Dakin Hardwick – Page 113 – Spinning Platters

SF Sketchfest Review: The Paul F Tompkins Show w/ Grant Lee Phillips, Dave Foley, Illeana Douglas, Dave Gruber Allen, and Picnicface

grant lee paul thompkins — The soul of Andy Kaufman blurred this photo

I have always considered music and comedy to be kindred spirits. Both art forms require a mastery of rhythm and delivery to pull off well, and much of music and comedy seems to be inspired by the same general subjects: relationships, politics, and religion. This may be why some of the funniest people on earth are musicians, and most of the great comedians are also very talented musicians.

SF Sketchfest has been working at blurring those lines for nine years now, but last night’s Paul F Tompkins performance was the one of the best fusions of the two that I have ever experienced. Continue reading “SF Sketchfest Review: The Paul F Tompkins Show w/ Grant Lee Phillips, Dave Foley, Illeana Douglas, Dave Gruber Allen, and Picnicface”

Spinning Platters Weekly Guide To Bay Area Concerts: January 13th-January 19th

This week is the beginning of Sketchfest. We already have that covered, so how about some music? Eh? How about Styx? Did you know Styx were playing? I think it’s awesome that you will get to see Styx.

Continue reading “Spinning Platters Weekly Guide To Bay Area Concerts: January 13th-January 19th”

A Music Nerd’s Guide To SF Sketchfest 2010

Etch-A-Sketch-Guitar--37541 — Music and Sketches? Get It? Ha Ha Ha!

As San Franciscans, we love festivals. We also love music and laughs, and it seems that line is blurring between the two worlds more & more everyday. And, although our music festivals have been littered with comedians quite a bit lately, especially with Tenacious D functioning as headliner at least year’s Outside Lands Festival, the music leaking in to the comedy festivals has been a bit subtler. That’s why we’re here to guide you through the music of San Francisco’s Sketchfest. There is lot going on, and a lot of very special things that will pique the interest of any music nerd.

Continue reading “A Music Nerd’s Guide To SF Sketchfest 2010”

Book Review: A Heartbeat And A Guitar: Johnny Cash The Making Of Bitter Tears by Antoninio D’Ambrosio

12572019421256766177bittertears

Johnny Cash might be the most chronicled musician in pop music history. There are literally hundreds of biographies, authorized and unauthorized. The best, of course, is Cash by Johnny Cash. This book is not a biography of Johnny Cash. It’s the story of a record, one of the greatest records ever made.

Continue reading “Book Review: A Heartbeat And A Guitar: Johnny Cash The Making Of Bitter Tears by Antoninio D’Ambrosio”

Spinning Platters Weekly Guide To Bay Area Concerts: January 6th-January 12th

censored-goat — Opening for Devildriver.

Next week brings us Sketchfest, where some pretty amazing musicians will be in town to accompany some pretty amazing comedians. Then we have the Winter Music Festival, which will be followed by Noise Pop, which will be followed by a series of bands making there way through on their way to SXSW, and then Coachella, then it’s summer. So, please enjoy your last week of regular programming before summer.

Continue reading “Spinning Platters Weekly Guide To Bay Area Concerts: January 6th-January 12th”

Spinning Platters Guide To Important Musicians That Passed Away In 2009

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”

Spinning Platters Guide To Bay Area Concerts: January 1st-5th

Metalyears — A rare screening of Penelope Spheeris' most disturbing film outside of Wayne's World

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”

Spinning Platters Guide To New Year’s Eve in the San Francisco Bay Area

New Year's Baby — This is what I am wearing to see Wallpaper. I should be easy to spot.

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”

Spinning Platters Weekly Guide To Bay Area Concerts: December 16th-December 22nd

Playing Thursday Night At The Independent. Seriously.

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”

Show Review: Lady GaGa, Kid Cudi, and Semi Precious Weapons at The Bill Graham Civic, 12/14/09

Thanks to LuciaSo for letting me borrow the photo

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.

Continue reading “Show Review: Lady GaGa, Kid Cudi, and Semi Precious Weapons at The Bill Graham Civic, 12/14/09”