Single of the Week: “Miss Leave Me Alone” by Odie Leigh

Odie Leigh’s debut album, Carrier Pigeon, is one of my favorite debuts of the decade. It’s been two years since that excellent record was released, and Leigh has spent the time since touring ended busy working on, well, pretty much every kind of project that ISN’T releasing music. I thought she was a one-and-done genius, à la Sex Pistols. Then, today, “Miss Leave Me Alone” dropped in my feed, and it sounds NOTHING LIKE HER DEBUT. It still has her excellent lyric writing, but the tempos are ramped up and the best new folk singer of our generation just dropped a fierce pop-punk jam. AND IT’S FANTASTIC. 

Follow Odie on her immensely entertaining Instagram, and all the deets about the single and any future news will be dropping here. 

Spinning Platters Interview: Homer Flynn, collaborator of The Residents

You may not know who The Residents are, but you’ve heard, seen, and felt their influence on contemporary music for the majority of your life. The Residents have existed in one way or another since 1969, keeping their identities to themselves by donning masks and costumes to remain anonymous; they’re fiercely DIY, making their brand of avant-garde music that exists in lockstep with experimental visual art. You may not know who The Residents are, but no one really knows who they are. 

Last week I got to sit down with Homer Flynn, the primary visual collaborator and almost but not quite a spokesperson for The Residents since 1971. His involvement with The Residents predates their first official release, and for the majority of their career he has remained one of the only unmasked components of their multimedia origination. I was able to speak with Homer because the Residents are about to embark on a 23-city tour wherein they will be playing their beloved 1979 record “Eskimo” in its entirety. 

If you only have a cursory familiarity with The Residents you are probably more than familiar with them as the eyeballs wearing top hats band. “Eskimo” is the album that introduced the iconic eyeballs into their body of work. Many fans consider it one of The Residents’ greatest works, and bringing it to the stage is, in many ways, just as meaningful a statement as creating new work.

Spinning Platters: Out of everything that The Residents have done, why did you decide on Eskimo for this upcoming tour? Continue reading “Spinning Platters Interview: Homer Flynn, collaborator of The Residents”

Show Review: Melanie C with Sur Beck and Lady Camden at The Castro, 9/22/26

Tonight was my first time back at The Castro since the controversial renovation, which turned it from a classic Art Deco repertory movie palace into a classic Art Deco live music venue. I begrudgingly admit that they did an excellent job. The concessions moved from the lobby inside the theater, the bathrooms improved dramatically, and the sightlines for music were nearly perfect. It was a bit confusing that the men’s and women’s restrooms were switched on the main floor, almost causing what would have been a disturbance in a space less accepting of the gender spectrum. 

Continue reading “Show Review: Melanie C with Sur Beck and Lady Camden at The Castro, 9/22/26”

Show Review: Peter Hook & The Light at the Hollywood Palladium (Los Angeles)

It’s been just under a decade since I first saw Peter Hook and the Light prove, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that they’re more fun than New Order. I’m not here to rag on New Order; they’re doing their thing the way they want to do it, but the fact is that there’s a spark at Hook’s shows that is severely lacking among his ex-bandmates, and judging by the ever increasing crowds at his shows when he comes into town, I’m not alone in that assessment.

Continue reading “Show Review: Peter Hook & The Light at the Hollywood Palladium (Los Angeles)”

Single of the Week: “Bang Bang Bang” by Lambrini Girls

How have I not written about Lambrini Girls yet? This generation’s finest political punk band has gifted us yet another mosh-friendly jam. An earworm assault on the senses that could, potentially, make its way to mainstream alternative radio in the States if programmers were willing to take the chance. 

“Bang Bang Bang” is the first single of Lambrini Girls’ upcoming album, No Refunds, coming out just in time to miss all the best of 2026 best of lists: January 8th, 2027!

PORTOLA 2026: THE WEEKEND SWEDEN TOOK OVER SAN FRANCISCO

Regular followers of Spinning Platters will notice that we largely ignore dance music. Why? Because I strongly dislike electronic dance music. Yet, somehow, I’ve gone to Portola twice and had a fantastic time both times I went. And this year looks exceptionally good. Why? Well, it might be due to the significant number of Swedish acts on the bill, the best pop music country in the world. I mean, ROBYN IS HEADLINING?!?!? She hasn’t played the Bay Area in seven years, and her comeback album, Sexistential, is amazing. Plus, we also have 2026 breakout star Zara Larsson, sleaze pop icon Tove Lo, and, of course, the biggest Swedish act since ABBA, Swedish House Mafia! Who else? The first SF Solo Appearance by Beastie Boys legend Mike D! Bay Area legend DJ Shadow playing his Entroducing… record from front to back. An actual Spice Girl, Melanie C. And my personal favorite find from 2026- Idaho’s brilliant Gelli Haha. 

