Bruce Hornsby is on a roll. After taking the music world by surprise with his wide-ranging, critically acclaimed 2019 album Absolute Zero, the singer, songwriter, composer and bandleader returns with a follow-up that picks up where its predecessor left off. Non-Secure Connection features 10 new songs exploring a broad range of themes, from civil rights to computer hackers, mall salesmen to the Darwinian aspects of AAU basketball.
Hornsby plays piano, of course, but the songs on Non-Secure Connection also feature Hornsby’s electric sitar and Chamberlin, along with guitars, horns, strings and subtle samples from sources as varied as minimalist composer John Cage and Scottish rockers Franz Ferdinand. Like Absolute Zero, Non-Secure Connection also features a wealth of collaborators: singer James Mercer of The Shins and Broken Bells, singer and poet Jamila Woods, Living Colour guitarist Vernon Reid, Bon Iver leader Justin Vernon and the late Leon Russell, who appears thanks to a demo that he and Hornsby recorded together more than 25 years ago.
“I must be the only person around that has a record with James Mercer, Jamila Woods, Leon Russell and Vernon Reid,” Hornsby says with a laugh. “It’s a great, disparate crowd.”
It’s the kind of unexpected roster that listeners have come to expect from Hornsby, who has built a distinctly unique career since his debut with The Range on their multi-platinum 1986 album The Way It Is. From there, Hornsby has steered his way through a stint on keyboards for the Grateful Dead, writing music for Spike Lee’s films, and albums exploring jazz, bluegrass and contemporary classical music.
“I’m often looking to make a sound that I haven’t heard before, and find a place in what I guess is the context of popular song for some new information,” he says.
Palace of Fine Arts Theatre
3301 Lyon Street
San Francisco, CA 94123
Cross the Golden Gate Bridge and follow signs indicating Downtown San Francisco. Stay to the left and take the Marina exit; you’ll see the sign overhead. While you might be tempted to take a right at the first stop light (Lyon Street) and pull directly into the Palace of Fine Arts, pass the Lyon Street entrance and proceed straight on Marina Boulevard. Then:
NOTE: Avoid bearing left on Marina Boulevard; that stretch of Marina Boulevard turns into an onramp for Highway 101 and the Golden Gate Bridge. If you inadvertently end up on the approach to the Bridge, don’t worry; you’ll have a chance to exit to the right just before the toll plaza. You can then make your way back to the Palace of Fine Arts through the Presidio or retry the directions from above.
Cross the Bay Bridge. Follow the signs to the 9th Street exit. Stay in the right-hand lane. Go one block and turn right onto 9th Street. Stay in the left-hand lane. Immediately after Market Street, veer left onto Hayes Street. Then:
NOTE: Avoid bearing left on Marina Boulevard; that stretch of Marina Boulevard turns into an onramp for Highway 101 and the Golden Gate Bridge. If you inadvertently end up on the approach to the Bridge, don’t worry; you’ll have a chance to exit to the right just before the toll plaza. You can then make your way back to the Palace of Fine Arts through the Presidio, or use the directions “From the North Bay,” above.
Take Highway 101 North to the Market Street/Van Ness exit. Take Van Ness to Lombard (look for signs to the Golden Gate Bridge). Turn left onto Lombard. Once on Lombard, get into the right-hand lane. Then:
NOTE: Avoid bearing left on Marina Boulevard; that stretch of Marina Boulevard turns into an onramp for Highway 101 and the Golden Gate Bridge. If you inadvertently end up on the approach to the Bridge, don’t worry; you’ll have a chance to exit to the right just before the toll plaza. You can then make your way back to the Palace of Fine Arts through the Presidio, or use the directions “From the North Bay,” above.
Follow 19th Avenue through Golden Gate Park; 19th Avenue becomes Park Presidio Boulevard on the other side of the Park. Follow signs for the Highway 101 Detour. Then:
NOTE: Avoid bearing left on Marina Boulevard; that stretch of Marina Boulevard turns into an onramp for Highway 101 and the Golden Gate Bridge. If you inadvertently end up on the approach to the Bridge, don’t worry; you’ll have a chance to exit to the right just before the toll plaza. You can then make your way back to the Palace of Fine Arts through the Presidio, or use the directions “From the North Bay,” above.
The Palace of Fine Arts Theatre has convenient access to public transportation. We are accessible by San Francisco Muni buses #30, #43, #28, and #29. Muni bus lines #22, #41, and #45 also stop in the vicinity. From Fisherman’s Wharf take the #30 Stockton bus. For more information, call Muni at (415) 673-6864 or check the SFMTA trip planner.
If you’re taking BART, get off at the Montgomery Street station, walk one half-block up Market Street to Third Street, and catch the #30 Stockton bus on the corner.
Virtually all downtown-bound Golden Gate Transit buses stop nearby the Theatre. Ask your driver for directions or call Golden Gate Transit Information at 511 (toll-free) or 415-455-2000 (outside the Bay Area).