Spinning Platters Weekly Guide to Bay Area Concerts, 5/8/14-5/14/14

Opening for Holly Golightly at Thee Parkside
Opening for Holly Golightly at Thee Parkside

Thursday, May 8th Continue reading “Spinning Platters Weekly Guide to Bay Area Concerts, 5/8/14-5/14/14”

Album Review: Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros

edward sharpe

Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros is the self-titled third full-length album from the 10-person folk rock group.  It’s fitting that the group’s third album is self-titled, since it emits a level of musical maturity that signals that they’ve finally found their authentic stride.  Their super popular debut album, Up From Below, was filled with songs that were heard all over the radio and in commercials, movies, and just about everywhere one looked.  Yet Up From Below felt forced, as if the group jumped onto the folk revival bandwagon late and inserted as many trending characteristics as they could.  The same level of mass consumption didn’t occur with the second album, Here, but it nevertheless catered to a fan base eager to hear catchy choruses and jangling folk-rock melodies.  With Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, the group has merged catchy hooks with natural sounding music composition.  The songs don’t feel contrived.  Sure, the album still carries a dose of pretentiousness that the group will never be able to shake. However, frontman Alex Ebert feels more at home here, embracing the rawness and eclectic range of influences and tones, and the band is able to follow suit, creating what may end up being one of the best albums of the year.

Continue reading “Album Review: Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros”

Spinning Platters Weekly Guide to Bay Area Concerts, 4/21/11 – 4/27/11

Opening For Jamaica.

I hope that you all have recovered from Coachella weekend, or whatever else you did last weekend. I’m sure you went to plenty of shows… But you aren’t sick of them, are you? Good.

Continue reading “Spinning Platters Weekly Guide to Bay Area Concerts, 4/21/11 – 4/27/11”

Spinning Platters Picks Some Noise Pop 2010 Shows

This one man will begin a great week of music

It’s here! Noise Pop 2010 starts today with two excellent shows, and your first opportunity to show-hop. Start at Bender’s Bar for the happy  hour with Har Mar Superstar, and then cross the bridge (or better yet, take BART) to the Fox Oakland to see Yoko Ono and the Plastic Ono Band. Many of your favorite Spinning Platters writers will be there. But then what? You’ve got a whole week of shows, and you’re not sure what to see?

How did we decide? It was simple. If one of our writers requested to cover a show, we’ve included it. Where is our staff hoping to see all of you? Read on to find out. Continue reading “Spinning Platters Picks Some Noise Pop 2010 Shows”