Author: Dakin Hardwick

OUTSIDE LANDS DROPPED IT’S AMAZING 2025 LINE UP

I walked out the door this morning to experience the sun on my face for the first time in what feels like years. This last winter was one of the coldest, dreariest ones in memory. I enjoyed a gentle breeze while serotonin made its first real return to my brain in a while. Then I opened up my phone (a thing that has brought the opposite of joy lately) to see Outside Lands drop its lineup, and now I’ve moved from joyful to glowing! 

Highlights include a triple shot of the best live acts in modern hip hop: Tyler, The Creator, Anderson .Paak & The Free Nationals, and Doechii,  the unclassifiable Doja Cat, the insane bass stylings of Thundercat, the inventive and brilliant Jorja Smith, and for those looking for a touch of proper nostalgia, there’s Ludacris! Lower on the bill and there are some insane Easter Eggs like Big Freedia & The SF Gay Men’s Chorus, whatever “Vampire Weekend ?? /? ” means, the reinvented Rebecca Black, and for those who need a little mosh in their weekend, Oakland’s Destroy Boys are playing as well as the amazing Mannequin Pussy. 

Tickets are on sale TOMORROW! Yes, that’s 3/26 at 10 a.m. at SFOutsidelands.com. 3-Day GA tickets start at $499 ALL IN, and Payment Plans start at $99 down. The full lineup is below! 

Continue reading “OUTSIDE LANDS DROPPED IT’S AMAZING 2025 LINE UP”

Show Review: The Linda Lindas with Be Your Own Pet at The UC Theatre, 3/20/25

It’s been about six years since Spinning Platters first encountered The Linda Lindas. They were all in middle school at the time but managed to score the opening slot for Bikini Kill’s second show in 20 years. They played 30 minutes worth of classic punk covers with the skill of players twice their age but with the enthusiasm and curiosity of, well, pre-teens. Fast forward six years, and they have three albums worth of critically acclaimed original material and have risen to be the band effectively leading Gen Alpha to rock ‘n roll. 

Continue reading “Show Review: The Linda Lindas with Be Your Own Pet at The UC Theatre, 3/20/25”

Single of the Week: “I Found God” by Cera Gibson

Man, I love a good, sexy video where everyone looks, well, normal. “I Found God” is good old-fashioned, sexy, and groovy, along the lines of Erotica-era Madonna. The hooks are hooking, and the lyrics are just naughty enough. It’s a great way to kick off the first weekend of Spring. 

“I Found Love” is the latest single from Cera Gibson’s pinksoak, which is available now all across the internet. 

How Did Kathy Foster Get Here?

Photo by Jason Quigley

Odds are that you don’t know the name Kathy Foster, but you’ve probably seen her live a few dozen times. She’s probably best known as the bassist for Portland punks The Thermals. Or as a member of the supergroup All Girl Summer Fun Band. Or any of the 8,565,233 other bands she’s been a part of. Alas, after decades of backing up other acts, she’s released her debut solo record under the alias Roseblood. We talked about her pathway to rock, with some adventures and misadventures along the way. We even touched on the time she played “Faith” and “Rebel Rebel” with Sleater-Kinney, where her band Hurry Up got their name from, and spent a LOT of time talking about how amazing Maggie Vail is.

Roseblood’s self-titled debut is out now on Bandcamp or wherever you stream music.

Single of the Week: “Money & Power” by Ally Venable

Some weeks, I go through literally hundreds of tracks for this column, and nothing grabs me right away. And as it goes on, it gets HARDER to bring me in, not easier. This week was one of those weeks. And then this blistering, 70’s hard rock stomp, guitar virtuosity, and full-on braggadocio reinvigorated me within moments. “Money & Power” brings to mind late-era Donnas- combining elements of blues rock, British metal, and feminism in one intense punch. 

“Money & Power” is the first single from Ally Venable’s upcoming album of the same name. It’s coming our way on April 18th. Click here to presave the digital or preorder the physical. 

