Spinning Platters Weekly Guide to Bay Area Concerts, 4/17/14-4/23/14

Coming To Oakland Metro Operahouse
Coming To Oakland Metro Operahouse

Thursday, April 17th

Queens Of The Stone Age, Warpaint at Bill Graham Civic Auditorium

There aren’t a whole lot of bands that nearly everyone can agree on as “good.” Queens Of The Stone Age have managed to find that perfect balance where everyone seems to like. They are embraced by indie kids, mainstream rock fans, metal heads, and pretty much all rock fans in between. Never underestimate the power of a solid riff.

DRMS at The Chapel

Friday, April 18th

Motörhead, Graveyard at The Warfield

When you type Motörhead in on your iPhone, it automatically adds in the umlaut. That’s how important this band is- so important that your phone knows to give them the respect they deserve.

Surfer Blood, French Cassettes at The New Parish

Saturday, April 19th

Municipal Waste, Negative Approach, Fucked Up, Impaled, The Shrine, Kicker, Conquest For Death at Oakland Metro Operahouse

For the low price of $26 a piece, we’ve got one of the best heavy music line ups you could ever create. This is an epic show, and you should go. Not going would be a bad move.

Ellie Goulding, Conway at Bill Graham Civic Auditorium

Sunday, April 20th

Rufus Wainwright, Lucy Wainwright-Roche at Palace Of Fine Arts

There are a handful of songwriters that are so good out their craft, it hurts. Rufus Wainwright is one of those extreme talents that can do no wrong.

Monday, April 21st

tUnE-yArDs, Yalls, Tambo Rays at The Chapel

It’s been far too long since Merrill Garbus has graced our eardrums with new music. Happily, she’s pulled out two amazing new singles, as well as a show at The Chapel. This is going to be a great homecoming from one of the best ever.

The Men, CCR Headcleaner, Gun Outfit at Rickshaw Stop

Wednesday, April 23rd

The Dandy Warhols, The Warlocks at The Independant

Portland psych rock heroes The Dandy Warhols have kept a rather low profile for the last few years… However, they keep stretching out their 13th anniversary of 13 Tales Of Urban Bohemia well into it’s 14th anniversary with the release of a live recording of that record, as well as another leg of a tour spotlighting that classic record.

The Dillinger Escape Plan, Trash Talk, Retox at DNA Lounge

 

Show Review: Rockstar Energy Mayhem Festival at Shoreline Amphitheater, 7/1/12

I think these guys may have been part of the Christian organization protesting the show from the parking lot. (All Photos by Alan Ralph)

 

I don’t listen to heavy metal music very often. There are two or three records that I pull out on rare occasion to fill a certain void, but at no time would I consider myself part of the movement. So, when the opportunity fell in my lap to cover Rockstar Energy Mayhem Festival, I wasn’t entirely sure if I was the right man for the job. But, I do really like Motörhead, and life isn’t about doing the safe thing. So, I decided to throw caution to the wind and see what happens when I spend an entire day absorbed in the metallic crunch of a heavy metal show. I put on my most “metal” of t-shirts, which was, most ironically, a Yelle T-shirt that was all black and had “Dance Or Die” written in bold red.

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Spinning Platters Weekly Guide to Bay Area Concerts, 6/28/12 – 7/4/12

Appearing at the Mountain Winery on Thursday

Happy Independence Day! That’s why you are getting the rare list where nearly every band is from the US. And the only English band has an umlaut in it’s name.  Alright, enough chatter:

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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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