Dakin Hardwick – Page 25 – Spinning Platters

Single of the Week: “FBL” by UPSAHL

I may still be riding out my Outside Lands buzz from last weekend, but that UPSAHL set was truly magical, especially for being to be basically hit over the head with a bit of dirty rock n roll ferocity before my coffee even kicked in. UPSAHL debuted the A-Side to this single, “0 to 100,” a lovely, emotive ballad this weekend. It’s a solid song, but I flipped over the virtual single (ok, I mimed flipping over the invisible 7″. Shut up, let me have my fun.) and found the more emotionally complex “FBL.” On some level, it’s a party starter. On other levels, it’s a complex look at partying and reality and how those worlds coincide, and it’s one phenomenal track by a young talent that’s gonna keep blowing our minds, I suspect.

Both “0 or 100” and “FBL” are part of The PHX Tapes Vol 3, a continuing series of singles from UPSAHL. Vol. 1 and 2 are also out in the world and ready for your listening pleasure.

Spinning Platters Interview: Izzy Bizu: Direct From Outside Lands

Guess what?!? This is the first time I’ve ever recorded an interview with the intent of the video being seen and not heard. And it was with the incredibly talented and friendly Izzy Bizu! Her most recent EP is a horn-laden bit of R&B confection called Flower Power and can be enjoyed RIGHT NOW from your favorite streaming service here!

I also took some photos with her from the Outside Lands Press Tent:

[Show as slideshow]

Outside Lands 2023: 22 Instant Set Reviews

Happy 15th Birthday, Outside Lands! I’ve been to 13 out of 15, which are pretty good odds if you ask me! And despite this being the “year of the throwing stuff at bands,” this may have been the kindest, friendliest Outside Lands yet! I don’t think I’ve had more lovely conversations with strangers in three days at any other point in my life. Folks were consistently watching out for each other on the ground, working together to get medical attention for folks quickly, even at the risk of losing their spot, sharing food and water, and all around being grade-A music fans. I had the most amazing Creole Garlic Noodles of my life. I had the worst vegan experiment of my life- a veggie lamb slider (I won’t tag the restaurant here). I had plenty of Rocko’s Ice Cream Tacos because Outside Lands isn’t complete without at least 1 taco a day.

Continue reading “Outside Lands 2023: 22 Instant Set Reviews”

Single of the Week: “Mythologize Me” by Eliza McLamb

I know, it’s the first day of Outside Lands, and, sadly, the first year in a while without an Outside Lambs area, so, of course, I have to pick a “McLamb” for Single Of The Week. Well, the pun is unintentional. The song? Purely intentional. A warm and hooky song about the lengths people go to in order to become an idealized sexual partner? Well, that ticks all the boxes for me. I love the song, and I’m ready to dig further into McLamb’s catalog.

Eliza McLamb has recently signed with Royal Mountain Records, so expect more to come. Until then, you can enjoy “Mythologize Me” in all the usual places, and check out her podcast, Binchtopia, here!

Show Review: Blondshell with Hello Mary at Cafe du Nord, 8/4/23

Every great once in a while, an artist comes along that is impossible to shake. I found Blondshell in the most old school of manners- a late-night TV performance. Since then, her self-titled debut record has been in perpetual rotation. Bright Eyes was first introduced to me as the sound of someone inserting their hand into their chest, ripping out their heart, and handing it to you. Blondshell, on record, essentially does just that. I’ve been aching to experience this live show for months at this point.

Continue reading “Show Review: Blondshell with Hello Mary at Cafe du Nord, 8/4/23”

Single of the Week: “New York Transit Queen” by Corinne Bailey Rae

It’s been about six years since the last Corinne Bailey Rae single. And I’ve always known that Rae has been unafraid to showcase a wide variety of influences, but I never would’ve expected a super sweaty, 1:57 driving rocker to come from her. It’s so fast you could miss the song, but if you jump in before it gets away from you, you get a concise story and a solid HIIT workout all at once.

“New York Transit Queen” is the first single from Black Rainbows, a multi-media project that Rae has been working on for the past six years, inspired by Theaster Gates’ collection at Stony Island Arts Bank. The audio portion can be pre-ordered here and will be out on September 15th.

SPELLLING Presents: Through The Looking Glass Festival

Another day, another festival announcement… But this one is special, mostly because it’s bound to be the loveliest and weirdest event of the Fall. Atlas Obscura, the only travel website that I ever use, has teamed up with Sacred Bones Records and Oakland’s very own SPELLLING to curate a very special evening in, of all places, Children’s Fairyland.

There will be art; there will be amusements; there will be tarot readings; there will be SUN RA ARKESTRA, for crying out loud! And, of course, SPELLLING, and LA’s Sasami (possibly the most dynamic performer I’ve ever seen on a stage), and so much more! And did I mention it’s at Children’s Fairyland from 7 pm-11 pm on Saturday, September 16th?

Tickets are $70 and available here. Only 1200 tickets for sale, so buy fast so you don’t miss out!

Outside Lands Set Times Announced!

It’s the time of year again!! When you get to stress over the Outside Lands, schedule for a week and a half, attempting to both optimize your experience and agonize over clashes. Not only that but there are now TWO dance music areas instead of one… So get ready to figure out the fastest way between the SOMA Tent and Dolores’ stage. Feel free to plot your own schedule here. And, obviously, if you are foolish and haven’t picked up tickets yet, you can still get Sunday GA and Golden Gate Club tickets here.

Now, on with the schedule: Continue reading “Outside Lands Set Times Announced!”

Single of the Week: “Under The Sun” by SPELLLING

Oakland’s SPELLLING has released two of the most impressive dark-pop records I’ve ever heard, and the cries of “this generation’s Kate Bush” are all well deserving. She’s also been on the road for about two years straight with an AMAZING live band that has given these tracks a bigger, more organic energy. Instead of doing a live album, she’s brought that band into the studio to record “live” versions of these tracks, and this version of “Under The Sun” is a world away from the lofi synth of the original.

SPELLLING & The Mystery School is coming to your eardrums on August 25th, and preperations for it’s arrival can be made here. SPELLLING is bringing her band and other friends as well as a myriad of other oddities and exciting things to Children’s Fairyland in Oakland on September 16th for a very, very special evening of… Well, it’s co-presented by Atlas Obscura, so your guess is as good as mine. Tickets for that are available here!

Top 10 from the Bottom Half of the Outside Lands Poster 2023

It’s late July / early August, which means it’s time to start plotting out your Outside Lands plans! This means you get to hear MY OPINION on the best acts from the “lesser known” half of the poster! There is a lot of good stuff happening early in the day, so get your money’s worth, load up on coffee, and get to the park when the gates open! A full slate of performers can be found here, and there are still *some* tickets left as of press time, and those limited ticket types can be found here.

In addition to the list below, Outside Lands added a new, gay-centered stage named after every hipster’s favorite Castro-adjacent park, Dolores‘! On Friday the area is being taken over by Fake & Gay. On Saturday, SF Drag Laurette, D’Arcy Drollinger is bringing her club, OASIS, to the park. And on Sunday, the most legendary local party, Hard French will be making sure you feel very French all Sunday long. Continue reading “Top 10 from the Bottom Half of the Outside Lands Poster 2023”