Spinning Platters – Reviews of albums, films, concerts, and more from the Bay Area Music and Movie Nerds

KATE NASH 2026 NORTH AMERICAN TOUR DATES

God. Kate Nash with loud, meaty guitars is THE BEST THING. “Spilt Milk” is an amazing and refreshing cut from her. It’s the first single off her heavily Irish-influenced new record, Cailin, coming out in January of next year. The good news is that she’s doing a small North American tour THIS NOVEMBER. Yes, Kate Nash, playing tiny little rooms, NEXT MONTH.

2026 North American Tour Dates

Tuesday, November 3: Somerville, MA @ Arts at the Armory

Wednesday, November 4: Philadelphia, PA @ The Lounge at World Cafe Live

Friday, November 6: New York, NY @ Joe’s Pub

Saturday, November 7: Washington, DC @ The Hamilton Live

Monday, November 9: Toronto, ON @ Paradise Theatre

Tuesday, November 10: Detroit, MI @ The Loving Touch

Wednesday, November 11: Chicago, IL @ Martyrs’

Thursday, November 12: Santa Ana, CA @ Constellation Room

Saturday, November 14: Los Angeles, CA @ Sid the Cat Auditorium

Sunday, November 15: San Francisco, CA @ Swedish American Hall

Monday, November 16: San Diego, CA @ Music Box

Show Review: Weezer a real “The Gathering” with The Shins and Silversun Pickups

The Gathering tour was a long-anticipated family BBQ. Fans of all generations packed the almost sold-out Chase Center Arena. Weezer, the geek-pop-rock band, connects to the fun side of everyone. Frontman Como Rivers mentioned the warnings for listening and “thank you anyway.” Everyone knew every word of every song, vintage or fresh; every word in tune and as loud as possible. No one mentioned this wasn’t a sing-a-long, and a few times during the song “Beverly Hills,” my section of the stadium was louder than the band.

It is still a mystery how fans are selected for the “air-guitar” feature, but Anastasia Gorski from the upper deck was fabulous during ‘Buddy Holly.”

Just after “Pork and Beans,” while Cuomo was on the drums, Patrick Wilson (drummer) picked up a guitar riffed as if it was a 1982 heavy metal concert. Cuomo ran over, reminded Patrick it was 2026, and he returned to his beautiful gold drum kit. What would happen to the Weezer world if Patrick’s metal riff continued? Only smiles from me.

The Shins

The shiny happy side of the Shins came out 30 seconds in on the 1st song, with the audience blissfully swaying with their cell phones in the air. It all ended with an all-out release of madness when they closed the set with REM’s “It’s The End of The World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine).

Silversun Pickups

The night started with the Silversun Pickups. Despite the many months they were touring their latest record ahead of “The Gathering” tour, their energy could give the local power company shutdown notice. “Lazy Eye,” despite the song title this band energy could put PG&E out of business. Hair flying like the original headbanger days. Everyone should see them play more than once.

[Show as slideshow]

Attention Maggots! SLIPKNOT ARE COMING TO GOLDEN GATE PARK NEXT YEAR

It’s never too early to plan your summer, yes? Well, the good people at Another Planet have already announced their first Golden Gate Park show of 2027. And it’s the return of the mighty Slipknot! It’s their first Bay Area appearance since 2019 and their first San Francisco show since their visit to Regency Ballroom in 2002. (I was there! I’m OLD!)

Show is Sunday, August 15th with support from Bring Me The Horizon, Motionless In White, and LOATHE. Doors are 2:30, music begins at 4. Tickets on sale Friday, October 2nd at 10am here.

GA – starting at $179 all-in ($149 + $30 fees)

With your GA ticket, you’ll have access to a stacked day of music at the Polo Field in historic Golden Gate Park.

GA starting at $179 all-in ($149 + $30 fees)

General Admission standing room ticket on the Polo Field.

VIP – starting at $399 all-in ($359 + $40 fees)

Up-front VIP viewing area on the Polo Field featuring dedicated bars.
Access to a VIP courtyard lounge featuring exclusive food vendors, premium bars, upgraded restrooms and more.
Access to elevated lounge featuring bleacher seating.
Expedited entry options via the VIP Entrances on the north and south sides of the park.

Film Review: “Primetime”

Pattinson leads stellar cast in gritty drama

“To Catch a Predator” host Chris Hansen (Robert Pattinson) prepares to make his move.

Actor Robert Pattinson is having quite the year. After starring alongside Zendaya in the terrific The Drama, he turned in the only performance worth watching in The Odyssey. Now he takes the lead in Primetime, an entertaining, if sometimes hard-to-watch, very loose retelling of the heyday of the Dateline reality show To Catch a Predator and its host, Chris Hansen. Pattinson will be seen in Dune 3 in December, but if you want a sense of just why he may be so in demand, go see Primetime. Continue reading “Film Review: “Primetime””

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!