Author: Dakin Hardwick

Single of the Week: “Playing Records” by Lane Moore + It Was Romance

Regular readers will have picked up on two things about your favorite editor-in-chief of a shockingly long-running music blog (16 years?!?!)- he’s a sucker for songs about experiences with music and loves a good multi-hyphenate. Lane Moore is a fantastic stand-up comic and writer with a keen sense of the human psyche. She ALSO fronts the band It Was Romance and is blessing us this Valentine’s Day with their first EP in far too long, Final Girl. This brings us to our single of the week, “Playing Records,” a brilliant, life-affirming song about, well, listening to music while moving through a breakup. It’s a warm and fuzzy New Order meets Alanis Morissette meets Bleached pop confection for the ages. 

Final Girl is out today and can be enjoyed on whatever streaming service you subscribe to. The band is also embarking on a brief Spring tour of New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania (the area I affectionately refer to as the “Pizza Belt”). Tickets can be purchased at https://www.lanemoore.org/tour/. 

3/27 Pet Shop, Jersey City, NJ
4/17 Sultan Room, Brooklyn, NY
4/19 John & Peter’s, New Hope, PA
5/2 Wonder Bar, Asbury Park, NJ

Single of the Week: “Terrapin” by Clairo

I guess I’ve been sleeping on Clairo. I had no idea that she sounded like this… It’s just so damn smooth and groovy. This song feels like a dirty martini on a winter’s evening with all of your hottest friends having a heavy argument about David Lynch vs John Waters. The video starring Weird Al and directed by Ayo Edebiri is fantastic, and they are also two of the first people I’d invite to this party. 

“Terrapin” is the latest single off Charm, available now in all the usual places! 

Single of the Week: “Wanna Start A Band?” by Sleigh Bells

The funny thing about Sleigh Bells is that they do, indeed, have a formula. But it’s such a damn good formula that always feels so unbelievably good. “Wanna Start A Band?” is a brilliant little autobiographical anthem, and this song is a cacophony of sonic joy that is somehow equal parts Nine Inch Nails and Lisa Lisa. I’m so glad that they are opening with joy in this hellish year of 2025. (I will note that Sleigh Bells’ show at Mezzanine was my first show after Trump’s win in 2016, and it was the exact right thing to do. Also my first indoor show after COVID hit) 

Sleigh Bells are embarking on their first tour since 2022, and tickets are on sale TODAY at 10 am local time. Dates and tickets are here! 

SF Sketchfest Review: Tinder Live! with Lane Moore at Cobb’s Comedy Club, 1/24/25

I adore Lane Moore. She’s a gifted human with an impressive perspective on the human condition. Her two books, How To Be Alone and You Will Find Your People, are genius. I’ve been following her for years, yet I haven’t seen her signature show, Tinder Live!

Thanks to the good people of SF Sketchfest and their persistence in bringing her out west, I finally got to experience it. Holy shitballs, that was magic. Continue reading “SF Sketchfest Review: Tinder Live! with Lane Moore at Cobb’s Comedy Club, 1/24/25”

How Did Nadia Quinn Get Here?

Nadia Quinn is an NYC-based singer, songwriter, comedian, writer, and actress, and she probably has 100 other jobs that we neglected to cover. We had a great conversation about family and comedy and the stress of comedy music.

Nadia has TWO appearances at SF Sketchfest this week. She is part of the Middle Aged Dad Jam Band at Great American Music Hall on February 1st and brings her own show, The Nadia Quinn Show, to The Lost Church on February 2nd. The State’s Ken Marino and Thomas Lennon are expected to crash both events. I plan on attending both shows, so if you see someone who looks like a visually impaired Jack Black, feel free to say hello!

Added To Noise Pop: St Vincent! Ben Gibbard! Earl Sweatshirt! David Lynch Tribute!!!

A slew of new shows are on sale tomorrow with Noise Pop, including some huge stars in small places, including at Grace Cathedral: St Vincent on Feb 23rd and Benjamin Gibbard on Feb 25th, Fantastic Negrito at the 4-Star Theater in the Richmond(!), Marc Capelle’s Red Room Orchestra doing a Tribute to David Lynch on Feb 19th, and two nights of Earl Sweatshirt at Great American Music Hall Feb 25th and 26th! 

Tickets are onsale tomorrow (Friday, January 24th) at 12 pm. Or you can buy a Noise Pop badge today! 

SF Sketchfest Review: Airplane! 45th Anniversary Live Read at Palace Of Fine Arts, 1/18/25

Photos By Jakub Mosur

I have no idea how old I was when I first saw Airplane!. All I knew was that it was likely far too young, but it’s been a significant part of my entire life. Which makes sense since I’m 45, and it turns 45 this year. Who is to blame for this movie following me my entire life? You guessed it. My own father is the one who showed me this piece of chaotic art at far too young an age. Continue reading “SF Sketchfest Review: Airplane! 45th Anniversary Live Read at Palace Of Fine Arts, 1/18/25”

Single of the Week: “Wax & String” by Shannon & The Clams

Shannon & The Clams KEEP GETTING BETTER! “Wax & String” is a one-off 7″ following up their best record yet, The Moon is in The Wrong Place. And while The Moon… was a contemplative and almost melancholy affair, “Wax & String” is a psych party jam, exhilerating in a way that seems almost innappropriate for 2025. 

“Wax & String” is available to stream now, with a 7″ coming March 7th. Preperations for it’s arrival can be made now. Shannon & The Clams have recently been added as the Day 2 Headliner off Mosswood Meltdown. Other additions include the great Bleached, La Luz, Giuda, and, performing in Oakland for the first time EVER- L’Trimm. (Yes, “The Cars That Go Boom” band!) Tickets are available NOW!

SF Sketchfest Spotlight: How Did Demi Adejuiygbe Get Here?

Most people know Demi Adejuiygbe as the mastermind behind the legendary “September” videos. You may not know that he was a writer on The Good Place, possibly the greatest TV show ever, as well as The Amber Ruffin Show. As per the usual, we talked about his career, how he works, and, of course, there is a healthy dose of cat talk, complete with advice on how to properly AirTag your feline.

Demi has a sold-out show at Great Star Theater on Friday Night as part of SF Sketchfest doing his classic one-man show Demi Adejuyigbe Is Going To Do One (1) Backflip, as well as appearing as part of Stamptown! at Club Fugazi on Saturday, January 18th. A limited number of tickets are available at the door, so I suggest you line up now for any and all of his SF Sketchfest appearances.

A Nerd’s Guide to SF Sketchfest 2025

I LOVE writing the Nerd’s Guide to SF Sketchfest. It’s probably my favorite piece to write and research, and I always find something interesting and cool. (Special Thanks to Gordon Elgart for writing up Sup Bro & Albert Brooks)  This year is no exception, and I’m pretty excited to share it with you. More shows than usual are selling out early, so please act quickly! The full schedule is here. 

I will also note that a big chunk of the SF Sketchfest family is based in Los Angeles and is somehow STILL putting this thing on while their home is experiencing great tragedy. For those looking to donate, I am a big fan of Mutual Aid LA and their work, and I trust them to put your donations to good use. And folks in the Bay Area can bring items to Hella Positive to get them to our neighbors. Continue reading “A Nerd’s Guide to SF Sketchfest 2025”