Tickets are still available, but are going fast. Those can be found here!

Single of the Week: “No One Lives Here Anymore” by Carrisa’s Wierd

It’s been quite a long time since we’ve gotten a new Carissa’s Wierd cut. They last dropped a 7″ in 2011 and faded away as emo bands do. But, since everything that’s truly good comes back again, Jen Champion and Mat Brooke are back together with an absolutely stunning single, “No One Lives Here Anymore.” Their harmonies are as strong as ever, as are their adventurous arrangements. This song is a stunner.

Next year gives us the first full length Carissa’s Wierd record in 25 YEARS! (Which makes me feel, like, painfully old saying). Somewhere Further Than Far Away comes out January 8th, 2007, making it your first record preorder of next year! 

Single of the Week: “Feelin’ Wee” by Kiko Mizuhara

Stones Throw Records really doesn’t get the credit it deserves. They started out as a hip-hop/funk label, but lately have been pumping out some of the best “under the radar” bangers that seem to defy genre in almost every way. The latest is “Feelin’ Wee” by Japan’s Kiko Mizuhara. This spacey psychedelic pop jam harkens back to the days of Grand Royal Records, and it shares a spiritual home with the likes of Cibo Matto, Bran Van 3000, Luscious Jackson, and, yes, even The Beastie Boys at their most lounge. 

“Feelin’ Wee” is Kiko’s first EVER single. It’s one hell of a debut, and I can’t wait to hear what else is coming from her. Follow her on Instagram and Bandcamp! 

IT’S RIOT GRRL WEEK COMING UP IN THE BAY AREA!!!

HOLY MATRIARCHAL TRINITY, BATMAN! Labor Day week is bringing us to the Bay Area, the ultimate week of Riot Grrl legends coming to town. Arguably, the three most significant bands of the classic PNW / Olympia, WA scene are all playing in the same week. 

First, on Tuesday, September 8th, we have Bikini Kill at The Warfield playing with what is being touted as the last EVER Bay Area appearance by THE ALICE BAG BAND. Yes, that’s Bikini Kill and Alice Bag on at the historic Warfield in downtown SF. Tickets are available here. 

The next night at the gorgeous Greek Theater in Berkeley, we have Sleater-Kinney. Arguably the greatest American live band, under the stars on a lovely early Fall evening. I’m so unbelievably excited about this show. To make matters all the more enticing, indie rock legend Liz Phair and soon-to-be legendary Soccer Mommy are both on the bill, too! Tickets here. 

Closing out the week will be two nights at Bottom Of The Hill with the great Bratmobile! These are their first proper headlining gigs since reforming, and, sadly, both are sold out. So you’ve gotta hope for a miracle to land tix to these shows on Friday, September 11th, and Saturday, September 12th. 

And, if that’s still not enough for you, just over a month later, Heavens To Betsy are playing their first SF shows in like 30-some odd years on October 17th and 18th, but sadly, they are also sold out. There are still a few more tickets left for Team Dresch’s pair of November shows! Tickets for Wednesday, November 4th are here. And Thursday, November 5th are here. 

 

Film Review: “It Ends”

The road taken goes awry in repetitive but thoughtful debut

Friends James (Phinehas Yoo, l.), Day (Akira Jackson), and Fisher (Noah Toth) take a break.

“I took the road less traveled by,” poet Robert Frost famously wrote, “And that has made all the difference.” While most people interpret the speaker’s choice here as a positive decision, the text is actually ambiguous. We’d like to think the choice made has bettered the speaker’s life, but we don’t know for certain. After watching the new thriller It Ends, you may come away with a whole new perspective on Frost’s poem and the plusses and minuses of taking an unknown back road. Writer/director Alexander Ullom’s debut feature, which earned the then 27-year-old a Grand Jury Award nomination at last year’s SXSW, is less of a traditional jump-scare horror picture and more of an extended metaphor about existential dread. As such, it can be both mildly intriguing and also frustratingly repetitive. 
Continue reading “Film Review: “It Ends””