Author: Dakin Hardwick

SF Sketchfest Review: Tinder Live! with Lane Moore at Cobb’s Comedy Club, 1/24/25

I adore Lane Moore. She’s a gifted human with an impressive perspective on the human condition. Her two books, How To Be Alone and You Will Find Your People, are genius. I’ve been following her for years, yet I haven’t seen her signature show, Tinder Live!

Thanks to the good people of SF Sketchfest and their persistence in bringing her out west, I finally got to experience it. Holy shitballs, that was magic. Continue reading “SF Sketchfest Review: Tinder Live! with Lane Moore at Cobb’s Comedy Club, 1/24/25”

How Did Nadia Quinn Get Here?

Nadia Quinn is an NYC-based singer, songwriter, comedian, writer, and actress, and she probably has 100 other jobs that we neglected to cover. We had a great conversation about family and comedy and the stress of comedy music.

Nadia has TWO appearances at SF Sketchfest this week. She is part of the Middle Aged Dad Jam Band at Great American Music Hall on February 1st and brings her own show, The Nadia Quinn Show, to The Lost Church on February 2nd. The State’s Ken Marino and Thomas Lennon are expected to crash both events. I plan on attending both shows, so if you see someone who looks like a visually impaired Jack Black, feel free to say hello!

Added To Noise Pop: St Vincent! Ben Gibbard! Earl Sweatshirt! David Lynch Tribute!!!

A slew of new shows are on sale tomorrow with Noise Pop, including some huge stars in small places, including at Grace Cathedral: St Vincent on Feb 23rd and Benjamin Gibbard on Feb 25th, Fantastic Negrito at the 4-Star Theater in the Richmond(!), Marc Capelle’s Red Room Orchestra doing a Tribute to David Lynch on Feb 19th, and two nights of Earl Sweatshirt at Great American Music Hall Feb 25th and 26th! 

Tickets are onsale tomorrow (Friday, January 24th) at 12 pm. Or you can buy a Noise Pop badge today! 

SF Sketchfest Review: Airplane! 45th Anniversary Live Read at Palace Of Fine Arts, 1/18/25

Photos By Jakub Mosur

I have no idea how old I was when I first saw Airplane!. All I knew was that it was likely far too young, but it’s been a significant part of my entire life. Which makes sense since I’m 45, and it turns 45 this year. Who is to blame for this movie following me my entire life? You guessed it. My own father is the one who showed me this piece of chaotic art at far too young an age. Continue reading “SF Sketchfest Review: Airplane! 45th Anniversary Live Read at Palace Of Fine Arts, 1/18/25”

Single of the Week: “Wax & String” by Shannon & The Clams

Shannon & The Clams KEEP GETTING BETTER! “Wax & String” is a one-off 7″ following up their best record yet, The Moon is in The Wrong Place. And while The Moon… was a contemplative and almost melancholy affair, “Wax & String” is a psych party jam, exhilerating in a way that seems almost innappropriate for 2025. 

“Wax & String” is available to stream now, with a 7″ coming March 7th. Preperations for it’s arrival can be made now. Shannon & The Clams have recently been added as the Day 2 Headliner off Mosswood Meltdown. Other additions include the great Bleached, La Luz, Giuda, and, performing in Oakland for the first time EVER- L’Trimm. (Yes, “The Cars That Go Boom” band!) Tickets are available NOW!

SF Sketchfest Spotlight: How Did Demi Adejuiygbe Get Here?

Most people know Demi Adejuiygbe as the mastermind behind the legendary “September” videos. You may not know that he was a writer on The Good Place, possibly the greatest TV show ever, as well as The Amber Ruffin Show. As per the usual, we talked about his career, how he works, and, of course, there is a healthy dose of cat talk, complete with advice on how to properly AirTag your feline.

Demi has a sold-out show at Great Star Theater on Friday Night as part of SF Sketchfest doing his classic one-man show Demi Adejuyigbe Is Going To Do One (1) Backflip, as well as appearing as part of Stamptown! at Club Fugazi on Saturday, January 18th. A limited number of tickets are available at the door, so I suggest you line up now for any and all of his SF Sketchfest appearances.

A Nerd’s Guide to SF Sketchfest 2025

I LOVE writing the Nerd’s Guide to SF Sketchfest. It’s probably my favorite piece to write and research, and I always find something interesting and cool. (Special Thanks to Gordon Elgart for writing up Sup Bro & Albert Brooks)  This year is no exception, and I’m pretty excited to share it with you. More shows than usual are selling out early, so please act quickly! The full schedule is here. 

I will also note that a big chunk of the SF Sketchfest family is based in Los Angeles and is somehow STILL putting this thing on while their home is experiencing great tragedy. For those looking to donate, I am a big fan of Mutual Aid LA and their work, and I trust them to put your donations to good use. And folks in the Bay Area can bring items to Hella Positive to get them to our neighbors. Continue reading “A Nerd’s Guide to SF Sketchfest 2025”

Single of the Week: “T&A” by Blondshell

Sabrina Teitelbaum did it again. Nobody does uncomfortable imagery like her, but “T&A” takes the cake this time. I spent the whole song thinking, “Do men really talk like this to women?” I mean… “If you stop drinking, maybe I could find you attractive”?!?!? “Your tits and ass don’t really hurt”?!?!?!?!?!? AND THOSE ARE THE COMPLIMENTS!!!!!! Sometimes, I really hate cis-het men, and I AM ONE! 

Anyways, “T&A” is from the sophomore release by Blondshell, If You Asked For A Picture, which is coming to you May 2nd, and preorders are available here. Everyone is aware of the horrific conditions happening in LA right now, and if you are looking for an organization to donate to, I am a fan of Mutual Aid LA, and you can find ways to donate and resources for finding help here. 

 

Top 10 Albums of 2024!!!

By The Spinning Platters Team

Yes. I know everyone else had their lists finalized and posted in, what, May? Sheesh. Spinning Platters is meticulous and democratic about our process; sometimes, that takes longer. (We’ve also been hard at work on a nice new logo, and I hope you like it!) But you will see some names that are not on anyone else’s lists. And some names that are on everyone else’s because you know what? There have been some solid, instant releases this year that hold up on repeated listenings. So, without further adieu, here it is- the Spinning Platters Top 10 of 2024!

Continue reading “Top 10 Albums of 2024!!!”

Single of the Week: “Epilogue” by Cat Ridgeway

This is the last Single Of The Week of the year. The “Epilogue,” if you will, of a year of singles of the weeks. (Singles of the week? Single of the weeks? HELP ME GRAMMARLY!!!!) ANYWAYS! This song is so bloody good. Remember that whole banjo rock movement of the 2010s and how awful it was? This is what it should have been like. Ferocious punk rock with a banjo played fierce and fast, with some Billy Zoom punkabilly riffage mixed in. This is my introduction to Cat Ridgeway, and I can’t wait for more. 

“Epilogue” is out now on all the DSPs. New material, including an album, is coming in 2025! Keep an eye out on the socials!