Reviews of albums, concerts, and more from the Bay Area Music Nerds
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The bright lights shine on Kid Sister
The New Parish is such a new venue that this is the first time Spinning Platters have reviewed a show here. It shows, in that the paint isn’t all chipped, the upholstery is not ripped and the walls have not absorbed that smokey stench yet. The New Parish’s youth is also evident in their promoting, or lack there of. Tonight’s show has a draw of not more than 50 people. What did those 50 people see? [read the whole post]
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In your face, and you love it.
If there was any doubt in anyone’s mind that !!! is one of the best live shows touring, then allow the next few minutes of reading dispel that. Like a tsunami, you know it’s coming, but your not quite sure what to expect, talk of what is coming seems nearly speculative until it happens and it takes you with it. Caught up in !!!’s wave of sweat, dance and sex! As we make our way inland it’s clear we are all at the mercy of front man Nic Offer. Offer spends most of his time dancing and waving his arms at the very front of the sage, flailing and shaking yet graceful and rhythmic. Offer makes it known that he’s here to entertain and you have no option to join, as he makes his first tour around that crowd: you’re not dancing, now you are! Drinking a bottle of beer at the front of that stage: no you’re not, Offer is now dumping it over his head, now you’re all wet because he shook it all over you, it’s OK your drenched in sweat anyways. [read the whole post]
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Four Tet focuses on his decks, not the crowd.
It’s hard not to get lost into Four Tet. Even though Four Tet is only one guy standing behind a multitude of computers and mixers atop a table, making it nothing less than a challenge to see him. An argument could be made that Kieran Hebden, the sole member of Four Tet, is lifeless; in fact, I’ll make that argument. Hebden is boring: there is nothing to look at. He’s whatever the opposite of animated is: dull, boring, and lifeless. His music, however, is not. Hebden’s music is teaming with expression, life and any other synonyms you’d like to throw in there. [read the whole post]
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Always cool and in control
The character that is Mos Def never stops to entertain, on stage, in film or in person. His music is layered with decades of influence and years of knowledge wrapped up in a style that undoubtedly his very own. This night is no different than the Mos Def that we’d expect. Arriving ever so fashionable, and fashionably late, with an entourage to boot. He takes the stage with his bright red mic, circa 1960, and a perfectly knotted bow tie. Clean and smooth with a swagger that makes it clear that the show is completely under his control. [read the whole post]
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This product puts the nerd in music nerd.
In case you got too caught up by Polaroid announcing that Lady Gaga was going to be their new Artistic Director, and missed all the actual music gadgets that came out in Sin City this week, well then Spinning Platters is here to help in your misguided priorities! We at Spinning Platters love our conventions especially when it’s a “convention of nerds.” See, they’re our people, and we of course love all the amazing toys that get announced there, and just in general love Las Vegas. So, here are the top six nine gadgets to come out of CES 2010. [read the whole post]
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When your sticker's on the Bottom of the Hill bathroom wall, you've made it.
Via Coma, or more the idea of Via Coma, has been in the works from some time now. Their EP Bridges seemingly was never going to be officially released because Via Coma is as calculated as they come; there is little that happens in Via Coma that is not painstakingly thought out, mostly to ensure that every step is the right one. Via Coma’s approach to gaining a following might be a little more grass roots in the classic sense, not the web 2.0 sense, by gaining a strong following in their hometown of Lafayette, CA, just outside of San Francisco. Promoting and showcasing their own shows demostrates initiative, yet the biggest struggle that faces Via Coma is making the jump from the burbs into the Big City.
I recently got a hold of Rob Marshall to pick his brain about his band, the Bay Area music scene and the music industry. Take a read and maybe find your way to Viacoma.com to download their debut EP, Bridges.
Spinning Platters: Who is Via Coma? [read the whole post]
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