Author: Dakin Hardwick

How Did Sydney Kane Get Here?

How Did I Get Here? is back for its first episode of 2026. And my chat was with the amazing musical comedian Sydney Kane ahead of her bringing her one-woman show, Wife Material, on a West Coast tour! We talked about, well, a bunch of the usual tangential silliness, all while learning about how she found her voice and her way into comedy.

Sydney Kane is bringing Wife Material to SF for SF Sketchfest at Eclectic Box on Sunday, January 25th (Tix Here) and to LA at Hudson Backstage Theater on February 16th (Tix Here). Follow her on Instagram for more everything. And, if you really want to learn about all things Bay Area Burrito, here is such a bonkers and well-researched guide that I will still argue is wrong at times. 

Side Note: We discuss how amazing Jenny Slate is, and I realized she is ALSO playing SF Sketchfest. Catch her with Max Silvestri and Gabe Liederman at the Sydney Goldstein Theater on February 1st (Tix Here)! 

Single of the Week: “Ultivatum Cultivation” by plantoid

So, I have no idea what’s going on with that song title. I googled “Ultivatum” and can only find, um, this song. That being said, the pretentious, overtly prog-rock song title is hiding what can only be said is a glorious psych-pop song. Somewhere, swimming in the LSD-infused lake alongside The Flaming Lips and Spacemoth (the latter I’m 90% sure has never touched a drug in her life) is plantoid, and their latest single, “Ultivatum Cultivation,” is giving me the energy to make it through a mad, busy mid-January. 

“Ultivatum Cultivation” comes from plantoid’s upcoming LP, Flare, due out January 30th. Preorders are ongoing! 

MOSSWOOD MELTDOWN 2026 LINEUP IS BONKERS!!!!!

My partner and I named our kid after Corin Tucker. Once the doctors and nurses cleared the room, on the day they were born, we decided we needed to sing them a song. After being awake for like 36 hours, there was only one song we could remember the words to. That song? “The KKK Took My Baby Away.” That hospital? Kaiser in Oakland. It was magic. Today, Mosswood Meltdown released a lineup that brings this all full circle. Because The Return Of Jackie & Judy is a Ramones cover band comprising of Corin Tucker and Carrie Brownstein of Sleater-Kinney, plus Toko Yasuda of St Vincent on bass, and Fred Armisen of Trenchmouth on drums, playing directly across the street from the very hospital I first sang a Ramones song to my Corin. 

Oh yeah, and there’s like Iggy Pop, Bikini Kill, Otoboke Beaver, The Dead Milkmen, Scowl, and SO MANY MORE AMAZING BANDS. And of course, it’s being hosted by the legendary John Waters. Tickets on sale NOW! 

A Nerd’s Guide to SF Sketchfest 2026

Hi. Have you read the news today? 

I’m sorry. 

You know what 2026 is desperate for? Some bloody joy while we can still get it. I’ve had a really tough time doing the nerd’s guide this year because the onslaught of life under Trump 2.0 has been brutal. Which is also a good reason to get out and enjoy some laughs in a space where you can really be yourself as yourself, while it’s still kinda legal. So be your own kinda nerd. We’ve got three weeks of fun coming your way. Here’s a small sampling of events. The full schedule is here! Continue reading “A Nerd’s Guide to SF Sketchfest 2026”

Spinning Platters’ Top 15 Records of 2025

I don’t know if it’s because we procrastinate or because we’re simply very thorough, but the editorial team at Spinning Platters has FINALLY settled on our Top 15 albums of 2025. There’s a little something for everyone, including some metal, punk, hardcore, Spanish-language avant-pop, and a whole lot of scorned women on this list, which is my favorite music genre anyways. 

Without further ado, here’s the list: Continue reading “Spinning Platters’ Top 15 Records of 2025”

Show Review: Not For Radio presents Winter In The Garden at The Fox Theater – Oakland, 1/7/26

I’ll be very straight with you- I had no idea what to expect out of the Not For Radio performance at The Fox this night. I knew very little about this project, other than this was only their third show EVER, and it was the third of three sold-out weekday nights at The Fox. I really enjoy the lead singer Maria Zardoya’s other band, The Marias, but the opportunity to attend this show came up so unexpectedly last minute that I barely had a chance to listen to the record. Continue reading “Show Review: Not For Radio presents Winter In The Garden at The Fox Theater — Oakland, 1/7/26”

Single of the Week: “Sexistential” by Robyn

It’s been a very long, very sad eight years since Robyn last graced us with new music. And with “Sexistential,” we learned exactly what she’s been up to: having a baby via IVF. You know what pop music is sorely lacking? Music about the struggles of reproduction. But we are also lacking like, I really, really sexy song about how IVF can actually have a positive impact on one’s sex drive. So,God Bless Robyn. This song is fire, and I’ve never heard anything like it. 

“Sexistential” comes from Robyn’s upcoming album of the same name out March 27th. Preorders are available here!

LOGISTICS FANS REJOICE! SF SKETCHFEST ARE DOING A SHOW ON A BART TRAIN!!

HOLY SHIT!!!! I’ve been dreaming of this my entire life! Our dear friends at SF Sketchfest are doing the most logistically bonkers thing I can imagine a festival doing- A STAND UP COMEDY SET ON A MOVING COMMUTER TRAIN!

Here’s how it will work: ticket purchasers will meet at 12th St/Oakland City Center at 2 pm on Saturday, January 24th. Ticketholder will then be given a headset to listen to the set on (because, um, trains make noise, so this makes sense) as well as instructions on how to make sure you are on the right train and car. Brent Weinbach, Brittany Carney, Natasha Vinik, and Hunaid Shakoor will then each do 15-minute sets while you ride. They won’t be selling tickets at the door, so make sure you buy your ticket in advance from BART at this link! 

Honestly, SF Sketchfest has done a LOT of cool things. But this is probably the coolest. 

MOSSWOOD MELTDOWN PREPARTY! PAVEMENT, WEDNESDAY, VIVIAN GIRLS TAKE OVER MOSSWOOD PARK

We are waiting patiently for our good friends to unveil the Mosswood Meltdown 2026 line-up. In the meantime, they tossed a fun little surprise our way! The night before Mosswood, they are bringing us a pretty impressive, stacked indie rock line-up: the delicious Sonic Youth meets classic country of Wednesday, the return of power pop legends Vivian Girls, and headlining is the pride of Stockton, PAVEMENT! All hosted by John Waters. 

Tickets are on sale NOW! $99 for GA, $165 for VIP (with special viewing area and ins & outs), and those prices are fee-inclusive! 

I CAN’T WAIT FOR JULY!!!

Single of the Week: “Lydia” by The Floor Is Not Lava

Honestly, I can’t believe that it’s nearing the end of 2025. Rock & Roll has existed for around 75 years at this point. Somehow, The Floor Is Not Lava has not been selected as a band name until now. And they deserve to take one of the best names ever. “Lydia” is a dramatic journey, taking the listener on an emotional journey that recalls fellow Seattleites Heart AND Sunny Day Real Estate (at the same time, believe it or not). 

The Floor Is Not Lava’s latest release is It’ll Go To My Grave. You can enjoy that and more here! Hoping to convince them to hop in the van and head south! <Fingers Crossed>