Spinning Platters Guide to Noise Pop 2016

Korla Pandit, Godfather of Exotica Music (whom you can see on February 20th during this year's Noise Pop Festival!)
Korla Pandit, Godfather of Exotica Music (which you can see on February 20th during this year’s Noise Pop Festival!)

This is a really big year for Noise Pop, one of the most long-standing and widely-genred music festivals in the Bay Area. For the first time ever, the festival is running 10 days — double its usual duration. They’ve expanded the film portion of the event, featuring 22 films in addition to the usual assortment of bands covering the entire gamut of “noise pop,” including hardcore punk, bubblegum pop, hip-hop, jazz, garage, twee — everything, basically! Of course, with such a huge variety of entertainment taking over the town for nearly two weeks, you’ll need some help deciding on what to go to. That’s what we’re here for — letting you know our picks for the best things to see and hear at this year’s Noise Pop Festival! Continue reading “Spinning Platters Guide to Noise Pop 2016”

Spinning Platters Weekly Guide to Bay Area Concerts, 2/20/14-2/26/14

Playing tonight at The Chapel
Playing tonight at The Chapel

Continue reading “Spinning Platters Weekly Guide to Bay Area Concerts, 2/20/14-2/26/14”

Spinning Platters Weekly Guide to Bay Area Concerts, 6/13/13-6/19/13

Psst: He's playing at Brick & Mortar Music Hal on Thursday. He's not hiding out in Asia.
Psst: He’s playing at Brick & Mortar Music Hal on Thursday. He’s not hiding out in Asia.

Not only do we have a ton of great shows, but if you look on Thursday, we also are giving away tickets to California Academy of Sciences’ Nightlife event this week!

Continue reading “Spinning Platters Weekly Guide to Bay Area Concerts, 6/13/13-6/19/13”

Noise Pop Show Review: The Thermals with Dirty Ghosts and The She’s at the Rickshaw Stop, 3/1/2013

Hutch Harris rocks out
Hutch Harris rocks out

It’s about halfway through Goddamn the Light that I realize something is off about the song. Up to this point, the Thermals set has been impeccable, but now there’s something clearly missing. The rhythm is all off, and as I scan the stage for an explanation, it dawns on me: The Thermals don’t have their drummer anymore. We have their drummer. Westin Glass has abandoned his kit to crowd surf, and he’s loving every minute of it.

Continue reading “Noise Pop Show Review: The Thermals with Dirty Ghosts and The She’s at the Rickshaw Stop, 3/1/2013”

Spinning Platters Weekly Guide to Bay Area Concerts, 6/16/11-6/22/11

Can’t think of anything funny or witty to say… So here’s some Breeders lyrics:

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

Continue reading “Spinning Platters Weekly Guide to Bay Area Concerts, 6/16/11-6/22/11”

Spinning Platters Weekly Guide to Bay Area Concerts, 11/11/2010-11/17/2010

Old queen extraordinaire Rufus Wainwright brings her latest extravagant musical project to San Francisco for its world premiere this weekend. Photo by Michael Forester.

Check out the concerts happening around the Bay Area this week — after the jump.

Continue reading “Spinning Platters Weekly Guide to Bay Area Concerts, 11/11/2010-11/17/2010”

Show Review: The Thermals, Thao with The Get Down Stay Down, and Grass Widow at Great American Music Hall, 2/5/10

the-thermals
Standing in the shadow of the Beast.

I wasn’t sure what to expect when I agreed to cover Friday nights show at the Great American Music Hall. I wasn’t even aware of the set up of the show; co-headliners The Thermals (whom I had never even heard of before) and Thao with The Get Down Stay Down.  Because of this, I arrived late thinking TWTGDSD was the opener, the real opener just finishing as I entered the venue. Sorry Grass Widow. I promise to check out one of your various shows in Austin at this years SXSW. Continue reading “Show Review: The Thermals, Thao with The Get Down Stay Down, and Grass Widow at Great American Music Hall, 2/5/10”

Spinning Platters Weekly Guide to Bay Area Concerts, 2/3/10-2/9/10

She's enjoying a hot toddy, why won't you tonight, too?

Thank you Gordon Elgart for handling last week’s list. He did a wonderful job. Sorry about this week’s list. I’m in charge again.

Continue reading “Spinning Platters Weekly Guide to Bay Area Concerts, 2/3/10-2/9/10”