Reviews of albums, films, concerts, and more from the Bay Area Music and Movie Nerds
OMG! This song is so heavy that I need extra creatine to listen to it. Brennan Wedl, a recent addition to the Kill Rock Stars roster, has brought “Kudzu,” named for the invasive vine that destroys native plants. And this song is so blistering, it’s almost dangerous. Lyrically, it’s a reflection on religion and what it’s like to be raised in something you don’t believe in, which is also infinitely relatable.
I can’t wait to hear more from Wedl. This track can be found in all the usual places.
I’m not a movie person. I have seen maybe five movies in the last five years. Yes, that included the two years or so of complete pandemic lockdown and not leaving the house. I like The Bechdel Cast because I’m a fan of Jamie Loftus and Caitlin Durante more than movies. But I haven’t spent much time listening to the podcast for that reason. However, with the two of them doing a tour to discuss Barbie, the 2023 monster hit film AND the only movie I’ve seen in theaters this decade, I was glad to have some connection to the movie the two were discussing. Continue reading “SF Sketchfest Review: The Bechdel Cast at Club Fugazi, 2/1/24”
The first few notes of “head” caused a difficult reaction. The extreme autotune over folksy guitars had me on edge- waiting for it to devolve into the worst of what we experienced in the 00’s. But I caught the lyrics, and that made me stay. And the song didn’t turn into what I expected it to. Instead, it’s something beautiful, anxious, and a little weird. The deeply processed vocals were balanced out with lush, acoustic guitar and strings washing the singing. Don’t understand what I mean? Just listen. This one is a masterpiece.
“head” is the first single off rousay’s debut album “sentiment,” due out April 19th. Yes, the same day as the new Taylor Swift. Anyways, you can preorder it here from Bandcamp! Tour dates below, as I can’t begin to imagine how she pulls this off live:
It’s pouring rain here in Oakland, which is perfect for getting your hopes up about Summer! And by that, it’s time for us to start pouring over Summer festival lineups, and this morning, we were blessed with the Mosswood Meltdown artist list! Headlining is probably the biggest band to ever grace the stage at Mosswood Park, The B-52’s!!!! And, somehow, there’s another act with a top 40 hit on the bill- Gibby Haynes will be doing a set of Butthole Surfers songs backed by the Paul Green Rock Academy (!). Oh- if you are looking for acts that haven’t played in forever? We’ve got first-generation PA Punks Pure Hell, New York No Wave legends Bush Tetras (with Sonic Youth’s Steve Shelley on drums), twee supergroup (and a part of my own live band bucket list) Go Sailor, and outsider art and synth legend The Space Lady. This whole lineup is bonkers. Hunx & His Punx, Big Freedia, Redd Kross, Egyptian Lover, Die Spitz, Pansy Division, Wifey, Sheastie Boys, Diesel Dudes, Trap Girl, Non Plus Temps, Gumby’s Junk, Baus, Hot Laundry, and more to come! Like every year, John Waters is hosting, and Peaches Christ will be presiding over a Drag Contest!
Tickets are on sale NOW!! Prices will be going up, so buy fast!
I’ve spent a LOT of the pandemic digging around YouTube, looking for ANYTHING to push the serotonin levels up. That’s when I uncovered Jena Friedman’s YouTube channel. Insomnia + depression + anxiety are all great for political satire, and I really fell head over heels for what she was doing. Little did I know that she was a writer on The Daily Show, but it all kind of made sense after that. In another depressed fit, I ended up preordering her book Not Funny, and despite not feeling depressed when I read it, I still enjoyed it. So, of course, when SF Sketchfest presented me with the opportunity to see her live, I figured it was something I needed to do. Continue reading “SF Sketchfest Review: Jena Friedman: Not Funny with Brittany Carney at The Gateway Theater, 1.26.24”
Jamie Loftus is a writer, actor, comic, cartoonist, podcaster, and probably has about 3500 other jobs that we never covered on this episode because, well, there is only so much time in the day. In this episode we discussed her early playwriting days, stand-up comedy, the difference between eating dog food and condensed cream of mushroom soup, and, since this is Spinning Platters, we even talked about music!
She’s taking her podcast, The Bechdel Cast, on the road! Tickets and tour dates are here, and it all kicks off with a visit to SF Sketchfest on February 1st at 7:30! You can also pick up Loftus’ amazing book, Raw Dog, here. And, of course, you can find all other things Loftus here! Oh, and this is where you can enjoy the CVS Bangerz playlist!
As much as I *love* a Shannon & The Clams live show, I’ve yet to find myself actively listening to Shannon & The Clams at home. “The Moon Is In The Wrong Place” marks Shannon & The Clams really does take the energy and enthusiasm of the band’s live set and turns it into 3:03 of pure psych pop andrenaline. I dare you not to dance to this one, or at least find yourself excited about sweeping the kitchen to it.
“The Moon Is In The Wrong Place” is the first single of their upcoming record, also called The Moon Is In The Wrong Place, available in stores and at your local streaming service on May 10th. Preorders are happening now and you can select your preferred tripped out vinyl edition here!
Kim Gordon is well over 40 years into her career, and with every turn, she surprises me a little bit more. But “BYE BYE” is the last thing I expected to come out from her, and it’s bloody amazing. She has captured the soul and energy of HYPERPOP and has released a track that falls somewhere between Pussy Riot, Charli XCX, Nine Inch Nails, and her own Free Kitten project. Fresh and vital and noisy and… It’s just everything good about music in general.
“BYE BYE” is the first single from Gordon’s second solo album, “The Collective,” coming your way on March 8th. Preorders can be done here. She’s also embarking on a very short tour this Spring, and those tickets can be secured here.
We are trying something new with this episode. I am NOT doing any preroll. No theme song. No “warm open.” Let me know what you think.
Dulce Sloan is best known for being a correspondent on The Daily Show and often killing it in that role. We chatted about her move from theater to stand-up, the folks that inspired you along the way, and, of course, The Daily Show and her upcoming book, Hello Friends! Stories Of Dating, Destiny, and Day Jobs coming your way on February 6th (Preorder Here!)
Sloan is in SF this weekend to play a slew of SF Sketchfest events, including a headline set at Brava Theater on Saturday, January 20th at 9:30 pm. Her full schedule can be found here. If you choose not to leave home, she’s also starring in The Great North, which can be seen on Hulu as well as Sunday Nights on Fox!
Whoa! This is my 12th Nerd’s Guide to SF Sketchfest! And after 14 long years (including two really, really long years not too long ago) of writing these, I can declare that SF Sketchfest has finally done it! They’ve booked the holy trinity of surreal sketch comedy! Eric Idle (of Monty Python fame), Kids In The Hall, and The State are all appearing! These three are the unifying forces that brought together both the stoners and the kids afraid of weed. AND I AM HERE FOR IT! Honestly, this year’s SF Sketchfest, which I believe is the 21st edition of the event, is probably the most bonkers year yet. I have barely started to figure out what gigs I’m seeing… I need to write this almost for myself as much as for you, my loyal reader.
A complete schedule and links to tickets can be found here!
Thursday, January 18th Continue reading “A Nerd’s Guide To SF Sketchfest 2024”
