Gwen Stefani – Spinning Platters

Robert Plant, Grace Jones, and more make up the best of 2015 concert photos

Grace Jones at Fox Theatre Oakland — Grace Jones is an icon in her own right. Her sold out show in Oakland, this past September, exceeded my wildest expectations.

Like many people contributing to Spinning Platters, 2015 was a full and busy year to the point where I didn’t have the time to write and share as much as I would’ve liked. I didn’t go out often and chose to prioritize client work (and a burgeoning drone hobby) over excessive concert-going.

However, quality of the subjects trumped the quantity of shows I attended – especially compared to years past (apologies for the over-used analogy, my mind is on Holiday break). Legendary acts, big names, and a combination of both crossed my lens in the pit this year alongside some up-and-comers that should be on your radar if they’re not already.

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Photo Set: Highlights from BottleRock Napa, 2015

Robert Plant headlined Saturday night and played some of Led Zeppelin's greatest hits alongside some from his collaborations with Jimmy Page. — Robert Plant headlined Saturday night and played some of Led Zeppelin’s greatest hits alongside some from his collaborations with Jimmy Page.

The third annual BottleRock Napa festival was a blast and went smoothly…well, for the most part. The same elements that made the festival so appealing to attend, to begin with, including a generally laid-back, down-to-earth crowd, top-notch food from local high-end establishments, and reasonable lines, made the three-day event well worth the trip (as if there aren’t enough excuses to head to Napa already).

The biggest crowd pleasers were, unsurprisingly, Robert Plant, Snoop Dogg, and No Doubt who had massive crowds singing along to every word of familiar hits from their expansive catalogues. The unexpected highlight came in the form of Silent Disco, a service that provides wireless headphones that stream a band or DJs music. The silence enhances the energy within the crowd and it created a unique, transcendent experience for the participants. Each night people could be found dancing blissfully to sounds only they could hear.

Enough about my experience, here are the photos you want to see.

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Spinning Platters Picks Six (More): Fun Cover Versions

Back in September I revealed my secret love of searching out cover versions on Youtube and posted six of them. You can read/listen to that here

So here we are in February 2010 and I decided to do it again. Check out these six songs and let me know what you think. Maybe post some of your own ? Continue reading “Spinning Platters Picks Six (More): Fun Cover Versions”