Reviews of albums, films, concerts, and more from the Bay Area Music and Movie Nerds
If you loved Kieran Culkin as the brutally honest but sensitive Roman Roy in Succession, you’re bound to enjoy his work in A Real Pain. As Benji in Jesse Eisenberg’s new film, Culkin creates a similar character whose lack of social filters and often inappropriate bluntness masks deep empathy and pain. Eisenberg also co-stars as Benji’s more buttoned up cousin, David. The duo’s performances help make A Real Pain one of the year’s best films.
It’s been an embarrassment of riches for those in the market for distractions from the pending end of America. Noise Pop dropped their Phase 1 lineup on Wednesday. Mosswood Meltdown gave us their first five acts on Thursday. And today, SF Sketchfest just pulled out ANOTHER absolutely apeshit lineup.
I’ll get the annual Nerd’s Guide to you at some point after I’m done digging into the 8,000,000 acts performing. Highlights include Bill Murray doing two nights at Great American Music Hall, Riki Lindhome doing her one-woman show about fertility, the great Kathryn Hahn in conversation with the great David Wain, Tim Curry making his first public appearance in a VERY long time in conversation with Peaches Christ, and just plain TOO MANY THINGS TO LIST—tickets on sale Sunday at 10 am. The schedule and tickets are here.
I’ll be frank with you. My original choice for Single of the Week was John Waters’ cover of the Jingle Dogs’ version of “Jingle Bells.” Instead of putting you through that, I give you “Knocked Up.” A song by Melody Federer about, you guessed it- accidental pregnancy. It’s a beautiful and honest song about the stress and anxiety of pending parenthood, and it’s pure and excellent.
You can enjoy this single in all the usual places. And you should… It’s great. The imagery… “Peeing on a stick in Walgreens.” MAGIC.
I’m starting to feel a twinge of… Hope? Maybe we can battle the rise of fascism in this country still? And our good friends at Mosswood Meltdown have announced that their first headliner is… DEVO! The only line of defense against the devolution of democracy. Plus, the return of the mighty Kreayshawn and garage titans Osees, The Exploding Hearts, and The Kids, with a LOT more to come! Tickets are on sale NOW!!! Buy early because prices go up!
“Oakland California, November 2024. A town without a Mayor, a D.A., or a major sports team. Our city has lost so much, but we haven’t lost the soul of the people. Here at Oakland CA’s Mosswood Meltdown Music Fest, we celebrate our own heroes. We elect John Waters, the Prince of Puke, to preside over our festivities.
We’ve witnessed De-evolution on a world stage in real-time, so this year, we’ll be hosting the pioneers of De-Evolutionary theory, the legendary art-punk band DEVO from Akron, Ohio, as well as San Francisco legends Osees, The Queen of Oakland, Kreayshawn, Portland’s only Rock n Roll band, The Exploding Hearts, and Bloody Belgium’s The Kids!
In the face of disasters, Oakland, CA, is resilient. Thanks for helping support independent music and arts in our community. “
Each year, movie lovers share a communal hope that a new holiday film will earn a spot among the pantheon of great holiday classics, becoming a new beloved title to watch annually with family and friends. This year, Red One isn’t it. Bloated with ideas borrowed from a wide range of superhero and other Christmas films, and prioritizing action above comedy or the Christmas spirit, Red One is simply a colorful distraction that fails to achieve emotional liftoff. Continue reading “Film Review: “Red One””
To call this an end of an era is the most obvious understatement. Forty years of fucking shit up as a punk band is a long time, and while some bands have been at it for just as long if not longer, the impact of NOFX cannot be overstated. They did things DIY when their peers were signing on with and subsequently getting dropped by major labels. They’ve courted controversy, spoken their minds, and rocked the fuck out while doing it. It was fitting that the final three performances of the band’s career would be celebrated in Southern California, where it all began.
Hi.
It’s a rough week to convince people that there is still fun left to be had. But, as my therapist reminded me today, I once said, “Disco was more rebellious than Punk.” So, Noise Pop has decided to rip the band-aid off the wound that was the 2024 election and give us something to put on some pants for… Phase 1 of the Noise Pop 2025 lineup! Including one of Tim Walz’s favorites, American Football, celebrating two nights at Great American Music Hall, the perfect place to regroup and resist.
There’s so much more… UK’s legendary Cymande! The first Les Savy Fav show in the Bay Area in forever! Spinning Platters’ Fav Soccer Mommy! There’s so much more, and so so so so so much more to come! Full lineup below. Tickets are on sale this Friday at 10 am at NoisePopFest.com!
I wrote this before the election results came down, which were pretty devastating all across the board, and, honestly, I don’t know what we’ve got to do to ensure that the entirety of Trump’s agenda gets prevented, but I do know that we have no choice. I predict extreme hardship for everyone except for a handful of people over the next four years. We failed at the resistance to the point of more people dying during Trump’s first administration than at any point this country’s history, including the civil war, and unless we get this 100% right this time, it will be worse. And Tunde’s voice and lyrics helped keep me from going under during the Bush years, and I’m grateful he’s back. I need this song today. Also, it might be worth going back to this one a bit, too.
TV On The Radio remains one of the most innovative and groundbreaking acts of the last 20 years. Sadly, they’ve been silent for the last decade. They did announce a handful of Winter reunion shows (and are playing the stacked Primavera Sound next year), but I think we are hungry for new material. Well, this isn’t TV On The Radio, but hearing lead vocalist Tunde Adebimpe’s voice reminds me of how amazing his voice is. “Magnetic” is a beautifully intense work that makes me feel “OK” about his band’s recorded hiatus.
“Magnetic” is out now on SubPop Records and can be enjoyed here.
I remember it like yesterday. October 26th, 1995. The eve of my 16th birthday. Oingo Boingo were scheduled to play their final SF show, and I couldn’t have been more excited. As a “ska” teen, despite Oingo Boingo not being a ska band, they were still part of my world, and I was eager to suit up and get sweaty. Well, the band was too eager to close up shop and canceled every show except the one that was recorded for their Farewell album, and I ended up having a beach bonfire and broke a femur running from the cops instead.
Dammit Danny. Continue reading “Show Review: Danny Elfman with Johnny Jewel + Desire at Shoreline Amphitheater, 11/3/24”
When When We Were Young dropped their 2024 lineup, I only barely glanced at it at first. It was all album plays, and I assumed that meant there wasn’t anything surprising in the lineup. Then I looked at the poster again and saw a familiar, blurry image in the corner that looked like Pretty Girls Make Graves’ classic record, The New Romance. Sure enough, someone did what they needed to do to get what I considered to be the greatest band of the early oughts emo revival back together. The band is near the top of my list: “I’d do anything to see them again.” Tour dates opened up, and, sadly, nothing in the Bay Area. So, I used Southwest credit and decided to spend less than 24 hours in Los Angeles. Continue reading “Show Review: Pretty Girls Make Graves with Cig Corpse at The Regent Theater DTLA, 11/2/24”
