Author: Dakin Hardwick

A Nerd’s Guide to SF Sketchfest 2023

JESUS CHRIST! I first wrote this article in 2020. When I was just getting ready to push it live, BAM! Cases started spiking hard, and the 2021 SF Sketchfest was moved to 2022. In late 2021, I revised this AGAIN; luckily, most of the events stayed the same.  And right as I was about to post this for 2022… I got an email from SF Sketchfest’s publicist saying the whole thing was moved again… To 2023! 

I’m overjoyed that they managed to keep much of the same line-up and in approximately the same order! It saved me a lot of time and effort. They’ve even added a few new events to the mix that I’m pretty excited about, even though it meant I had to actually write more. Even better- they are live-streaming select events, which is great for folks that don’t like going places! So, without further ado, I present to you the 2021, I mean 2023, Nerd’s Guide To SF Sketchfest! Which is the 20th SF Sketchfest, I might add!  Continue reading “A Nerd’s Guide to SF Sketchfest 2023”

BOTTLEROCK 2023 LINE UP IS HERE!

BOTTLEROCK LINEUP HAS DROPPED!!!! And it’s looking like it might be the most fun year yet! Not only do they have 3 of our top ten of 2022 (Lizzo, Carly Rae Jepsen, Ashe), but the top line also features the classic lineup of Red Hot Chili Peppers finally making up their lost 2020 set, hitmaker Post Malone, New Romantic heartthrobs Duran Duran, groundbreaking genius Lil Nas X, and 90’s Lollapalooza veterans The Smashing Pumpkins (still minus D’Arcy, however. :grumpyface:)

Other Spinning Platters favorites at this shindig include The National, Sheryl Crow, Tove Lo, Nile Ridgers & Chic, Phantogram, Japanese Breakfast, and, hiding at the very bottom, Paris Jackson (!). Full lineup after the jump. And then the “About Damn Time” video because that song never gets old.

Tickets on sale January 10th at noon PST. 

Continue reading “BOTTLEROCK 2023 LINE UP IS HERE!”

Single Of The Week: “SO HARD TO TELL” by DEBBY FRIDAY

Happy New Year! For our first single of the week of 2023, here’s a sweeping ballad from DEBBY FRIDAY.  “SO HARD TO TELL” is simutaneously warm & comforting and dark & sweeping, kind of in the Bjork / Kate Bush school of composition without sounding anything like either. 

“SO HARD TO TELL” is available in all the usual places. Her SubPop debut, Good Luck, is coming to you March 23rd, and is available for pre-order NOW! 

Spinning Platters’ Top 10 Albums of 2022

By The Spinning Platters Editorial Team

Good news, everyone! Just like every other year, Spinning Platters is publishing the LAST top albums of the year list you’ll be reading. Our entire team has been listening to each other’s favorite records, no matter how painful it can get, and we’ve voted on our 10 favorite albums of 2022! Without further adieu, here we go: Continue reading “Spinning Platters’ Top 10 Albums of 2022”

Spinning Platters presents “How Did I Get Here?” Season 4, Episode 3 with TEKE::TEKE

TEKE::TEKE are a psychedelic rock band from Montreal that perform in Japanese. And by psych rock, I mean they are absolutely genre-bonkers. They bring together elements of Eleki, Punk, Spaghetti Western Score, Classic Rock, and Funk and blend them into something that makes Mr. Bungle sound like Celine Dion. I chatted with guitarist Serge Nakauchi Pelletier and vocalist Maya Kuroki about the band’s origins as a Takeshi Terauchi cover band and how they morphed into the beauty of what they are now. 
TEKE::TEKE are wrapping up a West Coast tour now, but promised me they’d be back soon. If you are free tomorrow, you can catch them at Bandcamp HQ in Oakland doing a live interview and performance. Their brilliant debut record, Shirushi, is out now on Kill Rock Stars. 

Single Of The Week: “Veronica Mars” by BLONDSHELL

I have never seen Veronica Mars. I barely know the premise. But from the minor key muted strum opening this track, I’ve never been more intrigued by a TV show that I missed nearly 20 years ago. The song actually places me in My So-Called Life territory, the greatest TV show ever. This song is a fuzzy, emotive burner and my only complaint is that it’s too short. And I’ve NEVER said that about a song before. 

“Veronica Mars” is available in all the usual places. She’s touring with Suki Waterhouse and, yes, I’m sad that there is no Bay Area date, too.

Single of the Week: “Bite The Hand” by Thank You Come Again

Thank You Come Again do not have my favorite band name. I spent time actively avoiding them due to this. However, they are literally friends with everyone in the Bay Area, they are worth the benefit of the doubt. Then this positively face melting track, “Bite The Hand,” landed in my eardrums. So loud. So heavy. An air guitar masterpiecce. 

Today is Bandcamp Friday, so feel free to hope over to their Bandcamp page and buy this track and some others! They will be getting us a full length in the near future, so keep an eye out there and here. 

Show Preview: Modest Mouse at The Fox Theater, 11.30.22

1997 was the year I graduated high school. It was also the year I started college. I was awfully intimidated by college… I went from being a relatively well-liked and popular kid (Yeah. I know. I’ll stop gloating.) to an awkward kid that didn’t know how to make friends. In fact, I moved between classes, work, my dorm room, the computer lab, and the Taco Bell inside Mary Park Hall at San Francisco State University. 

At the Taco Bell was a lovely human that the good folks of SFSU dubbed “Taco Bell Rob.” He was pretty much the only employee- at least, he was the only one there whenever I was. He lovingly prepared fast faux-Mexican fare for tired and hungry students who missed getting to the dorm cafeteria. I was a little, angry punker that thought music had to be fast. The faster, the better. I’ve never met someone more excited about music than Rob. And whenever I walked in, he made sure to challenge this notion in the most loving and wonderful way. He introduced me to Built To Spill. I think he introduced me to Elliot Smith and The Aislers Set. And he was the first person to play The Lonesome Crowded West by Modest Mouse for me. 

I’ve since lost contact with Rob. The last time I saw him, he gave me a ride home from The Aislers Set reunion show at The Chapel in 2014. I don’t know if he’s going to be at The Fox tomorrow night to see Modest Mouse play The Lonesome Crowded West in its entirety, but for those of you that are, be sure to send a thank you to the person in your life that showed you something new, something that opened your mind and eyes to new sounds. That person is more important than you think. 

BTW- here’s his band from the 00’s. They were fantastic. 

Single of the Week: “Groovy Xmas” by The Linda Lindas

Tis the season for seasonal songs? The time of year where serious musicians put out novelty Christmas singles to make your Christmas Playlists a little less stale and painful. 2022 breakout tween sensations The Linda Lindas have graced is with a fantastic and fun Christmas song called “Groovy Xmas.” It’s accompanying video is a joyful treat, chock full of cameos that are basically a whose who of the history of punk, as well as an appearance by the legendary cat, Monica. 

You can enjoy “Groovy Xmas” in all the usual places. The Linda Lindas are also hitting the road next Summer with Paramore. And, yes, I am annoyed that they aren’t playing the Chase Center show.