Reviews of albums, films, concerts, and more from the Bay Area Music and Movie Nerds
This is a list of musicians of import that passed away in 2009. There will be many that are missed. You will be upset about some that I may have passed over. (I’m looking at you, Man In The Mirror) So, get ready to pour one down for:
Continue reading “Spinning Platters Guide To Important Musicians That Passed Away In 2009”
The holiday gives a short week this week. I’m sure you are eager to start the new year by seeing live music as often as you can in the coming year. Here’s a few days of good fun!
Continue reading “Spinning Platters Guide To Bay Area Concerts: January 1st-5th”
Our weekly column has been pre-empted for the following special announcement. New Year’s Eve is slightly more than a week away, and if you are like me, you have absolutely no idea what to do. Well, I’m just about to make it harder for you.
Continue reading “Spinning Platters Guide To New Year’s Eve in the San Francisco Bay Area”
By a show of hands, who has started their holiday shopping…
Nobody? Good. Let’s keep it that way.
Continue reading “Spinning Platters Weekly Guide To Bay Area Concerts: December 16th-December 22nd”
So, this Lady GaGa thing is kind of crazy isn’t it? I mean, this record came out Summer 2008, but it wasn’t until a year later when it seemed that she was everywhere. In a world where there really isn’t any such thing as “mainstream” anymore, there is a possibility that she might be the last big pop star. This was supposed to be a tour where she was playing second fiddle to Kanye West, but for one reason or another (I’d like to think that it’s God’s will) Kanye opted not to travel, giving Lady GaGa the chance at a victory lap.
Radio-sponsored concerts exist for multiple reasons. The first reason is, well, to make money. Since Nielsen-based ratings aren’t the most precise way to go, often times the best way to prove to advertisers your worth is to put on a big show that’s promoted by the station, and use those numbers to bring in big money for the commercials. The other, more dignified reason, is as a thank you for the listeners. It gives them a more hands on experience with the music they’ve grown to love by supporting their local radio station. I’ve been to many of these kinds of shows in my life, and I generally think that they are a pretty good time. Sometimes, though, they can be a bit too erratic to truly enjoy, much like most commercial radio. If there was any problem with this year’s show, it’s that the music was, stylistically, a little too varied for a common night. When the two bands that share the most similar influences are Vampire Weekend and AFI, you know it’s going to be a strange night.
It’s a really big week this week, mostly because this is widely viewed as the last week people can get down and party before focusing their attention (and finances) the the wretched beast known as “Late December Holiday Season.” So, for all of you out there that wish to blow all that money you’ve been saving on a nice new golden chariot for grandma, here are a few really great shows for you to attend:
Continue reading “Spinning Platters Weekly Guide To Bay Area Concerts: December 9th-December 15th”
As the decade comes to an end, it means it’s time for lists. Lots of lists. All making a vague attempt at condensing the most pivotal parts of our popular culture, and spitting them out in a haphazard form. This is a list of what I, personally, consider to be the most important pure pop musical moments of our decade. You will be upset by things on this list. You may think I am a complete idiot for missing “____” by The _____’s. Just remember, this is a list of POP songs. I will not mis-estimate the importance of Radiohead, AR Rahman, The Strokes, Arcade Fire, Yeah Yeah Yeah’s, and other acts that will appear on every other best of the decade list. This is just a pop list. I don’t have room for the Fleet Foxes, I’m sorry.
Please Read, then begin arguing about my picks in the comments area (In no particular order):
Shows, shows, shows… That’s all I ever talk about. In this column at least. Ok: go support some live music venues!!!!!!
Continue reading “Spinning Platters Weekly Guide To Bay Area Concerts: December 2nd-December 8th”
Here’s the situation: I am a video game novice. My girlfriend owns a Wii. I use it to practice yoga. I don’t consider myself to be a very competitive person, so most games don’t really appeal to me. On a handful of occasions, I have played the various different versions of the music games Rock Band and Guitar Hero, and I usually enjoy myself, since I don’t practice on a regular basis, I generally am humbled by the experience.
You may ask then, why am I discussing DJ Hero with you? Well, at this point, anybody that is an experienced music gamer has already read plenty of reviews of this, and more likely than not, either pre-purchased it months beforehand, or has already decided that it’s lame. I’m not writing for those people. Our audience is music nerds, and as a music nerd, my job is to tell you if this product helps feed the nerd or if it talks down to them.