Caroline Hernandez – Page 2 – Spinning Platters

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

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”

Show Review: J. Tillman with Pearly Gate Music at The Great American Music Hall, 12/4/09

Things started off looking kind of gloomy over at The Great American. It was 8:30pm, the opening act was set to go on at 9:00pm and there were approximately 30 people in the room (I counted). Sitting by myself at one of the tables that lined the floor, I couldn’t help but sulk at the fact that I was basically working on a Friday night. It took all my energy to keep from putting my head down on the table and taking a nap. Even my trusty sidekick, iPhone, couldn’t help ease my growing boredom. I shirked out of my responsibilities of doing any research prior to the show, so I basically had no idea what to expect. Continue reading “Show Review: J. Tillman with Pearly Gate Music at The Great American Music Hall, 12/4/09”

Photo Gallery: Paramore, Paper Route, The Swellers at The Warfield, 11/10/09

paramore

I usually never drink at shows. On occasion I might be up for a whiskey on the rocks, but rarely do I ever booze it up a show that I’m really into. I can’t tell you exactly why I decided to drink at this particular show; it could be because I was one of the handful of people over 21, or because I have the day off tomorrow (today) or whatever. The $7 it cost for a Red Stripe didn’t even deter me. It just felt like the right night to indulge, so I did. 2 beers, a whiskey on the rocks, and a shared Sex on the Beach with my companion later, I was thoroughly rocking out at the Paramore show.

Continue reading “Photo Gallery: Paramore, Paper Route, The Swellers at The Warfield, 11/10/09”

Album Review: The Twilight Saga: New Moon Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

I’m what you might call an anomaly. I’m female; relatively young, and I enjoy the sensual seduction of the undead. And yet, the hold that Twilight gained over a generation of young (and young at heart) girls doesn’t apply to me. I came of age as a disciple of the great Anne Rice, and for me, there is no other leading man than Lestat. That being said, there’s no reason why I can’t enjoy the music inspired by the movie based on the novels by Stephenie Meyer. Continue reading “Album Review: The Twilight Saga: New Moon Original Motion Picture Soundtrack”

Show Review: A Hawk and a Hacksaw at The Independent, 10/9/09

Accordian solos don't get any cooler than this. — Accordion solos don't get any cooler than this.

Any trip to the Divisadero corridor always deserves a stop at one of the many excellent and inexpensive restaurant choices available. On this trip, the choice was half an order of BBQ chicken, mac ‘n cheese, and corn. I was still picking kernels out of my teeth when we walked in midway through the set of Damon and Naomi, the openers for the evening. The music was melancholy and wistful, with intertwining vocals from both musicians, Damon on acoustic guitar and Naomi on keyboards. I wasn’t too disappointed, but their brand of self-proclaimed “dream pop” wasn’t doing anything to help out my impending food coma. It was a surprise to learn that the duo did a stint on Sub Pop back in the mid-to-late 90’s. However, I wasn’t much into indie rock back then; rather, mainstream alternative, but that’s beside the point. The set ended a little after 10:00pm, and on to the waiting game. Continue reading “Show Review: A Hawk and a Hacksaw at The Independent, 10/9/09”

Neko Case at The Warfield, 6/10/09

Normally, for a show like this, I would have arrived at the venue at 7:00 pm, then had a drink, made my way over to the front of the stage to plant myself there for the rest of the evening in anticipation of one of my favorite acts. However, after a stressful week it figures I didn’t get there until Neko was already on stage. Continue reading “Neko Case at The Warfield, 6/10/09”

M. Ward at the Fox Oakland, 5/16/09

M.Ward considers what exactly to do with the pieces of a broken heart. Might I suggest composting?

Dear M. Ward,

I went to your show this weekend at the Fox, and I have to be honest with you, I was a little apprehensive about seeing you again. The first time I saw you was in Brooklyn a few years ago (or at least long enough for me to forget the name of the venue). I had just started to listen to End of Amnesia after discovering Transistor Radio, and I was completely enamored of what I heard. There was no song that could do wrong on either album. I enjoyed the dark moodiness of your songs dispersed by charming tract about inanimate objects, and instrumentals. The show was equally compelling, especially when guest star Jim James came onstage to lend a hand.

It’s hard to top such an exciting show that manifested all my warm fuzzy feelings of the time.

Which brings me back to the topic at hand. Saturday night’s show at the Fox. Continue reading “M. Ward at the Fox Oakland, 5/16/09”

The Black Keys at the Fox Oakland, April 18, 2009

A mere four hours before the show, I get a call from a friend of mine asking me if I want to usher the Black Keys show at the Fox, telling me I could sell my tickets and watch the show for free. After giving it a moment’s thought, I politely declined knowing full well that I wanted to plant myself up in front of that stage to get the full experience I had been waiting for since first falling in love with the band. Continue reading “The Black Keys at the Fox Oakland, April 18, 2009”

Beirut: March of the Zapotec/Holland

Beirut-March of the Zapotec/Holland

Release Date: February 16, 2009

As a girl who claims to be quite a huge Beirut fan, my natural reaction when I first heard about the newest production from said band was, OMG! I had read in an article in Fader Magazine that front man, Zac Condon, had traveled down to the Oaxaca region of Mexico and recorded with a troop of local musicians known as Banda Jimenez of Teotitlan del Valle. This bit of information made Zapotec all the more exciting, as a blogger of Mexican decent, to feast my ears on. Continue reading “Beirut: March of the Zapotec/Holland”