Film Review: “The Life of Chuck”

The Life of Chuck beautifully illuminates the magic, devastation, and solemn finality of our lives

Chuck (Tom Hiddleston) begins his dance in “The Life of Chuck”

The Life of Chuck is based on a Stephen King short story from his collection, If It Bleeds, published in 2020. “The Life of Chuck” is similar to King’s other less scary, more dramatic works, such as “Stand by Me,” “The Green Mile,” and “The Shawshank Redemption.” But unlike those, “The Life of Chuck” is filled with colorful wonder and likeable characters, even as it explores the sad and mathematical truth of our finite existence. Writer/director Mike Flanagan (Midnight Mass; The Fall of the House of Usher) is no stranger to adapting King’s work, having already directed two: Gerald’s Game and Doctor Sleep. Fans of Flanagan’s horror series and films know that in addition to the intricately-crafted scares and permeating sense of dread his team is so effective at creating, Flanagan knows how to deliver moments of authentic sentimentality. Focusing on that latter ability, Flanagan is the perfect director for The Life of Chuck. Combining visual flair with a whimsical yet brutally honest script, The Life of Chuck is, ultimately, a precious piece of existential storytelling.  Continue reading “Film Review: “The Life of Chuck””

Show Review: Ministry + My Life With The Thrill Kill Kult at The Warfield, 6/3/25

The industrial ‘90s buzz was still humming through my nervous system as I stepped into The Warfield on June 3rd. I was still lit from the Lords of Acid show at DNA Lounge just days prior, neon sweat, latex steam, and raunchy beats still echoing somewhere deep in my spine. Continue reading “Show Review: Ministry + My Life With The Thrill Kill Kult at The Warfield, 6/3/25”

Show Review: Lords of Acid + Little Miss Nasty at DNA Lounge, 5/27/25

On May 27, the DNA Lounge in San Francisco hosted a delightfully depraved evening where industrial sleaze met burlesque grit in all the best ways. Lords of Acid, those long-reigning Belgian electro-provocateurs, headlined with a full-throttle set of old-school rave filth, and Little Miss Nasty opened the night with a stage show that doubled as a flesh-forward fever dream.

Continue reading “Show Review: Lords of Acid + Little Miss Nasty at DNA Lounge, 5/27/25”

Single of the Week: “After The Fact” by Syd Taylor

This song… It’s honey-soaked, mildly rockabilly, and so hot that I want to jump in the pool that’s in the background of this video. “After The Fact” is one of those perfect Summer jams. Syd’s voice is timeless, and that guitar is perfection. Aside from the F-bombs in the chorus, this could’ve come out any time in the last 80 years and fit in perfectly. 

“After The Fact” comes from Syd’s upcoming record, ALSO called After The Fact, available June 25th! 

Spinning Platters Interview: Julia Cumming of Sunflower Bean

Sunflower Bean’s sound has been steadily evolving since the release of their debut album, Human Ceremony. Their latest record, Mortal Primetime, is their heaviest and most fully realized record yet! We had the chance to talk to singer/bassist Julia Cumming from their tour van about the record, the tour, and, of course, it wouldn’t be a Spinning Platters interview if I didn’t ask about an early cult project from when they were a teenager. There are only two weeks left of their North American tour, and tickets are available here! Continue reading “Spinning Platters Interview: Julia Cumming of Sunflower Bean”

Film Review: “Ballerina”

Ballerina effortlessly (and violently) pirouettes into the John Wick universe

Eve (Ana de Armas) kicks butt in ‘Ballerina.’

Gun fu is back! After 2023’s spectacular finale (for now), John Wick: Chapter 4, and a disappointing television series, The Continental, the John Wick universe is once again aiming to expand with Ballerina, marketed as From the World of John Wick: Ballerina, in case you didn’t know. If you also weren’t aware, Keanu Reeves reprises his role in Ballerina, a seemingly desperate inclusion by the producers to feed the fan base and add extra gravitas. Reeves is slightly overused in Ballerina. His initial cameo adds emotional weight to the titular ballerina’s plight, but the film could’ve stood solidly on its own without his reappearance in the third act, which isn’t much of a spoiler if you’ve seen any of the trailers. Ballerina is the first promising piece of John Wick universe expansion, and though the film contains plenty of flaws in its narrative logic, Ballerina is still a slick, exhilarating actioner with a bright future of potential sequel chapters. Continue reading “Film Review: “Ballerina””

OUTSIDE LANDS ANNOUNCES DOLORES STAGE!

