years he wrote the weekly global music column "Around the World" for AOL’s Spinner.com. His byline has appeared regularly on stories in Rolling Stone, Billboard, Entertainment Weekly, Grammy.com and Fender.com. He also serves often as a music consultant for the Disney theme parks.
Hochman is a graduate of Occidental College, has traveled extensively – particularly in Eastern Europe – and has a house in New Orleans.
Stories by Steve Hochman
Mali's Khaira Arby a powerful voice for peace
By Steve Hochman
Malian star Khaira Arby brings her powerful calls for peace amid conflict and women's rights to Silver Lake's Satellite club Friday
Hancock in Congo Square kick-off to global jazz celebration
By Steve Hochman
Herbie Hancock kicks off the first UNESCO International Jazz Day with a sunrise concert at New Orleans' Congo Square, where jazz was born.
Regina Carter and Kayhan Kalhor top weekend concert picks
By Steve Hochman
Detroit's Regina Carter and Tehran's Kayhan Kalhor, with concerts in L.A. this weekend, expand the scopes of their respective fiddle traditions.
Carolina Chocolate Drops' local-global sounds
By Steve Hochman
Having illuminated African-American string band music, the Carolina Chocolate Drops expand their horizons, but stay true to their roots.
"Fahrenheit 451" flash performance in West Hollywood
By Steve Hochman
A theater troupe takes over the West Hollywood Library with a scene about the perils of reading - from Ray Bradbury's "Fahrenheit 451" - kicking off Big Read 2012.
Abigail Washburn's TED-honored banjo coming to the Getty
By Steve Hochman
There aren’t a heck of a lot of professional clawhammer-style banjo players who have been awarded TED fellowships. By our count, for that matter, it’s just one.
Judith Owen goes "Deep" with a cool Adele cover
By Steve Hochman
The always-fab Judith Owen has been away from her adopted-hometown L.A. fans for a while now -- based of late back in her land of birth, Ole Blighty, where she's focusing on among other...
Take the Plunge: A New Orleans-L.A. jazz summit set for South Pasadena
By Steve Hochman
For those who love the old guard of jazz, New Orleans will always be the source. But few , it seems, make the connection that once upon a time the old guard -- Jelly Roll Morton, Louis...
A fond Firesign farewell to Peter Bergman
By Steve Hochman
Dear Friends. First Davy Jones. Now Peter Bergman. Hard to imagine surviving high school without the Firesign Theatre. Or life since high school.
Mamak Khadem reaches for the sky with International Women's Day concert
By Steve Hochman
Mamak Khadem has long wanted to do a project honoring women poets and musicians across the generations and borders of the Middle East and Mediterranean.
Listen to the banned: Honoring oppressed musicians
By Steve Hochman
Saturday marks Music Freedom Day, the annual global event drawing attention to the oppression, censorship and both legal and physical peril faced by musicians around the world.
A little Bukowski in the night: Beat poetry breaks out at Barney's Beanery
By Steve Hochman
A big, metallic CLANG. Then someone shouts, “Cockroach!!”
All you need is milosc: Tuneful vintage Valentines of love (and loss) collected in new CD set
By Steve Hochman
Forget the overpriced cards and flowers, the impossible-to-get dinner reservations and all the other corporate-created guilt-induced expressions of affection this Valentine’s...
Still silly after all these years: Paul McCartney tackles classic love songs, delightfully
By Steve Hochman
Okay, who else cringed a bit when Paul McCartney announced not long ago that he was putting out an album mostly made up of standards -- classic mid-20th century love songs dedicated...
Ruby Friedman's Eschatological Triumph
By Steve Hochman
There are some recordings of some songs that aren’t just definitive, but they’re so perfect that there seems no point in anyone else even trying. Skeeter Davis’ 1962...