Noise Pop 2025: A Recap

Noise Pop 2025 kicked off with a bang — and my festival experience started with picking up my badge at the California Academy of Sciences on a Thursday evening. Coinciding with the Academy’s weekly NightLife program, the scene was electric. Even though I was solo, it struck me as possibly the best Bay Area date night I’ve seen in years. Noise Pop was in full swing, contributing DJs and a dance floor to the evening’s programming. But the real magic came from the Academy itself. There’s something about wandering through the aquarium under black lights, music pulsing through the exhibits as exotic fish glide by. People of all ages roamed the space in pairs or pods, sipping craft cocktails from the multiple bars scattered throughout. Small science demos popped up in every corner, adding an intellectual edge to the atmosphere. It was a perfect blend of science, art, and social buzz — I’d give it a solid 100 for ingenuity and wholesome romantic fun. Continue reading “Noise Pop 2025: A Recap”

Show Review: JoJo with Emmy Meli at The Warfield, 3/6/25

JoJo has spent the last 21 years as the “other” one. When she was a 13-year-old prodigy, she was marketed as the “new” Aaliyah. She spent years making movies and putting out records without achieving the notoriety of fellow prodigies of her era like Hilary Duff and Miley Cyrus. I can’t decide if this is bad or not. She has immense talent, but it’s also allowed her to create her own identity and continue pushing the boundaries of what you would define as R&B or Pop. Her sound has developed in a way that places her as a precursor to boundary pushers like SZA and The Weeknd, and the folks that kept their ears on her learned this. 

I feel like in 2025, with her new EP, NGL, and her book, Over The Influence, it’s time for JoJo to make her formal re-introduction. This live show cements that. Continue reading “Show Review: JoJo with Emmy Meli at The Warfield, 3/6/25”

Single of the Week: “CRUISING TO SELF SOOTHE” by Ecca Vandal

The guttural growl that opens this track rattled me to my core. Ecca Vandal has the perfect rock ‘n’roll voice—a melodic rasp that perfectly pairs with meaty, drop-D guitar riffage and weirdly catchy drums. This is the sound of Summer—sweaty and mosh-ready joy in the face of impending doom. It is a reminder that Australia keeps importing some of the best rock ‘n’roll around. 

“CRUISING TO SELF SOOTHE” can be enjoyed in all the usual places. 2025 is just starting to heat up for Ecca Vandal, and it’s worth following her on the socials to watch when she decides to destroy America. 

 

OUTSIDE LANDS EAGER BEAVER TICKETS ON SALE TOMORROW AT 10AM

Once the big festivals start announcing their line ups, I get excited about Outside Lands finally dropping their lineup. Always a little bit more interesting than the rest in the US, and I’ve never had a bad time in the 17 years I’ve been heading to the Golden Gate Park for this shindig. We still have to wait a little longer to learn about the music. The Eager Beaver tickets are always the cheapest way to get in and are on sale tomorrow. Out-the-door (fees included!) prices are Eager Beaver 3-Day GA tickets are $485.05 all in ($425 + $65.05 fees), 3-Day GA+ tickets are $734.55 all in ($665 + $69.55 fees) and 3-Day VIP tickets are $1,045.55 all in ($965 + $80.55 fees) and, for those with deep pockets and enjoy some fancy times, $5,095.55 all in ($4,895 + $200.55 fees) for Golden Gate Club tickets. For that price, you get front-of-stage viewing, access to the golf cart fleet for speedy transit around the site, and food & drinks provided by celebrity chefs Melissa King, Tyler Florence of Miller & Lux, and Dana Younkin & Nancy Oakes of Boulevard! 

Tickets on sale at 10am on March 5th! You can find those tickets here! And once you secure those tickets, wedding packages are also available, so you can live your dream of getting married in the beauty of Golden Gate Park, surrounded by 75,000 of your closest friends!