Author: Dakin Hardwick

Show Review: Norah Jones, Sasha Dobson at The Fillmore, 4/21/10

It's the Norah Jones Hoedown!

With this review, I hope to dispel a few stereotypes that people have about Ms Norah Jones. I feel that people have, rather inappropriately decided that she makes dull background music, and that she isn’t a very good live performer. I will agree that in her earlier days, she was a very shy performer. She rarely looked at the crowd, and usually hid behind her piano. I also feel that her debut record, Come Away With Me, the 2002 release that went on to sell 22 million records, is more of a mood piece than a work of active listening. But, in the 8 years since that release, Ms Jones has pushed her sound in many new and interesting directions, including a few very surprising collaborations and a really bizarre interpretation of punk rock.

So, how did her first show at The Fillmore since 2002 (opening for the great Willie Nelson) fare? Read on…

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Show Review: Foxy Shazam, The Young Veins, Bad Rabbits at Bottom Of The Hill, 4/18/10

Thanks to seperate16 for providing the photo most characteristic of the band
Thanks to seperate16 for providing the photo most characteristic of the band

I often times enjoy a mellow a Sunday evening spent enjoying the soothing sounds of traveling minstrels with the company of fellow locals. I opted to spend this past Sunday eve at a popular Portrero Hill tavern to enjoy the song stylings Foxy Shazam. The show filled me with great joy, despite the fact that I’m unsure as to whether or not everyone managed to survive.

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A Music Nerd’s Guide To The San Francisco International Film Festival

As a world class city, we get some pretty impressive events. Often times, these events tend to pile on top of each other, such as Fauxchella overlapping with the San Francisco International Film Festival. Of course, piling into clubs night after night can seriously wear on even the most enthused music fan, and sometimes it’s pleasant to sit in a seat in an air conditioned theater. That’s where we can serve you. There are plenty of ways to enjoy your time as a music nerd at the SF International Film Festival, and this is your guide. Ticket information can be found here.

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Album Review: Jakob Dylan – Women + Country

In 2007, a strange and unexpected musical collaboration was released. It was the brain child of legendary producer T-Bone Burnett who decided that a full album collaboration between Led Zeppelin’s Robert Plant and modern day bluegrass icon Alison Krauss would be a brilliant idea. The album, Raising Sand,  came out, and it was a moody collection of covers and originals that was both a critical and commercial success. It was a rare album that nearly everyone enjoyed, and was also the first album released on a independent label to win the Grammy for Album of the Year.

Fast forward three years, and a rather suspicious record gets released. Jakob Dylan, son of Bob and vocalist of 90’s buzz bin two-hit wonder act The Wallflowers, releases a record called Women + Country, featuring production by T-Bone Burnett and vocals by Alt.Country Super Heroine Neko Case. It all feels, I don’t know, impure? I was curious about this record, but also a bit skeptical.  So, when I got an offer to review the record for this site, I decided to take it upon myself.

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Spinning Platters Weekly Guide to Bay Area Concerts, 4/7/10-4/13/10

Hello, my name is Yuri, and I will be throwing a big party in Mountain View on Saturday. I know it's kind of a long drive for some of you, and it might be hard to take public transit there, but I think you should just suck it up and come. I don't care if it takes you 6 buses and 5 hours, and you have to sleep on a bench somewhere. You should come to my party!

In case you were keeping track, we are about to kick off our first week of Fauxchella. So, starting Sunday I want you to enjoy the finest music festival that doesn’t actually exist, and we will have some warm up shows listed below, in addition to a few Fauxchella recommendations.

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Spinning Platters Weekly Guide to Bay Area Concerts, 3/31/10-4/6/10

Looking for their city somewhere near Fillmore and Geary.

Our dear editor-in-chief posted this on the Spinning Platters twitter account:

SpinnPlatt Our concert calendar looks sad and lonely for the next two weeks. Someone talk us into something, please.

Which makes me realize that he needs this column more than anyone else. Just because Fauxchella is only two weeks away, doesn’t mean you can take a break!

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Spinning Platters presents a Runaways Movie Giveaway

In celebration of the release of Apparition Film’s The Runaways, Spinning Platters is giving away movie posters & copies of the recently remastered 2-CD set of Joan Jett & The Blackheart’s Greatest Hits. Click on to find out how to win! Continue reading “Spinning Platters presents a Runaways Movie Giveaway”

Spinning Platters Weekly Guide to Bay Area Concerts, 3/24/10-3/30/10

Kid Koala is coming back to town!

After all the chaos that was Spinning Platters’ visit to Austin, TX for a bit of SXSW action, it’s time to come home and do what we did while we were in Texas, see a bunch of great live bands. Many of them we will be seeing again.  So, fire up those ear plugs and get ready to dance: Continue reading “Spinning Platters Weekly Guide to Bay Area Concerts, 3/24/10-3/30/10”

Dakin Hardwick’s SXSW Journal Day 4

Yes, the fine people of Quebec understand metal.

So, this was my 4th day of alcohol & barbecue sauce fueled and sleep deprived musical madness known as SXSW. After spending the early hours of Saturday morning chasing a secret 3 am Andrew WK show, I finally gave up and passed out around I have no idea o’clock only to wake up bright and early and hop around to the Saturday parties in 37 degree weather.

The most painful moment was freezing outside the Perez Hilton party waiting in the proper line, only to find that the only people that got in were folks that stormed the check in booth. It was chaos, but not fun chaos. Everything else was fun chaos. Here’s my highlights:

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Dakin Hardwick’s SXSW Journal Day 3

What the devil is happening here? I have no idea...

Tired. So very tired. It’s raining today. That sucks. I’m tired… Want to know why I’m so tired? Read on…

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