HAPPY PRIDE MONTH!!! Outside Lands is continuing its mission of supporting and advocating for the local LGBTQ+ culture by letting locals curate the DOLORES stage, placed in a prime spot – at the end of the Polo Field, right in the middle of the festival. Friday is brought to you by Fake and Gay, Saturday is brought to you by the legendary Oasis Arts, and Sunday is brought to you by Polyglamorous. Limited tickets are still available to Outside Lands here. 

DOLORES’ LINEUP

FAKE and GAY @ Dolores’ – Friday

Fcukers (DJ Set)

Chase Icon (Live)

Memphy

Dangerous Rose

Adam Kraft

Beverly Chills

Just Another Bitch

Mama San

Hosted by Nicole Paige Brooks

OASIS ARTS @ Dolores’ – Saturday

PRINCESS feat. Tito Soto & Snaxx 

with DJ Bella Spreads

REPARATIONS feat. Nicki Jizz 

with Miss Toto

BALONEY & FRIENDS feat. D’Arcy Drollinger, Michael Phillis, and Rory Davis 

with DJ Subeaux 

AND MORE ! 

Polyglamorous @ Dolores’ – Sunday

Rebecca Black (DJ Set)

Father Figure

David Harness

Jen DM

Chelsea Starr

Mouthfeel

BEYA b2b Mark O’Brien

Drag by Vivvy and her cast of 1,000

 

Film Review: “Bad Shabbos”

Bad Shabbos makes for good viewing

A  meeting of soon-to-be in-laws goes horribly awry at a most unfortunate Shabbos dinner.

Fans of the Netflix series Nobody Wants This will love Bad Shabbos, a new film that similarly deals with an interfaith relationship, this time between the Jewish David (John Bass) and the Catholic-raised Meg (Meghan Leathers). Director Daniel Robbins’s film is more farcical than the Adam Brody/Kristen Bell series, but shares some of its sweetness, as well as some of its more cliched stereotypes. That the movie won the Audience Award for Best Narrative Feature at last year’s Tribeca Film Festival is no surprise. Lightweight but amusing, the picture is a definite crowd pleaser.
Continue reading “Film Review: “Bad Shabbos””

Single of the Week: “Alive” by GHOSTWOMAN

“Alive” is a jangle garage confection that is making me feel all sorts of bubbly and good. And “good” is really hard to reach these days, so it’s great to face something that can push the serotonin up the right amount of notches- not aggressively happy, not sad, just kinda content. Think Black Rebel Motorcycle Club or The Raveonettes or something that would fit in during your favorite 90’s britpop dance night. 

“Alive” is the first single off GHOSTWOMAN’s latest record, Welcome To The Civilized World, hitting your eardrums on September 5th. Prepare accordingly. 

Levitation 2025 Announces Bonkers Line Up

The Austin, Texas psych festival Levitation has returned to its roots as an outdoor music festival! Two stages at Palmer Event Center over the course of 3 days and 4 nights (Now September 25th-28th), and the lineup is AMAZING. Headlining includes the recently reactivated TV On The Radio, the band that continues to grow in popularity despite doing absolutely nothing, Pavement, and the reconstituted Mastodon. Further down, we see SP favorites Wednesday, La Femme, Frankie & The Witch Fingers, Upchuck, Secret Chiefs 3, and so many more! AND THE NIGHT SHOWS?!?! The Dandy Warhols at Mohawk?!?! Jamila Woods and Sudan Archives at Stubb’s?!?!? Pup with former Bruce Lee Band guitarist Jeff Rosenstock?!?!  

Tickets are available NOW! Current prices are $299.50 for GA / $499.50 for “Deluxe,” making it one of the better deals for an outdoor music festival. And you get to eat in Austin, my favorite food city outside of the bay!