Show Review: Lamb of God + Killswitch Engage + Mercyful Fate + Kreator in Dallas

Photos and review by: Alan Ralph @ARPhotoSF

Throughout our cumulative years working in many components of the local music industry, the staff of Spinning Platters has been lucky enough to become friendly with quite a few bands, their management, public relations, and even their road crews. In late May, over Memorial Day Weekend, we ventured outside of our Bay Area bubble to the middle of the country (Chicago). We were subsequently offered the opportunity to cover some shows there.  Now, once again, Spinning Platters had the chance to travel to Dallas (Don’t Mess With Texas!) and was informed that we would be able to cover the final show of one tour and the first show of another! What started out as simply two photo passes for Lamb of God, Killswitch Engage, Animals as Leaders, Fit for an Autopsy AND Mercyful Fate, Kreator, Midnight turned into a whole lot more…

Show Review: Generation Axe at the Fox Oakland, 4/8/2016

Steve Vai’s latest excursion is as much a massive thrill ride as it is an endurance test — for band and audience alike

Let's Play Guitar In A Five Guitar Band
Let’s Play Guitar In A Five Guitar Band

It’s been twenty years since guitar mastermind Joe Satriani piloted the first G3 Tour, an endeavour that featured a total of three guitar wizards driving a multi-hour set that showcased some truly intense musicianship. On that tour, and on nearly every one that followed, Satriani was accompanied by his protégé, Steve Vai, who brought his own brand of sorcery to pair with Satch, alongside whichever third player was enlisted each year. In 2016, however, Vai apparently got the notion that three guitarists playing simultaneously was not a big enough challenge to pull off, and kicked off the “Generation Axe” tour which featured no less than five of them — spanning genres, geographical locations, and playing styles. With a titanic set that sprawled out for over 3 hours, it was a testament to the true meaning of “instrumental guitar music” and how such a term is a remarkably small pigeonhole, given the amount of players that work within it and the breadth of their expertise.

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Spinning Platters Weekly Guide to Bay Area Concerts: 12/11/14-12/17/14

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We may be experiencing the biggest storm in decades in the Bay Area, however, that doesn’t mean you don’t need to rock.

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Spinning Platters Weekly Guide to Bay Area Concerts, 7/18/13-7/24/13

Playing 924 Gilman on Sunday. Plus, you will get a penny back.
Playing 924 Gilman on Sunday. Plus, you will get a penny back.

The middle of Summer means a surprisingly eclectic week with a bunch of bands you never thought you’d see live again!

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Show Review:Thrice’s Farewell Tour at the Regency Ballroom, 6/12/12

Thrice’s Farewell Tour was the last chance for all the devoted and die-hard fans to see the melodic hardcore outfit before their indefinite hiatus. I consider myself a newly minted Thrice fan, despite being introduced to them four years ago thanks to their tour with Rise Against. With the release of their new album Major/Minor, I found myself scrambling to buy a physical copy of the album and played it in heavy rotation for weeks afterwards. Although I am a newer Thrice fan, I was throughly elated to learn I had the honor of attending this concert.

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Spinning Platters Weekly Guide to Bay Area Concerts, 6/7/12-6/13/12

At Bottom Of The Hill on Wednesday.

I like all the different people
I like sticky everywhere
Look around, you bet I’ll be there!
Hot metal in the sun
Pony in the air
Sooey and saints at the fair

Saints alive you’re saying
Walk in … squares
The hid are out, out for the year
It’s a lot of face
A lot of crank air
Eroding around here

Summer’s ready
Summer is ready when you are

Sorry, The Breeders aren’t playing…

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Spinning Platters Weekly Guide to Bay Area Concerts, 1/27/11-2/2/11

Usually the months of January and February are pretty sleepy for live shows, but this week is brutal. A lot of nights with a lot of tough decisions. Time to load up on Red Bull and not sleep for a week.

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Spinning Platters Weekly Guide to Bay Area Concerts, 11/4/2010-11/10/2010

Great Scotts! Delorean are playing Great American Music Hall on Wednesday!

I’d like to thank Jason LeRoy for taking over the list for the last couple of weeks. I hope that you listened to him, because if you didn’t, we’re just going to have to turn this website around and go back home…

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