Album Review: Marnie Stern – Marnie Stern

I’ve been following Marnie Stern’s career nearly from the get-go. Her first record, In Advance Of The Broken Arm, is still one of my all time favorite records, and hardly a week goes by without giving it a listen. I enjoyed her second record, This Is It and I Am It and You Are It and So Is That and He Is It and She Is It and It Is It and That Is That, but, as is the case with many sophomore releases, I didn’t become infatuated with it as much as the debut. So, here we have record number three. A record that’s pre-buzz has led me to believe that we have a “serious departure,” and, what may be the one thing that has me approaching with the greatest caution, “ballads.” My biggest fear would be that one of the most aggressive players in rock music today has gone gentle.

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Spinning Platters Weekly Guide to Bay Area Concerts, 10/7/2010-10/13/2010

Rocktober, week 2. Pretty awesome. A few living legends, a few surprises, and a lot of awesome October live music for your pleasure.

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Spinning Platters Weekly Guide to Bay Area Concerts, 9/30/2010-10/6/2010

Wolf Bands are playing again! I love wolf bands!!! When can I see a wolf band?!?!?

The month that has been declared as “Rocktober” kicks off this week, and despite the fact that many of our good friends are trapped in Vegas for a an expensive schmooze-fest with the indie rock elite, and I’m still kind of bummed that I won’t be able to escape to LA for what appears to be the greatest line up for a single show ever! But, I digress, this is still kind of a “Holy Crap!” week here in the bay area, filled with some pretty special stuff. Take a look!

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Show Review: The Dirty Projectors, Dominique Young Unique at The Fillmore, 9/25/10

About 18 months ago, I saw TV On The Radio play a show at The Fox Theater. The opening band was a group called Dirty Projectors. I thought they had a lot of brilliant ideas, but seemed a bit “loose.” The songs never seemed to end, they just crashed, but they had some great singers and it looked like, once they took the time to solidify their sound, they were going to become great. A short while later, a record called Bitte Orca was released, a stunning blend of I-Three’s inspired reggae, 21st century classical composition and indie pop. It became my favorite record of 2009. I was curious to see how they would bring this sound to the live show, especially after seeing their live show before the finished the record. After three visits that sold out rather quickly, I finally got to see it.

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Spinning Platters Weekly Guide to Bay Area Concerts, 9/23/2010-9/29/2010

Instead of a quick, witty thing to say, I just want you to figure out which band playing this week is being spoofed with the photograph above. Winner gets a note from me telling you that you won!

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Spinning Platters Weekly Guide to Bay Area Concerts, 9/16/2010-9/22/2010

Yes it comes time for another installment of Weekly Guide to Bay Area concerts. In this edition, a lot of family friendly shows… And some rather vulgar ones, as well…

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Spinning Platters Weekly Guide to Bay Area Concerts, 9/9/2010-9/15/2010

Opening for Helmet.

Here’s another fun week of fun stuff to fill with funness. Happy funny funtimes!!

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Spinning Platters Weekly Guide to Bay Area Concerts, 9/2/2010-9/8/2010

Labor Day weekend is filled with musical adventures in the Bay Area… Including two of the very, very few worthwhile summer shed shows that seem to be timed out perfectly for the weather getting good. Here are the highlights:

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Spinning Platters Weekly Guide to Bay Area Concerts, 8/26/2010-9/1/2010

This is a busy, busy week for SF show goers… Lotsa stuff to go to! Enjoy your last week of summer vacation! Here’s how:

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Spinning Platters Weekly Guide to Bay Area Concerts, 8/19/2010-8/25/2010

Pictured: Crowded House, playing The Warfield on August 23rd.

Howdy, Bay Area live music fans! I’ve got a great week for you! It’s a good time for you to stop sleeping for a while!

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