Raymond Ahner | SF Sonic - Part 4

Raymond Ahner, a professional freelance photographer residing in San Francisco, California, is the Photography Editor for SF Sonic. Growing up in the Bay Area, Raymond was lucky enough to witness both the Punk and Thrash Metal scene of the 1980's explode literally right in front of his eyes. It was a pretty special time in his life and is what instilled his love for live music. Over the years Raymond has been fortunate enough to combine his passion for live music with his love of photography. And although he will always love shooting the big arena Rock show, it is in a tiny, packed to the rafters club were he his most at home with his gear.

Mayhem Brings Black Metal Night To The Regency

Mayhem Regency Ballroom March 9, 2022 Photos by Raymond Ahner Norwegian black metaller's Mayhem recently embarked on the "Sanguine Sodomy of North America Tour," and kicked off the festivities with a

The Go-Go’s Brought The Beat to The Masonic

The Go-Go's Masonic Auditorium March 24, 2022 Photos by Raymond Ahner (IG: raymond_ahner) After two previous attempts in the last two and a half years, The Go-Go's finally returned to San

The Darkness Lights Up The Regency

The Darkness Regency Ballroom March 16, 2022 All photos by Raymond Ahner After the pandemic put the brakes on their 2020 world tour, Britain's The Darkness announced in late 2021

Circle Jerks Top Big Punk Show at The Fillmore

Circle Jerks Fillmore Auditorium February 25, 2022 Photos by Raymond Ahner. After an almost two year delay (and after a teaser of what was to come at Punk Rock Bowling

Gary Numan Dazzles San Francisco at The Fillmore

Gary Numan The Fillmore February 24, 2022 Photos by Raymond Ahner. After postponing his Intruder tour in the fall of 2021 due to the pandemic, Gary Numan was finally able to

Slash Fires Up The Warfield

Slash Warfield Theater February 12, 2022 All photos by Raymond Ahner Hot off the Heels of the release of their latest album 4, Slash with Myles Kennedy and the Conspirators

Smith/Kotzen Bring Their New Band to North Country

Smith/Kotzen Goldfield Trading Post, Roseville January 26, 2022 Photos by Raymond Ahner After releasing their self-titled Smith/Kotzen album in March of 2021, Adrian Smith and Richie Kotzen announced a string

A Ghost-Ly Apparition Storms Reno

Ghost Reno Events Center, Reno January 25, 2022 Photos by Raymond Ahner One of the most anticipated tours of 2022 kicked off in Reno this week, with Ghost, Volbeat, and

Me First and the Gimme Gimmes Bring Cheer to the UC Theatre

Me First and the Gimme Gimmes UC Theatre, Berkeley December 10, 2021 All photos by Raymond Ahner. Punk rock "supergroup" Me First and the Gimme Gimmes brought an overdose of

Bad Religion Erupts at The Masonic

Bad Religion Masonic Auditorium December 12, 2021 All photos by Raymond Ahner. After postponing their original November date due to possible COVID exposure, Bad Religion finally returned to San Francisco earlier this

Mastodon Returns At The Fox With Opeth

Mastodon and Opeth Fox Theater, Oakland December 2, 2021 All photos by Raymond Ahner. Metal heavy hitters Mastodon and Opeth recently joined forces for a quick fifteen date co-headlining tour,

GWAR Scumdogs Drench the Regency

GWAR Regency Ballroom November 21, 2021 All photos by Raymond Ahner. Celebrating the 30th anniversary of their Scumdogs of the Universe record, GWAR has embarked on the "Scumdogs 30th Anniversary

Rival Sons Bring 10th Anniversary Show to the Warfield

Rival Sons Warfield Theater November 11, 2021 All photos by Raymond Ahner. Celebrating the tenth anniversary of their 2011record Pressure and Time, Long Beach rockers Rival Sons kicked off the Pressure and

Cradle of Filth Tears It Up at The Regency

Cradle of Filth Regency Theater October , 2021 All photos by Raymond Ahner. Wrapping up their Lustmord and Tourgasm U.S. tour with one final show at the Regency Ballroom in

A Real Halloween Meltdown In Mosswood Park

Halloween Meltdown Mosswood Park October 16, 2021 All photos by Raymond Ahner With sixteen bands on the two day line-up, the first Halloween Meltdown took place at Mosswood Park in

Bob Mould Puts on a Fiery Show at August Hall

Bob Mould August Hall October 1, 2021 Photos by Raymond Ahner Supporting his latest album Blue Hearts, which was released almost a year ago, iconic musician Bob Mould recently kicked off his

Korn Keeps It Going at Shoreline

Korn Shoreline Amphitheatre, Mountain View September 11, 2021 All photos by Raymond Ahner Korn may have looked just a little different this time around, but that didn't stop the undisputed

Green Day Fronts Hella Mega Tour at Oracle Park

Hella Mega Tour Oracle Park August 27, 2021 All photos by Raymond Ahner. Originally slated to take place in July of 2020, the Hella Mega Tour finally rolled into Oracle Park

X and the Avengers Punk It Up at Stern Grove

X and the Avengers Stern Grove July 25, 2021 All photos by Raymond Ahner. Now in it's 84th season, the Stern Grove Festival in San Francisco continues to be the

Feature Stories

SF Musicians in the Coronavirus Era 5

The music world continues to suffer from the pandemic. Musicians don't tour, don't get together in the studio to work on new material, don't work out new songs in crowded